Sony ILCE5100LB.CEC Compact System Camera with 16-50 Lens (24.3 MP, 180 Degrees Tiltable LCD, Fast Hybrid Auto Focus, Noise Reduction Feature, Wi-Fi and NFC) - Black

There are so many reviews on this camera I thought rather than simply add to these, I would try to offer an opinion on some of the lenses and accessories I’ve used over the past 14 months since buying it. I think this is a brilliant camera but I must confess that I was initially a little disappointed, and this turned out to be due to the 16-50 kit lens. On a positive note the kit lens helps to keep the camera/lens combination small, it looks right on the camera, offers a reasonable range and under the right conditions, it can take a decent image but, it doesn’t really do the camera justice. My first lens purchase was the Sigma 30mm, in my opinion this is an excellent lens and is probably the one that spends most time on my camera. Physically it isn’t much larger than the kit lens so it is still quite a compact package. My next lens was the Sigma 19mm, another excellent lens. I’ve shown people quite heavily cropped photos taken with this lens and they genuinely haven’t been able to tell. This lens is about 1cm longer than the Sigma 30mm and therefore, not quite so compact, but it’s still not a large combination. Both of these Sigma lenses are available for around £120, a bargain in my opinion and a must buy for anyone owning this camera. I then bought the Sony SEL50 f/1.8, please read the reviews for this lens here on Amazon. Physically it’s slightly larger again than the Sigma 19mm but another excellent lens and highly recommended. I’ve recently taken the plunge and bought the Sony 18-105. Again, please read the reviews for this lens here on Amazon. This is by far the most expensive lens I’ve purchased but it met my requirements perfectly, it’s got the range I wanted, it can provide excellent IQ and therefore, I’m very happy with it. However, of the four lenses I’ve mentioned here this is the most difficult for me to recommend, and this is largely due to the cost. I guess you simply need to ask yourself if you really need/want the range this lens provides? I was quite lucky and managed to buy a Patona Battery Charger and Battery from GmbH through Amazon around the same time I bought the camera (it was £21 at the time), it doesn’t seem to be available on Amazon anymore but can still be bought from GmbH on Ebay. It’s hard to recommend a spurious battery but, I can say that in my experience the Patona lasts just as long as the original Sony, holds its charge just as well, displays remaining charge quite accurately and overall, I’ve been so pleased with the performance of the battery that I’ve recently bought another (from GmbH on Ebay), it was about £12. Other purchases worth considering... (and available here on Amazon):- Joby DSLR Wrist Strap – good quality and great for when you don’t want to use a neck strap. It’s about £13 Black Camera Case Bag for Sony NEX by BW&H – it’s a small case and suits the A5100 perfectly (I’ve actually posted a review on this bag). It’s about £9 If you need a slightly larger Camera Case, the Sony LCS-U11 at £12.50 is worth a look.. In respect to the camera bags I didn’t see the point in buying a compact camera and then lugging around a huge case.. however, I’ve sort of contradicted that by buying the Sony 18-105 lens (it looks quite huge on the A5100) but the combination will still ‘just’ fit in the Sony LCS-U11.... just.!! I’ve seen a few negative comments about the menu navigation and lack of quick access buttons/dials but personally, I like the clean look. I’ve removed the ‘tile’ view when you open the menu and I’ve programmed the available buttons to do what I want. Over time I’ve got to know where the most often needed options are and this, combined with removing the tile view, means that I can generally navigate to what I need quite quickly. I tend to only use the PASM modes but on the odd occasion that I’ve tried it, ‘Intelligent Auto’ seems to do a decent job in most situations too. I do not feel the same about ‘Superior Auto’, it’s just my personal opinion but, on the rare occasions I’ve tried it I’ve never been happy with the results.... I should stress that I am not a professional photographer, I’m just an enthusiastic amateur who like a nice photo.! And I never shoot RAW, only JPEG. These are just my thoughts and opinions but I hope these comments offer some help....

