Sharper shooting: Sony s a500 is the world s smallest interchangeable lens camera with super-fast autofocus and pro quality pictures

Crisp, blur-free action shots and soulful portraits. Smooth, cinematic Full HD movies. Better-looking selfies. They're yours for the taking with Sony's pocket-sized 5100 - the clever little camera with an awful lot of picture power.

Fitting snugly in your hand, the 5100 is the world's smallest interchangeable-lens digital camera that boasts a big APS-C sensor plus a built-in flash and Wi-Fi. Despite its svelte dimensions, it's every inch the serious choice for anyone who's moving up from their smartphone's camera or point-and-shoot compact snapper.

Nothing gets past the blazing Fast Hybrid AF system of the 5100, the same that can be found in the 6000, with 179 phase detection points that freeze rapid action, frame after crisply-focused frame. Even fast-paced targets - like blistering penalty shots or lively pets - are tracked faithfully for blur-free results. Grabbing the moment is easier still with Touch Focus and Touch Shutter. Just touch your subject anywhere on the crisp, bright LCD screen to fire the shutter for pin-sharp shots at your fingertips.

Sony's latest-generation Exmor CMOS sensor with 24.3 effective megapixels guarantees flawless detail and textures. As big as the APS-C sensor in larger DSLR cameras, it's teamed with the same powerful BIONZ X image processor featured in the acclaimed 7 Series. You'll see the difference with fabulous refinement and low-light sensitivity[i], whether you're shooting stills or movies.

Video recording is stunning, capitalising on the sensitivity and detail of the 5100 for smooth, cinematic results. Support for the increasingly popular pro-focused XAVC S[ii] format at 50 Mbps ensures spectacular Full HD footage with fabulous sound to match. Just like still shooting, Fast Hybrid AF assures pin-sharp focus that tracks your subject, plus the extra convenience of Touch Focus.

It might be the world's smallest interchangeable lens camera, but the 5100 packs in plenty of thoughtful touches to make everyday shots simple.

Flip the large LCD screen through 180 and hold the ergonomically-styled camera body comfortably at arm's length. Frame yourself with the conveniently positioned zoom lever: then release the shutter for great selfies.

Sharing photos and movie clips (MP4) with phones, tablets and TVs is easy, too. NFC allows one-touch transfer and Wi-Fi Direct allows easy wireless transfer to compatible Android and iOS devices. One-touch linkage also activates Smart Remote Control, letting you frame shots and fire the camera shutter right from your smartphone or tablet's screen.

PlayMemories Camera Apps from Sony expand the possibilities of the 5100 further still. Download a growing range of free and paid-for apps that include handy utilities, fun effects and impressive creative tools for serious photographers.

New accessories include the style-matching LCS-EBD body case - available in three colour variations - and the compact, easy-to-carry RM-SPR1 remote that's great for shake-free tripod-mounted selfies.

The light, easy to use 5100 interchangeable lens camera from Sony is available to pre-order now from www.sony.co.uk. It's on general sale in Europe from Mid-September 2014.

ILCE-5100 - technical specifications

Lens compatibility

Sony E-mount lenses

Image sensor

APS-C type (23.5 x 15.6mm), Exmor CMOS sensor

Number of pixels (effective)

Approx. 24.3 megapixels

Recording format

Still

JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver.2.3, MPF Baseline compliant), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format)

Movie

XAVC S / AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant / MP4

Media

Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, Memory Stick XC-HG Duo, SD memory card, SDHC memory card (UHS-I compliant), SDXC memory card (UHS-I compliant)

Focus system

type

Fast Hybrid AF(phase-detection AF/contrast-detection AF)

Focus point

179 points (phase-detection AF) / 25 points (contrast-detection AF)

Sensitivity range

EV-1 to EV20 (ISO100 equivalent with F2.0 lens attached)

Exposure control

Metering type

1200-zone evaluative metering

ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)

Still images: ISO 100-25600 (1/3 EV step),

AUTO (ISO 100-25600, selectable lower limit and upper limit)

Movies: ISO 100-12800 equivalent (1/3 EV step) / AUTO (ISO 100-12800 equivalent, selectable lower limit and upper limit)

Shutter

Shutter speed

Still images:1/4000 to 30 sec, Bulb,

Movies: 1/4000 to 1/4(1/3 steps)

up to 1/60 in AUTO mode (up to 1/30 in Auto slow shutter mode)

Electronic Front Curtain Shutter

Yes

Drive

Speed (approx., max.)[iii]

Continuous shooting: Hi: max. 6 fps, Lo: max. 3 fps

No. of frame recordable(approx.) [iv]

JPEG Fine L: 56 frames, JPEG Standard L: 75 frames, RAW: 23 frames, RAW&JPG: 22 frames

LCD

Type

7.5cm (3.0-type) wide type TFT electrostatic touch screen

Number of dots (total)

921,600 dots

Adjustable angle

Up by approx. 180 degrees

Audio

Microphone

Built-in stereo microphone

Speaker

Built-in, monaural

Interface

HDMI micro connector (Type-D), Multi / Micro USB Terminal

Wireless LAN (built-in)

Wi-Fi Compatible, IEEE 802.11b/g/n(2.4GHz band)

NFC

NFC forum Type 3 Tag compatible

PlayMemories Camera Apps

Yes

Flash

Built-in / Guide No. 4 (in meters at ISO 100, Flash coverage 16mm

Battery

One rechargeable battery pack NP-FW50

Weight

With battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo included: Approx. 283 g (approx. 10oz), Body only: Approx. 224 g (approx. 7.9oz)

Dimensions W x H x D (excluding protrusions)

approx. 109.6 (W) x 62.8 (H) x 35.7 (D) mm (approx. 4 3/8 x 2 1/2 x 1 7/16 in.)

Operating temperature

32 - 104 degrees F / 0 - 40 degrees C

[i] Up to ISO25600

[ii] An SDXC memory card with a Class 10 or higher speed rating is required for XAVC S recording.

[iii] Varies according to shooting conditions or memory card used

[iv] Continuous drive (Hi) in Drive mode. Varies according to

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