Sony Alpha series comparison: Mirrorless excellence

The mirrorless camera format is nothing new, with the first commercially viable versions appearing in the early 2000s with models like the Epson R-D1 and Leica M8. These were marketed more as rangefinder type cameras, reminiscent of the old days, but these early offerings always had issues. In a few steps, the Alpha series from Sony.

Sony's Alpha Series: A Bit of History

Fast forward to the past couple of years and Sony seems to be ahead of the curve with its line of mirrorless cameras. Many issues with previous models had been resolved, such as a viable electronic viewfinder, fast autofocus, and high resolution. Almost to the point where DSLR traditionalists are scratching their chins and wondering if they should jump ship for the

mirrorless camp

.

These new camera bodies in the Sony Alpha series were an excuse for manufacturers to produce a new line of camera lenses. Although traditional lenses can be fitted with an adapter, for fully guaranteed functionality and connection between lens and camera on the Sony E mount, these swanky new lenses are fast, efficient and among the best in their class. category.

As in the world of DSLRs, camera bodies are divided into two major camps: full-frame and APS-C/crop sensors. As there is such a wealth of options in Sony's camera range, we will focus here on some of the in-between camera bodies, which are still fantastic quality, with professional use, but still at a reasonable price.

These include the full frame a7, a7 II and a7 III and the older APS-C/crop sensor types a5100, a6500 and a6300. These latest models are a good way to get into mirrorless technology at a reasonable price. They also have the Sony E mount and accept the latest and greatest lenses.

By the way, Sony, like many camera manufacturers, loves their acronyms when it comes to naming their cameras. The 'a' stands for Alpha and the higher versions of these have 'R' and 'S' in the name like the a7R and a7S.

sony a5100

24.3MP APS-C Exmor HD CMOS sensor

BIONZ X Image Processor

3.0 inch 921.6k-Dot tilting LCD touch screen

Full HD 1080p video in XAVC S at 50Mbps< /p>

Like any camera maker, Sony's Alpha series didn't just come out of the woods with a singing and dancing full-frame camera body. Technology is generally a progression, which may initially be suitable for beginners or early adopters. In this regard, the

sony a5100

is still a good performer with a good range of features that are ideal for beginners.

Sony a5100 Deals< /p>

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The camera was announced in 2014 and although it doesn't have a viewfinder there's still plenty of functionality in the box as some of the features carry over from the a7R. 179 autofocus points with phase detection and 25 contrast detection points. Single AF, continuous AF and an auto AF mode, which detects which mode to use depending on the subject. There's also a reasonable 6fps burst mode depending on conditions.

Video people have seen the benefit of the mirrorless format with a lightweight device, with plenty of built-in features. AVCHD, XAVC S or MP4 formats are available, along with video features such as Focus Peaking and a Zebra display. This camera may have limited touchscreen functionality for AF points or shutter release, but the tilting rear screen makes videographers feel right at home.

The ISO range is 100-25,600 from the 24.3MP APS. C-sensor with lots of dynamic range. Additionally, all E-mount lenses can be used. There are obviously a few downsides, like the lack of a hot shoe and lack of external controls, but the Sony a5100 is still very capable and can produce high quality images.

sony a6300

24.2 APS-C Exmor MP CMOS Sensor

BIONZ X Image Processor

3.0-inch 921.6000-dot tilting LCD monitor

Shooting up to 11 fps and ISO 51200 p>

Fast forward a few years and Sony's Alpha series builds on the success of earlier crop sensor models like the a6000, with more rounded specs. In many ways, the very square

sony a6300

was at the top of the crop sensor market and was priced between the Alpha a7 II and the a7.

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ISO levels have been increased to 100-51,200 and it includes a 4D focusing system, 425 phase-detection AF points and 169 additional contrast-detect points to make for fast subject tracking. Video has been upscaled to 4K in Super 35mm format.

There's also a viewfinder with this camera, with slightly increased battery life over previous models at 350 images with the viewfinder and 400 images using only the rear LCD. Other improvements include better weather sealing, a thicker grip, more dials and external buttons for the more tactile among us, and an included hot shoe.

As far as shooting ability goes, the a6300 is very capable of capturing subjects in a wide range of situations and the electronic viewfinder is more than capable. There are a few downsides, such as some controls not being immediately accessible and the lack of touchscreen capabilities is a shame at this point.

However, there's enough in the box to appeal to those who want high-quality video and the ability to track fast-moving objects. At this point, the camera can be purchased at a reasonable price and provides superior quality video and stills for most applications.

Other camera makers have had the same ideas about mirrorless specs and features. format. People who want to shoot in 4K can look at the Panasonic Lumix GX8 or the

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

, which does not have 4K but has integrated image stabilization, that Sony's alpha series will soon be on top.

sony a6500

24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor

BIONZ X Image Processor

Touch to focus

INDOOR SteadyShot 5-axis stabilization

Sony loves its 24.2MP Exmor CMOS sensor built into the a6500, with every drop of power squeezed out of the sensor with updates across the board. the

sony a6500

is Sony's top-of-the-line APS-C mirrorless camera, with one of the biggest updates being in-body image stabilization.

Sony a6500 Deals

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The focusing system remains the same as the a6300 with the 4D focusing system and 425 phase-detection AF points, but it's the first Sony crop sensor camera to have image stabilization. in the 5-axis body. This means that whether you have stabilized lenses or not, you are always entitled to a few stops to reduce those shutter speeds.

