Z50vs A5100
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Beginner, Travel, Everyday — Z50 (2019): Nikon's Z system at its most accessible.
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
Z50 (2019)
- Nikon DSLR users wanting a lighter mirrorless
- First-time enthusiast camera buyers
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. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z50 (2019) | A5100 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £499 | £200 |
| Sensor | APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K 30fps (1.5× crop), 1080p 120fps | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 209-point phase-detect hybrid AF | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | None | None |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 6fps |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 397g (body only) | 224g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 126.5 × 93.5 × 60.0mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.68× 2.36M-dot | None |
| Screen | 3.2" downward-tilting touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Nikon Z-Mount (DX) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Micro USB, Micro HDMI | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z50 | A5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Casual | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Landscape | — |
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