Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Detailed Comparison

This right here is a detailed Sony a5000 vs Canon 60D comparison. The Sony a5000 was introduced as an entry-level camera while the Canon 60D was introduced as a semi-pro camera. So, it isn’t far-fetched to guess which camera would be the more impressed.

Get the Sony a5000 now!	Get the Canon 60D now!

But just to be sure, we’ve compared the features of one camera against those of the other camera and even exposed their good points and not so impressive points too. This way, you are able to make an informed decision, not just of which camera is the better camera, but of which meets your needs.

If you need to make a really quick decision, though, we recommend that you check out the comparison overview and comparison table sections. They contain what you need to say but in bite sizes so that you can quickly run through them.

We do recommend, though, that you read through the entire article, especially if you are new at all these. We also recommend that you check out some of our other Sony-Canon comparison articles, like the Sony a7R vs Canon 70D, just to keep your options open.

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Comparison Overview

Here is a quick rundown of the basic ideas in this review:

Overall Ratings Of the Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D

For the level of professionalism they cater to, we believe that both cameras are decent cameras. The Sony a5000’s niche could be its connectivity while the Canon 60D’s niche is definitely its video recording. Let’s take a look at the features so you’ll understand what we’re saying.

Rating Of The Features Of The Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D

The Sony a5000 and the Canon 60D do not share a lot of similar features. They both have an inbuilt flash, the Auto Exposure bracketing feature RAW support and face detection. Both also have an articulating screen but even that is kinda different because the Sony a5000 has a tilting screen while the Canon 60D has a full-flex screen.

Now to their specific strengths. We mentioned that the Sony a5000’s strength could be its connectivity and that is because it has an inbuilt wireless connection and a Near Field Communication feature.

Some of its other strengths include its lightweight (0.6 pound against the Canon 60D’s 1.7 pounds), its smartphone control, its low light performance (1089 as against the canon 60D’s 813) and its focus points.

On the other hand, we mentioned that the Canon 60D’s strength is in its video recording. Both cameras have the same video resolution (1920 by 1080). However, because this camera has a microphone port and a full-flex screen, it will be easier for you to do personal recordings and still get good quality audio.

Some of its other strengths include the presence of a viewfinder, its battery life of 1100 shots per charge, weather sealing, top LCD screen, flash synchronization port and better shutter speed (1/8000s as against the Sony a5000’s 1/4000s).

Finally, there are a number of features you won’t find on either camera and they include the in body image stabilization feature and a headphone port.

Price/Value Ratio – Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D

Both the Sony a5000 are actually pretty affordable. It is our opinion that you’ll be getting value for your money whichever camera you get.

About The Brands

Sony

The Sony brand is pretty popular for a number of different things including entertainment and electronics. However, for cameras, it happens to be the leading manufacturer of mirrorless cameras. It has a few DSLR cameras to its name but its mirrorless cameras are really what it is known for.

That said, Sony cameras are known for their impressive sensor resolution and, unfortunately, not so impressive battery life.

Canon

This brand happens to be the leading producer of DSLR cameras, together with Nikon. Canon has been producing cameras for so long that it has been able to garner a decent collection of lenses and other accessories; more impressive than what Sony cameras offer.

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Comparison Table

	Sony a5000	Canon 60D
Weight	0.6 pound	1.7 pounds
Dimensions	4.3 by 2.5 by 1.4 inches	5.7 by 4.2 by 3.1 inches
Screen Resolution	461k dots	1040k dots
Wireless Connection	Inbuilt	Eye-Fi
Near Field Communication	Yes	No
Viewfinder	None	Optical viewfinder
Sensor Resolution	20 megapixels	18 megapixels
Continuous Shooting	4 frames per second (fps)	5 frames per second
Battery Life	420 shots per charge	1100 shots per charge
Screen Type	Tilting Screen	Full-Flex Screen
Microphone Port	No	Yes
Flash Shoe	No	Yes
Weather Sealing	No	Yes
Shutter Speed	1/4000s	1/8000s
ISO Range	100 to 16000	100 to 6400 and can be expanded to 12800

Get the Sony a5000 now!	Get the Canon 60D now!

