Start here The Sony Alpha 5100 could be one of the best CSCS on the market for beginners. Amy Davies finds out how well it performs
ony has fitted the A5100 with the same excellent 24.3MP sensor and Bionz X processor found in the A6000. The sensor is APS-C sized, but features the same gapless on-chip lens structure as the full-frame A7R. This should make it good in low light.
SFeatures
Like the NEX-5T, the A5100 has a three-inch 922k-dot LCD screen that is touch-sensitive and can be flipped up through 180 degrees. Touch control is fairly limited, however, as it can only be used for setting the AF point or tripping the shutter.
Thanks to the new processing engine, sensitivity range also stays the same at ISO 100–25,600, despite the increase in pixel count.
The Alpha 5100 has Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity and is compatible with PlayMemories apps to expand its feature set. These can be downloaded from the PlayMemories store directly to the camera.
Build and handling
The Alpha 5100 is smaller than either the A6000 or the NEX-5T, with no top control dial. The camera makes more use of the navigation controls.
Despite its small size and light weight, the A5100 feels solid. It’s most suited to use with the 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens in terms of proportions – using it with something large like the Zeiss 16-70 f/4 lens makes it feel slightly unbalanced.
The touchscreen makes setting the AF point quick and easy. Once you’ve set the AF mode to Flexible Spot, simply tap the area on the screen. It’s a shame the menu can’t be navigated via the touchscreen.
Performance
Colours directly from the camera are vibrant, with good saturation. Detail is rendered well by the sensor. When zooming in at 100%, the impression of detail is great, giving you good scope to crop an image.
In most cases, the A5100’s metering system produces accurate exposures. The useful Dynamic Range Optimiser function helps you get a balanced exposure when one area of the scene is darker or brighter than the rest. The automatic white balance