This was a showdown choice between Sony's own RX100 Mk3/4 and this As an existing RX100 user it was a difficult choice to make as I was used to the compact and fast shooting low light aspects of the RX100 (mk1) I had already been using for some years now. At the time I had handled the A6000 which was bigger than this but an incredibly good camera that matched the price of the RX100 Mk3 and became intrigued at how fast the camera was. Doing digging into the APS-C system, it became apparent that these sorts of cameras had a much bigger sensor than even the RX100 and were a completely different kind of camera. I came across the A5100 almost by accident as a cross between the old A5000 and A6000 - taking the body of the former with the sensor of the latter. It had the speed I wanted and the compactness was decent. I also liked how as a compact camera enthusiast I was able to take the next step into lenses and be more "pro" like There were some justifications to RX100 - similar body design, new features and a faster sensor. I had handled the new RX100 models too and they were similar beasts - fast and nimble in my hands. However the key wining aspect was the price. The RX100 Mk3 or Mk4 was well over £500 or more which was double what I paid for this - Using the odd 250+ quid I had saved I realised I could save and buy a big zoom lens. I ended up getting this in an Amazon temporary price drop and have been very happy so far. It is indeed quick as advertised to focus and grab the shot - the touch screen is really useful to make sure you get the right focus too. If you simply get this and use the kit lens then its COMPLETELTY FINE - people diss the kit lens, but its actually really versatile and wide and great for snap shots. The thing is if you jump from a compact, even the RX100, the bigger sensor and speed aids you in getting that similar type of shot you were shooting before. I took this to a gig - the same band I had taken images of the previous year in the same venue with the RX100 and it was a surprise at how good it was - I had trepidations at what I should have brought to the gig prior and taking pictures proved to be a treat as it was fast and quick to focus and I got some great shots! If you want to go to the next level then that's when you start looking at lenses as an investment as this is where you find the money you saved from the new RX100s goes. The New RX100s are prime examples of miniaturizing the best in a compact form - but the payoff against this is the cost of such a product. Pros Great image quality even with the standard lens Fast focus Versatile - ability to step it up Great Battery life (but buy a spare anyway!) Cons Bulky - won't fit in a pocket easily E-mount lenses are expensive Looking to get a SEL18200LE next for more range.

Awesome camera for my first semi-pro camera! i took this on holiday and thought i would up my game a bit. Whilst everyone i saw was bulking around massive DSLRs i had this pocket rocket A5100 around my neck with a spare sigma lens in my pocket - which was by no means cumbersome or heavy. Now i won't bore people with the usual comparisons as they're on youtube... you buy something like this if you are on the go and want something really mobile. A DSLR is your pro piece but you wouldn't want it on your hols while spending time with the family or your other half - people do, i know but they are not comfy to carry and walk long distances with. If you want something more than a point and shoot...this is it! Basic Pros - Battery life (a full days use while climbing, going whale watching, sight seeing etc.) roughly i got 16 hours on and off use. - The interchangeable lens on such a tiny light body - The grip is great - nice texture too - selfie screen really does help to take great shots of you and your other half - The aperture/shutter/ISO priority settings are really easy to use - Full auto is as good as they say it is on all the reviews! - darker indoor or night photos look great even with the kit lens - video capture is really good for this range of camera, i really wasn't expecting this. I mean it is proper good! :) Basic cons - the lens pops out ready to shoot (on the kit lens) when you go to view your photos and i cannot figure out how to stop that from happening ( a niggle of mine!) - It doesn't come with a battery charger you have to charge the battery through the camera (which takes 8 hours!) a separate 3rd party charger sorts this out though and it can charge the batteries in 2 hours - There is no dial to adjust the settings quickly, you have to use the screen, not good if your're trying to get a photo of an animal that is about to run away! Update your firmware if you want to sync to iphones by the way... I wish i did this before i left the country. 5 stars as my pros outweigh the negatives massively

