Canon
EOS-1D 2001
Best for Professional digital camera history collectors
£150
list price · used from £75 at eBay
Decision tools · Compare
EOS-1D vs A5100
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the EOS-1D is the most affordable; only the EOS-1D is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS-1D — Professional Digital Camera History Collectors: Canon's first pro digital DSLR — a 4MP, 8fps APS-H monster from 2001 that set the template for every 1D to follow. A landmark piece of digital camera history.
A5100 — Casual & Travel: The A5100 is one of the smallest APS-C mirrorless cameras ever made. Its 24MP sensor, phase-detect AF, and selfie-friendly flip screen pack remarkable capability into a shirt-pocket-sized body. No EVF or hot shoe limits it for serious use, but as a compact travel camera or beginner's first mirrorless, it punches well above its price on the used market.
Who should buy what
EOS-1D (2001)
is the right camera for you if…
- Collectors of professional digital camera milestones
- Canon historians documenting the evolution of the EOS-1 line
- Sports photography archivists
A5100 (2014)
is the right camera for you if…
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS-1DCanon · 2001 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £150Best | £200 |
| Sensor | 4.1MP APS-H CMOS (1.3× crop) | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 4.1MP | 24.3MPBest |
| Video | — | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 45-point AF with 7 cross-type points | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | — | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 8fps continuous (up to 21 RAW frames)Best | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~1200 shots per chargeBest | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1225g (body only) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 155.6 × 117.8 × 77.5mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | OVF, 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | No viewfinder |
| Screen | 2.0" fixed LCD | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon EF | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | CompactFlash Type I/II | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB 1.1, FireWire | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
EOS-1D
A5100
Portrait
4.7/10
5.4/10
Street
3.6/10
7.0/10
Travel
3.7/10
6.7/10
Wedding & Events
5.0/10
3.5/10
Documentary
3.7/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
5.6/10
4.7/10
Landscape
3.7/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
5.9/10
5.5/10
Casual
1.9/10
5.1/10
Food
3.1/10
5.9/10
Macro
2.9/10
5.2/10
Architecture
3.3/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
5.6/10
4.7/10
Vlogging & Video
—
5.0/10
Fun & simple
—
4.5/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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