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Which Is Better For What?

Sony a5000	Canon 60D
First off, we must say that this camera is, by far, the easier camera to transport. And that is because it is really very light and portable.	On the other hand, this is the better camera for recording videos. Both cameras have the same video resolution. But with this camera’s full-flex screen and microphone port, you’ll be able to record your videos by yourself and have good quality audio.
Also, this camera has the better low light performance. It isn’t exactly awesome but it does alright.	Also, this is the camera that you’ll be able to use for longer periods at a time because of its way more impressive battery life.

Get the Sony a5000 now!	Get the Canon 60D now!

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Common Features

1. Articulating Screen

First off, both the Sony a5000 and the Canon 60D have an articulating screen. An articulating screen is that kind of screen that can be turned or angled in different directions without having to turn the camera body itself.

The idea of this kind of screen is for the photographer or videographer to be able to shoot or record from certain somewhat difficult angles like overhead shots. That said, there are usually two kinds of articulating screens; the tilting kind and the full-flex kind.

The difference is in how many directions the screen can be turned. The tilting screen, as the name suggests, can only be turned upward and then back down. The Full-flex kind, on the other hand, can be rotated. This is why a camera that has this screen can be used to record oneself by oneself.

That said, the Sony a5000 has a tilting screen while the Canon 60D has a full-flex screen.

2. Auto Exposure Bracketing

The exposure of a photo is basically about how much light that photo has and this is determined by a combination of the ISO, the aperture and the shutter speed. So, different combinations of these three features will give you different exposures which is something you can set by yourself.

However, there are times when the exposure might be difficult to figure. For one, if you are shooting in a place where the lighting is tricky; that is, there are different variations to the lighting, it could be difficult to determine what the right exposure ought to be.

In that case, the Auto Exposure Bracketing feature will come in handy. Switching on this mode tells the camera to choose the exposures that it considers appropriate for the photo to be shot.

However, you still have the final say. This is because, the camera takes the same shot in more than one exposure. It is now left for you to decide whether or not you want to make use of all the variations that your camera has shot.

3. Sensor Resolution

First off, the Sony a5000 and the Canon 60D actually do not have the exact same sensor resolution. However, they are pretty close which is why we have included this feature in our common features section.

That said, while the sensor resolution doesn’t really have much to do with the quality of the photos you shoot, it has a huge role to play in the after effects.

Here’s what we are saying. The sensor resolution is responsible for how far you can crop your photos and how large you can print them. So, the higher your sensor resolution in megapixels, the more room you have to crop and print.

If you end up shooting more than you wanted to, you’ll need to crop your photos in order to bring your subject into perspective. Cropping usually reduces the details in a photo which reduces its quality. However, if your sensor resolution is high enough, you’ll be able to crop very specifically while having enough details left that your photo still looks awesome.

Same for printing. The larger you blow up your photo, the more details you lose. So, more sensor megapixels means more room to print large photos.

That said, both the Sony a5000 and the Canon 60D have what we could call an average sensor resolution. The Sony a5000 boasts of 20 megapixels while the Canon 60D boasts of 18 megapixels. Hopefully, the leeway these allow you will be enough.

4. Inbuilt Flash

Both the Sony a5000 and the Canon 60D are fitted with an inbuilt flash. The inbuilt flash is a quick fix or light source for those situations when you want to shoot in the dark.

The thing is, no matter how dark you want to shoot, your sensor has to be able to see in order to pick the subject. Hence the need for a light source aside what the environment offers.

Now, despite the fact that the inbuilt flash cannot solve all poor lighting problems, we like that it is always available. So, at those times when you forget to bring your external flash with you or you deliberately leave it at home because it is too heavy, you’ll always have a quick fix.

Get the Sony a5000 now!	Get the Canon 60D now!