I was searching for a pocketable replacement to my old NEX 3N and as a second backup camera for my Canon 5D Mark 2. I had almost pulled the trigger on one of the RX 100 series o A6000. But when I came along the lightning deal for just £299 for this A5100, I immediately purchased it. Couldn't be more happy. What a marvel this little camera is. Amazing 24 megapixel APS-C sensor with 179 PDAF points, 6 fps burst, XAVCS video mode with dual recording capability (high and mpeg4), tillable 180 degree LCD screen, touchscreen capture, wifi, apps available, smartphone remote control operation, small and light. This is NOT a cheaper version of the A6000 in specs. It's another version with the same identical 24 megapixel APS-C sensor. These two cameras really deserve better glass than the OK 16-50 kit lens. If you are planning on never changing lenses and keeping only the kit lens attached, then there is no point buying a MILC. Go for a RX 100 series camera, much more pocketable camera which will provide lots of high quality images. With Sony's A5100/A6000 gone are the days of bulky entry level APS-C DSLRs. High end full frames are a different beast. If you desire a EVF, more physical controls and even faster (11 fps) burst then go for the A6000. If you prefer a tiltable 180 degree LCD, don't care about EVF and want to shoot videos in the higher quality AVCS format, then the A5100 is for you. I highly recommend the A5100. Fabulous little gem!! Thanks Amazon for the excellent price on lightning deal and top notch service!

One of the best cameras I've had, the auto focus on this is lightning quick and very responsive to changes in the scene. I often use this camera to make vlogs so the rotating screen is a big help - it works as a good reference for selfies too. The battery life isn't amazing but unless you're using it constantly it should last you a full day of good tourist use. There are auto features as well as manual ones to keep both the amateur and pro happy to capture any scene without resorting to a big beefy SLR. Whilst this camera might be a little older in terms of the specs its still a good work horse - you can shoot video up to 1080P at 25fps (no slow mo stuff unfortunately) but the quality is really good and the photos come out really well in RAW to edit later. Having interchangeable lenses is another great feature as you can use the same lenses that feature on the heftier SLRs. If you ever considered getting a Sony at some point then this might be a good camera to start with as if you like it enough to upgrade in the future you just need to buy a body as the lenses can carry over.

Excellent little unassuming ILC camera. It has a large sensor - that of a modern DSLR - and a great IQ when shooting in RAW mode. It's size demands that dials and buttons are kept to a minimum - so menus have to do. I have a NEX 5N and 5R and they both have this smaller size but both suffer from silly menu options. Thankfully Sony nicked some sense from Samsung. If you look at the Samung NX1000 etc this A5100 menu system is very much like it and so is quite usable. You can also remap functions to buttons eg like the help button. The body of the A5100 is plastic. This makes no difference to its use. I began my DSLR interest with a Canon D60 which was plastic but is still going string after 12 years. The LCD screen is quite clear but suffers under bright light. The A6000 version of this camera has an EVF but seemingly not a good one. Personally I like the articulated LCD screen - it lets me shoot from angles I would find hard with a DSLR. The lens supplied is a 16-50mm f3.5-5.6. As lenses go it's not very good. It'll get you by until you can get something better. There are some good reviews on photo sites. The much touted AF system is fast for a ILC but can get easily confused. You can use the LCD touch ability to choose a focus point and yopu can shoot with the same touch. Unlike the NEX 5N you can't generally use the touch screen for zooming and sliding and menus. Still it beats the A6000 which has not touch screen. Battery life is fine. About 400 shots depending on how it's used. Charging is done in-camera with a USB lead say to a PC. The built-in flash is useful but not powerful. Not going to bounce it etc but as a fill flash it's fine. As with all the NEX type cameras, they have access to a wealth of fantastic cheap old manual lenses by the likes of Canon, Pentax, Nikon etc. The 'peak' function is a great help with these in that it highlights where the greatest ciontrast is in the image - assists focus via the LCD. Good way to get a feel for exposure values. All in all a great pocketable powerful camera.

