Sony a5100 Video Features Review

[@curtisjudd]

The Sony a6000 has XAVCS via a more recent firmware update. Yay!

[@djgalomusic8022]

What camera/lens would you recommend for a DJ who just needs to record and take pics in low light situations and is on a limited budget?

[@gameNmagic]

i just brought a sony a5100 but why does my recording setting only has 50p 50M and 25p 50M No 60p 50M why? can anyone help?

[@sanjtiwari5364]

@@gameNmagic try changing file format from AVCHD to XAVCS

[@curtisjudd]

@@evil_of_banality except for focus.

[@cesar_onada]

I had to write this: I totally loved your review, your speaking pace and the tests and comparisons you performed. Thank you so much. Awesome job.

[@curtisjudd]

+estosjapos Thanks!

[@SPL-6]

Great camera, but I'm more impressed by your review than the camera itself!

[@curtisjudd]

Haha! Thanks!

[@avarmadillo]

Exactly. Excellent review.

[@GeekGarageDK]

As a streamer i bought this to get a better webcam and struggled to get proper and clear video out of my HDMI, is was VERY noisy and was about to give up until i saw your video and noticed the manual video mode. Tried it and now it is buttery smooth with clean image. So THANK you from the bottom of my heart for this, rather old video, it saved me after a week of headache!

[@curtisjudd]

👍 Happy streaming!

[@SkillsWithPhil]

Thanks for the review! Man, there are so many of these cameras in the price range which are overall perfect but the lack of an external microphone jack is a deal breaker. Common, even GoPros have an external mic input!

[@curtisjudd]

+Phil Kmetz MTB Good point. Would be nice to have a camera that was a tiny bit bigger to include the mic input.

[@kimaldunate]

Wow you are seriously the best reviewer! New subscriber!

[@curtisjudd]

+Kimberly Aldunate Thanks!

[@aronisink1]

I also picked one up during the holiday for $500.. Its such a great camera and easy to hand off to family during a gathering ...people get very intimidated when you hand them a dslr...I seen the dp review image comparisons and surprisingly it shoots high iso better than the a6000 and other cameras that cost 3x....its amusing that the rx100m2 is $300 more and isn't that much smaller....This camera, as of now is the best bang for the buck.. Love your channel, great review...

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks George!

[@theGADGETSplaylist]

The best A5100 review I've seen. GREAT WORK!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@ki777iz]

Most complete review of this camera I've found. Great job!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@TaylorAnise]

Really helpful video! I have this camera, and I was struggling with the video settings on it. Thank you so much!

[@curtisjudd]

Taylor Anise Glad it helped! Thanks Taylor!

[@TotoWolffsBigHog]

the remote app def is awesome when you get it down

[@aeravelly]

Great review! Learned a whole bunch of features I didn't know about....

[@curtisjudd]

+aeravelly Thanks!

[@FeonaLeeJones]

Thank you for this tutorial! You were the only person who explained in detail the video recording process thoroughly.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Feona!

[@lordhuno]

Im about to by this camera, you did the most comprehensive review I could find so far, that's very good job.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks and congrats, it is a great little camera!

[@TeamwithSusmoy]

Thanks dear this video help me lot

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@BLUEevac]

Best review I’ve watched for this camera man.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Ken.

[@ThisDoesNotCompute]

Hi Curtis, does the a5100 support AF-S (single-shot) in video mode? Great review!

[@curtisjudd]

+This Does Not Compute Yes it does, thanks!

[@MattFromSMM]

Hey Curtis, really appreciate your videos. I'm constantly battling audio and so I've been watching your videos the last few days and trying to come up with solutions. Anyway, I use this camera for my video reviews. Wondering if there's a lense you could recommend. I use the kit lens and don't zoom at all, so I'm figuring if I get a prime lense I would need something in the 16-20 range. I do zoom a bit in my up close product shots so I may continue to use the kit lens for that.

[@curtisjudd]

+Suck My Mod Hey Matt, thanks! The only other lens I have for the 5100 (and I have since bought the a6000) is the Sony 50mm f/1.8 which I really like. Sony makes a 16mm f/2.8 "pancake" lens which reviews decently. It's definitely on the small side which is nice and the reviews say it works pretty well for video. Priced at about $250 US, I'm hoping to check it out myself pretty soon: amzn.to/1NYfddt Keep up the good work on your channel!

[@MattFromSMM]

+Curtis Judd cool, thanks man! Yeah not super sure if I want to invest more into the e mount ecosystem or buy a different camera. Been wanting the gh4 for quite a while. Anyway, thanks for the tip. On audio I've been using the h1 with the onboard mic but I just bought the avuture that you recommend. My first lav mic so didn't wanna spend a ton right out of the gate. I used usb mics for a long time but I got away from those. I'm yet to find a solution that I'm happy with. I have an annoyingly unique voice lol.

[@curtisjudd]

+Suck My Mod Yeah, the GH4 is my main camera. Love everything about it except cranking up the ISO above about 800. But everything else is great. Good luck with the Aputure lav mic.

[@Geersart]

great review - thanks for all the detailed information!

[@annikaselina1477]

Do I need a additionally microphone to film videos?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, and a recorder.

