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Sony Alpha ILCE-5000 Review

We review the new Sony Alpha A5000, the compact mirrorless camera features a 20.1 megapixel sensor and built in Wi-Fi.


| Sony Alpha A5000 in Mirrorless Cameras
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Sony Alpha ILCE-5000 Review: Sony Alpha A5000 ILCE 5000L (2)
The Sony Alpha A5000 is this years update to the Sony NEX-3N, and is one of the smallest APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras with a built in flash. The updated A5000 adds built in Wi-Fi and NFC, as well as a new 20.1 megapixel sensor, instead of the 16.1 megapixel sensor on the 3N.

The Sony Alpha A5000 is priced at £399 (RRP) with the compact 16-50mm lens shown here. The camera features a tilting 3inch screen and ISO sensitivity is manually adjustable up to ISO16,000.

Sony Alpha A5000 Features

Sony Alpha ILCE-5000 Review: Sony Alpha A5000 ILCE 5000L (1)
The Sony Alpha A5000 has a 20.1 megapixel APS-C sensor. It has built-in Wi-Fi, and NFC, to allow it to connect to devices such as smartphones or tablets. There is a BIONZ image processor designed to produce clear, detailed, low noise images shooting up to ISO16000.

Photos can be uploaded directly to Facebook (using the Direct Upload app) from the camera with other apps available as well, including one which allows you to use your smartphone as a remote control. There are plenty of apps to download on the PlayMemories Camera Apps website, some are free, and some cost money.

Sony Alpha ILCE-5000 Review: Sony Alpha A5000 ILCE 5000L (4)
To help take creative pictures there are a number of picture modes such as poster effect, miniature and selective colour. The camera will automatically crop portrait photos creating a second copy of the photo.

Videos are recorded in full HD with stereo sound, and using the power zoom lens can zoom in and out without losing focus. The Alpha A5000 is available with the 16-50mm Power Zoom lens, which is collapsible when switched off, making it extremely compact. The lens is the equivalent of 24-75mm in 35mm terms, and features optical image stabilisation. 

Sony Alpha ILCE-5000 Review: Sony Alpha A5000 ILCE 5000L (7)

Key Features

  • 20.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
  • 3inch tilting screen, 460k dot resolution
  • ISO100 to ISO16000
  • BIONZ X™ image processing engine
  • FullHD Video recording
  • Built in pop-up flash (GN4)
  • 180 tiltable LCD screen
  • NFC + WIFI - One touch remote, One touch sharing
  • 15 apps now available in Playmemories App
  • Available in black, white or silver

Sony Alpha A5000 Handling

Sony Alpha ILCE-5000 Review: Sony Alpha A5000 ILCE 5000L (10)
The Sony Alpha A5000 has a compact plastic body and a good rubberised hand grip, as well as a plastic square on the back for your right-hand thumb, and weighs just 210g without lens. There is a built in pop up flash that is activated with a small button next to the flash.

On top is an on/off switch, as well as the shutter release button that is surrounded by a zoom-rocker lever, this can be used to control the power zoom, or zoom into photos in playback mode. The rear scroll wheel makes it easy to cycle through the menus, and the camera benefits from the Sony Alpha style of menus, rather than the Sony NEX menus, making the camera more familiar for other Sony users.

Sony Alpha ILCE-5000 Review: Sony Alpha A5000 ILCE 5000L (12)
The 3 inch screen is tiltable at up to 180 degrees, ideal for shooting with the camera low down or taking perfectly framed self-portraits. When tilted forwards the camera will automatically switch to self-portrait mode and countdown before taking the photo. The screen has a good resolution and is easy to view with a "Sunny Weather" setting available for when you are outdoors in the sun, this brightens the screen and makes it easy to see in sunlight.

A memory card slot can be found on the left hand side under the HDMI/USB flap, and the camera will take either Sony Memory Sticks or SD memory cards. The camera feels better than the low price would suggest, with the rubber grip helps to give a good impression, and build quality appears to be very good.

