Z6vs A5100
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel, Portrait, Video — Z6 (2018): Nikon's proof of concept — and a genuinely excellent camera.
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
Z6 (2018)
- Nikon DSLR users making their first move to mirrorless
- Photographers who want full-frame Nikon glass on a budget
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
Quick take: The z6 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a5100 is the most affordable; only the z6 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z6 (2018) | A5100 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £749 | £200 |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K 30fps (full-width), 1080p 120fps | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | 273-point phase-detect hybrid AF | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | None |
| Burst Rate | 12fps | 6fps |
| Battery Life | 310 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 585g (body only) | 224g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 134.0 × 100.5 × 67.5mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.80× 3.69M-dot | None |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.1M-dot | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Nikon Z-Mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single XQD / CFexpress Type B | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C 3.1, HDMI | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z6 | A5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
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