OM-5vs A5100
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Outdoor & Adventure — OM-5 (2022): The toughest camera at this price — IP53 weather sealing and 7.5-stop IBIS built for adventure photographers.
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
OM-5 (2022)
- Outdoor and adventure photographers who need a compact, weather-sealed body
- Travellers who want MFT's compact size with pro-level weather protection
- E-M5 III owners upgrading to OM System's improved subject detection
- Photographers who want strong IBIS and rugged build without OM-1 pricing
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; only the om-5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM-5 (2022) | A5100 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £200 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, 4K/120p Cinema4K | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 121 all-cross points, subject tracking | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 7.5 stops (Dual IS with compatible lenses) | None |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic, 10fps mechanical | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g body only | 224g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 122.3 × 87.6 × 49.7mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | None |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM-5 | A5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor & Adventure | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Street | — | |
| 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