Sony Alpha ILCE-5000 Review: Sony Alpha A5000 App Store Sony Alpha ILCE-5000 Review: Sony Alpha A5000 Text Input
Sony Alpha A5000 App Store Sony Alpha A5000 Text Input


When you've set it to connect to your Wi-Fi network you can access the applications where you can use any that are already installed, or download more. Some app cost money including Time-lapse (£7.99), Multiple Exposure (£3.99), Lens Compensation (£7.99), and Multi-Frame NR (£3.99), with Direct Upload, Photo Retouch, Flick Add-on, Smart Remote Control, and Picture Effect+ free.

Sony Alpha ILCE-5000 Review: Sony Alpha A5000 ILCE 5000L (11)
Battery life is rated at 420 shots according to CIPA test results, with the camera using a Sony Info-lithium rechargeable battery, which means the camera is able to tell you exactly how much battery life is left as a percentage, for example, 51%. 

Speed - We took a number of shots to test the camera's responsiveness, from switch on to first photo, shot to shot, focusing speed etc. We take a number of shots and then use the average to ensure accurate and consistent tests, making it easy to compare with other cameras.

  Sony Alpha A5000
Shutter Response <0.05s
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response 0.3s
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response 0.35s
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo 2.2s
Shot to Shot without Flash 0.8s
Shot to Shot with Flash 1.1s
Continuous Shooting - JPEG
(shots before slow down)
3.5fps (14 shots)
Continuous Shooting - Flash 1.1s
Continuous Shooting - RAW 3.5fps (5 shots)


Switch on speed is a little slower than expected for this class of camera, however that's due to having to wait for the power zoom lens to extend. Focus and shutter response, is very good, although continuous shooting isn't as fast as other Sony Alpha / NEX cameras.


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Photographs taken using the Sony Alpha A5000

SunsetEquilibriumCity LifeArtwork on a wall, London 2017.Horst_Pfrommer_CalwThe Modern Centaur, life-size statue.Prague Opera house from the river Moldova banks.A view of Prague town center and river Moldova.Summer is comingSnowy treesHibernating boats in the Stour estuaryJittirat_Horst_Pfrommer CalwJittirat_Horst_Pfrommer_On_The_Road_AgainJapanese tree section @ Stirling Uni, Scotland.

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Comments


AlanWillis 13 67 England
22 Jan 2014 5:20PM
I believe Sony are dropping the NEX label. and using "A" for interchangeable lens cameras,
Divided by size. eg: Alpha fit lenses and "E" fit for the smaller range.
The fixed lens range are the Cyber-shot: not to be taken lightly as full frame professional ones will cost you nearly £2,500. I have trialled pre-production cameras and when the firmware is updated for production it changes so much. I wait for the chance, to try this. At about £400 with 20mp a camera that fits in your pocket, must be worth considering for newbies.
bgbg1 9
11 Mar 2014 6:11PM
Did you shoot any RAW test images?
joshwa Plus
12 927 1 United Kingdom
11 Mar 2014 9:12PM
Hi, we will upload RAW images as soon as possible. Thanks.
dannyr 13 47 United Kingdom
12 Mar 2014 8:22AM
I am sorry to say no matter how good Sony cameras are, I will never buy one of their cameras, purely because of the nasty App purchase system.

They are cutting features from cameras then charging extra for them. In theory it's a great idea, as it can extend the life of the camera, but as no camera manufacturer would ever want that, it only going to be used by them to make them a quick buck.

I don't want to rant but I really don't trust Sony (Or Canikon or Samsung or anyone) to be honest with it. We will end up with the same problem as the rip off microtransactions on mobile phones.

They have pay to win, we will end up with pay to shoot!
joshwa Plus
12 927 1 United Kingdom
12 Mar 2014 9:34AM
RAW files are now available, just click the RAW link under the thumbnails to view, thanks.
Pablo8 7
16 Jul 2019 1:36PM
How does one format the used card in the Sony ILCE 5000 camera
joshwa Plus
12 927 1 United Kingdom
19 Jul 2019 10:53AM

Quote:How does one format the used card in the Sony ILCE 5000 camera


Hi, there's a guide here on how to format the memory card in the Sony Alpha A5000:
https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00160659

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