Sony has begun to drop the NEX brand from mirrorless cameras and will bring all interchangeable lenses models under the Alpha umbrella. While this may raise questions about which lenses will work with what bodies, it gives the company the opportunity to simplify its already crowded product line. Based on the model number of the Sony Alpha 5000 (with 16-50mm lens), it is the ostensible successor to the Alpha NEX-5T at Amazon. However, a quick glance at the models before this one shows that the new version is the NEX-3N at Amazon ($499.00).
Whether we'll ever see a true 5T replacement is anyone's guess, and if you're looking at the Alpha 5000 in that light it's a disappointment—cutting out support for an EVF, the touch screen, and phase detect focus in favor of price—but as a 3N replacement it's simply an incremental upgrade. It's a great candidate for your dollars at $500, however, we prefer our Editors' Choice Olympus OM–D E-M10 (at Amazon)(Opens a new window), despite the higher price. In-body stability, touch-screen and an EVF are all added features to the E-M10.
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Features and Design
The mid-range model of Sony's mirrorless range is the Alpha 5000 ($309.95 on Amazon). The Alpha 5000 is a step up from the Alpha 3000and is a more budget-oriented model. Alpha NEX-3N is the inspiration for its design. Its 2.5-by-4.3-by-1.4-inch (HWD) frame is almost the same size as the 2.3-by-4.4-by-1.4-inch 3N, and both cameras weigh in at 9.5 ounces without a lens (the included 16-50mm($154.94 at Amazon).
A modest thumb rest and handgrip are included. The body is a compact and does not have the EVF or hot shoe found in some mirrorless models. You can pull back the built-in flash and point it straight up. This allows for softening or indirect lighting to your images.
Top plate contains the movie record button and power switch. Shutter release and zoom rocker controls the power zoom lens. It can also be used for zooming in photos while playing back. Rear controls include a flat control dial with four directional buttons—by default they adjust the exposure compensation, the drive mode, the ISO, and the amount of information displayed on the rear LCD. Most of these buttons—as well as the rear help button—can be reprogrammed to perform another function. If you need to have full control of the camera's functions, this is a must.
There's no overlay menu to provide quick access to the various shooting options as on other models like the Panasonic GF6or Fujifilm X-M1 ($599.00 at Amazon). This is a standard feature on mirrorless cameras. It saves you the hassle of having to dig into menus for frequently used functions. Even Sony's full-frame Alpha 7 features an Fn button which allows quick access to twelve shooting controls.
It measures 3 inches and has a resolution of 460k dots. The NEX-3N's rear display is identical in size, pixel count and resolution to it. However, the Samsung NX300 ($895.00 Amazon) has a touch-sensitive OLED screen. It has a hinge that allows it to tilt forward to take selfies. However, it does not have the dual-hinged design which would allow it to tilt downward.
If you want both to shoot with the screen above your head and selfies, the Panasonic GF6 is a good choice. The Alpha 5000 was able to be held upside down in the field with the display tilted in order to see it. However, that made the experience awkward. Fortunately, the orientation sensor was able compensate and record an image right-side up, despite my odd holding position.
Wi-Fi comes standard and can be used to transfer images or videos from an iOS device without wires. Sony offers a number of downloadable apps—some free and some coming at a premium—that can expand on its functionality. The free Direct Upload app can upload photos to Facebook or Flickr. You also have the option to use the Smart Remote Control app on your tablet or smartphone to remotely control the Alpha 5000. Lens Compensation ($9.99) is a premium app that allows you to create time-lapse videos and Lens Time-lapse ($9.99).
The latter lets you adjust the distortions and chromatic aberration of photos. These features could be integrated into the camera or made available for free to shooters. However, you should keep in mind that some of these add-ons will cost extra if used with the Sony App Store.
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Performance and conclusions
We haven't found the Alpha 5000 to be one of our fastest mirrorless cameras. The camera takes 2.4 seconds for it to turn on and take a picture. It can also capture images in speed priority mode at 3.3fps. This is enough time for 5 Raw+JPG, 6 Raw and 35 JPG photos. The autofocus is not equipped with a phase detection focus system but it does lock in at just over 0.01 seconds in bright light, and in low-light conditions in 0.8 seconds. Olympus OM-D E-M10 can achieve speeds all over: it starts, shoots, and focuses in 0.9 seconds. It can also shoot at 7.9fps. Low-light focus is the only place it falls short of the Alpha 5000. It matches its 0.8 second time.
Imatest was used to test the optical performance and zoom lenses 16-50mm. The same lens was tested with NEX bodies and we found it to make some compromises for its compact design. The lens achieved a score of 2,000 lines per photo height in our center-weighted sharpness testing. This is better than the 1,800 lines we used to consider a photo sharp. While the center and midway sharpness of the lens were excellent, the edges were soft at just 1,216 lines.
