Sony a5000 Review

After Sony decided to stop using the NEX moniker for E-mount cameras, the firm released the Alpha A5000 as its fourth small system camera under the Alpha brand. So instead, it uses the Alpha trademark, sometimes abbreviated to “A.”

The Sony Alpha A5000 was released at the beginning of 2014 and has since been replaced by the A5100. In the meantime, higher-end versions in the Alpha line have been more affordable. An acceptable alternative for those just starting, but if your budget allows it, you’d be much better off with the Alpha A6000, which has 24 megapixels.

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Sony Alpha a5000 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm OSS Lens (Black)

Last update was on: March 28, 2024 3:10 pm
$334.00 $448.00

The first model was the Sony a3000, an entry-level camera with a design similar to that of a DSLR. It was more similar to the A-mount entry-level Alphas that the following business had to offer. The next two cameras were the Alpha 7 and Alpha7R, both high-end full-frame models.

About every year and a half, Sony revises its lineup of small system cameras, particularly those that fall in the lower to medium ranges of the company’s offerings. The newly introduced a5000 will succeed the NEX-3N, unveiled at CES. It is positioned below the NEX-5T, which has not yet been followed by another camera, and above the A6000, which is the camera that is now at the pinnacle of Sony’s enthusiast APS-C line.

Sony a5000 Picture Effect

JPEG photos can have one of thirteen different Picture Effects added to them, some examples of which are HDR Painting, Toy Camera, and High Contrast Monochrome. Raw files can be recorded, but you can’t do both simultaneously. Likewise, you can’t record raw files and use picture effects simultaneously.

The A5000 does not have a viewfinder, but the LCD screen is a tilting device that can be tipped up 180 degrees to assist in taking selfies. The screen has a resolution of 460,000 dots and is 3 inches. It is important to note that the camera does not have a hot shoe or an accessories port, meaning no additional external equipment may be attached to the device.

Additionally, there is built-in support for near-field communication (NFC) and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), the former of which enables speedy connections to NFC mobile devices such as Android smartphones and tablets.

Because it has Wi-Fi connectivity, the Sony A5000 may have the PlayMemories Camera Apps downloaded onto it for additional capabilities. These include options such as Direct Upload, which enables images to be uploaded to Facebook, PlayMemories Online, or Flickr; Smart Remote Control, which allows the camera to be controlled by a phone or tablet; and Time Lapse, which enables easy creation of time-lapse movies. Other options include Time Lapse, Smart Remote Control, and Direct Upload. Direct Upload allows images to be uploaded to Facebook, PlayMemories Online, or

According to Sony, the a5000 is the world’s most miniature interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C sensor size. However, it is not as small as the highly compact Panasonic GM1, which features a Micro Four Thirds sensor more minor than the APS-C sensor size. Other tiny system cameras aimed at beginners, such as the Samsung NX2000, Panasonic GF6, and Olympus PEN E-PM2, are among those with which the Sony a5000 competes.

Sony a5000 Build Quality.

The a5000 is highly comparable to its predecessor, the NEX-3N, in terms of its dimensions, design, and overall form. It features a hefty grip that is textured and feels entirely secure in the hand, even though the creation of the camera is similar to that of previous NEX CSCs in that it is flat and small. It’s not very probable that you’ll be using a hefty camera one-handed very often, but because the a5000 is so light, there’s a strong chance you will. In that scenario, the thick grip helps the camera feel stable in your hands.

Additionally, practically all of the buttons on the a5000 are grouped on the right-hand side of the camera, making them simple to reach with the thumb. This is another solid clue that the camera was meant to be operated with only one hand.

A switch for turning the camera on and off is located on the top of the device, close to the button that releases the shutter. There is also a zoom lever that you may use when a power zoom lens is installed to the camera, such as the 16-50mm kit lens – if you prefer, you can alternatively use a switch on the lens itself. The camera comes with a 16-50mm kit lens. The zoom lever on top of the camera may also zoom into photographs as they are being played back to ensure the focus is correct.

Sony a5000 Performance

Sony’s more recent cameras have left a significant impression on us regarding image quality. The fact that the image quality is so high often more than makes up for the fact that the handling of the camera may be a little bit quirky at times.

To our great relief, the a5000 has demonstrated that it is no different. Again, the photographs have a great deal of minute detail, and the colors are wonderfully saturated.

We were also quite impressed by the photographs produced by the NEX-3N, and we could not see why the images produced by the a5000 would be any less impressive. In fact, including the most recent Bionx X processor ought to favorably affect the outcomes.

Sony a5000 Image Quality

During this examination, the Sony A5000 captured photographs of exceptionally high Quality. The ISO range of the Sony A5000 is rather extensive and relatively useable, reaching up to 16000. The range from 100 to 800 ISO is noise-free, while the range from 1600 to 6400 ISO delivers results that are more than acceptable, and even ISO 12800 and the fastest setting of 16000 are appropriate for usage in an emergency.

However, the RAW examples show how much processing the camera undertakes by default since they are significantly noisier than their JPEG counterparts across the board, regardless of the ISO value.

The 20-megapixel images come out of the camera a little soft when using the Standard creative style as the default. For the best results, you should sharpen them more by utilizing an application like Adobe Photoshop; alternatively, you can adjust the level of sharpening that the camera applies automatically.

The built-in flash performed admirably indoors, preventing red-eye and producing photographs with adequate exposure overall. The night shot turned out well thanks to the camera’s maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds and its Bulb mode, which allow lots of room for creative experimentation during nighttime shooting.

A practical Dynamic Range Optimizer function will extract additional data from an image’s shadow and highlight sections without adding any noise or other artifacts that aren’t intended.