5. Continuous Shooting

This is a mode that allows your camera take more than one shot in just one second. The continuous shooting mode is usually favored by photographers who are pressed for time or shoot subjects that move around a lot.

Continuous shooting is measured in frames per second. So, the more frames per second your camera can shoot, the better suited it is for things like wildlife photography, sports photography and even paparazzi.

That said, both the Sony a5000 and the Canon 60D have what can only be described as an average continuous shooting rate. With the Sony a500 you can only shoot 4 frames in one second while the Canon 60D can offer you 5 frames.

6. Video Resolution

The Sony a5000 and the Canon 60D have the same video resolution of 1920 by 1080. This video resolution happens to be one of the most impressive video resolutions that devices can have. It is only topped by 4K and, most recently, 6K. So yea, both cameras have an impressive video resolution.

7. RAW Support

Basically every digital camera shoots in jpeg. The jpeg format usually compresses photos in a bid to minimize their size. However, this compression usually robs the photos of some of their quality.

So basically, if your camera produces great quality photos, the compression my not hurt the photos so much. However, if the opposite is the case, you won’t be left with a lot after they’ve been compressed.

Thankfully, though, there’s no need to be concerned so much about all that seeing as both cameras can shoot in RAW. The RAW format allows the photos to retain their original quality. However, because the photos are not compressed, you’ll have to remember that they’ll take up a lot of storage space.

8. Face Detection

Finally, both cameras have this feature that allows them detect human faces from amongst a whole lot of other elements. When the human face has been detected, the camera locks down on said face, allowing the face to be the main focus of the photo.

If you’ll be shooting a lot of portraits, you’ll come to really appreciate this feature.

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – A Sony a5000 Demonstration Video

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Unique Features

1. Mirrorless Vs DSLR

At the very heart of it, this is a mirrorless vs DSLR comparison; the Sony a5000 being the morrorless and the Canon 60D the DSLR. These two kinds of cameras differ in a number of modes of operation. And this difference could account for a number of other differences.

First off, a DSLR, as opposed to a mirrorless camera, usually has a mirror and an optical viewfinder, both of which are instrumental to the distribution of light in a DSLR. Basically, the light that passes through the lens is reflected unto the optical viewfinder by the mirror.

On the other hand, the light that enters into a mirrorless camera is processed by the sensor into a digital image that is then sent to the electronic viewfinder or LCD screen, whatever the case may be.

Now, because a mirrorless camera doesn’t have that mirror, it is able to have a sensor that is flexible. That is, most mirrorless cameras have a sensor that can be used with a variety of different lenses from different kinds of camera.

Also, because of this absence of a mirror, mirrorless cameras are able to be as functional as their DSLR counterparts while being a lot smaller and lighter. This is one of the reasons that people are coming to appreciate mirrorless cameras. However, they still do not have as good a battery life as DSLRs.

2. Weight

While this isn’t exactly a feature, it is something you want to consider before getting a camera, especially if you plan on taking your camera on a lot of energy exerting exercises.

That said, there is a very wide weight difference between these two cameras. Weighing 0.6 pound, the Sony a5000 cannot be tagged anything but lightweight. On the other hand, some might consider the Canon 60D a heavy camera because it weighs 1.7 pounds.

That said, bear in mind that what we just talked about concerns only the body of the cameras. And being interchangeable lens cameras, you’ll have to attach a lens to either camera to use them and lenses are not exactly weightless.

To determine what the weight of each camera will be when a lens is attached is practically an impossible task seeing as both cameras have a number of different lenses available to them.

However, we can determine whether attaching a lens will affect the weight difference between the cameras. And to do that, we look at the sensor size. Basically, if one camera has a larger sensor than the other, it will require lenses that are heavier and bigger than those of the other camera.

That said, both cameras have an APS-C sensor of the same size. So, for the same aperture and focal length, both cameras will use lenses that are of the same weight and size.

3. Viewfinder

The function of the viewfinder is to help you frame your subject as you shoot. That is, looking through the viewfinder, you get an idea of what the photo will look like when it has been shot. So, you can make your corrections if there are any to be made before you shoot.

