LCD and Viewfinder
Sony a5100 has a Tilting 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 922k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.
LCD is
Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.
a5100 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Mirrorless camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Olympus OM-D E-M10 II (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 (Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II) (Compare). If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.
Max Shutter speed
Sony a5100 can shoot continuously at max speed of 6 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.
Flash
Unfortunately a5100 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.
Focusing
Sony a5100 features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations. The AF system has 179 points to choose from.
Sony a5100 also features
Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.
Video Features
With Sony a5100, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60p,60i,24p fps and save in MPEG-4, AVCHD and XAVC S formats. Full HD resolution of Sony a5100 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.
a5100 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker.
Sony a5100 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Mirrorless camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Canon EOS M50 or Canon EOS M5 in a similar price range.
Connectivity and Storage
Sony a5100 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11b/g/n with NFC) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. With its NFC feature, a5100 can communicate with devices such as smartphones which are also equipped with this technology by simply touching each other.One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our a5100. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.
You can connect a5100 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.
Battery Sony a5100 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 400 according to CIPA standards.
Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 356 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.
Battery Life Comparison in Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras
Samsung NX mini with its 650shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Sony a5100 vs Samsung NX mini or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.
Sony a5100 Features Compared to Main Competitors