Sony a5000 vs Sony a5100: read noise comparison

Input-referred read noise at base ISO: Sony a5000 5.3 e⁻ (ISO 100), Sony a5100 6.6 e⁻ (ISO 100).

Sony a5000

The Sony a5000 (ILCE-5000) was measured at 23 ISO settings from ISO 100 to ISO 16000. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 2.57 DN, or 5.3 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 400 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 10000 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 32,589 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 210.

Sony a5100

The Sony a5100 (ILCE-5100) was measured at 25 ISO settings from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 3.10 DN, or 6.6 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 12800 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Full well at base ISO is about 34,169 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 220.

Sony a5000 vs Sony a5100 read noise table

ISO	Sony a5000	Sony a5100
100	2.567	3.095
125	2.888	3.317
160	3.387	3.580
200	3.891	4.028
250	4.627	4.563
320	5.579	5.169
400	6.589	6.105
500	8.000	7.260
640	9.918	8.574
800	12.042	10.267
1000	14.621	12.467
1250	18.507	14.929
1600	23.588	18.379
2000	28.840	22.471
2500	36.504	27.284
3200	47.177	32.900
4000	60.129	41.355
5000	74.028	49.522
6400	91.773	49.867
8000	113.772	60.969
10000	148.056	76.639
12800	146.018	76.639
16000	182.278	95.670
20000	–	121.095
25600	–	152.219

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