Decision tools · Compare
EOS R50 vs A5100
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable.
Where the EOS R50 wins
- Burst Rate: 12fps mechanical, 15fps electronic
- Portrait: 7.3 vs 5.4
- Wedding & Events: 5.7 vs 3.5
- Vlogging & Video: 6.6 vs 4.8
- Documentary: 5.8 vs 4.1
Where the A5100 wins
- Cheaper new: £102 vs £649
- Resolution: 24.3MP
- Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 224g (body only)
16 specs side by side·16 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
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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Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- EOS R50 116 × 86 × 69 mm · 375 g
- A5100 110 × 63 × 36 mm · 283 g
The A5100 is 6 mm narrower, 23 mm shorter, 33 mm slimmer and 92 g lighter than the EOS R50.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS R50 — Beginners & Family: Canon's most beginner-friendly RF body — Dual Pixel AF and beautiful colour science in an approachable package.
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 R50 (2023)
is the right camera for you if…
- Beginners buying their first interchangeable-lens camera
- Family photographers who want reliable subject tracking in a compact body
- R100 buyers who want a step up with better video and subject detection
- Casual content creators who want a simple, capable RF camera on a budget
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 R50Canon · 2023 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £102 usedBest |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.3MPBest |
| Video | 4K/30p (uncropped 4K/24p), FHD/60p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, face/eye/subject tracking | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical, 15fps electronicBest | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 375g (body only) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | No viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon RF-S / RF | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | 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 R50
A5100
Portrait
7.3/10
5.4/10
Street
7.1/10
7.0/10
Travel
6.3/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
5.7/10
3.5/10
Vlogging & Video
6.6/10
4.8/10
Filmmaking
5.2/10
—
Documentary
5.8/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
7.0/10
4.7/10
Landscape
5.2/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
7.2/10
5.5/10
Casual
7.5/10
5.2/10
Food
7.1/10
5.9/10
Macro
7.3/10
5.2/10
Architecture
5.9/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
5.4/10
4.7/10
Fun & simple
5.5/10
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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