[Tech & Gadgets]
You might remember that earlier this year MHB attended the bloggers preview for the Sony Alpha 5000 camera (which you can read here – https://timchew.net/2014/05/12/sony-alpha-5000-bloggers-preview-2/) and barely half a year later, Sony Malaysia launched another new inter-changeable lens camera. As MHB’s official photographer Andy Kho and I both were very familiar with the a5000 and its capabilities, we eagerly headed over to Pulp cafe in Bangsar on 26 August 2014 for the launch of the new Sony a5100 in Malaysia.
The new Sony Alpha 5100 or a5100 is more like the replacement model for the out-going Sony NEX 5T camera whereas the a5000 was the replacement for the NEX 3 series of inter-changeable lens cameras. The new a5100 is a marriage of sorts between the somewhat more basic a5000, and very capable and more professional a6000.
The α5100 is a small, lightweight and highly portable inter-changeable E-mount lens camera equipped with the latest 24.3 megapixels Exmor™ CMOS sensor and integrated editing functions. Sony claims that the α5100 is the world’s smallest interchangeable-lens digital camera (currently in the market) that comes with a big APS-C sensor plus a built-in flash and Wi-Fi.
The Fast Hybrid AF system of the α5100, the same that can be found in the α6000, has 179 phase detection points that freezes rapid action, and accurately tracks fast-paced targets – like blistering penalty shots or lively pets – for blur-free results. The camera comes with the very useful Touch Focus and Touch Shutter, which adjusts the focus on whatever you touch on the LCD screen and immediately fires the shutter giving you the added chance to capture that all important shot in clear focus.
The large APS-C sized sensor is Sony’s latest-generation Exmor™ CMOS with 24.3 effective megapixels which is paired with the BIONZ X image processor featured in the α7 Series. This makes all the difference with refinement and low-light sensitivity, whether shooting stills or movies.
Video recording includes support for the increasingly popular pro-focused XAVC S format at 50 Mbps which gives Full HD footage with high quality sound to match. The Fast Hybrid AF provides accurate focus that tracks your subject, and there’s also the option of using the Touch Focus while capturing videos.
For those of you who love taking selfies, simply flip the large 3-inch LCD screen 180° and snap away! The in-camera soft-skin effect enhances skin tone, producing even better looking selfies automatically.
The camera comes with one-touch NFC and Wi-Fi Direct which allows easy wireless transfer to compatible Android and iOS phones, tablets and TVs. The one-touch linkage also activates Smart Remote Control, letting you frame shots and fire the camera shutter right from your smartphone or tablet’s screen.
New accessories include the style-matching LCS-EBD body case – available in three colour variations – and the compact, easy-to-carry RM-SPR1 remote for shake-free tripod-mounted selfies.
The Sony α5100 interchangeable lens camera is currently available in three (3) colours – black, white and brown, in local camera outlets, Sony Stores and Sony Centres nationwide at the RRP of RM2,399.00
Technical Specifications
| Lens compatibility | Sony E-mount lenses | |
| Image sensor | APS-C type (23.5 x 15.6mm), Exmor CMOS sensor | |
| Number of pixels (effective) | Approx. 24.3 megapixels | |
| Recording format | Still | JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver.2.3, MPF Baseline compliant), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format) |
| Movie | XAVC S / AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant / MP4 | |
| Media | Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory StickPRO-HG Duo, Memory Stick XC-HG Duo, SD memory card, SDHC memory card (UHS-I compliant), SDXC memory card (UHS-I compliant) | |
| Focus system | type | Fast Hybrid AF(phase-detection AF/contrast-detection AF) |
| Focus point | 179 points (phase-detection AF) / 25 points (contrast-detection AF) | |
| Sensitivity range | EV-1 to EV20 (ISO100 equivalent with F2.0 lens attached) | |
| Exposure control | Metering type | 1200-zone evaluative metering |
| ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) | Still images: ISO 100-25600 (1/3 EV step),AUTO (ISO 100-25600, selectable lower limit and upper limit)Movies: ISO 100-12800 equivalent (1/3 EV step) / AUTO (ISO 100-12800 equivalent, selectable lower limit and upper limit) | |
| Shutter | Shutter speed | Still images:1/4000 to 30 sec, Bulb,Movies: 1/4000 to 1/4(1/3 steps) |
| Electronic Front Curtain Shutter | Yes | |
| Drive | Speed (approx., max.)[1] | Continuous shooting: Hi: max. 6 fps,Lo: max. 3 fps |
| No. of frame recordable(approx.)[2] | JPEG Fine L: 56 frames, JPEG Standard L:75 frames, RAW: 23 frames, RAW&JPG:22 frames | |
| LCD | Type | 7.5cm (3.0-type) wide type TFT electrostatictouch screen |
| Number of dots (total) | 921,600 dots | |
| Adjustable angle | Up by approx. 180 degrees | |
| Audio | Microphone | Built-in stereo microphone |
| Speaker | Built-in, monaural | |
| Interface | HDMI micro connector (Type-D), Multi /Micro USB Terminal | |
| Wireless LAN (built-in) | Wi-Fi Compatible, IEEE 802.11b/g/n(2.4GHz band) | |
| NFC | NFC forum Type 3 Tag compatible | |
| PlayMemories Camera Apps | Yes6 | |
| Flash | Built-in / Guide No. 4 (in meters at ISO 100,Flash coverage 16mm） | |
| Battery | One rechargeable battery pack NP-FW50 | |
| Weight | With battery and Memory Stick PRO Duoincluded: Approx. 283 g (approx. 10oz),Body only: Approx. 224 g (approx. 7.9oz) | |
| Dimensions W x H x D (excluding protrusions) | approx. 109.6  x 62.8 (H) x 35.7 (D) mm(approx. 4 3/8 x 2 1/2 x 1 7/16 in.) |
|
| Operating temperature | 32 – 104 degrees F / 0 – 40 degrees C | |
The best thing is that I was loaned a unit of the Sony a5100 so do look out for posts on this site and on my social media using it.
More info at http://www.sony.com.my/
Photo credits: Andy Kho Photography (www.andykho.com) using the Sony Alpha 5100 and author’s own also using the a5100.
timchew.net 