I bought this camera from Amazon in a lightening deal in July 2015 for £299 and five years later I'm not surprised to find it's still going for nearly £400. It really is a little marvel. Having invested in two new lenses, including the excellent Sony 50mm 1.8 e-mount, I have captured some very professional looking images. The instruction booklet is a tome but there are some very detailed tutorials on YouTube that enable you to dispense with that. People complain about the Sony menu system but it becomes second nature after a while. The reason I'm reviewing this camera after five years is that I've discovered it makes a brilliant streaming camera when you're an isolated Billy-no-mates during this Covid-19 outbreak. You can insert a dummy battery to power it and connect the mini HDMI to your laptop. So whilst everyone on your houseparty has a pixelated image with bad lighting, you're sitting there with the image and light benefits of an APS-C sensor with a bit of artistic background blur. It's in another league from even the best webcam. Yes, if I'm quibbling, I would have loved mic input and a fully functional touchscreen but what you get in terms of image and features more than makes up for that. If you can get one at a knock-down price, definitely go for it. The video is only 1080p but it's uncropped and looks better than Canon's 4K from 2019. In summary, one of the best pieces of tech I've ever bought.

Hopefully I can write an honest review on this and have it published as Sony have twice "moderated" my review having invited me to leave feedback on their website. I previously owned the Sony Nex 5R which was my first step up from a compact point and shoot camera. I thought it was fantastic but it was unfortunately stolen, so I eventually replaced it with this which I purchased for £300 on a Black Friday deal. Immediate impressions were one of a much more cheaply made camera than the previous generation. It is very light (perhaps an advantage) but lacks the premium feel of its predecessor and some of its competitors. The Good: For someone like me who appreciates great images and likes the idea of learning photography but never quite gets around to it, it works well as an instant point and shoot camera. I tortured myself looking at sample images from this and its competitors for hours online, and was quite happy in the end. If this is your first step up from a compact camera or phone, the images will impress. For some reason I wasn't quite as impressed with low light images as I was with the Nex 5, and I did find the focusing, particularly in low light, to be slow, compared to what I had expected from the marketing. Battery life is adequate, screen is perfectly suitable although difficult to see in bright light. The ability to angle the flash is an excellent touch and gives great lighting to portraits in low light. The Bad: I would have given this camera 3 stars until recently. The camera suffered a drop from about 2 feet, marking the outside of the lens casing. It continued to work fine for over a month, and then one day decided to give up the ghost. I contacted Sony Service Centre who advised me how to return the camera. Suspecting they might decline to fix this under warranty given the external damage, I enquired if I would be given an estimate before choosing whether to proceed. They confirmed that I would of course, but neglected to tell me there would be a £54 inspection charge if the repair was refused. The repair cost quoted is £154.34 to repair the lens. When I complained that I found this excessive for a £300 camera, and that I could buy a new lens for around £99, I was directed to customer service. After 20minutes on hold, they directed me back to the service centre, who after another 20minutes directed me back to customer service. Eventually I was informed that I was not entitled to any good will from Sony (Or in fact, "unfortunately your (sic) not entitled to any good wells (sic)". Having been misinformed about the repair cost, and having owned 4 Sony cameras, a Playstation 3, Playstation 4 and two Sony car stereos within the last 3 years, I wonder when Sony does offer "good wells". The Ugly: I was quite interested to discover how heavily moderated reviews are. Sony invited me to leave a review by email, and twice it has been refused for publication by the moderators. Seemingly you are only allowed to leave a review if it is positive. Having been initially inspired to move up from a point & shoot camera by using a Canon and then a Fujifilm DLSR, I think I will now stop seeking a new discovery and stick to these proven brands. There isn't much point in having a reasonably compact take-everywhere camera if it is cheaply made, delicate, and costs 50% of its value to repair.