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A5000 or A6000? Real users only, please.

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BobT

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I'm sure that several of you have upgraded from a A5000 to a A6000? I'm aware of the reviews of both, but this is not always the definitive analysis of a camera. So I'd like to ask true users of both what you personally feel have been the significant advantages of the A6000 over the A5000 for you. I'm considering these. And if the 5000 is still considered a very good camera, and the 6000 isn't all that much better, I'm not adverse to saving a few $100 by getting the A5000.

Comments please.
 
You're not going to see a huge image quality difference.

All the improvements of the a6000 over the a5000 is related to usage and convenience. And those are WELL worth $100 in my opinion. And personally I'd buy the 5r or 5t before the a5000.

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I have an a6000 and my wife an a5000.

Both give very good image quality. But the a5000 feels more point and shoot compared to the a6000. You get a lot more controls and ease of customisation with the a6000, as well as pdaf and 11fps and a viewfinder ans a hot shoe.

I am contemplating picking up another a6000 with the current prices.

I would say go a6000
 
I bought the A6000 first. Since then I have bought and sold an A5000. Looking for a pocket camera for maximum portability I picked up a used A5000 body. While I have no issues with the image quality, the lack of viewfinder coupled with the lackluster lcd display left me cold. It went off on Ebay for the same price I paid for it so no harm done.
 
I have A6000, my company have A5000 that I am using.

Long story short, unless you are point and shoot user, forget A5000 and go for A6000.
 
It's a little closer call if you compare the A6000 to the A5100 which is a newer model than the A5000. It's an easy call if you want an EVF - only the A6000 has one. It's an easy call if you want a touch screen - only the 5100 has one.
 
A6000 better grip, viewfinder

A5100 selfie screen, smaller, better vid codec, bit cheaper
 
I'd examine the form factor too. The 6000 is a little bigger than the 5000/5100.
 
Bob:

I have the A6000. LCD screens are almost worthless on bright sunny days, hence the need for a viewfinder. That eliminates the A5000 from my list immediately. More functions + hot shoe + tilt able LCD + viewfinder easily is worth the extra money.
 
I went from an A5000 to a A6000, here are the key differences that were important to me:

-A6000
  • Much better LCD (a5000 lcd is noisy when shooting in anything but great lighting conditions)
  • Faster AF acquisition/shot to shot time
  • Af tracking + 11fps
  • Larger buffer, helps a lot when shooting raw+jpg (A5000 buffer fills up quick)
  • better grip
  • EVF
  • higher res sensor
  • quick/fn menu
  • extra dial
-A5000
  • selfie screen
  • zoom toggle
Was the A6000 worth the price difference? Absolutely... if you use those features.
 
Stflbn said:
You're not going to see a huge image quality difference.

All the improvements of the a6000 over the a5000 is related to usage and convenience. And those are WELL worth $100 in my opinion. And personally I'd buy the 5r or 5t before the a5000.
Click to expand...
 
BobT said:
I'm sure that several of you have upgraded from a A5000 to a A6000? I'm aware of the reviews of both, but this is not always the definitive analysis of a camera. So I'd like to ask true users of both what you personally feel have been the significant advantages of the A6000 over the A5000 for you. I'm considering these. And if the 5000 is still considered a very good camera, and the 6000 isn't all that much better, I'm not adverse to saving a few $100 by getting the A5000.

Comments please.
Click to expand...
A6000 has enough external control to control iso shutter and aperture on the fly . I need it because i only use manual mode.
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stop shopping for lenses and start taking photo!

If you have to ask, you likely don't know what focal lengths you are interested in. In my opinion, get the kit lens
 
I own the nex3 and a6000. I looked at the 5t and 5000 out of curiosity.

The choice between the a6000 and a5000 has more to do with your needs and preferences than the capabilities of the camera. You have more control and an EVF with a6000. if you like using screen to compose and letting camera do most of the work than go a5000. Honestly if you can find a bargain on the 5t that would be a better option than the a5000. I saw that kit for 300 new not long ago.

Personally I love the a6000. The focus tracking, extra focus points, and hot shoe are nice if you have certain criteria. For me the extra dial and EVF where what I preferred about the a6000. The other benefits are nice but where not my priorities.
 
I have both and use both. It is very convenient to have two lenses on two small bodies, mostly the 35mm on the a6000 and the kit zoom on the a5000. The power zoom is good for one handed use, and so far no problem in sunlight.

For more serious situations I always use the a6000.

But if those $100 are important to you, are you going to invest in lenses much? There are some very nice Sony cameras in the sub $500 range, which are better and/or more versatile than the a5000 with kit zoom. Compared to the prices of the lenses it doesn't make much sense IMO to save a few bucks on the body.
 
BobT said:
Just slipped my mind. I'd consider the A5100.
Click to expand...
The A5100 is to the A6000 as the NEX-5R was to the NEX-6.

One generation newer, but a couple of important features removed.
 
Koli,

What "very nice Sony cameras in the sub $500 range" are you suggesting; knowing i'm contemplating an A5000, A51000, and A6000? I'm totally unfamiliar with Sony gear. but will research your suggestions. Thanks.

Bob
 
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