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Sony A6000 vs A5000

The Sony Alpha A6000 and the Sony Alpha A5000 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2014 and January 2014. Both the A6000 and the A5000 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The A6000 has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the A5000 provides 19.8 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Sony A6000
versus
Sony A5000
Sony A6000   Sony A5000
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
24 MP – APS-C sensor 19.8 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60p Video 1080/60i Video
ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200) ISO 100-16,000
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots) No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 922k dots 3.0" LCD – 461k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
11 shutter flaps per second 3.5 shutter flaps per second
360 shots per battery charge420 shots per battery charge
120 x 67 x 45 mm, 344 g 110 x 63 x 36 mm, 269 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha A6000 and the Sony Alpha A5000? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Sony A6000 and the Sony A5000 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Both cameras are available in three different colors (black, silver, white).

Size Sony A6000 vs Sony A5000
Compare A6000 versus A5000 top
Comparison A6000 or A5000 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A5000 is notably smaller (14 percent) than the Sony A6000. Moreover, the A5000 is markedly lighter (22 percent) than the A6000. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the A6000 nor the A5000 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Sony E-Mount Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A6000 120 mm 67 mm 45 mm 344 g 360 n Feb 2014 599ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A5000 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 269 g 420 n Jan 2014 449ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M10 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 301 g 255 n Oct 2015 499ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D3300 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 430 g 700 n Jan 2014 499ebay.com
5.
 
Sony A6300 120 mm 67 mm 49 mm 404 g 400 Y Feb 2016 999ebay.com
6.
 
Sony RX100 IV 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 298 g 280 n Jun 2015 999ebay.com
7.
 
Sony A5100 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 283 g 400 n Aug 2014 549ebay.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-6 120 mm 67 mm 43 mm 345 g 360 n Sep 2012 999ebay.com
11.
 
Sony NEX-F3 117 mm 67 mm 42 mm 314 g 470 n May 2012 599ebay.com
12.
 
Sony NEX-7 120 mm 67 mm 43 mm 400 g 430 n Aug 2011 1,349ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-3 117 mm 62 mm 33 mm 297 g 330 n May 2010 599ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-5 111 mm 59 mm 38 mm 287 g 330 n May 2010 699ebay.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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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The A5000 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 25 percent) than the A6000, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the A5000 is 3 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Sony A6000 and Sony A5000 sensor measures

With 24MP, the A6000 offers a higher resolution than the A5000 (19.8MP), but the A6000 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 4.25μm for the A5000). It is noteworthy in this context that the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A6000 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A6000 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony A5000 are 27.3 x 18.2 inches or 69.3 x 46.1 cm for good quality, 21.8 x 14.5 inches or 55.4 x 36.9 cm for very good quality, and 18.2 x 12.1 inches or 46.2 x 30.8 cm for excellent quality prints.

The A6000 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Sony Alpha A6000 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A5000 are ISO 100 to ISO 16000 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

A6000 versus A5000 MP

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 Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony A6000 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.113.1134782
2.
 
Sony A5000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.813.0108979
3.
 
Canon M10 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.475365
4.
 
Nikon D3300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.312.8138582
5.
 
Sony A6300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.413.7143785
6.
 
Sony RX100 IV 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.659170
7.
 
Sony A5100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.812.7134780
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-6 APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i23.713.1101878
11.
 
Sony NEX-F3 APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i22.712.3111473
12.
 
Sony NEX-7 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i24.113.4101681
13.
 
Sony NEX-3 APS-C 14.0 4592 3056720/30p22.112.083068
14.
 
Sony NEX-5 APS-C 14.0 4592 30561080/60i22.212.279669
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the A6000 provides a higher frame rate than the A5000. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60p, while the A5000 is limited to 1080/60i.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A6000 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the A5000 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Sony A6000, the Sony A5000, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
# image 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 A60001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
2.
 
Sony A5000none n3.0 / 461 tilting n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
3.
 
Canon M10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.6/s Y n
4.
 
