Unveiled: Fast Focus and Fine Form with the Alpha a5100 Mirrorless Digital Camera

As if Sony didn’t have enough great cameras on the market right now, the company just announced a new mirrorless camera that will nestle perfectly among its mid-range E-mount shooters, providing consumers with a compact, Wi-Fi and touchscreen-enabled, APS-C format camera with the focus speed, image quality, and video format to match more advanced models. The Alpha a5100 Mirrorless Digital Camera, which replaces the NEX-5T in the Sony hierarchy, also represents the end of the NEX naming convention. Going forward, all Sony interchangeable-lens digital cameras, whether mirrorless or DSLR will be dubbed “Alpha” cameras.

The E-mount Alpha a5100 is available simply as a black camera body and also in two kits, one with the black body and black 16-50mm lens and one with a white body and black 16-50mm lens. Of course, a main draw of the a5100 is that it is a very compact camera, compatible with a wide range of E-mount lenses, offering DSLR-like versatility with point-and-shoot convenience.

To some degree it is easy to summarize the a5100―it offers the form factor of the Alpha a5000 with the sensor of the Alpha a6000. And this is great news because you now have a camera that is 4" long; weighs 8 ounces; and packs a 24.3MP APS-C CMOS sensor and the impressive Fast Hybrid autofocus system, which combines 179 Phase-detection AF points and 25 Contrast-detection AF points to reach focus in 0.07 second. Combine this AF system and high-resolution RAW capture with an ISO sensitivity range that reaches 25600 and a 6 fps continuous shooting rate, and the advantages of this camera take shape. The BIONZ X image processor, the same processor housed in Sony’s flagship mirrorless a7 cameras, enables the image detail, minimized noise, and performance speeds found in the a5100, including JPEG burst shooting up to 56 frames with continuous auto-exposure and autofocus.

Furthermore, the a5100 offers Full HD 1080p in the XAVC S format at 60, 30, and 24 fps, which is something that the a5000 and a6000 do not. Its Dual Video Recording feature allows you to record simultaneously in a high-quality format and an Internet-ready format. TRILUMINOS color and 4K stills output are supported on compatible televisions and for serious videographers, uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2 clean-screen video files can be recorded to external recording devices via the camera’s HDMI connection.

The AF system is worth mentioning again. Not only is it fast and accurate, but it provides enabling features such as Lock-On AF to maintain focus on a moving subject and Eye AF for crisp, confident portraiture. The Hybrid AF system is supported for video recording, as well, and it offers settings to control AF tracking speed and duration during recording. Also, the camera’s 3.0-inch 921k-dot LCD monitor provides Touch AF for a simple tap on the LCD to place your focus. 

Encouraging a popular trend, this bright LCD screen can flip up 180° for self-portraiture and odd-angle composition. For simple selfies, the Touch Focus and Touch Shutter functions are also helpful, as is the self-timer, comfortable grip, and Soft Skin Effect, one of many available in-camera picture effects to enhance your images. Posterization, Pop Color, Retro, and Toy Camera are other effects available in both still and video modes. Also, Scene Selections such as Landscape, Sweep Panorama, Sunset, and both iAuto and Superior Auto modes are supported.

With built-in Wi-Fi, the a5100 enables one-touch sharing of its images to iOS and Android smart devices, computers, and even Wi-Fi enabled televisions; with NFC, a touch between camera and device simplifies the initial linking with Android mobile devices. The free PlayMemories Mobile app is needed for sharing and it also allows remote camera control from your device. Furthermore, twenty-four PlayMemories Camera apps are available to provide a wealth of additional functions from picture effects and retouching to lens-compensation control and time-lapse and multiple-exposure shooting.

Despite its small size, the a5100 provides comprehensive control over camera settings and functions including access to full manual exposure control. A rear-mounted control wheel allow quick selection of shooting modes and camera settings and seven customizable buttons can be assigned any of 47 functions, which is a huge benefit to those who get to know their camera and like to work it fast. A power zoom lever is ideally placed for smooth one-handed control of the lens’s zoom and a one-touch video button is placed right where your thumb rests. A built-in pop-up flash is provided to add light when needed, and the camera supports Memory Stick and SD, SDHC, SDXC media.

Included in the a5100 kits is the 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS E-mount Retractable Zoom Lens. Its retracting feature maintains the compact form of the camera when powered down and provides a versatile focal-length range equivalent to 24-75mm in the 35mm format. Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization provides four-stop compensation to reduce the blur caused by camera shake and an internal stepping motor affords quiet and smooth autofocus. One ED and four aspherical lens elements correct for curvature of field and spherical and chromatic aberration for color-accurate, high-contrast reproduction across the entire image.

Whether you appreciate the compact size as you step up from a point-and-shoot camera, or the Hybrid Autofocus and gapless on-chip micro-lens design of the sensor as an alternate to your DSLR, it’s clear that with the Alpha a5100, Sony has put together all the right pieces to offer a camera that will rightfully appeal to all levels of photographers.

