Decision tools · Compare
Z50 vs A5100
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the Z50 is weather sealed.
Where the Z50 wins
- Burst Rate: 11fps
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Portrait: 6.6 vs 5.4
- Wedding & Events: 5.5 vs 3.5
- Documentary: 5.8 vs 4.1
Where the A5100 wins
- Cheaper new: £102 vs £266
- Resolution: 24.3MP
- Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 224g (body only)
- Street: 7.0 vs 6.3
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.
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Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- Z50 126 × 94 × 60 mm · 450 g
- A5100 110 × 63 × 36 mm · 283 g
The A5100 is 16 mm narrower, 31 mm shorter, 24 mm slimmer and 167 g lighter than the Z50.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
Z50 — Beginner, Travel, Everyday: Nikon's Z system at its most accessible.
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
Z50 (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- Nikon DSLR users wanting a lighter mirrorless
- First-time enthusiast camera buyers
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 | Z50Nikon · 2019 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £266 used | £102 usedBest |
| Sensor | APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 24.3MPBest |
| 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 | No stabilisation | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 11fpsBest | 6fps |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 397g (body only) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 126.5 × 93.5 × 60.0mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.68× 2.36M-dot | No viewfinder |
| 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 |
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
Z50
A5100
Portrait
6.6/10
5.4/10
Street
6.3/10
7.0/10
Travel
6.1/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
5.5/10
3.5/10
Filmmaking
4.8/10
—
Documentary
5.8/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
6.8/10
4.7/10
Landscape
5.3/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
7.2/10
5.5/10
Casual
5.4/10
5.2/10
Food
6.0/10
5.9/10
Macro
5.6/10
5.2/10
Architecture
5.1/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
5.2/10
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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