Nikon D3300optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
5.
 
Sony A63002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
6.
 
Sony RX100 IV2359 n3.0 / 1228 tilting n 1/2000s 16.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Sony A5100none n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
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-62359 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
11.
 
Sony NEX-F3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s Y n
12.
 
Sony NEX-72359 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
13.
 
Sony NEX-3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
14.
 
Sony NEX-5optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The A5000 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the A6000 does not have a selfie-screen.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the A6000 and the A5000 write their files to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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Connectivity 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 A6000 and 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
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony A6000Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
2.
 
Sony A5000-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon M10-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Nikon D3300Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
5.
 
Sony A6300Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
6.
 
Sony RX100 IV-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
7.
 
Sony A5100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
8.
 
Sony A3000Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Sony NEX-3N-stereo / mono--micro2.0---
10.
 
Sony NEX-6Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
11.
 
Sony NEX-F3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Sony NEX-7Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
13.
 
Sony NEX-3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
14.
 
Sony NEX-5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
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It is notable that the A6000 has a hotshoe, while the A5000 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Both the A6000 and the A5000 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The A5000 was replaced by the Sony A5100, while the A6000 was followed by the Sony A6300. Further information on the features and operation of the A6000 and A5000 can be found, respectively, in the Sony A6000 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A5000 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Sony A6000 or the Sony A5000 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha A6000:

  • More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 19.8MP) with a 10% higher linear resolution.
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/60i).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (922k vs 461k dots).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (11 vs 3.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.


Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A5000:

  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • More compact: Is smaller (110x63mm vs 120x67mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 75g or 22 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (420 versus 360) out of a single battery charge.
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (25 percent cheaper at launch).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A6000 emerges as the winner of the contest (7 : 5 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

A6000 07:05 A5000

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony A6000 and the Sony A5000 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the A6000 or the A5000 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A60005/5+4.5/580/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2014 599ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A50003/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 449ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M10..........4/5 Oct 2015 499ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D33003/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 499ebay.com
5.
 
Sony A63004.5/5+..85/1005/55/5 Feb 2016 999ebay.com
6.
 
Sony RX100 IV4.5/5+ +..85/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2015 999ebay.com
7.
 
Sony A51004.5/5+....4.5/55/5 Aug 2014 549ebay.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-65/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 999ebay.com
11.
 
Sony NEX-F34/5....74/1004.5/54.5/5 May 2012 599ebay.com
12.
 
Sony NEX-75/5+ +..81/1004.5/55/5 Aug 2011 1,349ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-3......70/1004.5/54/5 May 2010 599ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-53/5+ +..71/1004.5/54/5 May 2010 699ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Sony A6000 vs Sony A5000

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Sony A6000 Sony A5000
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2014 January 2014
    Launch Price USD 599 USD 449
    Sensor Specs Sony A6000 Sony A5000
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.5 x 15.6 mm 23.2 x 15.4 mm
    Sensor Area 366.6 mm2 357.28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.2 mm 27.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 19.8 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 5456 x 3632 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.91 μm 4.25 μm
    Pixel Density 6.55 MP/cm2 5.55 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 1080/60i Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 16,000 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 51,200 ISO no Enhancement
    Image Processor BIONZ X BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 82 79
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 24.1 23.8
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.1 13.0
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1347 1089
    Screen Specs Sony A6000 Sony A5000
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder no viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 922k dots 461k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Shooting Specs Sony A6000 Sony A5000
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 11 shutter flaps/s 3.5 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Sony A6000 Sony A5000
    External Flash Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Body Specs Sony A6000 Sony A5000
    Battery Type Sony NP-FW50 Sony NP-FW50
    Battery Life (CIPA)360 shots per charge420 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 120 x 67 x 45 mm
    (4.7 x 2.6 x 1.8 in)
    110 x 63 x 36 mm
    (4.3 x 2.5 x 1.4 in)
    Camera Weight 344 g (12.1 oz) 269 g (9.5 oz)
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