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X-T1 vs A5100
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the X-T1 is weather sealed.
Where the X-T1 wins
- Burst Rate: 8fps
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Portrait: 6.0 vs 5.4
- Wedding & Events: 4.9 vs 3.5
- Documentary: 5.1 vs 4.1
Where the A5100 wins
- Cheaper new: £102 vs £159
- Resolution: 24.3MP
- Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 224g (body only)
- Street: 7.0 vs 6.1
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?
X-T1 — Street, Travel & Documentary Photography: The camera that put Fujifilm back on the map — weather sealed, a class-leading EVF, physical dials, and X-Trans colour that earned a generation of loyal fans.
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
X-T1 (2014)
is the right camera for you if…
- Photographers entering the Fujifilm X-mount system at the lowest possible price
- Street and documentary photographers who value physical controls and OVF-like experience
- Travel photographers who want a weather-sealed compact with Fujifilm colour
- Those who prefer the original X-T1 aesthetic and smaller 16MP files
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 | X-T1Fujifilm · 2014 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £159 used | £102 usedBest |
| Sensor | 16.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 16.3MP | 24.3MPBest |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect + contrast-detect hybrid AF (49 points) | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 8fpsBest | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 440g (with battery and card) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 129.0 × 89.8 × 46.7mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.77× magnification — largest APS-C EVF at launch | No viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.0" 3-direction tilting LCD, 1.04M dots (no touch) | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Fujifilm X-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB, 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
X-T1
A5100
Portrait
6.0/10
5.4/10
Street
6.1/10
7.0/10
Travel
5.9/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
4.9/10
3.5/10
Documentary
5.1/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
6.1/10
4.7/10
Landscape
4.8/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
6.6/10
5.5/10
Casual
3.9/10
5.2/10
Food
5.0/10
5.9/10
Macro
4.3/10
5.2/10
Architecture
4.4/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
5.0/10
4.7/10
Vlogging & Video
—
4.8/10
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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