[@AshsTravelChannel]

You can assign custom buttons, so for example, you can assign white balance to the "?" button. I've bought one as a 'b' cam to my A7s and it works quite well: it's nowhere near as sharp as the A7s, but the faster rolling shutter combined with the reduced sharpness means that it works much better on a glidecam than the A7s (the strobing rolling edges on A7s footage drives me nuts). So far, I'm liking the portrait style with -2,-1,-3 and DRO switched off (I found blacks to be too noisy with this on).

[@curtisjudd]

Great info, thanks!

[@kailingyu7444]

I just got this camera. And thank you thank you thank you for your awesome review. I love this camera.

[@curtisjudd]

Congrats on the new camera and I’m so glad it is working well for you!

[@HadyElcott]

I've been squeezing my brain over what camera to buy and I think this video helped me decide! Great video! Thanks a lot

[@curtisjudd]

+Hady Elcott You're welcome and best wishes!

[@QGinHQ]

You got a link to the stand you have the camera mounted on? Great Vid btw!

[@curtisjudd]

+QGinHQ Yes, they've updated it since I bought it. This is the video head: amzn.to/1JG2UOZ And this is the tripod that it goes with: amzn.to/1OVF6s3 Thanks!

[@thucksoft]

I've just bought a a6000 thinking that it should be better in every point. :( But I will use it for photography in most cases, so I hope that it is still the best option. Thanks for sharing your knowledge in such a great and comprehensive way. I'm becoming a fan of your videos! Cheers from Brazil, and sorry about my bad english.

[@curtisjudd]

Never look back! The a6000 is a great camera! Thanks, and your english is way better than my Portuguese. Bom Dia!

[@MsGreatGlam]

Subbed! Really good review. Did you have problems with this camera overheating?

[@curtisjudd]

+MsGreatGlam Thanks! I have noticed in some cases that it will stop recording after about 22 minutes. So it definitely isn't a great choice if you need to record longer pieces, but great for the type of work I do where I shoot shorter clips and edit them together.

[@TFletch_UK]

Great video. Would you consider this a stronger camera for video, than the popular Sony RX100 range?

[@curtisjudd]

Must confess I have only played with the RX100 III for a few seconds so I don't have a great sense for how well that camera works for video. If I were buying, I'd go for something with interchangeable lenses but that's a matter of personal preference and the types of shooting you'll do. If you're planning on shooting video long term, something with interchangeable lenses is probably a better route because then you invest in lenses which you can usually carry forward to new camera bodies.

[@ArmyBarbie]

Quick question ... In the beginning of the video you said there is separate Lens that allows you to blur the background. Do you know the name of it?

[@curtisjudd]

+Army Barbie Yes, there are several but I use the 50mm f/1.8 lens. Any of the lenses with an aperture of f/2.8 and lower can do this but they are generally quite a bit more expensive than the included 16-50mm lens. Here's the 50mm lens (warning, it is not a zoom lens - you have to move the camera closer or farther away to get the video set up): amzn.to/1Jllvp2 Best wishes!

[@hparv564]

Nice and clean! Hope there were more videos like this! Thanx man!

[@curtisjudd]

👍🏻

[@benjump1683]

Hi Curtis. Have enjoyed your videos and was wondering if you had any advice about the video qualities of the sony a77ii. Am thinking of buying one with a 16-50mm lens for tree photography and video work. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[@fantasticfavour]

I just got this camera. But after recording a video on mp4 and transfers the memory card to my phone the video stays in the middle of my phone. Why is that so? Pls help!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, I think you may need to download to a computer and convert to a format your phone will support first.

[@danielgoldstone4566]

Hey Curtis Judd, love the review, it's really detailed and clear. Just a quick question- I'm torn between the Nikon D330 and the Sony A5100 and can't decide which one to buy. I'll be using the Camera mostly for video however, I'd still use the camera for photography from time to time. Which would you recommend? Thanks :)

[@curtisjudd]

+Daniel Goldstone I'd go with the Sony, but there is a long explanation behind that which doesn't fit very well into a comments box. :) But short answer for me: Sony.

[@DavidErickRamos]

Great review, Curtis!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks David!

[@kraziel]

My god, this review is godly good. Incredible camera work, I love your videos.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Keiny!

[@fredericsidler]

Thanks for the review. What type of memory card does it require. And how long can you record. Is there any time limit?

[@curtisjudd]

It does have a 29:59 limit to recording video. Some have said that it often shuts off recording before that because it gets too hot. I have had it stop recording after about 21 minutes one time but haven't tested it extensively as most of my shoots are shorter clips than that (typically 5 to 10 minutes). As for memory cards, I use an SDXC UHS-I 64GB Sony branded SD card and have not had any issues. This is from the manual: When recording movies, the following memory cards are recommended: (Mark2) (Memory Stick PRO Duo media (Mark2)) (Memory Stick XC-HG Duo media (Mark2)) (Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo media) Class 4 SD card or faster When recording XAVC S format movies, use the following memory cards: SDXC memory card with a capacity of at least 64 GB (Class 10 or faster) UHS-I compatible SDXC memory card with a capacity of at least 64 GB Memory Stick XC-HG Duo media This product supports UHS-I-compatible SD cards.

