Today, we will be comparing the Sony a5100 vs a5000. These are 2 entry-level mirrorless cameras, and obviously, they are both manufactured by the same company – Sony.
So, in this Sony a5100 vs a5000 comparison article today, we will be talking extensively about the things that distinguish these two cameras which belong in the same series.
Well, if you want to find out more about these two entry-level mirrorless cameras, you are at the right place. Make sure to stick with us all the way to the end.
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| Get the Sony a5100 here now! | Get the Sony a5000 here now! |
Sony a5100 vs a5000 – Comparison Overview
Sony is a really big company in the tech market, and when we talk specifically about cameras, photographers and camera lovers seem to consider Sony a brand name they can trust for quality entry-level, semi-pro, and pro cameras.
We can categorically tell you that Sony did not fail to deliver with either of these cameras. You will be seeing why we say that as we go on with this Sony a5100 vs a5000 comparison article.
Now, both these cameras come with some really amazing features. Some of those features are common to both of them, and some others are unique to each of them.
The Sony a5000 was announced by Sony on the 7th of January, 2014, while the Sony a5100, on the other hand, was announced – as a replacement for the a5000 – on the 17th of August, that same year.
In this Sony a5100 vs a5000 comparison article, you will be seeing if the a5000 was outdone by its successor.
Well, let us give you a clue; the Sony a5100 has a touch screen, while the Sony a5000 does not. So, yes, that was a big improvement.
Also, Sony did make a number of other improvements in the a5100. Like the burst mode speed is faster, light sensitivity is better, and focus points are more.
However, the Sony a5000 is more compact than the a5100, and perhaps, because of that, the better vacationing camera. Also, the a5000 has the slightly better battery capacity.
Anyway, the Sony a5100, despite having better functions and more features than the a5000, is the more affordable camera. Therefore, in our opinion, the Sony a5100 has the better price-value ratio of the two cameras.
Now, if you would like to see more ways in which these two entry-level mirrorless cameras compare, check out the comparison table below.
Sony a5100 vs a5000 – Comparison Table
Sony a5100 |
Sony a5000 | |
| Camera weight | 0.62 pounds (283 grams) | 0.59 pounds (269 grams) |
| Burst mode | 6 frames per second | 4 frames per second |
| Battery capacity | 400 shots per full charge | 420 shots per full charge |
| Focus points | 179 | 25 |
| Touch screen | Yes | No |
| Maximum sensor resolution | 24 mega pixels | 20 mega pixels |
| JPEG buffer | 67 shots | 15 shots |
| RAW buffer | 25 shots | 9 shots |
| ISO range | 100 to 25600 | 100 to 16000 |
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| Get the Sony a5100 here now! | Get the Sony a5000 here now! |
Sony a5100 vs a5000 – Which Is Better Under What Circumstance?
Sony a5100 |
Sony a5000 |
| If you are looking for the more convenient camera to use, then this is your better option. Unlike the a5000, the a5100 is a touch screen camera. This means that you sure will be finding it easier to get around using this camera than you will with the a5000. | If you need a personal camera – something you can always take around with you and take beautiful photos with, this is your camera! The Sony a5000 is lighter, and has a better battery capacity than the a5100. So, you won’t be feeling any discomfort holding your camera in your hands for long hours. |
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| Get the Sony a5100 here now! | Get the Sony a5000 here now! |
Sony a5100 vs a5000 – Common Features
So far, in this Sony a5100 vs a5000 comparison article, we have been able to point out some major differences between these two mirrorless cameras.
However, remember that these cameras are made by the same company, and in fact, belong in the same series. So, it is expected that they both have some features in common. Well, those features are what we will be talking about in this section.
But before then, we have to first understand what types of cameras these two are. That is what an entry-level camera is, and what a mirrorless camera is.
Entry-Level Cameras
Well, to understand better what an entry-level camera is, we compare it to a pro camera. Your guess is probably that a pro camera is made for professional use, and yes, that is right.
Pro cameras are made to withstand a lot more intensity, and so, are made with stronger and more durable features. These cameras are usually more complicated and more expensive.
Entry-level cameras, on the other hand, are the most affordable cameras a brand offers. They are easy to use, and not as durable as the pro cameras – but durable anyway.
Basically, entry-level cameras are made for beginners. Note, though, that there is another level of cameras – the semi-pro cameras. These are not as expensive and complicated as the pros, however, they are not as affordable and easy to use as the entry-level cameras.
