Sony Alpha 5000

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    Highlights

    • 20.1 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
    • 100 - 16,000 Native ISO
    • 25 Focus Points (25 Cross-type)
    • 3.0" 461k dot Tilting Screen
    • 3.5 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
    • 30 min Video Recording Limit
    • Built-in Flash
    • Built-In Wi-Fi
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    Overview

    Sony Alpha 5000 was announced in 2014 and is an APS-C (23.2 x 15.4 mm) Mirrorless camera with 20.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 16,000. The camera has a Tilting 3.0" screen with 461k dot resolution.

    Sony Alpha 5000 can capture video up to 1920 x 1080 resolution.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Sony Alpha 5000.

    PROS

    •   Cheap
    •   Video Capture
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   HDMI Output
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   Light - 269 g (0.59 lb / 9.49 oz)
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 3.5 fps
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 420 shots

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Sensor Resolution - 20.1 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   16,000 Highest Native ISO
    •   25 Focus Points
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/160 sec
    •   DxO Overall Score - 79

    Predecessor

    Here we are comparing Sony Alpha 5000 to its predecessor NEX-3N and displaying the major changes.

    UPGRADES Sony Alpha 5000 vs Sony NEX-3N
    Higher Sensor Resolution 20.1 Megapixel vs 16.1 Megapixel
    Lower Native ISO 100 vs 200
    More Powerful Processor BIONZ X vs BIONZ
    Max Image Resolution 5456 x 3632 vs 4912 x 3264
    Timelapse Recording With downloadable app vs
    Center Autofocus vs
    Tracking Autofocus vs
    Face Detection vs
    Higher Resolution Screen 461k dot vs 460k dot
    Multi-Segment Metering vs
    Center Weighted Metering vs
    Spot Metering vs
    Higher DxO Low Light ISO 1089 vs 1067
    Higher DxO Color Depth 23.8 vs 22.8
    Higher DxO Dynamic Range 13.0 vs 12.5
    Higher DxO Overall Score 79 vs 74
    Built-In Wi-Fi vs
    DOWNGRADES Sony Alpha 5000 vs Sony NEX-3N
    Lower Max Continuous Shooting 3.5 fps vs 4.0 fps
    Speaker vs Mono
    Shorter Battery Life 420 shots vs 480 shots

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Sony Alpha 5000 vs NEX-3N.

    Successor

    In 2014 Sony Alpha 5000 was replaced by Sony Alpha 5100. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Sony Alpha 5000 and its successor.

    UPGRADES Sony Alpha 5100 vs Sony Alpha 5000
    Cheaper $549 (body only), $699 (with 16-50 PZ lens) vs $600 (with 16-50mm power zoom lens)
    Higher Sensor Resolution 24.3 Megapixel vs 20.1 Megapixel
    Higher Native ISO 25,600 vs 16,000
    Max Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 vs 5456 x 3632
    Focusing System Fast Hybrid AF (Phase-detection / Contrast-detection) vs Contrast-detection AF
    More Focus Points 179 vs 25
    Touch-to-Focus vs
    Phase Detection for Autofocus vs
    Touch Screen vs
    Higher Resolution Screen 922k dot vs 461k dot
    Higher Max Continuous Shooting 6.0 fps vs 3.5 fps
    Higher DxO Low Light ISO 1347 vs 1089
    Higher DxO Overall Score 80 vs 79
    Speaker Mono vs
    DOWNGRADES Sony Alpha 5100 vs Sony Alpha 5000
    Lower DxO Dynamic Range 12.7 vs 13.0
    Heavier 283 g (0.62 lb / 9.98 oz) vs 269 g (0.59 lb / 9.49 oz)
    Shorter Battery Life 400 shots vs 420 shots

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Sony Alpha 5000 vs Alpha 5100.

    Screen

    Tilting screen

    Sony Alpha 5000 has a 3.0" Tilting screen with 461k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards. Tilting screen makes this camera very useful for photography purposes but not so useful for video shooting.