Now, there are basically two kinds of viewfinders: the optical and the electronic kind. The optical viewfinder could be worked manually and looking through it is kinda like looking at your subject directly or through a window.

This is the kind of viewfinder that you would usually find in a DSLR and is the kind that is in the Canon 60D. Because it can be operated manually, it doesn’t use up so much battery power and has a pretty quick response time.

On the other hand, there is the electronic viewfinder. The electronic viewfinder is a miniature LCD screen. So, the images you’ll see on it are digital which is a pretty close representation of what the actual photos will look like (photos are digital).

This is the kind of viewfinder you would usually find in a mirrorless camera. However, some mirrorless cameras like the Sony a5000, do not have a viewfinder.

Furthermore, while some mirrorless cameras without a viewfinder have a port where you can attach an external viewfinder, some others, like the Sony a5000, do not.

In those cases, you’ll have to make do with the LCD screen. The LCD screen could suffice in certain situations. However, if you are shooting in a place that is brightly lit, you’ll probably find it difficult to see what’s on the screen.

4. Wireless Connection

This feature is basically an access to the internet. And in this age of many technological advancements, you’ll agree with us that access to the internet is an important feature.

A camera that has this wireless connection is able to download apps of the internet and transfer its files to an online location. That said, both the Sony a5000 and the Canon 60D have a form of access to the internet.

However, while the Sony a5000 has an inbuilt wireless connection, you’ll have to get an Eye-Fi device to be able to connect the Canon 60D to the internet.

This Eye-Fi device is a small card that you’ll insert into the camera. We have to say, that this is not as fast as the inbuilt wireless connection and also does not have as wide a reach.

Furthermore, of the two cameras in this review, only the Sony a5000 has the Near Field Communication connection. This feature allows the camera connect with other devices that have this feature. And via this, files can be transferred from the camera to a different device without internet connection.

Finally, of the two cameras in this review, only the Sony a5000 can be controlled using a smartphone. That is, if you download the appropriate app on your smartphone and then connect the smartphone to the camera, you can take shots on your camera using your smartphone.

This feature comes in handy for those who shoot in risky situations like crisis areas and even the wildlife. With this feature, you can set your camera where you want to capture the images and go to a safe place to shoot. On your smartphone, you’ll be able to see what your camera sees because of this feature.

5. External Flash Port

We’ve mentioned the inbuilt flash that both cameras have. That said, the external flash is usually a better light source with better coverage than the inbuilt flash.

This is why we like that the Canon 60D has a provision for one to attach an external flash. The Sony a5000 would certainly have benefitted from this feature, especially because its inbuilt flash doesn’t have a very impressive coverage.

Get the Sony a5000 now!	Get the Canon 60D now!

6. ISO Range

A camera’s ISO is one of the factors that determine how much light gets into the sensor. The higher the ISO you choose, the more light your camera lets in.

That said, different lighting situations will call for different ISO ratings. If you are shooting in the dark, you’ll have to make up for the lack of light by choosing a high ISO. This way, your camera lets in as much light as is necessary and your sensor is able to pick out the subject you want to shoot.

On the other hand, if you are shooting in a place that is brightly lit, go for a low ISO. This way, your cameras doesn’t let in all the light that is available in the environment.

That said, neither camera has an especially impressive ISO range. However, the Sony a5000 does way better than the Canon 60D in this area.

With the Sony a5000, you can go from 100 to 16000 while you can only go from 100 to 6400 with the Canon 60D. We do concede, though, that the Canon 60D can have its range expanded up to 12800. That is still not as high as the Sony a5000, though.

7. Weather Sealing

Of the two cameras in this review, only the Canon 60D has some form of weather sealing. We say some form of because while the Canon 60D is water resistant, it isn’t waterproof. So, you’ll have to be really careful how much water you allow this camera be exposed to.

