Decision tools · Compare
EOS M50 II vs A5100
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·16 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 M50 II — Beginners & Vlogging: Canon's most approachable mirrorless — Dual Pixel AF and beautiful colour science in a beginner-friendly body.
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 M50 II (2020)
is the right camera for you if…
- Beginners and students wanting an affordable entry into Canon's ecosystem
- Vloggers who need a flip screen and clean HDMI output on a budget
- Content creators who want reliable eye-tracking AF at a low price
- Canon users upgrading from a smartphone or compact camera
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 M50 IICanon · 2020 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £575 | £102 usedBest |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 24.3MPBest |
| Video | 4K/25p (cropped), 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 143 AF points, eye detection | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 10fpsBest | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~305 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 387g (body only) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 88.1 × 58.7mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.39× | No viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, micro HDMI | 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 M50 II
A5100
Portrait
6.1/10
5.4/10
Street
6.6/10
7.0/10
Travel
5.8/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
4.8/10
3.5/10
Vlogging & Video
6.1/10
4.7/10
Filmmaking
4.7/10
—
Documentary
4.9/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
5.5/10
4.7/10
Landscape
4.9/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
5.4/10
5.5/10
Casual
7.1/10
5.2/10
Food
6.4/10
5.9/10
Macro
4.8/10
5.2/10
Architecture
5.1/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
4.4/10
4.7/10
Fun & simple
—
4.9/10
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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