30.11.2014

Over the last few years I have been using DSLRs, going through 3 different Nikon models and feel that this has both improved my pictures and heightened my interest in photography. However, I have been hearing about how "mirrorless" cameras are the future of photography, so was interested to try one that also has interchangeable lenses.What you notice first about this camera is how small it is - the body is about half the size of my latest DSLR - but it has the same 24.3 megapixels that you would only expect in the DSLR. While the body is small, the lens provided with the a5100 looks larger than it should be and feels quite solid and weighty. For me, this is a positive selling point - proper lenses (the catalogue included,lists some made by Zeiss!) with a high-spec sensor, means the quality of images should be good.Of course the compromise made with a small body is that there aren't many buttons on the outside and you have to trawl through menus using the small command wheel on the right, to find all the things you want to change. It is also easy to hit this wheel by mistake when shooting. However, it was quite easy to find things - even though in some cases the menus went to more than 5 or 6 layers deep. Sony seem to have managed to get all the vital functions close to the top. I was able to switch to my preferred mode of aperture priority, although I did leave it on auto for ISO - whereas on a DSLR I would prefer to change ISO according to conditions. Here it's too much hassle.The other big compromise with this model (although not on models higher up the Sony range) is the lack of a viewfinder. I really like to look though and frame my shot this way and find it awkward to just use the screen. Testing this camera out-doors it was often difficult to see the screen due to glare and then you are stuck with no shot, which wouldn't happen when looking through a viewfinder. Also the information given on the screen is in pretty small letters. If like me, you need glasses for reading, these can be difficult to see - again not a problem when looking through a viewfinder that has been calibrated properly.The big "feature" here is that the screen on the back tilts fully upright - this doesn't help with glare (I tried all angles) - but it does help you take "selfies". This, along with the colours offered, hints at where the camera is aimed. It's for beginners really, who want to "point and click" - but with the highest possible quality. The autofocus is very good and very fast - faster than my DSLRs! It is quite sophisticated, but again, to change it you have to trawl though menus, so I expect most will leave it on the default.The other big selling point of this, is its ability to take "broadcast quality" video - HD 1080 in such a small unit is quite a coup. This makes it the ultimate tool for social media - high quality selfies and Youtube clips are within easy reach. Personally I wouldn't use it for video as it can only take about 30 minutes and the battery will be running out very quickly on the highest quality, with your memory card filling fast.Having said all this, I can still see this being very useful for photography enthusiasts like myself. A DSLR with a few lenses is big and heavy, needing its own bag and a definite aim in mind to justify taking it out with you. Whereas you can slip this camera in a pocket or rucksack and get high quality captures, on the off-chance you come across something while on a walk or out and about anywhere. Perfect for holidays or short breaks where luggage space is tight. You can still shoot in RAW and take advantage of the 24.3 Mps sensor to get the kind of image you might on a DSLR. (A point of information - PS Elements 12 wouldn't read the RAW files produced by this camera - but you can download free software from Sony "Image Data Converter" to read RAW files)Overall I liked this as a fun camera with a decent grip and build quality - especially for the lenses - but which you could take anywhere. Day out in the City, walk in the country etc. It has downsides though, which are addressed higher up the range - but this is already in the price range of a decent entry level DSLR from Nikon or Canon. In summary :PROs/Likes:24.3 Mps SensorFast 179-point AutofocusHD Video 1080Very light and compactHigh quality interchangeable lensesWi Fi file transferGood construction and gripCONs/Dislikes:No Viewfinder (other models in the series allow this as an option)Screen Lettering small and not touch sensitiveControl wheel can be easy to touch by mistakeLenses can be expensive (long lenses are more expensive than for DSLRs where used bargains make this cheaper)Battery Life adequate, but not as good as an equivalent DSLRManual not comprehensive - although there is a lot of free software on Sony's website, I would have preferred to have all this gathered in one reference document, with indexes.In conclusion I would still prefer a DSLR for any kind of serious photography, but it is amazing how much Sony have packed into such a small space. A very nice little gadget for those who want to take high quality pictures, but don't want to be weighed down with gear.

