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EOS RP vs A5100
Quick take: The EOS RP has the highest resolution at 26MP; the A5100 is the most affordable.
Where the EOS RP wins
- Resolution: 26.2MP
- Portrait: 7.0 vs 5.4
- Wedding & Events: 5.1 vs 3.5
- Vlogging & Video: 5.6 vs 4.8
- Documentary: 5.3 vs 4.1
Where the A5100 wins
- Cheaper new: £102 vs £1,049
- Burst Rate: 6fps
- Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 224g (body only)
- Street: 7.0 vs 6.4
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 RP — Entry Full-Frame Stills Photography: 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.
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 RP (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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)
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 RPCanon · 2019 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,049 | £102 usedBest |
| Sensor | 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 26.2MPBest | 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 | No stabilisation | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 5fps mechanical | 6fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) — very limited | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 440g (body only) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 85.0 × 70.0mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | No viewfinder |
| 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 |
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 RP
A5100
Portrait
7.0/10
5.4/10
Street
6.4/10
7.0/10
Travel
5.6/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
5.1/10
3.5/10
Vlogging & Video
5.6/10
4.8/10
Filmmaking
5.5/10
—
Documentary
5.3/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
5.4/10
4.7/10
Landscape
5.4/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
5.9/10
5.5/10
Casual
5.4/10
5.2/10
Food
6.6/10
5.9/10
Macro
6.2/10
5.2/10
Architecture
6.1/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
6.1/10
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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