Sony a5100 16-50mm Interchangeable Lens Camera with 3-Inch Flip Up LCD (Black)

Ultra-fast auto focus with 179 AF points and 6Fps

Aspect Ratio3:2Sensor TypeCMOSPhoto Sensor Resolution24.3 mpPhoto Sensor SizeAPS-C (23.5 x 15.6mm)Form FactorMirrorlessScreen Size3 inches

About this item

  • Ultra-fast auto focus with 179 AF points and 6Fps
  • Capture life in high resolution with 24MP APS-C sensor.Lens compatibility Sony E-mount lenses
  • Instant sharing via smartphone with Wi-Fi and NFC1
  • Record Full HD 1080/24/60P video3 up to 50MB/s. Compatible OS - Windows Vista SP2-6, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Mac OS X (v10.7-v10.9)
Category: CamerasMirrorless CamerasRanked #99 of 730 in Cameras
8.8Our score
Our verdict

Ultra-fast auto focus with 179 AF points and 6Fps

Ranked #99 in Cameras · 4 things we like

Quick answer The Sony a5100 16-50mm Interchangeable Lens Camera scores 8.8/10 with us. Amazon owners rate it 4.4 out of 5 across 1,260 reviews, in line with the 4.4 average of the 23 mirrorless cameras we track. It was listed at $795.08 on Amazon when we last checked in September 2026. Key facts: aspect ratio 3:2, sensor type CMOS, photo sensor resolution 24.3 mp.

Sony a5100 Interchangeable Lens Camera with 16-50mm Lens, Black. Exposure Modes- AUTO (iAUTO, Superior Auto), Programmed AE (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter-speed priority (S), Manual (M), Scene Selection, Sweep Panorama, Movie

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Product information

24 specifications
Compatible MountingsSony E (NEX), Sony FE
Aspect Ratio3:2
Sensor TypeCMOS
File FormatJPEG (DCF v2.0, EXIF v2.3), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3)
Image stabilizationNo
Maximum Aperture3.5 millimeters
Expanded ISO Minimum100
Photo Sensor Resolution24.3 mp
Photo Sensor SizeAPS-C (23.5 x 15.6mm)
Maximum Shutter Speed1/4000 seconds
Minimum Shutter Speed30 seconds
Exposure ControlAperture Priority, Automatic, Programmed AE, Shutter Priority
Form FactorMirrorless
Effective Still Resolution24.3 mp
Special FeatureBrightness Control
ColorBlack
Screen Size3 inches
Shooting ModesAnti-Motion Blur, Hand-held Twilight, Landscape, Macro, Night portrait, Night Scene, Portrait, Sports action, Sunset
Item Weight9.92 ounces
Video ResolutionFHD 1080p
ViewfinderElectronic
Flash ModesAutomatic, Fill Flash
Camera FlashBuilt-In
Skill LevelProfessional

Pros & cons

What we like
  • Ultra-fast auto focus with 179 AF points and 6Fps
  • Capture life in high resolution with 24MP APS-C sensor.Lens compatibility Sony E-mount lenses
  • Instant sharing via smartphone with Wi-Fi and NFC1
  • Record Full HD 1080/24/60P video3 up to 50MB/s. Compatible OS - Windows Vista SP2-6, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Mac OS X (v10.7-v10.9)
What could be better

    Sony a5100 16-50mm Interchangeable Lens Camera: questions & answers

    Is the Sony a5100 16-50mm Interchangeable Lens Camera worth buying?

    Yes, it is one of the stronger picks in its group. We score the Sony a5100 16-50mm Interchangeable Lens Camera 8.8 out of 10. Amazon owners rate it 4.4 out of 5 across 1,260 reviews, in line with the 4.4 average of the 23 mirrorless cameras we track.

    How much does the Sony a5100 16-50mm Interchangeable Lens Camera cost?

    It was listed at $795.08 on Amazon when we last checked in September 2026. That is cheaper than the $1,149.00 median for mirrorless cameras in our catalog. Amazon prices change daily, so use the price button on this page to see the current figure.

    What are the key specs of the Sony a5100 16-50mm Interchangeable Lens Camera?

    Aspect Ratio: 3:2; Sensor Type: CMOS; Photo Sensor Resolution: 24.3 mp; Photo Sensor Size: APS-C (23.5 x 15.6mm); Form Factor: Mirrorless; Screen Size: 3 inches. All 24 specifications are in the product information table on this page.

    What are good alternatives to the Sony a5100 16-50mm Interchangeable Lens Camera?

    Similar, well-rated mirrorless cameras in our catalog: Sony Alpha a6400 Mirrorless Camera: Compact (9.0/10, 4.5 stars from 1,045 owners); Sony ZV-E10 Mirrorless Camera (9.4/10, 4.6 stars from 65 owners); Sony ZV-E10 II APS-C Mirrorless Creator Camera (8.0/10, 4.0 stars from 266 owners).

    Customer reviews

    All reviews on Amazon
    4.41,260 global ratings
    5 star70%
    4 star10%
    3 star0%
    2 star0%
    1 star20%

    Breakdown from the 10 most helpful reviews we imported.