24.4.2015

After researching the A5100's smaller brother (A5000) I ended up buying this and I'm pleased I did. This camera filled a hole between a tiny pocket Canon IXUS compact and a Canon 600D DSLR with all the bulky and weighty lenses and other accessories. For me, the 5100 fits the bill and reviews, although very subjective, mainly agree that this is a good camera. My main slight grumble is that pictures tend to be a little unsharp, although again, this is subjective and can easily be altered in software afterwards to taste. Picture and colour clarity are very good and with many menu options and effects to play around with, this could suit a beginner in auto mode to a bit more advanced.

12.6.2015

Purchased from Amazon warehouse for £242.00, arrived in absolutely perfect, brand new condition. What a bargain! Ok the stock lens is not the best due to its size not quality (images compare very well with my aging but very good Nikon D5000/16meg +10-20 sigma wide angle lens) but I wanted this for the portability when not lugging my DSLR kit around, so there is always a compromise. Only slight disappointment,(nothing to do with the camera)is that the drive modes on the Sony playmemories app does not include drive modes for continuous shutter release or continuous bracketing. I have since purchased a wired shutter release for camera but would be nice to use smartphone and carry one less item (A5100 does not have any IR trigger and therefore reliant on phone app or wired release).

15.1.2016

I needed something a little better than I've had in the past. Although not a pro photographer, I do use the camera for product photography for work and I was beginning to find my old camera (a much earlier Sony) showing its limitations.The Alpha5100L is an excellent starter package for someone who needs more from their camera but doesn't want to jump in with both feet and buy a thumping great DSLR.I'm still getting acquainted with the camera's many, many features and have been surprised and delighted along the way. The differential focusing this machine allows makes the images I produce just streets ahead of anything I've done in the past.Inevitably, you're going to have to spend some money on apps for it and,

29.5.2016

One of the best and smallest camera's I have used for Its price range. Its perfect for nearly all shooting conditions. and if you are someone that does not care to much about dealing with flashes then this is even better for you, as it is for me, Its lovely to hold and looks like an old flim camera which is a nice touch. the flash is great and the tilt on it works a treat, I never get harsh shots, I would say you would need to get a better lens as the one that comes with it is slow and a little on the soft side. but great mostly, its a nice get it dirty lens and don't care to much if it breaks, which is why I use it for sports.

24.4.2019

I’ve never really been into photography, but I wanted something better than my phone camera to take away on holiday. I’ve always been put off DSLRs because thought they were too big to carry around, but when I came across Mirrorless Cameras I thought they seemed ideal for what I wanted. I read a lot of reviews online and this one seemed like it would be best for me with a combination of its small size and good reviews. I couldn’t be happier with it. I expected it to take much longer for me to get used to using it, but the automatic modes make it really easy to take great photos with very little effort while I’ve found the manual setting very intuitive and they give a great deal of freedom to customise and experiment.

11.6.2018

Went on holiday recently taking my new purchase with me. I was impressed by the speed of the camera especially in good lighting conditions. Remember to remove the lens cap before taking a picture, I did this twice and the camera became extremely confused and brought up a message on the screen saying "processing" that lasted a while even after the lens cap had been removed. The second issue was the lack of a separate view finder as in bright sunlight the screen becomes a mirror and all you can see is yourself. I'm looking for a cover to screen the display in bright sunlight. Overall I'm very pleased with the camera and quality of the pictures taken both with and without the flash.

15.12.2014

I have been following the Nex series of cameras for quite sometime but, until the introduction of the a6000 and a7 Sony cameras didn't seem exceptional. I wanted a 'professional' performing compact camera without 'breaking the bank' and I didn't particularly want an EVF, hotshoe or touch screen control. Having read reviews, and handled the models (cameras'-) at exhibitions I became impressed with both of the aforementioned units and considered buying one. The introduction of the a5100 was for me ideal, as it fitted most of my criteria.Since owning the camera during the past month or so I have been very satisfied with its overall performance,

4.6.2015

This camera is better than I imagined. It is the first camera I have owned that has interchangeable lenses. Its very small and light but just a little too big to stick in your pocket. The battery seems to hold up for a day of casual shooting and if you want more I'd grab an extra battery.The quality of the shots and videos I've been able to get is simply amazing on both auto and manual. It can be a little tricky to switch up settings but once you have the menu figured out its quite quick to go in and change what you need.There are a few small issues I faced such as setting up the "Remote Camera Control" software on my computer. I had to set this on the camera menu which was under USBconnection -> PC Remote.