Well, both the Sony a5100 and the a5000 are entry-level cameras. So, if you are looking to launch your photography career, you might be extra interested in this Sony a5100 vs a5000 comparison.
Mirrorless Cameras
Now, mirrorless cameras are cameras that do not make use of mirrors and optical viewfinders. This is basically because a mirrorless camera sends light from your camera’s lens straight to the electronic viewfinder or the LCD screen.
Digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras are those cameras who make use of mirrors and optical viewfinders. They are also called mirrored cameras.
DSLRs have a reflex design, so, in these cameras, light is sent from the lens to the mirror, which then bounces it off to the optical viewfinder, where you can frame your image. This is the basic difference between these mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
Now, let us get into the features that are common to both of these cameras.
Articulating Screen
An articulating screen is a type of screen that can be rotated to a certain degree to help you take photos or record videos from really difficult angles.
This screen is also what helps you take selfies with your camera. So, if you are a vlogger, or just a lover of selfies, you would be happy with either of these cameras, because they both come with articulating screens.
And seeing as the articulating screens of both these cameras are able to rotate 180 degrees upward, they are just ideal for vlogging and selfies.
In-Built Flash
An in-built flash is your camera’s primary source of lighting. It is the one source of lighting that is literally always with your camera.
However, not every camera comes with this primary source of lighting, so, yes, this should come off as really good news.
So, when you have to do a shoot in an area where the lighting is not the best, your camera’s in-built flash can still get you pretty bright images.
Face Detection Focus
This feature makes your camera able to automatically detect the human faces in the frame and focus on them. This is what makes your camera produce really amazing portrait photos.
So, with the face detection photos, the human faces in your images will be sharp and containing a lot of detail.
Auto Exposure Bracketing
Auto exposure bracketing is a feature that helps you take just one shot and get it in 3 or more different exposure settings.
This is one feature that will be very much appreciated in areas where exposure and lighting conditions are pretty tough.
In such cases, it might be difficult to determine what exposure setting will give you the best results.
Well, instead of wasting your time trying every setting available to you, you can easily just use the auto exposure bracketing. It will give you better results, with even less stress.
If you want to learn how to use this feature on your Sony camera, check out the video below. It shows you how you can quickly set the auto exposure bracketing, and how to use it to get great results.
This video uses the Sony a6000 as the model camera, but the steps are pretty much same as the a5100 and the a5000. Check the video out here!
RAW Support
The Sony a5100 and the Sony a5000 support the RAW format. What this means is that you can leave your images in their highest quality, instead of compressing it to JPEG format.
With your images in their highest quality, you, as a photographer, have the freedom to do more with your photos and videos, and use them on large scales.
HDMI Output
Each of these cameras has an HDMI output which allows you connect an HDMI cord to your camera.
With this, you have the option of viewing your images in much larger displays than your camera’s screen.
Wireless Connection & Near Field Communication (NFC)
With your camera’s in-built Wi-Fi and the near field communication (NFC) technology, you can easily connect your camera to a nearby compatible device, and transfer photos quickly.
Also, with these features you can connect your smart device, and have it act as your camera’s screen. And then, with this, you can go ahead and do a remote controlled shooting.
What a remote controlled shooting means is that you can do a photoshoot without even touching your camera. This is such a cool feature to use.
This is a particularly amazing feature for you if you are a wildlife photographer. You, of course, won’t have the luxury of carrying your camera around, because wild animals don’t smile, lol!
So, you can set your camera at a position where your camera can capture all the action you desire, get yourself to a safe spot, and then monitor your shooting from your smart device. Convenient, isn’t it?
If you want to find out how to use these features to transfer files and do a remote controlled shooting, check out this video below!
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| Get the Sony a5100 here now! | Get the Sony a5000 here now! |
Sony a5100 vs a5000 – Unique Features
Touch Screen
A touch screen camera is one feature that makes operating your camera really easy and stress free.
This means that you won’t have to search for the right buttons; all you have to do is access the functions by tapping on the screen.
Anyway, this is a feature that can be found in only the Sony a5100, which means that the a5000 is not a touch screen camera.
Sony a5100 vs a5000 – Unique Pros
Unique Pros Of The Sony a5100
Touch Screen
So, like we have already mentioned, a touch screen camera offers you a lot more convenience. Just tap and go.
