The A5100 has finally landed. It’s basically an A6000 without EVF and $100 less 🙂
And here is the updated preorder list in case you want to check pricing and get one:
A5100 black body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Sony Store US, Sony DE, Sony UK, Sony FR, Sony NL, Sony IT,
A5100 black with kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Sony Store US.
A5100 white with kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony RM-SPR1 Remote Commander with Multi Terminal, 2.6′ Cord at Adorama.
Sony LCS-EBD Body Case for Alpha NEX 5000 and 5100 Mirrorless Digital Camera, Leather Like Material, Brown at Adorama.
Sony LCS-EBD Body Case for Alpha NEX 5000 and 5100 Mirrorless Digital Camera, Leather Like Material, Black at Adorama.
Around 70% of you seem to like the camera although only a small minority (20%) will likely buy it:
[poll id=”189″]
0 Responses
Yes, basically an A6000 without EVF and $100 less. Except the screen doesn’t tilt down. And there’s no Mode dial. And no second control wheel. IMO, just spend the $100 more and get the A6000.
Or just wait for the A7000, when we might get back the electronic level.
I agree with redfern: those differences add up to more value than the $100 difference.
Well, looking at my Sony store, the difference is € 150 which is around 20% cheaper compared to the A6000. It doesn’t have those extra dials and buttons and EVF, but it does have a touchscreen with hopefully excellent usability. I expect a drop in the price of the A5100 soon as usual, making it an easy choice for people looking for a compact addition to their A7/r/s. They are just different cameras, it’s a bit silly to compare them and say one is better than the other. It just depends on your needs. IQ-wise, they’re probably equal.
As it seems this is Sony NEX-5T upgrade and this way it looks very underwhelming.
Anyway I will not buy another 3 or 5 camera soon. 6,7 or 9 is where I look now. May be 3 and 5 buyers think otherwise
The Sony A51,000? Really?
I’m not feeling this one. Just get an A6000- seriously. NEXT!
I though just months ago said it wouldn’t release new cameras without major improvements.
And how exactly did they define “major”?
Apparently any change is “major”! LOL
LOL
I would say that changing the video codec is pretty major for Sony, since they have hanged on to AVCHD for a very long time now. They now clearly show that they have been working on that and I’m impressed that they can put features like dual recording into an entry level body.
Finally touchscreen? Has A6000 that to? Video Codec update was really nice!
A6000 sells in Canada for $739 or $699 when on sale. Very confusing.
Great camera but too expensive! Just get the a6000 if you’re going to spend that much. The EVF, hot shoe and extra customizeable button is worth it on the a6000, otherwise if you like the smaller size + super selfie screen, just get the a5000 for $200 less. I don’t think the upgraded AF system, mucho focus points and new video codec are ideal for the target audience looking for an entry level mirrorless. I think a lot of folks are going to skip this one. I would get it if I was a rich hobbyist looking for a complementary comera to the gear I already have and to take it everywhere with me.
Whats funny is you think the a6000 is not an entry-level mirrorless selfie camera.
Well, it isn’t, right?
Nope. Cameras like the a6000 are the modern versions of the “bridge” camera. They’re meant to look substantial to those who don’t know or can’t afford a higher end model.
I hope we get an A99II rumor tomorrow. Give us the good stuff.
They have to inflate the price at the beginning so later they can give a big $200 discount to its proper price. This looks like a great entry level E-mount cam, but that price is way too high.
I have a NEX-5R and there is nothing I can upgrade to without losing the features I know and love. How lame is that Sony?
No one says anywhere that it is an update to 5R. Comparing this camera to A6000 is about the same as comparing Windows 7 Ultimate to Home edition, it does the same with less features and comfort. And, as you say, the external commands are gone, despite the fact that an external program selection wheel is just nonsense. I never change my settings anyway and shoot aperture priority all time. So, call this simply a lady and children gadget that works like a dream.
People have different needs. The extra control wheel is great for full manual exposure.
Well, this camera is obviously not meant for people shooting manual all the time. There are other cameras who do this much better. It’s a bit strange that people with different needs constantly keep grumbling about a camera which is clearly not meant for them.
You’re happy on the inside that your camera still has good features in today’s market, stop acting as if you’re pissed.
My only hope now is that Fuji X picks up the slack. It needs a swivelling touchscreen and small size at least. Maybe better video.
i like the design much better than the A6000!!!
I like the NEX 5N design much-much-better !!!
… just needs the 5R/T top dial as well.
That’s what I don’t understand. They perfected the 5R/T design, and then they abandoned it. The sloped top on the 5000/5100 detracts from the 5R/T design. Just update the sensor in the 5T body and that would have been perfect.
Maybe the new 5xxx series is the combination of the original 3 and 5 series. 6xxx is for 6 and 7. With the 3xxx being a whole new type of thing.
+1
I bet all you want that nobody will buy a A6000 anymore now, hahahahaha. That price is a joke. After dropping the price of a F6 with new A6000 for some 250$, they come now with a A5100 economy camera for just 100$ less. So, once more, let’s wait 2 month to see the real price appearing when the first 200$ rebates will be announced.
Only $100 cheaper than the A6000? This doesn’t make much sense. Ideal pricing should have been $450 body only.
Even though I love my A6000, hoping Sony makes a A7000:
1. Mag Alloy Body. Similar design to the A6000.
2. Larger grip which can accommodate a larger battery.
3. Larger grip should also accommodate an addition dial which can be operated with the forefinger. I hate the fact that both dials are usable only with the thumb. With the forefinger, you can even press a button with the thumb & rotate the dial with the forefinger allowing for multiple actions with the same dial. Makes much more sense.
