Decision tools · Compare
GFX 50S vs A5100
Quick take: The GFX 50S has the highest resolution at 51MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the GFX 50S 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?
GFX 50S — Studio, Portrait & Landscape Photography: The camera that launched Fujifilm's medium-format revolution — 51MP at a price that made serious large-format imaging possible for the first time.
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
GFX 50S (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
- Photographers who want to enter the GFX system at the lowest possible price
- Studio and portrait photographers who want medium-format tonal quality on a budget
- Landscape photographers who work from a tripod and don't need IBIS
- GFX system historians who want the camera that started it all
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 | GFX 50SFujifilm · 2017 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £833 used | £102 usedBest |
| Sensor | 51.4MP Medium Format BSI CMOS (43.8 × 32.9mm) | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 51.4MPBest | 24.3MP |
| Video | 1080p/30p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, face detection | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 3fps | 6fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 740g (body only) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 147.5 × 94.2 × 91.4mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Detachable EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.85× magnification | No viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen + rear sub-LCD | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Fujifilm GFX (G-mount) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | 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
GFX 50S
A5100
Portrait
6.2/10
5.4/10
Street
4.8/10
7.0/10
Travel
4.8/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
5.9/10
3.5/10
Documentary
4.8/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
4.0/10
4.7/10
Landscape
6.8/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
4.0/10
5.5/10
Casual
3.4/10
5.2/10
Food
5.9/10
5.9/10
Macro
5.5/10
5.2/10
Architecture
6.9/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
5.7/10
4.7/10
Vlogging & Video
—
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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