EOS RPvs A5100
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Entry Full-Frame Stills Photography — EOS RP (2019): An affordable gateway into the RF system. The RP makes sense as a stepping stone camera — if you're committed to Canon RF glass, this is the cheapest full-frame body to buy those lenses for. Just manage expectations on video and battery life.
Casual & Travel — A5100 (2014): 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 RP (2019)
- Canon users who want to start investing in RF glass affordably
- Stills photographers who shoot primarily in good light
- Anyone coming from a Canon DSLR wanting the RF system at low cost
- Travel photographers who prioritise compactness over video specs
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
Quick take: The eos rp has the highest resolution at 26mp; the a5100 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS RP (2019) | A5100 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £200 |
| Sensor | 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 26.2MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K/24p (with 1.7× crop), 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4779 manually selectable positions | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | None |
| Burst Rate | 5fps mechanical | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) — very limited | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 485g (body, battery, card) | 224g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 85.0 × 70.0mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | None |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS RP | A5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history