Sony is one of the main players when it comes to electronics and camera is one of their strong points. They currently carry various amazing options for the professional and enthusiast but you still can find the midrange choices such as Sony Alpha a6000 Vs a5100. These cameras are perfect for enthusiasts and any user who wants to have a reliable system to work with. For those who wonder which to choose, let’s see what the two can offer here.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What are the Most Important in a Camera
- What are Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100
- How are the Design of Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100
- How are the Specs of Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100
- How are the Image Quality of Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100
- How are the Autofocus in Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100
- How are the Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100 for Recording Video
- Sony Alpha a6000 Vs 5100
Camera Components
Cameras are very convenient and the reason why is because they can capture something so we can preserve the moment. The photo printed from a camera can be placed on almost anything nowadays from your t-shirt, mugs, social media platforms, and you can also sell the picture for other purposes such as with stock photos. The camera needs to be reliable but the result varies based on the level of quality and skills. High-end cameras will always work better, if used by experienced photographers.
Camera as a tool decides the quality of the photos and makes things easier for the photographer to work with. For example, the sensor size which is a very important part in the device and as a component that captures light, translating the information for the camera processor to work on. The sensor size matters for the camera’s ability to capture the image itself. The smaller sensors are very common and they are affordable but it is difficult to use them when you are in a low-light situation.
Since cameras use light to capture the photo, this is a tricky situation to work with since not every time we have enough or decent lighting. But, when you try to capture something under low light with different cameras and different sensor size, the bigger sensor will conveniently shoot at higher ISO while preserving details compared to smaller options. APS-C and full-size may not be far apart from each other but things will be different between n 1/2.3-inch and an APS-C factor.
Another factor that is easily noticeable in a camera will be the pixel count because you can see the difference in low pixel and high pixel count when the photo is either cropped or printed on large medium. It is simply the resolution so for people who will want to take a small piece of the image or printing on large medium will need to spend more since MP count usually means higher price tag, moreover combined with larger sensor.
For the enthusiast and professionals, having a camera that is versatile is great and many choose ILC today that can be DSLR or mirrorless type which means the lens is removable and users can pair the camera with numerous compatible lenses available. The lenses we choose will affect the aperture, depth of field, and focal length which affect how the image will look like as well. It is highly personal and depends on the type of photo you will be capturing.
| Sony Alpha a6000 | Sony Alpha a5100 | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 4.72 x 1.77 x 2.64 inches | 4.33 x 1.42 x 2.48 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 12.2 ounces | 9.9 ounces |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100
What matters the most in the camera may vary from person to person and their application so it is difficult to say that certain part is the most important. Most people consider the budget they can spend and the specs of the camera including the lenses they want to buy if choosing an ILC system. For casual users the camera in flagship phones should be enough or you can try bridge cameras as well. Bridge cameras are very affordable and easy to use.
For users with experiences or want something more powerful, the ILC will match the preference and versatility. There are plenty of good cameras out there and many coming from well-known brands too, such as Sony. Usually each brand has their own specialties or advantages over the other and Sony is famous for their fast auto focus like the new A7R IV or its older brother A7R III. These cameras are amazing but they are also costly and not all of us can optimize the budget to our advantage.
This is why their older cameras are still loved by many and when talking about older cameras, we can’t miss the Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100 which may have been several years old but still reliable for a wide range of users. These cameras were replaced by the a6400 in 2019 making the cost reduced a lot and currently the a5100 is probably one of the best cameras that you can buy around $500 while its brother is currently slightly above the range.
They were launched at the same year and specs were very similar to each other which is not surprising but the a6000 is probably preferred by more people because it is featured with an EVF. Even if you don’t really mind about the “authentic” way to shoot a photo, the viewfinder is convenient in practical use such as when shooting under bright conditions. But, for people who just want a snap-and-go mechanism, the a5100 is actually simpler to use, making it a perfect travel camera. Read also: OMD EM10 Mark II Vs Sony a6000 here.
Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100 Design
Now let’s see the unit first before getting into what they can offer because they are very similar from the outside. The easiest way to set these ILCs apart is to check the rear panel to locate the EVF since a5100 doesn’t have the feature. In comparison the handling and shape are identical and while they are not going to fit in our front pocket, the hoodie pocket is enough to store the camera while you move to another location; depending on the lens mounted.
The rear panel is also the same and our favorite is that their rear display can be tilted meaning we can shoot at different angles too. These cameras are also available in a few different shades to choose from such as standard black in our sample picture above or white which gives a very modern nuance to the device. The a6000 seems to have a graphite and silver options too. As for the control scheme, a5100 is straightforward while the a6000 offers a more professional system.
Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100 Specs
Moving further, let’s see what the Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100 can offer starting from the specs and as it has been mentioned above, they are very similar. Both of them are APS-C cameras and have the same effective 24MP which should work well for a wide range of users. The ISO can be adjusted up to 25600 while a6000 allows you to bump it to 51200. What’s lacking from a5100 is EVF since a6000 comes with a 1440k dot EVF for a convenient application.
Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100 Image Quality
For the image quality, the two are exactly the same so if you are doing a self-photo or capturing a still object in a good light the two will result in a very good and similar result. We also think they have the same color profile since the processor and hard specs are all the same. In terms of quality under low light, they are reliable as well. Out of the camera the photo may look just decent but you can always improve the result after.
But, we tend to get brighter images at ISO 200 and above from a6000 thus, a5100 can look better on higher ISO. What’s noticeable from these cameras over the older series is probably their sharpening because Sony is well-known for the over-sharpen image which is slightly better now or milder. Most people may use the standard file but shooting in RAW is possible with both cameras and you can get a better detail after processing it yet the result is not far different so it is highly subjective too.
Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100 Autofocus
Next for the autofocus, the Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100 are using the same contrast and phase detection which we doubt as different technological wise. In practice the 179 points of focus are working really well in keeping the focus on your subject. As expected from Sony, the result is impressive and they are very reliable in tracking your subject even as they move across the sensor. What’s even amazing is they don’t slow down too while doing all of these efforts.
Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100 for Recording Video
Lastly for the video part, we want to mention that the a6000 only has a tilting screen meaning the screen does tilt slightly up to 90 degree up and 45 degree down. On the other hand the a5100 has a tilting screen that has a flat connection to the body and this is why it can be tilted 180 degree to face the front of the camera for self-recording. However, the hard specs are very similar because they can only record at 1920 x 1080p and a frame rate up to 60fps.
Sony Alpha a6000 Vs 5100
Both Sony Alpha a6000 and 5100 are good cameras in the price range with very much the same specs and abilities. The hard specs or sensor and pixel count are the same, including the lens mount which is an E-mount. The differences are because the a6000 has an EVF which promotes a more natural way of capturing photos as well as a tilting screen which can’t be folded up as high as the a5100.
Conclusion
The decision is all yours because they are an equally good option but for convenience we will say a5100 and for those who prefer the manual way or plan to buy a higher camera soon, the EVF and control scheme of a6000 makes the camera more attractive.