[@roima7]

I have two questions. 1-what lenses do you recommend for face talking style videos? 2-Can you please make a video (if you don't already have one) on how to set up and light a portrait style shot with a black background for videos? I'm not a professional so I hope that I worded that all correctly. Thank you!!!

[@curtisjudd]

+ROIMA B Hi! The included lens (16-50mm) is nice because it's zoom range lets you shoot up close or a little farther away. The only downside of that lens is that you'll need to light the shot but it sounds like you're already looking at doing that! And here's a quick tutorial on lighting for a black background: kzbin.info/www/bejne/maqql5eVds2inLc I hope that helps and best wishes!

[@roima7]

+Curtis Judd Thank you!!!

[@madeinabruzzo]

Hi,thanks for this great review. Do you think a5100 is still a good camera to buy? a5100 or a6000 which works better? and about panasonic g7 and gx7? thanks

[@curtisjudd]

+Roberto Maria Between the a5100 and a6000, I would go with the a6000 at this point. The price difference is not very big and the viewfinder on the a6000 is a very useful feature. I don't have personal experience with the G7 or GX7 though I do like my Panasonic GH4. I think the Panasonics are very good for shooting video overall. Their only weakness is that they are not great at high ISO settings (low light). That's where the Sonys do much better because they have bigger sensors.

[@madeinabruzzo]

thanks!

[@rennie777]

Great review Curtis, but a mention on the touch focus wouldn't have gone a miss here.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Rennie, good point.

[@JOCRTV]

Very good Video thank you!

[@curtisjudd]

+JOCR - Apple Product Support thanks!

[@DarktrackStudiosBoulder]

Great production! I love the rotating shot of the body and also the sweet smooth glides outdoors. What gear were you using for those glides?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, thanks! The glides were with the Varavon slider: kzbin.info/www/bejne/en2WgoSagLWmmqs

[@DarktrackStudiosBoulder]

+Curtis Judd Ok, cool. I just got the Varavon 815 fluid head and am just waiting on some Manfrotto legs that I ordered. After I save up a bit more I'll probably go for a slider.

[@officialkarenicole6175]

Hi would you choose this camera over the samsaung nx3300?

[@OranKoren]

Thanks Curtis! Your video is amazing! Two questions I got for you: 1. How quite is the autofocus motor of the kit lens? Is it as quite as STM lens? It's a big downside with nikon/canon kit lens for shooting videos. 2. Would you recommend using continuous focus while shooting video with the camera? This is another downside with entry level dslrs (: Thanks!!!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Oran, It is much quieter than many DSLR standard lenses (I haven't used STM lenses so I can speak to that in detail). However, I use manual focus when shooting video to avoid the focus hunting effect that usually comes along with auto focus. I hope that helps!

[@northknits]

Hi Curtis! Thank you for this review, it’s great! Question - I want to shoot YT style/talking head videos, but will the main lens blur the background when I shoot or do I need a different lens that would allow me to shoot video w lower than a 3.8 aperture?

[@curtisjudd]

It’ll be easier with an f/2.8 or f/1.8 lens.

[@whizkyclipers6547]

nice review bro.. i totally like it. it really awsome than the camera :v almost 60k subs. congratulation!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@RoseS915]

Hi Curtis! Awesome review, really contemplating on buying this camera but does it have the skin softening mode on videos? Thanks so much.

[@curtisjudd]

+RoseS915 yes, it does work in video mode. Be sure to experiment with it. Many people find it is a little too heavy and tends to make people look rather artificial.

[@courtneyturvin6087]

This video was so helpful!!! THANK YOU so much!

[@curtisjudd]

+Courtney Turvin Thanks Courtney!

[@courtneyturvin6087]

+Curtis Judd you're welcome!

[@karindsomething]

Thanks for this great review Curtis! I just scrolled through ALL the comments & your answers (phew! Popular video!) and still couldn't find an answer to this - were you using the manual setting for the A5100 video footage? Or one of the presets? Do you recommend any of the presets for video mode? Thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Karin, I just stick with the default, no presets because I’m used to working that way. Good luck!

[@Ashleypalomo]

This is such a great video!! I have a KZbin channel and I film on a canon power shot SX50 HS I've had it for 3 years now it's very good but I've been thinking of upgrading to the Sony A 5100 , but I've heard it over heats. My camera stops recoding At 16 min but I can instantly continue recording another clip right after. Can I do the same thing with the Sony or do I have to wait a few min to start recording again

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, thanks! It depends on the temperature in the room where you shoot. Where I was shooting, it recorded for about 23 minutes, then stopped, then it took about 30 seconds before I could start shooting again.

[@cand7e7ack]

Thanks Curtis for the video, very helpful.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@shot777]

Thanks for the review! Can you compare the a5100 to the other cameras like panasonic gh line and other sony E mount cameras in terms of sharpness and details in footage?

[@curtisjudd]

shot The Panasonic GH4 is sharper but that's largely because it captures 4K vs. the a5100's HD. If sharpness is at the top of your list of priorities, the GH4 is very good, even if you down convert to HD. Some are saying that the Samsung NX1 is even sharper still. But of course there are a lot of other factors in evaluating cameras. The most obvious example is that the a5100 is about 1/3 the price of the GH4 and that's without a lens on the GH4. So it sort of isn't a fair comparison. I haven't used any of the other Sony E mount cameras yet, but looking forward to an updated a6000 or perhaps an a7000 (whichever Sony releases next).