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    Sony Alpha 5000 with Tilting screen

    Sensor

    Sony Alpha 5000 features a 20.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.2 x 15.4 mm and a total area of 357.3 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 16,000.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Sony Alpha 5000's APS-C sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.2 x 15.4 mm357.3 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera is equipped with BIONZ X processor and can take pictures up to 5456 x 3632 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 5456 x 3064, 3872 x 2576, 3872 x 2176, 2736 x 1824, 2736 x 1536 with 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios.


    Lens Mount

    Sony Alpha 5000 has Sony E lens mount. Due to APS-C sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 1.5x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.5.


    No In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera does not have in-body image stabilization (IBIS) so it needs lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Sony Alpha 5000.

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    Built-in Wi-Fi

    Camera has a built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
      Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


    NFC

    Sony Alpha 5000 has Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which simplifies the process of pairing it with other NFC-enabled devices like smartphones or tablets. It allows to quickly transfer photos and videos or remotely control the camera from compatible device. NFC can also be used for authentication and security purposes. It can verify your identity before accessing certain features or transferring sensitive data. It can be used with NFC-enabled accessories as well, such as lenses, flashes and GPS devices.


    USB Input and HDMI Output

    Sony Alpha 5000 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer. There is a Micro HDMI connector for video signal output.


    Battery

    Sony Alpha 5000 comes with NP-FW50 battery pack with battery life of 420 shots.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Sony Alpha 5000's shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 3.5 fps.


    Focusing

    Sony Alpha 5000 has Contrast-detection AF system with 25 focusing points There is also face detection feature which automatically finds and focuses on faces.


    Flash

    Sony Alpha 5000 has a built-in flash with maximum range of 4.00 m at ISO 100. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/160 sec.

    Physical Parameters

    Sony Alpha 5000 has dimensions of 110 x 63 x 36 mm (4.33 x 2.48 x 1.42"). It weighs 269 g (0.59 lb / 9.49 oz), so it is a lightweight camera.

    110 mm (4.33")

    63 mm (2.48")

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    63 mm (2.48")

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    36 mm (1.42")

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    Sony Alpha 5000 dimensions

    Sony Alpha 5000 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Sony Alpha 5000 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    GOOD
    71

    Sony Alpha 5000 gets a score of 71 and is GOOD choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    66

    Sony Alpha 5000 gets a score of 66 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   16,000 Highest Native ISO
    •   25 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 3.5 fps
    •   Short Battery Life - 420 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    58

    Sony Alpha 5000 gets a score of 58 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   16,000 Highest Native ISO
    •   25 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 3.5 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 420 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    GOOD
    72

    Sony Alpha 5000 gets a score of 72 and is GOOD choice for Portrait photography.

    •   25 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/160 sec
    •   No External Flash Connectivity
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    82

    Sony Alpha 5000 gets a score of 82 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   25 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 269 g (0.59 lb / 9.49 oz)

    Travel Photography

    GOOD
    83

    Sony Alpha 5000 gets a score of 83 and is GOOD choice for Travel photography.

    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 269 g (0.59 lb / 9.49 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 420 shots

    Sony Alpha 5000 Evaluation

    We evaluate Sony Alpha 5000 and give score of 63 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    63

    Sensor

    GOOD
    71

    We give Sony Alpha 5000 a score of 71 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Sensor Resolution - 20.1 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   16,000 Highest Native ISO
    •   DxO Overall Score - 79

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    62

    We give Sony Alpha 5000 a score of 62 for Photo parameters.

    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 3.5 fps
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/160 sec
    •   No External Flash Connectivity

    Video

    BAD
    16

    We give Sony Alpha 5000 a score of 16 for Video parameters.

    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit

    Focusing

    AVERAGE
    68

    We give Sony Alpha 5000 a score of 68 for Focusing parameters.

    •   25 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    AVERAGE
    62

    We give Sony Alpha 5000 a score of 62 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 461k dot
    •   No Viewfinder

    Connectivity

    GOOD
    79

    We give Sony Alpha 5000 a score of 79 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   HDMI Output
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    44

    We give Sony Alpha 5000 a score of 44 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 269 g (0.59 lb / 9.49 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 420 shots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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