And, being the only one of these cameras in comparison – Sony a5100 vs a5000 – that has a touch screen, you will only be getting this extra convenience from the Sony a5100.
Focus Points
Your camera’s focus points determine how sharp your camera’s images will be. And of course, the higher the focus points, the sharper the images your camera will produce.
With the Sony a5100, you get 179 focus points, which is pretty impressive. In fact, comparing compare the Sony a5100 vs a5000 in this aspect puts it in better perspective for you.
The Sony a5100 offers you focus points that are 7 times more than what you get with the a5000. Amazing, isn’t it?
Bigger JPEG Buffer
Now, when you shoot in burst mode, there is something that greatly affects how long your continuous shooting can go on for. That thing is the buffer.
The buffer is simply a temporal storage in your camera. This is where your photos and videos are stored before they are completely transferred to your memory card, while you shoot on burst mode.
So, if your buffer is large, it means you can shoot continuously for a long period of time, before having to wait.
A small buffer, on the other hand, means you will be taking more frequent pauses. These pauses are to help your camera free up space by completely transferring your files from buffer to memory card.
Now, the Sony a5100 has a JPEG buffer that can accommodate up to 67 shots. What this means is that, while shooting JPEG on burst mode, you can take up to 67 shots before having to take that pause.
This is pretty great, especially considering that the a5100 can hold a whole 52 shots more than its rival – the a5000.
This invariably means that, comparing the Sony a5100 vs a5000 in this aspect, you will be taking a lot more frequent pauses for your camera’s buffer to free up with the latter.
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| Get the Sony a5100 here now! | Get the Sony a5000 here now! |
Sony a5100 vs a5000 – Unique Cons
Unique Cons Of The Sony a5000
No Touch Screen
In this Sony a5100 vs a5000 comparison article, we have spoken repeatedly of how much convenience a touch screen camera affords you.
The ease of operation; the ability to get around using your camera functions without much hassle, have made many photographers lean towards touch screen cameras.
Unfortunately, you won’t be getting all this convenience with the a5000, as it does not come with a touch screen.
Few Focus Points
The Sony a5000 offers you only 25 focus points, and this is not very impressive. When compared with its replacement – the Sony a5100, one can see how far back behind this camera’s focus points are.
With the a5100, you get 154 more focus points. This, in turn, means you will be capturing a lot more detail with your Sony a5100 than with the a5000.
Small JPEG Buffer
Having a small JPEG buffer means that shooting JPEG on burst mode will be pretty frustrating.
And this is simply because you will have to take frequent pauses, as your camera won’t be able to hold up so many images before transferring to the memory card.
Specifically, while shooting JPEG with the Sony a5000 on burst mode, you will have to take pauses after every 15 shots. This is because the a5000’s buffer can hold only 15 shots per time.
Sony a5100 vs a5000 – Common Pros
Sony a5100 |
Sony a5000 | |
| Great portraits | The Sony a5100 has an amazing feature that will make sure that all your portraits will come out looking so good. That feature is the face detection focus. With this feature, you will be getting all the detail you need on the human faces in your frame. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| Good primary source of lighting | With your camera’s in-built flash, you have a really good source of lighting in your hands. With this, it would be possible for you to get bright enough images, even if you are shooting in low light areas. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| Affordable | This is an Entry-Level camera, so, yes it is expected that it’d be affordable. But well, even compared to many other Entry-Level cameras, the Sony a5100 still stands as a pretty affordable one. | Same as the Sony a5100. However, this camera is only slightly less affordable. |
| Lightweight | A lightweight camera is a very convenient camera to carry around. As a matter of fact, lightweight Entry-Level cameras are very ideal for hikes, walks, travels, and all of that. You can easily just whip out your camera at any time, and capture beautiful moments. And weighing 0.62 pounds (283 grams), the Sony a5100 is just that – a really lightweight camera. | Same as the Sony a5100. However, the Sony a5000 weighs slightly less at 0.59 pounds (269 grams). |
| High quality images | This camera offers you the option of having your images in their highest quality – RAW format. And really, what photographer wouldn’t like their images in their highest quality? | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| Convenient shooting from tough angles | With an articulating screen, you can now be more flexible with your shooting. Your eyes will not always be able to meet your camera’s viewfinder – whether because you are in a crowd, or because you need to bend too low to capture an image. Whatever your case is, the articulating screen makes it smooth and easy. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| Better selfies | Further on the advantages of your camera’s articulating screen – it allows you to take great selfies. The articulating screen of the Sony a5100 tilts 180 degrees upward, and so, you can just flip your camera screen up and take all the nice selfies you want. This is even better news if you are a vlogger or a YouTuber. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| Quick and easy transfer of files | With the Sony a5100, all you really need to do is connect your camera to a nearby compatible device using the wireless connection and near field communication (NFC) features, and you can transfer files in no time and with no hassle at all. This also makes it easy for you to upload your videos or photos to social media. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| Remote controlled shooting | We have already showed you in this Sony a5100 vs a5000 comparison article how you can use the Wi-Fi and NFC features to do a remote controlled shooting. This is a very cool function. It helps you use your smart device as your camera’s screen, and takes shooting with your Sony a5100 to the next level. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| Great for difficult exposure conditions | When you are unsure what exposure setting to use to get the perfect image, the auto exposure bracketing is your way out. When set, the auto exposure bracketing will reproduce an image in a couple of different shots, each with a different exposure setting. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| View images on large screen | The Sony a5100 has an HDMI output, this means that you can connect your camera to a monitor, and experience your photos and videos on a much bigger display. | Same as the Sony a5100 |