[@RemoFiore]

Excellent review, I've just sold my Nikon d5100 and am looking to buy a small run n gun type camera for photo and video this seems like it could be a nice option. although it probably won't match up as a 3rd camera with my ac130 and tm700 camcorders which I'm using for video work at the moment..... hopefully I'll be selling both of these soon and moving on to something a little more cinematic.... I'll have to see how the finances go. In the meantime I have my wish list ready and I'll probably add this little beast as a quick in the pocket shoot camera !

[@curtisjudd]

Good luck Remo, sounds like you'll be putting together a nice kit!

[@RemoFiore]

Curtis Judd i hope so, only if i get a little more work and manage to put some cash aside ;-)

[@unotoli]

World class review(er), subscribed! Talking about audio in video - how about Bluetooth microphones? Wish there would be wireless flash options as well..

[@curtisjudd]

Anatoly Yakubov Thanks! I don't know of any good bluetooth mics for cameras just yet, but will keep my eyes open for them.

[@mst3jla1]

great video!, i tried to shoot a video of my makeup but i found that the colors aren't as vibrant !, i use ring light and two small lights on the side, what do yo suggest that i do?

[@curtisjudd]

mst3jla1 If the expose seems right but just the colors seem a little dull, most video editing apps allow you to increase the color saturation which is worth a try.

[@main7211]

Hey Curtis! Thanks for the in-depth review :)! When you're shooting video, does it autofocus on its own or do you need to touch the screen/push down the shutter for it to refocus on things?

[@curtisjudd]

It auto focuses quite nicely and even does face detection in video mode so you don't need to press the shutter button. :)

[@main7211]

Thanks for the prompt response :D! I was also reading reviews that this video overheats pretty quickly when filming. Did you experience this yourself?

[@curtisjudd]

+Mai Nguyen I usually get about 22 minutes before it shuts down a video recording to prevent overheating. So if you're planning to do long takes, may be better looking at other cameras. I don't usually find this to be a problem, though. I often do several short takes and edit them together.

[@effortmaxgym7853]

great review thanks, torn between this and the samsung nx500 for video use. Any advice on which is best?

[@curtisjudd]

+LionFit I have not used the Samsung personally but have heard good things. I have also heard that Samsung appears to be pulling out of the interchangeable lens camera market in some regions (Europe) so the future support may be spotty on the Samsung side.

[@musicnotes881]

Great job with this tutorial ! Thanks

[@curtisjudd]

+rick starr Thanks Rick!

[@kenbest7660]

Great review. I've heard it has overheating problems with video. Have you experienced that any?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, after 23 minutes. I believe it depends on the ambient temperature.

[@MeetTheStylist]

This video helped me so much thank you! Just a quick question do you have any suggestions on how to transfer a video file in AVCHD format to an android tablet?

[@curtisjudd]

+Meet The Stylist You'll need to convert it to .mp4 which you should be able to do with any video editing app on your computer. I use Premiere Pro.

[@kenbest7660]

When the camera overheated on you how long did you have to let it cool down before you were able to use it again. And, when you were able to record again was it for the same amount of time? I ask, because in a review I watched recently the videographer said he had to stop using this camera because of severe problems from the camera overheating when recording video. This made me hesitant to buy it.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Ken, about 5 minutes and then it was able to record again for 23 minutes. If you need to record more than just short clips of about 10 minutes each, I would look at other cameras. I've had very good luck with Panasonic cameras for video.

[@niclacoste]

Wow really nice review. What kind of camera did you use for this review it looks great!

[@curtisjudd]

Most shots were from the a5100 except shots that have the Sony in the frame were shot on a Nikon D750.

Awesome and helpful review - thanks a lot! :-) You're like my new favourite camera and mic guy on youtube - your videos on the giant squid and the zoom H1 were also very helpful to me. Keep up the great job! :-)

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks André Loibl !

[@ChloeCarno]

Hi Curtis. Thanks for this video. I have bought this camera a few days ago in order to make youtube videos. I started filming but after more or less 20 to 30 minutes i get a high temperature notice on the screen and the camera turns down. I lost two times the integrity of my videos because of that. Do you know about it? Is there a solution? In the manual they talk about it and say its "normal"... I dont find it normal at all... Do you have the same problem? HELP!!! :0

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Chloe, this is normal for a camera this small with a sensor as big as it has. So this is a good camera for filmmakers who shoot lots of short clips and then cut them into a larger piece. It is not great for "long form" shooting where you do a long, single take. Also, there are some big advantages to large sensors like this in terms of de-focusing backgrounds, and shooting with very little light. So it is a trade-off. You might consider a camcorder type camera if you need longer takes.

[@haisents]

Man - this is a really professional video. Nice work! I'm thinking about buying this cam with the SEL35F18 lens. The big sensor and 50 Mbit/s for 25p and 50p are cool.

[@curtisjudd]

I hope you like it! Best wishes!