8. Microphone Port

Both the Sony a5000 and the Canon 60D have an inbuilt microphone. However, this inbuilt microphone isn’t the best idea as it has a habit of picking up more than you want it to in the form of noise.

This is why people prefer to make use of an external microphone. However, you can only use an external microphone on a camera if said camera has a microphone port. And of the two cameras in this review, only the Canon 60D has this feature.

9. Flash Synchronization Port

This feature allows a camera maintain connection with a flash that isn’t on it. So, you basically fix the external flash in this port and once the connection has been established, you pull it out and place it where you want it. Of the two cameras in this review, only the Canon 60D has this feature.

10. Top LCD Screen

This is a small LCD screen located on the top of a camera. The idea of this screen is for you to be able to make quick changes right there on this screen without having to change the position of the camera in order to locate the buttons and stuff. Only the Canon 60D has this feature.

11. Available Lenses

Finally, the Sony a5000 has 102 lenses available with it while the Canon 60D has 319 lenses available. Furthermore, it is imperative that you know that neither camera has an inbuilt image stabilization feature.

As a result, photos taken with either camera could come out looking blurry if they are jostled mid-shot. Thankfully, though, this can be prevented by getting optical stabilization lenses. That said, the Sony a5000 has 23 of these available while the Canon 60D has 91 of them available.

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – A Canon 60D Demonstration Video

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Unique Pros

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Pros Of The Sony a5000

• First off, the Sony a5000 has an inbuilt wireless connection. As against the Canon 60D’s Eye-Fi, the inbuilt wireless connection is always available and is also swifter and has a wider reach.
• Furthermore, this camera has the Near Field Communication (NFC) connection. And seeing as neither camera has the Bluetooth feature, the NFC is the only means via which this camera can connect with another device offline.
• Also, this camera can be controlled using a smartphone.
• The Sony a5000 has a better maximum ISO than the Canon 60D. It also does better in low light.
• Furthermore, this camera has a slightly better color depth (23.8) than the Canon 60D (22.2).
• Also, this camera has a better dynamic range (13.0) than the Canon 60D (11.5).
• The Sony a5000 has more focus points (25) than the Canon 60D (9). As a result, it would be easier to focus with this camera than with the Canon 60D.
• Furthermore, this camera has a slightly better sensor resolution than the Canon 60D.
• Finally, this camera is significantly lighter than the Canon 60D.

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Pros Of The Canon 60D

• First off, unlike the Sony a5000, the Canon 60D actually has a viewfinder. And a viewfinder is better at framing than an LCD screen.
• Furthermore, this camera has a better screen resolution (1040k dots) than the Sony a5000 (461k dots).
• Also, this camera has a way more impressive battery life (1100 shots per charge) than the Sony a5000 (420 shots per charge).
• The Canon 60D is water resistant. So, you’ll be able to use it in certain mild watery situations which is more than the Sony a5000 offers.
• Furthermore, this camera has a more impressive shutter speed (1/8000s) than the Sony a5000 (1/4000s). Basically, what this means is that this camera is faster than the Sony a5000.
• Also, you can use an external flash with this camera which is a better idea than using the inbuilt flash.
• And about the inbuilt flash, this camera has a better flash range (13 meters) than the Sony a5000 (4 meters).
• The Canon 60D has a microphone por. So, if you get this camera, you’ll be able to use a microphone that will give you the quality you want.
• Furthermore, this camera has a top LCD screen for quick settings changes.
• Also, because of the flash synchronization port, you can use an external flash without it being fixed to the camera.
• Finally, this camera has more lenses available with it than the Sony a5000.

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Unique Cons

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Cons Of The Sony a5000

• First off, the Sony a5000 doesn’t have a viewfinder. The LCD screen isn’t always a wonderful choice for framing and is even worse with this camera because of its not very impressive screen resolution.
• Furthermore, this camera does not have any form of weather protection. So, you’ll have to be mindful of when and where you use the camera.
• Also, for videographers, you won’t be able to use a microphone with this camera.
• Finally, with this camera, you’ll have to stick with using the inbuilt flash because you can’t use an external flash with it.