25.11.2014

Having owned a NEX3 for a few years, and also using a RX100, I was immediately attracted by Amazon's lightning deal on this camera. It houses Son'y current state of the art APS-C 24mp sensor, the latest PDAF sensor system (which works better at tracking moving objects that my DSLR) and high quality movie mode with the latest codec. Very usefully, it has a dual movie recording system which records 2 files, one in high quality, the other in MP4 for easy editing on the go. The kit lens is a bit pedestrian, lots of (automatic) in-camera corrections required to give a reasonable image. But, for a walkabout lens, it's fine. To get the best out of this superb sensor & autofocus package you need to use some better lenses.

29.11.2014

ok, the cam actualy takes very good pics if you take the time andfine tune some settings which i didn't do when i first got myhands on it, so i ended up with seriously blotchy images in raw.all sorted now, wrapped my head around the sony way of working andnow i'm an even happier customer.that beside, what has impressed me the most is it's very nice outof the box video recording capabilities.way better than a magic lantern hacked 600d and i would even go asfar to say that even better than a gh2!incredibly tiny but packs a lot of features and to reiterate: really-reallynice codecs for video recording with full manual settings for video!needs sdxc class 10 uhs 1 card minimum to be able to chose the 50mbitxavc codec,

20.6.2015

Can't fault the quality of this camera, it produces excellent results. I am particularly pleased with the video quality; the XAVC-S codec just adds that touch extra crispness to the footage. The ability to change lenses is a big plus for me. If your budget allows you can attach the highest quality available!The only issue I have had so far is the lack of choice when customising the buttons. In the NEX 3 it was possible to set one of the buttons to access 5 of the most used functions. Not so with this model, you can only modify one function. Maybe a firmware update will modify this in future. Also, the only button that can reasonably be used is the Help (?) button; all the others are already performing useful functions.

20.3.2017

I love this camera, I really do!It does pack a punch in a little package, so many professional features in this small camera, even though it can still be improved on some side, let me give a summary,Pros :+ Compact, lightweight, fit in the pocket.+ XAVC-S 60fps, wow!+ The lenses are compact too.+ So many features (Zebra, peak focus, guideline)+ Amazing sensor, really works in low light.+ Easy controlCons :- Overheat (The a6000 is fixed with firmware update, what about this one?)- XAVC-S only on 64GB or more SDCard (SDXC)- Few budget lens choices- Some guideline is still not in the right aspect ratio (I've tested it)- Some feature only available as purchasable apps.- Touchscreen only for focus,

19.1.2016

Bought for when my DSLR was to big to bring with me. I thought image Quality was very poor for a 24mp camera until I got a 20mm 2.8 lens and yep the kit lens is poor not the body. I have produced good landscapes, portraits and street photography with the camera, but the AF has trouble locking onto fast moving objects. As a point and shoot camera with the ability to change lenses and more control (as long as you don't need to access quickly, having to dive into badly designed menus is not quick) then this is very good for the price.If this is your only camera I would recommend the A6000, because the lack of a view finder is a pain in sunlight since you cannot see the screen so you are shooting

1.6.2018

Recently bought this camera with no previous photography experience and skills. Great little camera which is easy and simple to use, image quality is of a really high standard and is certainly a huge step up from a mobile phone camera. Only thing I could criticise the camera for is the lack of viewfinder, sometimes it can be difficult to see the screen in the sunlight. Along with having to go into the main settings of the camera to alter the shooting mode. A dial would be much easier and quicker to do this. All in all, really great camera and I am extremely happy with the product.

Sony A5100 - Reviews

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