The High Dynamic Range mode combines the results of two separate images taken at various exposures into a single image. The result is an image that has a higher dynamic range than what would be produced by a single photograph. However, it does yield some excellent effects even though it can only function with JPEGs and stationary subjects. Even after all of these years, using Sony’s Sweep Panorama is still a delightful experience.

The camera’s JPEG photographs can be easily customized using the 6 Creative Styles. In contrast, the camera’s 13 Creative Picture Effects may achieve unique effects in a flash that would generally need significant time spent in the digital darkroom.

Sony a5000 Specs

Body typeRangefinder-style mirrorless
Max resolution5456 x 3632
Other resolutions5456 x 3064, 3872 x 2576, 3872 x 2176, 2736 x 1824, 2736 x 1536
Image ratio w h3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels20 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors20 megapixels
Sensor sizeAPS-C (23.2 x 15.4 mm)
Sensor typeCMOS
ProcessorBionz X
ISOAuto, 100 – 16000
White balance presets9
Custom white balanceYes
Image stabilizationNo
Uncompressed formatRAW
JPEG quality levelsFine, standard
AutofocusContrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousFace DetectionLive View.
Digital zoomYes (2X)
Manual focusYes
Number of focus points25
Lens mountSony E
Focal length multiplier1.5×
Articulated LCDTilting
Screen size3″
Screen dots460,800
Touch screenNo
Screen typeTFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Live viewYes
Viewfinder typeNone
Minimum shutter speed30 sec
Maximum shutter speed1/4000 sec
Aperture priorityYes
Shutter priorityYes
Manual exposure modeYes
Subject/scene modesYes
Built-in flashYes
Flash Range4.00 m (at ISO 100)
External flashNo
Flash modesFlash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
Continuous drive3.5 fps
Self-timerYes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Metering modesMultiCenter-weighted spot
Exposure compensation±3 (at 1/3 EV steps)
AE Bracketing±3 (3 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps)
WB BracketingYes (3-shot)
Resolutions1920 x 1080 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
FormatMPEG-4, AVCHD
MicrophoneStereo
SpeakerNone
Storage typesSD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
USBUSB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMIYes (micro HDMI)
WirelessBuilt-In
Wireless notes802.11 b/g/n with NFC
Remote controlYes (via smartphone)
Environmentally sealedNo
BatteryBattery Pack
Battery descriptionNP-FW50 lithium-ion battery and USB charger
Battery Life (CIPA)420
Weight (inc. batteries)269 g (0.59 lb / 9.49 oz)
Dimensions110 x 63 x 36 mm (4.33 x 2.48 x 1.42″)
Orientation sensorYes
Timelapse recordingYes (requires downloadable app)
GPSNone

Sony a5000 Verdict

  • Product
  • Features
  • Photos

Sony Alpha a5000 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm OSS Lens (Black)

Last update was on: March 28, 2024 3:10 pm
$334.00 $448.00

Sony has been in the camera manufacturing business for a long enough period to have acquired the necessary expertise. As a result, the company has not released any subpar cameras in quite some time. The a5000 is another dependable and well-built small system camera that has been added to the list. This camera will appeal most to those just beginning their photography journey.

Its size and body design make it likely to appeal to individuals who are upgrading from a mobile phone or compact camera. In addition, it is suitable for those searching for their first interchangeable lens camera, which is the ideal target market for the product.

The Sony Alpha a5000 is capable of generating photographs of excellent Quality. These photographs have great detail, perform exceptionally well at high sensitivities, and have gorgeous, warm color tones. In addition, the performance of the kit lens is satisfactory, and the selection of lenses available for Sony E-mount cameras is good and expanding; thus, this is a system that you can invest in and continue to develop.

How old is the Sony A5000?

Since it was first introduced in 2014, the Sony A5000 will be approximately nine years old in 2023.

Is Sony A5000 discontinued?

The Sony A5000 is no longer produced as of March 2023, marking the product’s official retirement date.

Is Sony Alpha 5000 good?

The Sony A5000 is an excellent mirrorless camera for beginners because it has a small body, produces high-quality images, and has simple settings.

What is the current price of the Sony A5000?

The current price of the Sony A5000 differs from one retailer to another and from region to region, but in general, it can be purchased at a more affordable price than more recent models.

Is Sony A5000 mirrorless camera?

The Sony A5000 is a mirrorless camera; that much is true.

How many megapixels is Sony A5000?

The APS-C camera in the Sony A5000 has a resolution of 20.1 megapixels.

Is Sony A5000 touch screen?

The Sony A5000 has a touchscreen LCD monitor that can rotate and measure 3 inches.

What year model is the Sony a5000?

The Sony A5000 was made available to consumers in the year 2014.

Does the Sony a5000 have a mic?

The Sony A5000 does indeed come with an internal microphone that can capture sounds; however, it does not have a 3.5mm microphone jack that can be used with an external microphone.

What is the image quality of Alpha A5000?

The Sony A5000 has a high resolution and colors that are true to life, which contributes to the camera’s typically excellent picture quality.

Does Sony A5000 have Bluetooth?

The Sony A5000 cannot communicate with a Bluetooth device.

Does the Sony a5000 have a flash?

The Sony A5000 does come equipped with a pop-up light.

Does the Sony a5000 have a viewfinder?

The Sony A5000 does not have a viewfinder integrated into the camera.

Is Sony a5100 suitable for beginners?

The Sony a5100 is another excellent camera for newcomers, and it shares many of the same capabilities and features as the A5000. However, it has a few extra enhancements and a higher price point than the A5000.

Does the Sony A5000 have audio?

The Sony A5000 does come with an internal microphone that can be used to capture sound.

Can Sony a6000 record sound?

Yes, the Sony a6000 is capable of recording audio simultaneously with video.

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