[@BwareGamer]

Dude, amazing video; thank you! Question: does the kit lens work well for talking head style vlogging? Or is there an alternative lens in the same price range that would do a better job/get better background separation?

[@curtisjudd]

It works, but isn't great at getting background separation. The 50mm f/1.8 is good for that but doesn't zoom: amzn.to/2H8KGv6

[@BwareGamer]

Cool! Maybe I'll start with the kit lens then purchase a fixed length lens in the future. Thanks for your reply/advice!

[@ChristinaMaria]

Hello! Do you know how to film video with this camera that will blur the background? I can’t seem to find the right setting 😩. Great review btw, such good information!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Christina, to get the blurry background, you'll ideally want a lens with a maximum aperture of 1.8 - 2.8. Then you'll want to set the aperture between 1.8 and 2.8. Good luck!

[@adokapo]

Fascinating how this camera sold for so many years for almost the same price as when it came out. I bought mine recently because it came with lens that i wanted but after using it for awhile i discovered that it actually shoot better video then my a6300 as long as i use 1080p. And that 4k of Sony apsc is kind of crippled by horrendous rolling shutter anyway. I don't really notice any difference in AF performance in video between the two either. So a5100/a6000 way to go.

[@curtisjudd]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

[@NJA2k8]

i lol'd when you were displaying the color palette and your shirt on camera

[@curtisjudd]

Glad I could make you laught!

[@arunabhvarma9518]

Hi Curtis, Good review. Can you please share if one can click pictures while shooting video? Also, is there a way of adding dates while shooting the picture? Will appreciate your help. Thanks Arunabh

[@curtisjudd]

arunabh varma Hi, thanks. Unfortunately, no, it doesn't doe either of those. Dates should be easy to add in editing, however.

[@arunabhvarma9518]

Yeah I thought so. Sad. But anyway thanks a lot. Chao :)

[@bluello13]

Thanks for the review. I just bought the camera, but can't figure out if I can use an external microphone with it? Would you know, if so what do you use?

[@curtisjudd]

+bluello13 You unfortunately cannot connect an external microphone to the a5100 but I record audio with a separate microphone and then sync it to the video in my editing app (Adobe Premiere Pro). Here's how I do that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGnakqFtqb-olas As for external recording of audio, I like the GORA lavalier microphone which you can connect to your smartphone and your phone records the audio: kzbin.info/www/bejne/faeZgJWPe9NjbJY Good luck!

[@Makinze]

I am having trouble with the video quality on my A5100, I use it to log but the coloring and quality are coming out TERRIBLE recently. very unclear, grainy, bad coloring. Any tips? Is it because i turned off the smooth skin and facial recognition to prevent the smoothing effect?

[@martinzhao7193]

Hey. I find this video very helpful! And it is published on my birthday. !

[@curtisjudd]

Yay, thanks!

[@Awkventurer]

What would be the best video settings (24, etc.?) be? I heard going up to 64 is a little too much!

[@curtisjudd]

+Bettina Sta. Ana If shooting a talking head style, I usually shoot at 24 frames per second.

[@satangk]

hi curtis so i bought the a5100 and i was just wondering about the video importing i do a lot of vlogs and i want to know the best way to edit my movies i have iMovie 2010-11 and i found out the AVCHD and XAVCS and mp3 gave me problems i can't import any of them and i know you have to convert the videos but aim still confuse on that, is there a website someone i can get a converter for free, or do i have to buy one? whats the best way for me to do this, with iMovie, and what format should i film with

[@curtisjudd]

+THE BANGKOK BRO Unfortunately, support for XAVCS and AVCHD were added in later versions. Any chance you can upgrade to the 10.1 version of iMovie?

[@danymclarke]

Hi there, great review by the way!! I just bought this camera instead of a Canon EOS Rebel T3i for shooting beauty tutorials and reviews of beauty products. My question is what camera do you think is better for this scenario ? Also what are my options for Audio?

[@curtisjudd]

DanielleMarie Thanks! It depends on your budget but I like this combination of lavalier mic to record into smartphones: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aarPqnSootOUqJI If you would rather use a dedicated audio recorder, the Zoom H1 and MicJ 044 are a nice combination, but a little more work since it only records to the left channel (speaker): kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHPbgH-ki92aaaM Best wishes!

[@danymclarke]

I ended up getting the canon t5i for my beauty videos! Although I had the Sony a5100 in my hands for a day before I decided the canon would be better for beauty videos. That Sony I want so bad for vlogging. I have a canon s120 for vlogging but one day I will most likely add the Sony to my collection! I can't get my mind off that camera. I'm in love with it!

[@LovingAtlanta]

Nice video review.. Thanks. Are you noticing that it overheats in video recording mode?

[@curtisjudd]

+lovingatlanta it definitely does shut down to prevent overheating. I can usually get about 20-25 minutes depending on the ambient temperature.

[@LovingAtlanta]

+Curtis Judd thank you for letting me know. I bought this camera in January 2016 because it was on sale. I bought it for the video mode more than the camera/photography mode. I didn't start using it until a month or two ago and I'm very disappointed with the overheating. So now working on a refund. I love your channel. 👍

[@curtisjudd]

+lovingatlanta thanks! Sorry for the trouble with that. 😕 For long form video I like the Panasonic cameras which do better with long clips.