Lens Mount	E-mount
Image Sensor	APS-C (23.5 x 15.6mm) Exmor CMOS
Effective Pixels	24.3 MP
Total Pixels	24.7 MP
Maximum Resolution	6000 x 4000
Aspect Ratio	3:2, 16:9
Still Image File Format	JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver.2.3, MPF Baseline compliant), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format), RAW & JPEG
Image Processing Engine	BIONZ X
Digital Zoom	1.4x, 2x, 4x, 5.7x, 8x
Storage Media	Memory Stick PRO Duo / PRO-HG Duo / XC-HG Duo, SD/SDHC/SDXC
Viewfinder Type	None
Shutter Type	Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane
Shutter Speed	Still Images:1/4000 to 30 sec. (30 sec. in Bulb mode) Movies: 1/4000 to 1/4 sec. (1/3 steps) AUTO mode: Up to 1/60 sec. Auto slow shutter mode: Up to 1/30 sec.
Flash Sync Speed	1/160 sec.
Drive Modes	Single, Continuous (High/Low), Bracketing (Single/Continuous)
Top Continuous Shooting Rate	6.0 fps for up to 56 (JPEG Fine L) or 23 (RAW) frames
Self-Timer	10 sec., 2.0 sec.
Interval Recording	Not specified by manufacturer
Exposure Metering	1,200-zone evaluative metering Sensitivity: EV -1 to EV 20 (at ISO 100 equivalent with f/2.0 lens)
Metering Modes	Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Exposure Modes	iAUTO, Superior Auto, Programmed AE (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter-speed priority (S), Manual (M), AE Lock, HDR, Sweep Panorama Scene Selection: Portrait, Sports Action, Macro, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Handheld Twilight, Night Portrait, Anti-Blur Dynamic Range Functions: Off, Dynamic Range Optimizer (Auto/Level (1-5)), Auto High Dynamic Range (Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure Difference Level (1.0-6.0 EV, 1.0 EV step))
Exposure Compensation	Still Images: - 3.0 to + 3.0 EV in 1/3 EV steps Movies: - 2.0 to + 2.0 EV in 1/3 EV steps
Exposure Bracketing	Single, with 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 EV increments, 3/5 frames (1.0, 2.0, 3.0 EV: only 3 frames) selectable
ISO Sensitivity	Still Images: Auto, 100-25,600 in 1/3 EV steps Movies: Auto, 100-12,800 in 1/3 EV steps
Autofocus System	Fast Hybrid AF (phase-detection, contrast-detection) with Touch AF capability
Number of Focus Points	Phase-Detection AF: 179 points Contrast-Detection AF: 25 points
Focus Modes	AF-A (Automatic AF), AF-S (Single-shot AF), AF-C (Continuous AF), DMF (Direct Manual Focus), MF (Manual Focus), Focus lock, Face detection AF Area: Zone / Center / Flexible Spot (S/M/L) / Lock-on / Eye
Built-In Flash	Yes Guide Number: 13.1' / 4.0 m at ISO 100 Coverage: 16mm
Flash Modes	Pre-flash TTL, Auto, Fill, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Off
Flash Compensation	From - 2.0 to +2.0 EV (1/3 EV steps)
Flash Bracketing	1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 EV steps, 3/5 frames (1.0/2.0/3.0 EV: only 3 frames) selectable
External Flash Interface	None
White Balance Modes	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Warm White / Cool White / Day White / Daylight, Flash, Underwater,  Color Temperature <2500 to 9900K>, Color Filter <G7 to M7(15-step) / A7 to B7 (15-step)>, Custom Bracketing: 3 frames, H/L selectable
Movie Recording	Yes, including Dual Video REC function Resolution and frame rate: XAVC S: 1280 x 720p / 120 fps, 50 Mbps 1920 x 1080p / 60 fps, 50 Mbps / 30 fps, 50 Mbps / 24 fps, 50 Mbps AVCHD: 1920 x 1080p / 60 fps, 28 Mbps, PS / 24 fps, 24 Mbps, FX / 24 fps, 17 Mbps, FH 1920 x 1080i / 60 fps, 24 Mbps, FX /  60 fps, 17 Mbps, FH AVC MP4: 1440 x 1080 / 30 fps, 12 Mbps VGA: 640 x 480 / 30 fps, 3 Mbps
File Format	XAVC S: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 AVCHD: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 MP4: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Audio Recording	Yes, with video via built-in stereo mic
Audio File Format	XAVC S: LPCM 2ch AVCHD: Dolby Digital (AC-3) 2ch, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator MP4: MPEG-4 AAC-LC 2ch
External Microphone Input	No
Headphone Jack	No
Maximum Recording Time	Continuous: 29 min.
Monitor	3.0" wide TFT Vari-Angle LCD Touchscreen with WhiteMagic technology (921,600 dots) Tilt: 180 degrees up Brightness Control: Manual (5 steps between -2 and +2), Sunny Weather mode Histogram, Zebra, Peaking MF, Grid Lines
Interface	HDMI micro (Type-D) Out (1920 x 1080 / 60p / 60i, YCbCr 4:2:2 8-bit / RGB 8-bit, BRAVIA Sync control), Multi/Micro-USB, PC remote
Wi-Fi	Yes, 802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz band View on smartphone/computer/TV
NFC	Yes, one-touch remote, one-touch sharing
Remote Control	Optional
Power Source	NP-FW50 Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery Pack (7.4 V, 1080 mAh; included) AC Adapter AC-UB10 (included) AC Adapter AC-PW20 (not included)
Dimensions	4.3 x 2.5 x 1.4" / 109.6 x 62.8 x 35.7mm
Weight	With battery and memory card: 10 oz / 283 g Body only: 7.9 oz / 224 g