4. Same AF as A6000. Any improvements are more than welcome. Better low light AF?
5. Touchscreen with Mic Input, headphone output & the XAVC Codec.
6. Faster Battery Charging!!! AArgh! Very frustrating currently.
7. $800 – $900 would be the best price point.
8. Weather Sealed would be nice.
9. Not related, but as a standard, Sony should make all their Zeiss & G Lenses weather sealed. The current strategy of only FE Glass being weather sealed doesn’t make much sense. None of the premium E (APSC) lenses like the 1670 Zeiss are weather sealed even though the $300 FE kit lens is… WTF Sony?
before you make your comments about “Only $100 cheaper than the A6000”, did you even bother to read (or understand) the spec. for the a5100? There are a few features will make the a5100 should cost more than a6000. Those feature are like smaller and lighter form factor, touch screen, xavc s @ 50MB/s & etc….
Smaller & lighter body does not add to cost. A different codec also does not add to cost. Apart from the touch screen, I don’t see anything that can add to the cost.
The EVF is missing which should itself substantially reduce the cost. Many dials & buttons are also missing which again contribute to cost. It should have been around $200 cheaper than the A6000. I still stand by my statement. Unless you absolutely need touch screen or the new Video Codec, the A6000 is still the better deal.
Of course it adds to cost. It’s called Research and Development and it’s called New Tooling, Training and so on and so forth…
I guess you know nothing about R&D cost and manufacture cost. Make it smaller does add a lot of cost… look at how cheap they would make (and sell) for the a3000 which gives you a hint that larger form factor = cheaper cost.
Yes the codec wrote and licenses itself, discovered at the end of a magical codec rainbow.
after all, Sony a giant troll ever! lol…
I own 2 cupboards: One for cameras that is already filled up, no space left. 10 or so almost same cameras. The other cupboard is for prime lenses above 50 mm: Completely empty, not one lens. Hey Sony: We do not need another camera! We need prime lenses 85FE1.8, 100FE1.8, 135F1.8 and 180FE1.8 . Lenses that fit APS-C AND FF! I need my camera(s) for taking pictures not to be able to discuss about latest “fietcha” that no buddy needs or uses.
You could get rid of one cupboard, or use one cupboard for cameras and the other for lenses. Hopefully this will temporary relieve the symptoms of ADD you are experiencing.
You suggest me to do what I already do…nice. Sleep well.
They wanna conquer the market with bodies only, 3 A7/R/S bodies and no portrait prime, travel lens, tilt&shift, macro, fast 35mm, speedlight or even Intervalometer. and people wonder why Canon sells more system than anybody else !!!
exactly! And even Zeiss is completely ignorant. They started with FE lens development 3 years ago and are not able to deliver any lens > 50mm – a shame.
55 > 50
As is the 24-70…
you are so clever, Lofote
More like Captain Obvious, but still Mike Knuth overlooked that lens completely with his statement…
…and Sony delivered a 70-200.
+1
A tilt&shift would be a dream. The one and only existing A mount Samyang (here in GER as Walimex) is not really good, but the price around 1 grand is ok.
Since I did a day architecture shooting with his 5D2 and the mighty TS-E 24, I love that style of working.
Unfortunately an adapted solution with that lens is for my needs to expensive (2.5k€).
Also agree to the need of a new flash for the system. The HVL43 and 60 are too huge for the A7x, and the HVL20 is both – ugly and poor.
No portrait prime!? 55 F1.8?
Really !!! 55mm!!!
By travel lens do you mean superzoom? In my book the 35mm and 55mm are fine for travel. (Sure, a 55mm oss and a faster 35mm would be my preference, but even so..)
For me 28-300 or 28-200 with fast 35 in the bag for low light, but i asume u r more into street photograpy or some similar genre, so ur setup should be adequate.
The Canon tilt-shift lenses work brilliantly on the a7 cameras. Using the a7r for interiors with the 17 & 24 tse lenses is better than any body Canon offers.
I absolutely agree that more lenses are needed for the FE system.
85/1.8 will be coming for sure.
However I don’t see a chance for your other three. 1.8 would make these lenses too huge.
A 135mm would be welcome, but I assume, that if they’d consider, they’d sketch a 2.8 only due to size.
A 100mm would be welcome as a macro.
I would also welcome an uwa prime (max. 20mm)
Actually the minolta 135/2.8 is almost pocketable, so that could make sense… It would double as a 200mm on apsc so it’d be win/win on e-mount.
News for Sony: The NEX-5N still works and delivers pics. Build cameras with self destruct timers before coming up with yet another model.
The Box Brownie still works and delivers pics too so I don’t get your point.
It might work if you know how to use a modern film on it. The old sensors for it are defunct. 😉
Model a month camera (and it will be 50% off in a few months) is not very exciting.
If a company is innovating and constantly brings out better cameras, people complaining that they get ripped off. If a company doesn’t do this, like Canon, people complaining and declaring the company is dying. Sorry guys, I tried hard, but I don’t get it.
Don’t listen to the complainers – they’re a vocal minority.
Only one dial hardware!!! Two dials is already too less on my Nex5r.
Does it have a level?
I don’t think we will ever see 180 degrees tilt screen in A6000 unless they were to push the viewfinder in, the view finder obstructs the ability for it to flip 180 degrees.
I’m astonished the manufactures always to wine about falling sales in the compact camera market. Otherwise they publish one compact camera short after a publish from a compact camera?