Sony a5100
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
- Released August 2014
- Old Model is Sony a5000
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
89 Imaging
65 Features
74 Overall
68
Sony a5100 overview
Sony a5100 is Sony's Entry-Level Mirrorless digital camera first revealed on August of 2014. The camera has got a 24MP, CMOS APS-C sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 6000 x 4000.
Sony released this model in an effort to improve the earlier Sony a5000 (Read Full Comparison)
The a5100 is positioned #28 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and all round #183 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. Remember to use our Smart camera search to see camera rankings based on your personalized criteria.
Here is a diagram of various criteria used in the scoring system.
Sony a5100 history
The Sony a5100 comes with a history of related cameras. Underneath, you can discover all earlier and most recent models as well as important specs.
Sony a5100 Gallery
You can check the a5100 from different angles in the gallery below.
Sony a5100 Pros and Cons
Below is a collection of positives and negatives of the Sony a5100 based on factors which are normally viewed as important in a digital camera.
Sony a5100 Sensor info
The Sony a5100 houses the Bionz X processor. The sensor specification in the Sony a5100 is 23.5mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 367 mm² sensor can resolve 6000 x 4000 pixels and aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe CMOS sensor boasts 24MP and provides a standard ISO range of 100 - 25600. RAW format is supported which means that you have wider margin for error.
The picture underneath shows the a5100's sensor dimensions compared to other popular sizes. The a5100 sensor comes with a crop factor of 1.5 and is presented in green.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneTo get an idea of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.
Sony a5100 dimensions
Sony a5100 weighs 0.62 lbs (283 gr or 9.98 ounces) and the volume of the camera is 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4"). The weight of normal Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329 gr so the Sony a5100 is lighter in comparison with its competitors.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesHere is a shot of the Sony a5100 with a soda to help you to have a feel for its scale.
The top view underneath will highlight the button arrangement on the a5100.
Sony a5100 Lens info
The a5100 uses the Sony E mount and has 170 lenses that are available. Below is a few of the lenses we have in our database which will work with the a5100.
Sony a5100 Connectivity
The a5100 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- Wireless Yes
- NFC Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras that come with NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You can easily copy images and sometimes change camera settings without the hassle of connecting physically to the camera.
Several applications even give a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it could be connected to an external screen. Most cameras enable you to charge the battery through the USB port.
Sony a5100 Video info
The maximum video quality in the Sony a5100 is 1920 x 1080 and it can shoot in MPEG-4, AVCHD and XAVC S file format. 1080p quality can provide a good balance between video quality and file sizes but FULL HD will not give you much room to crop. The camera doesn't feature a mic and / or headphone port which means you have little control over your audio. It is probably a better idea to look at another model if you want better audio in your videos.
Sony a5100 Weather Sealing
There is no weather proofing on the Sony a5100 so you need to be cautious in wet or dusty conditions.
Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder
The Sony a5100 has got a 3" tilting screen supporting a resolution of 922k dots.
Moreover the screen is touch friendly which means that you will be able to adjust focus points and change settings using your finger.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe ViewFinder specs regarding Sony a5100 are as follows:
- ViewFinder None
Viewfinders can be quite beneficial during sunny outdoor conditions which might make the camera screen washed out and hard to view.
Sony a5100 Shutter info
Sony a5100 continuous shooting rate is 6.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.
Sony a5100 Flash and Hot shoe info
Sony a5100 boasts only built in flash lacking external flash ability.
Sony a5100 Autofocusing info
Sony a5100 boasts both Phase Detect AF and Contrast Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot faster and precise in comparison with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera has got Face detection which makes it helpful for portrait photography.
The AF system has got 179 focus points to pick from. Sony a5100 has touch to focus. You can easily use your fingers in order to change focus points. It also features Tracking AF for subjects on the move. Sony a5100 has manual focus if needed during low light occasions or you require more precise control on focus.
Sony a5100 Battery life
The battery (NP-FW50) on the Sony a5100 is designed to last for 400 images as per the CIPA standards making it higher than average ın comparison with its class. The general Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 offers the highest possible (750) battery life within this group of cameras.
Here is a listing of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras that come with the highest battery life:
Sony a5100 for various kinds of photography
The following graph presents a overview of the Sony a5100 for various kinds of photography. To look at more, scroll to the specific paragraph underneath.
Sony a5100 Portrait photography advice
The Sony a5100 receives a score of 72 which is nice, meaning that it is a fine fit for portrait photos. Taking portraits leans heavily to sensor dimension, support for RAW photos and flexibility to work with external lighting.
Sony a5100 Street photography information
Getting a terrific points tally of 82, the Sony a5100 is a wonderful option to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera features a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.
Sports photography with Sony a5100
A above average sports photography rating of 68 indicates the Sony a5100 is a good pick for taking pictures of sports. A camera should have good autofocus and continuous shooting for sports photography.
Sony a5100 Travel photography info
Size is extremely crucial in choosing a travel camera. Over-all, the Sony a5100 gets a tremendous 80 for a travelling camera which makes it a excellent choice to buy for your travels.
Sony a5100 Landscape photography advice
For those who are planning to pick a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most important factor will be image quality. The Sony a5100 with it's tremendous grade of 79 for a landscape camera is a great pick within the current marketplace.
Sony a5100 Vlogging highlights
A vlogging camera really should have a articulating display screen, mic port and ideally IBIS. Considering all things, the Sony a5100 is not very good as a vlog camera as it receives a bad score of 34.
Sony a5100 Alternatives
If you need replacements to the a5100, here is a list of the top placed cameras that fall into the family of Entry-Level Mirrorless.
The graph listed below shows you a bird's eye view of the a5100 versus it's highest ranked competitors listed previously.
There are more cameras you may see as alternative options. To go through a extensive comparison, click the "compare" link.