    B
    Bright Day
    Verified purchaseMay 11, 2015
    Best Sony other then A7s for video, Amazing stills too

    I own 4 of these, the video is amazing, very little morie, great in low light. The still quality is great too. I basically look at cameras like it's a chip with a lens. I would rather own a bunch of affordable bodies, keep the lenses I like on them, and never change the lens in the field. This strategy greatly reduces the chance of dirt on my sensor. I personally don't like to look at an image with the sky with dirt all over the image, and the further you stop a lens down the greater the dirt on the sensor will show.I also use a Sony DSC-HX60 for timelapse shots, they are cheap, look great and

    A
    Amazon Customer
    Verified purchaseJuly 26, 2017
    This camera is great. I love photography and I didn't totally know ...

    This camera is great. I love photography and I didn't totally know what to expect from a non DSLR but it takes great photos and is so versatile!!! I have a Nikon d5300 and I find myself grabbing this little guy a lot of the time instead. The sensor is better and if you're not wanting a ton of control or in a sitatuion where you don't want to be constantly adjusting in a manual mode, this camera is perfect. It has a great auto mode and it automatically edits pictures to make them look better - I've yet to seen it edit in such a way that I don't like either, it just makes every picture look more

    S
    Scrambyvision
    Verified purchaseFebruary 24, 2022
    Great for Twitch/Youtube Streaming and Youtube Videos!!

    If you're a streamer on Twitch or Youtube or want to make Youtube videos, this is a great mirrorless camera at it's price point.It does 1080p 60fps extremely well. Lots of in camera functions and features to get the shot correctly. A very familiar and easy to use GUI even for me as I used to be a Canon exclusive guy.Has nearly all the same benefits of a dSLR (Interchangeable lenses, etc)With a dummy battery, this thing works great as webcam/stream cam and has a 100% clean HDMI output, so you don't have to worry about onscreen info ruining the shot. You just need to go into settings and set the

    G
    Gloucester
    Verified purchaseFebruary 4, 2016
    Takes Beautiful Photos

    I absolutely love this camera. Granted, I have a lot to learn about taking photos outside of the auto mode, but you will be able to take great photos straight out of the box. It's fairly intuitive, I've figured out most functions just playing around with it. I have arthritis in my hands so I was concerned with getting a bulkier DSLR camera. This fits the bill, but is smaller and lighter. I use the strap around my neck just in case it would slip, but it's unlikely the way it's designed. I love the white color, a little different than your standard black camera. The battery lasts awhile, I took

    J
    James
    Verified purchaseDecember 31, 2015
    A great body with a less incredible kit lens

    Let me just start by talking about my photography background. The height of my camera experience has been point and shoot cameras to this point.(along with playing with my fathers old 35mm when I was a child) When I first saw the NEX series at my local best buy I fell in love with the cameras. It wasn't until recently that I finally decided it was time for a new camera. I did quite a bit of research prior to my purchase and, at first, ordered the a6000. My girlfriend then convinced me that the "selfie" screen on the a5100 would come in handy, so I canceled my order on the a6000 and ordered the

    D
    Donette
    Verified purchaseMarch 12, 2017
    Great camera for taking pictures, not so much for the professional photographer

    This camera is fantastic... If you do not intend to use it for professional purposes (for me at least) i say this only due to the fact that i feel i need a viewfinder of some sort. Also i was so used to my dslr that its hard to ajust to not having a dedicated button for all the various settings, however i have read reviews of individuals who took the time to figure out how to customize their buttons. Frankly, i dont really want to fool around with all that. The image quality is great especially if you get a good prime lens to go along with it! If i had the funds to do so id use this just for p

    P
    Phanessa
    Verified purchaseFebruary 3, 2018
    Overheats during recording and doesn't save your videos.

    UPDATE 8/25/18: I sent it in for repair and it still did the same thing the day I received it back. I contacted Amazon and they send me a replacement. I was PRAYING it would be a good one! I started using it and the SAME overheating issue happened just seconds into recording! UGH! So far Sony has never responded to me about this issue. BIG disappointed!UPDATE 6/12/18: I changed my 5 stars to 2. Here's why... I've had this camera for 6 months (purchased in Jan). I use this now mostly for video tutorials for my YouTube Channel. I watched/read a lot of good reviews & the one downside was that it

    O
    oraejng
    Verified purchaseFebruary 1, 2016
    Great for beginners. You can always find guides and video tutorials online if you need help.

    I waited until the price dropped below $450 on sale to purchase because these cameras can be pricey. Make sure you purchase from an authorized seller or your warranty may not be honored.This is a great mirrorless digital camera for beginners. Even with just the "kit lens", I have been able to take great portraits. This is a very popular camera, so you can always find guides and video tutorials online if you need help. I also like the Sony PlayMemories Mobile app because it's easy to transfer my photos from the camera to my phone. I purchased a 64GB SD card and I've had no problem taking photos

    Customer reviews are shown as published on Amazon and are not written by Do Best Deal.