Z5 IIvs A5100
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Full-Frame Value — Z5 II (2024): The most accessible full-frame mirrorless — dual card slots, weather sealing, and Nikon colour at a sensible price.
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
Z5 II (2024)
- DSLR photographers making the switch to full-frame mirrorless
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame Z quality at the most accessible price
- Z5 owners wanting significantly improved autofocus and uncropped 4K
- Landscape and portrait photographers stepping up from APS-C
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
Quick take: The z5 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a5100 is the most affordable; only the z5 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 II (2024) | A5100 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £200 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | None |
| Burst Rate | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 700g body only | 224g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | None |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 II | A5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
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