[@LovingAtlanta]

+Curtis Judd - thank you. I'll check them out.

[@RogerChua76]

my friend was also upset that sony did not release a firmware for the a6000 to put in the xavc codec but having used the rx10 which has both, i can say that the difference is minimal

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Roger, good to know!

[@tedrettig1]

Thanks so much for this excellent review.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@63MacGuy]

Hi Curtis, Great video as usual. I have a sony A6000 that i video weddings with. I'm waiting for the A6xxx / A7000 or the A7ll but need another camera for b-roll. A6000 is now $398 and the A5100 is $348 ($281 used) so there isn't a huge price difference. . I was thinking about the 5100 over another 6000 because of the touch focus for focus racking. Your Thoughts. Thanks!!!

[@curtisjudd]

+63MacGuy Hi! I just bought an a6000. I don't think the touchscreen (which is pretty limited) outweighs the benefits of the viewfinder and physical controls on the a6000. I'd go with a second a6000 for wedding shoots. The a5100 is good for Vlogging but the lack of viewfinder and fiddly controls which require a lot of menu diving would make working fast like you generally have to for a wedding a little tricky. That's my subjective opinion. :) Best wishes!

[@63MacGuy]

+Curtis Judd Thank you, great point. Can't wait to see whats coming on January 5th

[@curtisjudd]

+63MacGuy Same here! In the meantime, happy shooting!

[@hello2spain]

Hi Curtis, I am an estate agent and use 2 different cameras. Canon SX720 HS 40x optical zoom and a nikon D5300. I am finding I need to take the zoom to get photo shots of mountain houses and to take videos of the property and then the Nikon to get internal wide angle shots 10-20mm. i am looking at buying a new camera, the Sony A5100 is what I have been looking at. Do you thnk this camera will service both. Lighter than the Nikon and more versitile than the Canon? Or do you think there is another camera that will be easy to carry in my bag that can do the job?

[@curtisjudd]

The 2 things I do not love about the a5100 is that there isn’t a viewfinder - very hard to see the screen outdoors - and the menus are complex. The a6300 or a6500 would probably be better choices. Still have complex menus but they at least have a proper viewfinder.

[@danmihaita3704]

Impressive and professional review! The best I saw yet on any cameras. I would like to ask you for some small settings tips for shooting a low budget fun music video indoor :) Should I stay with ISO 100 all the way? And should I use 24 p and not 60 p like you said in the video?(I thought 60 p offers better quality) I ll use the XAVC like you said and the standard creative mode with -1 to all. Anything else you can tip me it would be very appreciate! Thanks! :)

[@curtisjudd]

dan Mihaita Thanks Dan. You can increase the ISO on this camera comfortably. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot up to 1600 ISO and even higher if I'm willing to do some denoising in post. 24p vs 60p is partly an aesthetic choice. The "look" of 24p is probably closer to the motion blur we're used to seeing in cinema whereas 60p will look much more crisp like a sports broadcast. But with 60p, you will need to use a faster shutter speed in the range of 1/125th of a second which will let in less light which will require a higher ISO.

[@danmihaita3704]

Thank you! I appreciate your help! If I manage to make this I ll show you the result! :) Wish you all the best and good luck in your activity!

[@akmalsalikhov3732]

Thank you so much for excellent review! I was thinking about purchasing FZ 1000 but small sensor and focus problems put me in doubt. Now with your review everything is clear. In video you've plugged a5100 to Atomos. Had you chance to compare inner XAVC-S recording vs ProRes in Atomos? Is there any reason to buy Atomos particularly for this camera?

[@curtisjudd]

Akmal Salikhov I have not noticed any image quality differences with the internal XAVC S vs ProRes on the Atomos. The main reason I like to use the Atomos, at least in some cases, is that ProRes is much smoother for editing in DaVinci Resolve, Premiere, and Final Cut, at least on Mac OS X.

[@DavidViramontes]

Hi Curtis, love your reviews. As a young filmmaker leaning towards documentary style shooting, would you recommend this as a first camera? Also, I have relatives heavily invested in Nikon lenses who would be willing to let me borrow them, would you recommend shooting with a Metabones adapter? What are the downsides? Thanks again!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi David. I think it depends on how you like to shoot. Some documentary filmmakers prefer camcorder style cameras because they are easier to operate and require less fuss to focus. They also don't have the limitations that many DLSR and ILC cameras have in terms of recording limits (Nikon, Canon, and Sony all impose a 30 minute limit). However, others prefer larger sensor cameras like DSLRs because they usually allow a shallow depth-of-field look but are more work to rig up and keep in focus. For interviews I really like larger sensor cameras because of the look and in an interview, they're typically up on a tripod and the interviewee isn't moving around too much so the camera operation is totally manageable when working solo. If you want to go the large sensor route for your first camera, I'm really happy with this a5100 because it evidently does full-sensor readout and produces a nice, clean image. You could use a Metabones adapter or speedbooster to put those Nikon lenses to use. I have the micro 4/3 speedbooster for my Panasonic GH4 and it works very nicely. It isn't perfectly sharp, but I don't always like to have that clinically clean look. And when I want that look, there are other lenses I use. You could also look at the Nikon DSLRs. I'm not as enthused about those for shooting video because they record at relatively low bitrates, unless you also invest in an external recorder. All this to say, it really depends on your budget and the look you want and how much work you're willing to put into operating the camera vs. directing. I hope that helps!