| Creative shooting with time-lapse recording | Time-lapse recording is a function that helps you manipulate time a bit to get beautiful videos. It expands your creativity as a photographer, and opens more possibilities for you and your photography. We will be attaching a time-lapse video after this table to give you an idea what one looks like. Look out for it. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| More creativity with panorama | This is yet another function that enhances creativity. Your camera can bring together a couple of pictures into one beautiful panoramic photo. Lovely. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
Check out this cute one minute time-lapse video of a cat taking a one hour nap!
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| Get the Sony a5100 here now! | Get the Sony a5000 here now! |
Sony a5100 vs a5000 – Common Cons
Sony a5100 |
Sony a5000 | |
| No external flash hot shoe | Your camera’s primary source of lighting – the in-built flash – will not always suffice. These are usually the times when you would need an external source of lighting to further enhance the brightness of your images. The hot shoe is a feature on which you can mount that external source of lighting – the external flash. But well, unfortunately, you won’t be getting that with the Sony a5100, because it does not come with an external flash hot shoe. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| No image stabilization | When your camera shakes while in your hands in the course of shooting, those shakes could have some big effects on your recordings. With image stabilization, the effects of those shakes are minimized. But well, seeing as this camera does not come with image stabilization, those effects will be very evident in your recordings with it. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| No weather sealing | Weather sealing on your camera means it is safe for you to use in harsh weather conditions. However, as the Sony a5100 does not come with a weather sealing, it will be pretty risky for you to use your camera outdoors when the weather is unsuitable. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| No viewfinder | A viewfinder helps you properly frame your photos before capturing. It shows you your image in a smaller display, and gives you more control. More so, if you are shooting when the sun is out, using your LCD screen might frustrate you. And this is because as the sun keeps bouncing on your camera screen, it will become really difficult for you to look into the screen, and that is less control of your images. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| Poor battery capacity | The Sony a5100 offers you only 400 shots per full charge. This is pretty unimpressive, even for an Entry-Level camera. With a battery like this, you won’t be able to shoot for as long as you might like to. Not good. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| Poor light sensitivity | Your camera’s light sensitivity (ISO) greatly influences your camera’s ability to get bright images in areas of low light. So, the higher your camera’s maximum ISO, the brighter the images you are able to get in areas of low light. And well, with an ISO range of 100 to 25600, the Sony a5100 does not have a very high maximum ISO. | Same as the Sony a5100, except that the Sony a5000 has an ISO range of 100 to 16000. And this is, of course, worse off. |
| No Bluetooth | Bluetooth is another easy way by which you can transfer files from your camera to nearby devices. However, the Sony a5100 does not have a built-in Bluetooth, so, you will be stuck with what the Wi-Fi offers. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| No GPS | The Sony a5100 does not come with a built-in GPS, which means that you won’t be able to geo-tag your photos or videos with your camera. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| No external microphone jack | Your camera’s lack of an external microphone jack obviously means that you will not be able to enhance your audio quality using an external microphone. This is not so good, because your camera’s internal microphone won’t always give you the results you desire, especially if you are shooting in areas where there is a lot of noise. And well, in such cases, the only way audio quality can be enhanced is with the use of an external microphone. Sadly, the a5100 does not offer you that. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| No headphone jack | When recording audio with your camera, headphones give you’re the power to regulate the sound you are getting till you are satisfied. Well, seeing as it does not have a headphone jack, you won’t be getting that with the Sony a5100. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| No slow motion | Slow motion helps you expand your creativity as a photographer. Well, you won’t be getting that with the Sony a5100. | Same as the Sony a5100. |
| Slow burst mode | Now, burst mode is a function in your camera that allows you take photos in quick succession. This is great especially for when you want to take photos of a moving object. Now, the major factor that determines how fast your camera’s burst mode (continuous shooting) will be is its frame rate. If your camera has a high frame rate, it means that continuous shooting with it will be fast. And if the frame rate is low, continuous shooting will be slow. Now, the Sony a5100 has a frame rate of 6 frames per second, and if you have not already figured out, that is pretty slow. | Same as the Sony a5100. However, the Sony a5000 has a slightly slower frame rate – 4 frames per second. |
Sony a5100 vs a5000 – What Do People Think About Both Cameras?
