Decision tools · Compare
M10-R vs A5100
Quick take: The M10-R has the highest resolution at 41MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the M10-R is weather sealed.
Where the M10-R wins
- Resolution: 40.9MP
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Landscape: 6.2 vs 5.0
- Architecture: 5.8 vs 5.2
- Astrophotography: 5.3 vs 4.7
Where the A5100 wins
- Cheaper new: £102 vs £8,587
- Burst Rate: 6fps
- Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 224g (body only)
- Portrait: 5.4 vs 4.8
16 specs side by side·15 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
- M10-R 139 × 80 × 38 mm · 660 g
- A5100 110 × 63 × 36 mm · 283 g
The A5100 is 29 mm narrower, 17 mm shorter, 2 mm slimmer and 377 g lighter than the M10-R.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
M10-R — Street, Documentary, Travel: 40MP rangefinder photography — a deliberate, contemplative experience.
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
M10-R (2020)
is the right camera for you if…
- Photographers who prefer manual focus and rangefinder composition
- Leica M lens collectors and enthusiasts
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 | M10-RLeica · 2020 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,587 | £102 usedBest |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 40.9MPBest | 24.3MP |
| Video | No video | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Manual focus — optical rangefinder | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 6fpsBest |
| Battery Life | 220 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 660g (with battery and card) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 139.0 × 38.5 × 80.0mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder 0.73× magnification | No viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Leica M-Mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C | 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
M10-R
A5100
Portrait
4.8/10
5.4/10
Street
5.4/10
7.0/10
Travel
5.0/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
2.7/10
3.5/10
Documentary
2.3/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
2.2/10
4.7/10
Landscape
6.2/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
2.2/10
5.5/10
Casual
2.2/10
5.2/10
Food
4.5/10
5.9/10
Macro
3.4/10
5.2/10
Architecture
5.8/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
5.3/10
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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