[@DavidViramontes]

That most certainly does help, thank you very much! Considering the larger sensor in conjunction with an adapter and 1080p at 50mbps, I'm really tempted to buy this camera. Thanks again, keep making great videos!

[@jerrytube13]

I bought the a5100 on a whim "for vacation/travel use only". I sold all of my Canon gear that same weekend after extensive testing and some not so nice words being shouted comparing the two. This little camera with the kit lens blew my Canon 70d out of the water in video and sound quality. It was not even close!

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, amazing what Sony has done here!

[@jerrytube13]

Curtis Judd The only draw back is the camera easily overheats recording 15+ minutes of footage in a single shot. However I think this is also a firmware issue. If your camera overheats and you turn it off and back on right away you can record sometimes up to 25min+ on the second recording. On a "cold" first recording it never let me record over 20min straight. Not a big deal but something to consider if you need to put the camera on a tripod and record things for long periods of time. If you record 10 min clips or less at a time you should be able to record until the battery runs out without any overheating issues. Even if the overheat icon appears after 10min you can still record for a while until it shuts off. This is the price you pay for a ridiculously small body and big sensor.

[@curtisjudd]

***** Good to know. I have only shot one longish clip and it stopped recording at around 20 minutes. I assumed this might be the silly limitation that camera manufacturers put in their cameras to avoid the EU taxes. Is there a way to tell specifically that it has overheated (or shut off recording to avoid overheating) or does it just stop recording?

[@jerrytube13]

Curtis Judd There is a firmware 29:59 limitation due to tax. There is an overheat warning icon that pops up on the screen center middle. It is a small orange box with a thermometer and easy to miss. Even though that icon comes up 10 min into recording a long clip you can still record for a good bit until it shuts off. Once the camera turns off you can turn it back on right away and continue recording for another 10 min. Here is the kicker, if you let the camera cool for 5min before your second take, you can record sometimes up to 29:59 with no ill effect or the camera shutting off. Therefor I think this can be fixed with firmware but Sony is playing it safe.

[@curtisjudd]

***** Awesome info - thanks for that!

[@TheFreeSpirit8]

Hi! Great review, thank you! 👍 I'm looking for a camera around that price range for making a dance video clips, I also liked the idea I can use it for selfie, it's compact (as I will travel) and its seems like a good camera for beginners. Would you recommend it over the Sony a6000 or got another idea? 😊 Thanks again and have a great weekend! Dan

[@curtisjudd]

+Dan Nitsan The a5100 is a great little camera. The only thing I wish it had was an electronic viewfinder because it is really difficult to see the screen when outdoors in the sun. The a6000 has a viewfinder but does not have the selfie flip-up screen. So it is a tradeoff that you'll have to consider - which is more important to you and the types of shooting you'll be doing. I hope that helps and best wishes!

[@briandamaldonado6855]

I really felt like this camera was exactly what I'm looking for but besides using it for vlogging I would need a camera for recording outdoor soccer. Would you not recommend this camera and if not, is there one you would. Thanks

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Brianda, at this point, I would probably recommend the Sony a6000 which will be easier to use outdoors because it has a viewfinder and not just the LCD screen on the back of the camera. Those LCD screens are hard to see when you're outdoors in the sun and the price of the a6000 has come down a bit as well: amzn.to/2klzmDc Best wishes!

[@manseungha8773]

Great review. I'm sold!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks, good luck!

[@uniquelior2930]

Hi! May you tell me What is the best setting I should have it on for shooting beauty videos so my makeup colors can show really well ? Thanks in advance

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Lior, I would start by changing the recording format to XAVC-S and also learn how to set the focus to manual so that it isn't hunting around when you move. Best wishes!

[@wo0dy]

whats this thing like in terms of overheating ? looking to invest in one to use as a streaming camera, but hearing lots of hit an miss reports about it over heating.

[@curtisjudd]

I’d steer clear of this for streaming. Too big a risk of heat shutdown.

[@AdvancedEdition]

Is the A5100 good for landscape photography? Is it atleast decent? It is what Im looking for.

[@curtisjudd]

It is decent, just that screen is hard to see when you're out in the sun.

[@AbuKhadijah]

Hi I want to buy this camera for shot long video, around 1hour 10minit continue shot every event, can u give some advice ?

[@curtisjudd]

Abu Khadijah Yes! My advice is do not get this camera for that type of shooting. The Sony alpha cameras have a tendency to shut off after about 20 minutes to prevent the camera from overheating. If you're shooting long-form video, I'd recommend you go with a Canon, Sony, or Panasonic camcorder. Unfortunately, I don't use camcorders myself so I cannot recommend a specific model but camcorders have much smaller sensors and do not typically have the shutdown to prevent overheating issues.

[@AbuKhadijah]

Curtis Judd tq so much, for saving my money, hehehe.