Other updates include a burst rate of 11 fps and an increased buffer size of 307 full-size JPEG files or 107 raw files. There are also lower noise levels in the ISO range and an additional touchscreen on the rear.

The video capabilities are the same, but there are still loads in the box to satisfy the most demanding. This is a 4K recording at 25p and 30p in Super 35mm format, with a 6K source file. There are also 4.2.0 samples internally and 4.2.2 externally via HDMI, as well as plenty of picture profiles for grading. There might not be a headphone jack, but at least you can monitor sound levels on the rear screen.

In many ways the a6500 is a crop sensor version of the full frame a7 II and although there are only a few updates over the Sony a6300 they are significant. There's clearly a lot of functionality in this camera, which is starting to step on the toes of high-end DSLRs, especially if you want to capture action footage or produce high-end video.

Sony a7 p>

24.3MP full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor

3.0 inch tilting TFT LCD with 921,6000 dots

Full 1080/60p with uncompressed output

Fast hybrid autofocus, 5 fps burst rate

Now let's move on to the full-frame mirrorless options of Sony's Alpha series. the

a7

was Sony's first foray into the full-frame world and the first of the blocks that gave a glimpse of the way forward, while still being a very capable camera. The a7 comes in 2 flavors, the 24.3MP a7 and the high-end 36.4MP a7R.

Sony a7 Deals

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A new sensor has been used with faster processing now, with 117 phase detection points and 25 contrast detection points. There's also the benefit of the full range of lenses, plus adapters for older A-mount and Canon and Nikon lenses available. Weather resistance has also been improved on the magnesium alloy body with dust and moisture resistance.

When it was released, the full-frame mirrorless format was still a fairly new offering. That means he was up against cameras like the Nikon D610 and the

Canon EOS 6D

. But, considering all the features of the Sony and its price, it was a good match for what the DSLR world had to offer.

The real benefits coming from the price of a full-frame camera and the compact size. Battery life wasn't great, but for early adopters of the tech, a definite step in the right direction with some great features.

Sony a7 II

24.3MP Full-Frame Exmor CMOS Sensor

INDOOR SteadyShot 5-axis stabilization

XAVC S Full HD video and Gamma S-Log2

2.36M-dot XGA OLED electronic viewfinder

Not to sit on their laurels, Sony's Alpha series was soon out of the gate with an update to the a7, in the form of the

Sony a7 II

. Packing a full-frame sensor into such a compact, feature-packed unit was the a7's calling card. Sony changed the format slightly, building on what was originally like a 5-axis stabilization system.

Sony a7 II Deals

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Some of the video features of the a7S have also been included, such as picture profiles with gamma at S-Log2 and Sony timecodes. For stills, uncompressed 14-bit raw files are supported, ISO 50-25600, built-in Wi-Fi and Near Field Communication (NFC).

The body styling has also been changed, with a more ample grip and an old school, textured feel to the body. A deeper grip allowed for a larger, slightly advanced shutter release, with a small dial used to set exposure. An additional custom button has been added to the top plate and the magnesium alloy body has also been reinforced, with better weather resistance.

In essence, the a7 II is a worthy upgrade from the original and works wonderfully as a general all-rounder for both photos and video. The in-camera stabilization works extremely well and the overall updates make the camera feel like a more rounded product.

Sony a7 III

24MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS sensor

Front-end BIONZ X & LSI image processor

693-point hybrid AF system

ISO 204800 and 10 fps shooting

the

Sony a7 III p>

was announced in February 2018 and had many advantages of the high-end models

Sony a7R III

and a9. This transformed the a7 from what was originally the entry-level model in the full-frame range into a more tempting offering for the professional. Although the pixel count is the same, the sensor has been redesigned with a back-illuminated design and the latest BIONZ X image processor. This has increased the ISO range to 204,800 and 15 stops with 14 raw files bits.

Sony a7 III Deals

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System image stabilization has been increased to five stops and 4K video capabilities have been increased. Using the full width of the sensor at 24p without pixel binning, with the ability to shoot at 30p with a 1.2x crop. There is also a new HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) profile for HDR support for compatible TVs. HD footage can also reach 120 fps.

The 693-point AF system is also making its way to the more expensive versions and the 10fps burst shooting should appeal to action and event types.

The a7 III builds on the success of previous Sony Alpha Series models for those who don't want to shell out the cash for high-end Sonys. Thus, the a7 III is an attractive offer and excellent value for money. While it's not a finished story, like more touchscreen control, it's a great performer and certainly questions if you need to jump ship from a regular DSLR.

How do Sony's Alpha series cameras compare?

Price

pixels

a5100

$448

24.3MP

a6300

$998

24.2MP

a6500

$1398

24.2MP

a7

$798

24.3MP

a7

II

$1398

24.3MP

a7

III

$1998

24MP

Conclusion

Although the mirrorless format still seems relatively new, Sony's Alpha series has built on each model, refining features and making the cameras a viable alternative to a DSLR. One skepticism of the earlier models was the lack of a full range of lenses, but that has now also been resolved with not only offerings from Sony but also Zeiss to complete the range.

The mirrorless format hasn't completely beaten DSLRs in all areas, as there's still room for improvement, but the gap is getting smaller and smaller every year. If anything, Sony is leading the charge and if you want a good all-around mirrorless camera that can produce the goods for both video and stills, then any of the Sony Alpha Series models above will be worth looking into depending on your budget.