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Sony A5000 Comparison Review

The Sony Alpha A5000 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was revealed to the public in January 2014 and is equipped with an APS-C sensor. It offers a resolution of 19.8 megapixel.

camera

Is the Sony A5000 a good camera? The A5000 has a Camera Elo of 1884. This rating puts the A5000 below average of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the A5000 also ranks below average. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 2.5-star performance rating. – Well, the Sony A5000 is more than 10 years old, and there have been many other good digital cameras released since 2014.

Headline Specifications
Sony A5000
Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses
19.8 MP, APS-C Sensor
1080/60i Video
ISO 100 - 16 000
no viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0 LCD, 461k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
3.5 shutter flaps per second
420 shots per battery charge
110 x 63 x 36 mm, 269 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Sony A5000 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Sony A5000 vs credit card front
A5000 versus credit card top view
A5000 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Sony A5000 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
#   Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A5000 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 269 g 420 n Jan 2014 449ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M10 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 301 g 255 n Oct 2015 499ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D3300 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 430 g 700 n Jan 2014 499ebay.com
4.
 
Sony RX100 IV 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 298 g 280 n Jun 2015 999ebay.com
5.
 
Sony A5100 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 283 g 400 n Aug 2014 549ebay.com
6.
 
Sony A6000 120 mm 67 mm 45 mm 344 g 360 n Feb 2014 599ebay.com
7.
 
Sony RX100 III 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 290 g 320 n May 2014 799ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A3000 128 mm 91 mm 85 mm 411 g 470 n Aug 2013 329ebay.com
9.
 
Sony NEX-3N 110 mm 62 mm 35 mm 269 g 480 n Feb 2013 499ebay.com
10.
 
Sony NEX-5T 111 mm 59 mm 39 mm 276 g 330 n Aug 2013 699ebay.com
11.
 
Sony RX100 II 102 mm 58 mm 38 mm 281 g 350 n Jun 2013 749ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Sony A5000 was launched in the US market at a price of $449. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Sony A5000 features an APS-C sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Sony A5000 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

Sony A5000 sensor measures

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of alternative cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
#   Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony A5000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.813.0108979
2.
 
Canon M10 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.475365
3.
 
Nikon D3300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.312.8138582
4.
 
Sony RX100 IV 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.659170
5.
 
Sony A5100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.812.7134780
6.
 
Sony A6000 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.113.1134782
7.
 
Sony RX100 III 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.412.349567
8.
 
Sony A3000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.712.8106878
9.
 
Sony NEX-3N APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i22.812.5106774
10.
 
Sony NEX-5T APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60p23.613.0101578
11.
 
Sony RX100 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.512.448367
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The A5000 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the A5000 can use is 1080/60i.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The tables below summarize some of the other core capabilities of the Sony A5000 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
#   Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Sony A5000none n3.0 / 461 tilting n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
2.
 
Canon M10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.6/s Y n
3.
 
Nikon D3300optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
4.
 
Sony RX100 IV2359 n3.0 / 1228 tilting n 1/2000s 16.0/s Y Y
5.
 
Sony A5100none n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
6.
 
Sony A60001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
7.
 
Sony RX100 III1440 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Sony A3000202 n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
9.
 
Sony NEX-3Noptional n3.0 / 460 tilting n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
10.
 
Sony NEX-5Toptional n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 10.0/s n n
11.
 
Sony RX100 IIoptional n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The LCD screen on the Sony Alpha A5000 is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the A5000

One convenient feature of the A5000 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha A5000 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
#   Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony A5000-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
2.
 
Canon M10-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
3.
 
Nikon D3300Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
4.
 
Sony RX100 IV-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
5.
 
Sony A5100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
6.
 
Sony A6000Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
7.
 
Sony RX100 III-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
8.
 
Sony A3000Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Sony NEX-3N-stereo / mono--micro2.0---
10.
 
Sony NEX-5TYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
11.
 
Sony RX100 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the A5000 offers wifi support. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Further information on the features and operation of the A5000 can be found in the free online Sony A5000 Manual or on the Sony support site.

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Expert reviews

While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the A5000 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
#    Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A50003/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 449ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M10..........4/5 Oct 2015 499ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D33003/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 499ebay.com
4.
 
Sony RX100 IV4.5/5+ +..85/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2015 999ebay.com
5.
 
Sony A51004.5/5+....4.5/55/5 Aug 2014 549ebay.com
6.
 
Sony A60005/5+4.5/580/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2014 599ebay.com
7.
 
Sony RX100 III5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 May 2014 799ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A30003/5+....4/54/5 Aug 2013 329ebay.com
9.
 
Sony NEX-3N3/5......4.5/54.5/5 Feb 2013 499ebay.com
10.
 
Sony NEX-5T........4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2013 699ebay.com
11.
 
Sony RX100 II5/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 749ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Sony A5000 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the A5000.

What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Sony A5000?

The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Sony A5000 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Sony equipped the A5000 with the BIONZ X image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Sony A5000?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 16000.

Does the Sony A5000 have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the A5000 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Sony Alpha A5000?

Sony does not publish a shutter rating for the A5000. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 100 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 100 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.

How do I find the shutter count on my Sony A5000?

Sony embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your A5000 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Sony A5000?

The A5000 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the Sony A5000 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Sony A5000 for flash photography?

The A5000's flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.

Does the Sony A5000 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).

Which battery does the Sony A5000 use?

The camera gets its power from the NP-FW50 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Sony A5000
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date January 2014
    Launch Price USD 449
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.2 x 15.4 mm
    Sensor Area 357 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 27.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 19.8 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5 456 x 3 632 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.25 μm
    Pixel Density 5.55 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60i Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 16 000 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 79
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.8
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.0
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1089
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type No viewfinder
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 461k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen
    V-logging Friendliness Front-flip possible
    Touch Input No touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 3.5 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse Photographyno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in
    Body Specs
    Battery Type NP-FW50 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)420 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 110 x 63 x 36 mm
    (4.3 x 2.5 x 1.4 in)
    Camera Weight 269 g (9.5 oz)

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