Sony a5100 Review

The NEX-5T has been succeeded by the A5100, which is part of Sony’s ongoing effort to gradually phase out a number of the cameras that were once sold under the NEX brand name. Even though the camera has the same form factor as its predecessor, Sony has equipped it with a sensor with 24.3 million pixels and a CPU identical to the one found in the A6000.

The number of focusing points has also been increased, going up to 179 for phase detection and 25 for contrast detection. This is another significant development. The NEX-5T also included a hybrid autofocus system; however, in addition to its 25 contrast detection areas, it only had 99 phase-detection points. Twenty-five regions handled contrast detection.

Because of this, the new camera has much increased coverage, and the only parts of the image frame that are not covered are the very margins. As a result, the camera is said to have a focusing speed of 0.07 seconds, which places it just slightly behind the Sony A6000 and the Fujifilm X-T1, both of which boast focusing rates of 0.06 seconds and claim to be the APS-C camera with the quickest autofocus on the market.

Sony a5100 Build Quality.

Because the Alpha 5100 is smaller than the A6000 (120×66.9×45.1mm) and the NEX-5T (110.8×58.8×38.9mm), the control dial was formerly located on the top of the camera and has been removed. As a result, the camera dimensions are as follows: 109.6 x 62.8 x 35.7 mm.

As a direct consequence, the Alpha 5100 makes far more use of the navigation controls, and it is unfortunate that the menu, which is identical to the one found on the A6000, cannot be accessed using the touch screen.

You may change the shooting mode via the camera’s main menu. So, for example, you could go from automatic to semi-automatic shooting mode. However, using one of the custom buttons to do this job to provide you with easier access was something that I found to be extremely helpful.

Sony a5100 Performance

Because the A5100 has the same sensor and processing engine as the A6000, we were sure it would likewise give fantastic results. However, it is fair to argue that arguably the most significant difference between both cameras is not performance but how they are handled.

The colors captured by the camera have a high saturation level and are brilliant and vivid when seen directly from the device. By manipulating the Creative Style setting, you can change how colors come from the camera itself. In this section, you’ll find options like Vivid, Portrait, Black and White, and Landscape.

Each of these may be customized to your liking—for example; the contrast can be cranked up—and have the bonus of being captured in raw format, which provides you with an unaltered version of the image in case you find that you need it.

Sony a5100 Image Quality

During this evaluation, the Sony A5100 produced photographs of exceptionally high Quality. The ISO range of the Sony A5100 is rather extensive and highly useable, reaching up to 25600. 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 25600 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 24-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 redeye 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 these years, they are using Sony’s Sweep Panorama, which is still a delightful experience. In addition, the 13 creative Picture Effects allow you to produce unique looks quickly, which would otherwise require you to spend a significant amount of time in the digital darkroom. On the other hand, the 7 Creative Styles provide a quick and simple method for adjusting the JPEG images captured by the camera.

Sony a5100 Specs

Body type	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Max resolution	6000 x 4000
Other resolutions	6000 x 3376, 4240 x 2832, 4240 x 2400, 3008 x 2000, 3008 x 1688
Image ratio w h	3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels	24 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors	25 megapixels
Sensor size	APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm)
Sensor type	CMOS
Processor	Bionz X
ISO	Auto, 100-25600
White balance presets	10
Custom white balance	Yes
Image stabilization	No
Uncompressed format	RAW
JPEG quality levels	Extra fine, fine, normal
Autofocus	Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View.
DigView zoom	Yes (2X (Clear Image Zoom), 4X (digital zoom))
Manual focus	Yes
Number of focus points	179
Lens mount	Sony E
Focal length multiplier	1.5×
Articulated LCD	Tilting
Screen size	3″
Screen dots	921,600
Touch screen	Yes
Screen type	TFT LCD
Live view	Yes
Viewfinder type	None
Minimum shutter speed	30 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/4000 sec
Aperture priority	Yes
Shutter priority	Yes
Manual exposure mode	Yes
Subject/scene modes	Yes
Built-in flash	Yes
Flash Range	4.00 m (at ISO 100)
External flash	No
Flash modes	Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Continuous drive	6.0 fps
Self-timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Metering modes	MultiCenter-weighted spot
Exposure compensation	±3 (at 1/3 EV steps)
AE Bracketing	±3 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps)
WB Bracketing	Yes (3 frames, high/low settings)
Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Format	MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Videography notes	Supports XAVC S, AVCHD, MP4
Microphone	Stereo
Speaker	Mono
Storage types	SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI	Yes (micro-HDMI)
Microphone port	No
Headphone port	No
Wireless	Built-In
Wireless notes	802.11b/g/n with NFC
Remote control	Yes (wired or PC)
Environmentally sealed	No
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery and USB charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	400
Weight (inc. batteries)	283 g (0.62 lb / 9.98 oz)
Dimensions	110 x 63 x 36 mm (4.33 x 2.48 x 1.42″)
Orientation sensor	Yes
Timelapse recording	Yes (via optional app)
GPS	None

Sony a5100 Verdict

It is usually possible to rely on Sony cameras to generate outstanding photographs; luckily, the A5100 is not an exception to this rule. The level of information that the camera’s sensor can resolve is particularly astounding, as is the camera’s ability to produce bright and punchy images straight out of the camera.

It is an excellent camera to get you started, with the kit lens being a superb all-around performance if you prefer to stick with one lens for now. The camera is aimed at first-time purchasers of interchangeable lens systems and is an excellent way to get started.

Sony a5100 FAQs