Lumix G9vs A5100
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Wildlife, Sports, Travel — Lumix G9 (2017): The G9 showed that Micro Four Thirds could compete for fast-action stills.
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
Lumix G9 (2017)
- Wildlife photographers who want fast burst and long telephoto reach at lower cost
- MFT system users who prioritise stills over video
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
Quick take: The a5100 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a5100 is the most affordable; only the lumix g9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix G9 (2017) | A5100 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £200 |
| Sensor | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.3MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K 60fps, C4K 24fps | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 225-point contrast-detect DFD | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops (6.0 stops dual IS) | None |
| Burst Rate | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | 6fps |
| Battery Life | 400 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 658g (body only) | 224g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 136.9 × 97.3 × 91.6mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.83× 3.68M-dot | None |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, HDMI full-size | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix G9 | A5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Street | — |
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