Sony a5100 |
Sony a5000 |
| A lot of people have said that the Sony a5100 is a good camera that produces images of really good quality. In addition to that, people have said that it is so easy to use. A particular customer specifically said that he did not even need to use the manual to get around using this camera. So, yeah, you can say it is pretty easy to use. | People seem to be in love with the size of this camera. Apparently, it is cute, has a good grip, and is very easy to carry around. Also, it gives good results, and photographers seem to be pretty impressed. |
| Selfie lovers seem to be really happy with this camera. The Sony a5100 has an articulating screen that flips 180 degrees upward. Therefore, it is ideal for selfies, and people indeed love this. | People are also impressed by the articulating screen of the Sony a5000. It also flips 180 degrees upward, and, thus, is great for selfies, too. |
| Now, one thing photographers are not happy with is the absence of an electronic viewfinder. A lot of them have said that, when shooting outside (especially when the sun is out) using the LCD gets really frustrating. And at times like this, they really did wish the Sony a5100 had an electronic viewfinder. | The complaints photographers have about the lack of electronic viewfinder in the Sony a5100 is pretty much the same here. |
| Furthermore, photographers were very unimpressed by the burst mode and the battery life of this camera. According to them, 6 frames per second is slow, and 400 shots per full charge is not they battery they hoped for. | Photographers are equally not satisfied with the burst mode on this camera. You get only 4 frames per second on this, so, can you really blame them? |
| Well, from what we could gather from customer feedback, we could say that this camera is loved by many – vloggers especially. Yes, they wished for improvements here and there, but apparently, they loved the Sony a5100. | This is also a pretty good camera, from what customers have said. And in spite of the reservations they had about them, they seemed to be just satisfied with the results of the Sony a5000. |
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| Get the Sony a5100 here now! | Get the Sony a5000 here now! |
Sony a5100 vs a5000 – Our Take
Sony a5100 |
Sony a5000 |
| This is a functional camera – we can say that for sure. However, we believe that the Sony a5100 needed a viewfinder, and we do not understand why Sony chose to make it without one. | This camera is lovely. It is portable, easy to carry around, and in the words of one of the customers – cute. However, battery capacity is pretty unimpressive, and frame rate is even worse. |
| Furthermore, we think that Sony could have done better with this camera’s light sensitivity. And also, they should have put an external flash hot shoe on it. | We would have loved it if this camera was a touch screen one. This would have afforded users even more convenience. Also, this is not the camera to use to do a flash photography shoot, because of its lack of an external flash hot shoe, and we are not happy with that. |
| These aside, the Sony a5100 is a pretty amazing Entry-Level camera. If you are just starting to learn how to use a camera, then this is the one for you. It is easy to use, easy to carry around, and easy to love. We also love that this is a touch screen camera and allows quick and easy transfer of files to nearby devices. So, yeah, we appreciate what Sony did with the a5100, we really do. | Sony got a lot of things right with this camera, and we are really happy about that. A couple of things could have been done better, but that does not take anything away from the Sony a5000 being a great Entry-Level camera. |
| Get the Sony a5100 here now! | Get the Sony a5000 here now! |