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Cons Of The Canon 60D

• First off, this camera’s Eye-Fi (which you’ll have to purchase separately, by the way) is not as swift and broad as the inbuilt wireless connection.
• Also, because this camera does not have the Bluetooth feature and the Near Field Communication connection, you won’t be able to transfer files off the camera without an internet connection.
• Finally, this camera could be considered heavy by some people.

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Common Pros

	Sony a5000	Canon 60D
Articulating Screen	This camera has a tilting screen which will afford you great shots from some somewhat difficult angles.	That of the Sony a5000 is a full-flex screen. So, you can rotate the screen and use the camera to take selfies or record videos for your blog.
Auto Exposure Bracketing	The auto exposure bracketing allows the camera take the same shot in a number of different exposures. This is a nice feature for those times when it is difficult for you to determine what the right exposure is.	Same as the Sony a5000.
Inbuilt Flash	This camera has an inbuilt flash. And while we’ve made no secret about the fact that the inbuilt flash is not as good a flash source as the external flash, we like that it is always available and doesn’t add to the weight of the camera.	Same as the Sony a5000.
RAW Support	The Sony a5000 can shoot in RAW. And while jpeg has its good points, one of them being its ability to compress photos in order to save space, RAW allows you more freedom by leaving your photos in their original quality. It will now be up to you to decide what to do with your photo.	Same as the Sony a5000.
Face Detection	Finally, this camera has the face detection feature that allows it recognize and focus on faces. This feature makes the recognized human face the main focus of the photo making it a nice feature for shooting portraits.	Same as the Sony a5000.

Get the Sony a5000 now!	Get the Canon 60D now!

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Common Cons

	Sony a5000	Canon 60D
Image Stabilization	This camera does not have an in body image stabilization feature. As a result, photos could come out looking really blurry if the camera is jostled as you take a shot. Thankfully, this can be prevented by getting image stabilization lenses.	Same as the Sony a5000.

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – What People Think About Both Cameras

Sony a5000	Canon 60D
One of the reasons that people like this camera is that a lot of people like this camera is the weight. Customers seem to like that this camera is easy to carry around. Furthermore, a number of people have mentioned that this camera is an easy one to figure out especially because the settings are properly explained. So, this probably explains why a god number of people that use this camera are beginners. A number of people have also mentioned that they like that this camera allows for a variety of lenses. The articulating screen is another thing that people like. Apparently, it flips to such angles that the camera can be used to shoot oneself by oneself.	A good number of people also happen to really like this camera. Apparently, the images it shoots are really impressive. People also seem to be impressed with the battery life of this camera because it is, not just impressive on its own, it is also more impressive than many of its predecessors. The fact that the camera is weather sealed is something else that people seem to like about this camera.
However, some videographers have mentioned that the absence of a microphone port has put a slight strain in their video recording. In order to get good quality audio, they’ve had to attach wires and stuff in order to use an external microphone.	However, the absence of an inbuilt wireless connection feature seems to be an issue for some people. We do concede, though, that this camera is compatible with an Eye-Fi and some people seem to be alright with that.

Get the Sony a5000 now!	Get the Canon 60D now!

Sony a5000 Vs Canon 60D – Our Take

Sony a5000	Canon 60D
We like this camera and think it makes for a really good amateur camera. If you are looking to upgrade from your point-and-shoot, this is a good introduction to the professional level. It has an easy to understand menu and easy to understand buttons. Also, the camera takes good photos, records good videos and is lightweight.	We also like this camera. It is definitely not an entry-level camera as one has to have a knowledge of cameras to be able to figure this out. But it does take decent photos and videos, has an impressive battery life and is the better camera for shooting videos because of its full-flex viewfinder and microphone port.
There are a number of things that could have been included, but for an entry-level camera, we believe it works. Get the Sony a5000 now!	There are a number of things that could have been included but we believe that those features that are actually there work. Get the Canon 60D now!