• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Canon 60D advantages over Sony A5100

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 1100 vs 400 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    216 mm vs 75 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony A5100 advantages over Canon 60D

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Less expensive
    $448 vs $900
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,347 vs 813 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    12.7 vs 11.5 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Thinner
    35 mm vs 78 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    399g vs 1234g
    Lighter weight
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 18.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 29 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    6.0 fps vs 5.3 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    67 vs 34 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    6.0 fps vs 5.3 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    25 vs 15 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 60D

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A5100

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent 18-megapixel sensor with superb detail; Very good high ISO performance, especially for 18-megapixel subframe sensor; 3.0-inch, 1,040K-dot Vari-angle LCD is very useful for video and Live View; Sharp 18-135 kit lens with above average zoom range and I.S.; Full HD (1920x1080) movies at 30/25/24p, 60/50p at 1280x720.

  • Body not as rugged as mag-alloy 50D; AF assist only works when flash is up, though flash can be forced off; Auto-exposure not reliable in very low light; No continuous autofocus in Movie mode.

  • Very small and comfortable form factor; Very good image quality for its class; New dual video record function; Quick autofocus and good dynamic range.

  • Lacks an EVF and external mode dial; No hot shoe; JPEG processing at higher ISOs not as good as some competing mid-level models.

The Competition

Compared to Canon 7D

Canon 60D
Canon 7D
  • $889
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • More cross-type AF points
  • Less shutter lag
Sony A5100
Canon 7D
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Nikon D7000

Canon 60D
Nikon D7000
  • $889
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Higher effective ISO
Sony A5100
Nikon D7000
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Canon T3i

Canon 60D
Canon T3i
  • $889
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $549
  • APS-C
Sony A5100
Canon T3i
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compared to Samsung NX1100

Canon 60D
Samsung NX1100
  • $889
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
  • $450
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Sony A5100
Samsung NX1100
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $450
  • APS-C
  • Higher-res screen
  • Hot shoe

Compared to Sony A5000

Canon 60D
Sony A5000
  • $889
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive
Sony A5100
Sony A5000
  • $348
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $298
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
Compare Other Cameras?