Lumix
S1 2019
Best for Landscape, studio & professional stills on L-mount
£610
used today at Wex Photo Video
Decision tools · Compare
S1 vs A5100
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the S1 is weather sealed.
Where the S1 wins
- Burst Rate: 9fps continuous with AF/AE
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Portrait: 6.6 vs 5.4
- Wedding & Events: 6.4 vs 3.5
- Documentary: 6.3 vs 4.1
Where the A5100 wins
- Cheaper new: £102 vs £610
- Resolution: 24.3MP
- Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 224g (body only)
- Street: 7.0 vs 4.8
16 specs side by side·16 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.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- S1 149 × 110 × 97 mm · 1021 g
- A5100 110 × 63 × 36 mm · 283 g
The A5100 is 39 mm narrower, 47 mm shorter, 61 mm slimmer and 738 g lighter than the S1.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
S1 — Landscape, Studio & Professional Stills On L-Mount: Built like a tank with one of the finest viewfinders ever made — the S1 is the choice for photographers who prioritise build quality and IBIS over AF speed.
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
S1 (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- L-mount system photographers who want a rugged, weather-sealed full-frame body for demanding conditions
- Landscape and studio photographers who value exceptional IBIS and an outstanding EVF
- Video professionals who need V-Log and 4K/60p in a robust, weather-sealed body
- Leica SL users who want a more affordable second body on the same L-mount system
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 | S1Lumix · 2019 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £610 used | £102 usedBest |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.3MPBest |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AEBest | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 898g (body only) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 148.9 × 110.0 × 96.7mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | No viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | 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
S1
A5100
Portrait
6.6/10
5.4/10
Street
4.8/10
7.0/10
Travel
4.7/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
6.4/10
3.5/10
Filmmaking
7.1/10
—
Documentary
6.3/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
6.0/10
4.7/10
Landscape
6.5/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
6.2/10
5.5/10
Casual
3.9/10
5.2/10
Food
6.3/10
5.9/10
Macro
7.3/10
5.2/10
Architecture
6.7/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
7.0/10
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 →
Next
More comparisons with S1
Camera family history