[@vicenteluna3558]

Curtis Judd I wanted this camera for youtube videos. :'(

[@curtisjudd]

Vicente Luna That's what I use it for. It is more a question of whether you'll be doing clips that are less than 20 minutes per. As long as you do that, its fine. If you need something to run uninterrupted for an hour, you probably want to look at a camcorder.

[@angieboone8602]

3:50

[@foodclothesshelter]

So is it true that the a5100 has full sensor readout like RX10?I remember reading that somewhere.

[@curtisjudd]

Not sure on that. Allegedly the Sony marketing materials originally claimed that but Sony have evidently since removed that claim. Some have suggested that it depends on the framerate, perhaps that 24fps does full readout and 60 does not. I can't say for sure but it seems like when I shoot at 24fps, moire is absent.

[@betulgb5190]

Hi mister Curtis! This is a really good video! I want to start a youtube channel about makeup and beauty but I really want to learn how to do the settings about how to focus the right way, how to zoom in, which mode is the best for shooting these kind of youtube video's? Can you please do a youtube video about this !! because a lot girls bought this camera but they have a hard time trying to figure out what the best settings are too shoot a youtube video. If you would shoot this video you would have helped a lot of people out there! That would be so nice :)

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Jasmine, thanks, that's a great idea!

[@betulgb5190]

You are welcome :):)

[@kraziel]

Can I ask you what camera and lenses did you use for the B-Roll footage? (at 1:30, for example) And the microphone you use to record all these videos? (Your voice comes as crystal clear and incredibly deep) Thank you!

[@curtisjudd]

B-roll shots were made with a Nikon D750 for this episode. Audio was all recorded with a Golden Age Project R1mkIII Ribbon microphone (a voice-over mic). Links are in the description if interested.

[@TiffanyNicoleBeauty1]

I have this camera but I want to know if you can connect this camera to a small monitor as I'm filming ?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, absolutely! It has a micro HDMI output port which you can use to send video to a small monitor.

[@PostColorGear]

Great review Curtis. I had preordered this then cancelled when it first came out. I bought the A6000 and havent looked back. And looking at one of the comments below I am glad that I didnt bother. Yes, 50 is better than the 24mb for the AVCHD on the A6000, but even that is sufficient. And it's not as if it is a better codec, like prores, or recording at 100mb, so...that's fine. I can sleep at night :) I like the EVF and that was the deal breaker with me. Awesome little camera though. (the 5100 I mean)

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Dave. Yes, a viewfinder will be critical for me as well (not so much for my wife). Can't wait to see what Sony has in store over the next year...

[@jerrytube13]

One thing that gets overlooked a lot comparing the a6000 vs a5100 is that the a5100 actually reads the whole sensor and doesn't do line skipping. Full sensor readout + xvacs is significantly better for video. I have 0 moire in my videos on the a5100 where the a6000 showed some.

[@PostColorGear]

you're right Jarek. I didnt realize that. I use my A6000 a lot for photos and partly for video, but that's good to know

[@SteveSurgenor]

***** I've been looking for confirmation that the A5100 doesn't do pixel binning but can't find it anywhere in Sony's specs, where did you find out ? Thanks.

[@katakhijau6037]

Is a6000 worth the upgrade over a5100 in terms of video quality? I will mainly use camera for video shooting.

[@curtisjudd]

Because the a6000 has a viewfinder, I find it worth the extra cost.

[@edshotsdotcodotuk]

The A6000 got a firmware upgrade to the XAVCS but didn't get the other video features the A5100 has and there's the fact the memory card for the A5100 side loads rather than buddying up with the battery at the bottom. So I would say the A5100 is still the better video option. Both lack headphone and mic jacks but the A6000 does have the option for some (expensive) add ons to it's multi-interface shoe.

[@curtisjudd]

Great to know, thanks!

[@foodclothesshelter]

I was wondering did you deactivate the face recognition function when filming?It's known to add a unwanted smoothing effect to skin.It usually kicks in a few seconds after pushing record,not sure if it affects other image properties but it does a job on skin.

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, I did not use the face recognition function. That skin smoothing feature is a little too much under normal circumstances.

[@allrain]

Do you still recommend the A5100 as a first camera for video in 2019? Thanks for a great and informative review. Cheers!

[@curtisjudd]

Great question. Not really, but I'm hard pressed to think of a better option at this price. My wife finds this camera nearly impossible to use outdoors because the screen is so hard to see in the sunlight.

[@AdrianThePhotoMan]

I bought it in november 2019 and its the best camera fir that price with apsc sensor,, definitely buy it

[@MrFreshography]

Hi, does the screen switch off when HDMI is plugged in. I want to use an external monitor to record video and am hoping this could prevent overheating of the cam's LCD

[@curtisjudd]

MrFreshography Yes, the screen switches off when you connect the HDMI cable. This will potentially help the battery in the camera last longer. Note: it is the sensor that overheats, not the LCD screen, so using an external monitor/recorder will still have the same limitations in terms of sensor heat and recording time.

[@MrFreshography]

Many thanks :). You're right, the day after i posted the comment, I tried using a monitor with another cam (Nikon D3100). The LCD switched off but the cam still overheated. Furthermore, the battery life improved minimally. Thanks again.

[@curtisjudd]

MrFreshography Thanks, good to have confirmation on that.