While narrowing the aperture won't make them better, the lens can manage 2,294 and 2,327 lines with the center-weighted metrics at f/5.6, and f/8 respectively. Some in-camera adjustments are made to JPG files (1.1%) to reduce barrel distortion. If you shoot Raw you'll have to apply corrections yourself—image shows 9 percent barrel distortion, which gives photos a mild, but distinct, fisheye look.
The maximum aperture drops to f/5 when the lens zoomed to 34mm at its middle point. This lens has a good center-weighted sharpness (2,167 lines), however, the edges are very soft (1,445 line). The center-weighted score jumps to 2,352 lines, and the edges are sharp (1,834 line). At 50mm, the story looks similar. The maximum aperture is F/5.6. Images are sharp at 1,849 lines using our center-weighted metrics, however, edges suffer (1,577).
The center sharpness is increased by stopping at f/8, which bumps the weighted score up to 2,188 lines. However, edges still suffer (1,431 line). Regardless of whether you are shooting in Raw or JPG, distortion is not an issue with 34mm and 50mm.
Imatest checks the photos for noise. This can make photos appear grainy when you shoot at high ISO sensitivity, which is a common feature in low-light photography. Alpha 5000 can shoot at a maximum ISO 16000 and keeps noise below 1.5 percent. It does this by using pretty robust noise reduction. The ISO test sequence was displayed on a NEC MultiSync PA271W ($999.00 Amazon).and I saw that it is much closer to the current reality of digital imagery than what the Alpha 5000 could achieve. JPG images are very detail-friendly up to ISO 1600.
However, fine lines begin to blur at ISO 3200. ISO 6400 is where the blurring begins and lines that are supposed to be separate start to meld together. Images at ISO 12800 or 16000 look a mess. You can eke a bit more sharpness out of photos by shooting in Raw; there's more noticeable grain, but shooting at up to ISO 6400 is a viable option there—you can always apply additional noise reduction in Lightroom or the Raw converter of your choice if desired. Although the Fujifilm X-A1 failed to perform as well in its noise testing, it was able to maintain control at ISO 6400. The JPG output is noticeably better than that of the Alpha 5000.
AVCHD video can be recorded at either 1080i60, or 1080p24 resolution. MP4 recording is also an option—it tops out at 1080p30. It records crisp, clear footage and is fast to adapt to focus changes. The digital zoom kicks in when you use a power zoom lens. Even at 2x (100mm), the footage is sharp and clear. Clear Image Zoom is a digital zoom that Sony calls Clear Image Zoom. It can also be used to shoot still images in JPG.
The camera has its flaws when it comes recording video. The included lens' power zoom is quite smooth. However, you can hear the barrel moving around on the background. There's no way to connect an external mic, so you're going to have to live with that—voices, thankfully, are picked up loud and clear.
The rolling shutter effect, which causes the bottom of the frame to advanced more quickly than the top, is very evident in moderate to quick pans—it gives objects a rubber pencil type motion effect. Consider a mirrorless camera that has more powerful features and a microphone input if you are serious about video. We haven't tested it yet but we believe the Panasonic G6 is a good choice for those who don't wish to pay the $1,099.99 Amazon price.
On the left-hand side, you will find micro USB and micro HDMI ports. The plastic flap conceals the card slot and the micro USB port. The card slot can accept Memory Stick cards, as well as the SDHC and SDXC. This is a Sony camera. The micro USB port doubles as a charging port—unless you buy an external charger you'll need to charge the battery inside via the included AC adapter and USB cable.
The camera recognizes the adapter and cable. Third-party adapters are not compatible with the camera so make sure you don't bring your charger. It was possible to charge the device using a USB cable made by another manufacturer but it only worked when connected to the Sony power adapter.
Although the Sony Alpha 5000 may not be the most powerful mirrorless camera available, it is a good choice for those who don't mind using automatic mode. The camera's burst speed isn't great, so it's worth looking elsewhere to find something capable of handling sports or fast-moving action.
However, the Sony Alpha 5000's focus speed and ISO performance make family photos easy and deliver the same image quality as an SLR with a smaller size. The integrated Wi-Fi allows you to instantly share your photos, while an in-camera guidance provides helpful tips for novice photographers. You can add an extra 16-50mm zoom lens to make it even more compact.
There are still other options for this camera class that you might be interested in, particularly if your experience is greater. Although the Samsung NX300 may be larger than it was originally priced, it is still quite capable and less expensive.
It's more affordable than the Alpha 5000. If you are interested in Fujifilm's excellent range of fixed-focal lenses, the Fujifilm X-A1 may be a better option than the Alpha 5000. It also has higher ISOs. You might consider the Editors Choice Olympus OM–D E–M10 if you're looking for a faster and more affordable option. It comes with an EVF, a burst-shooting rate, and a $300 additional cost when you add a lens.