GR IIIx HDFvs A5100
Ricoh
GR IIIx HDF (2024)
Starting from £999 new
Best for Street & documentary photography with a distinctive aesthetic
View GR IIIx HDF
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street & Documentary Photography With A Distinctive Aesthetic — GR IIIx HDF (2024): The GR IIIx with a built-in dream filter — for photographers who want the GR's legendary APS-C quality with an added layer of analogue magic.
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
GR IIIx HDF (2024)
- GR IIIx fans who want the HDF bloom effect without using post-processing
- Street photographers who want a distinctive, instantly recognisable aesthetic
- Film photography enthusiasts who want to replicate analogue optical character digitally
- GR III owners ready to upgrade to the 40mm equivalent perspective
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 | GR IIIx HDF (2024) | A5100 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £200 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 1920 × 1080 / 60fps | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase/contrast hybrid CDAF with Snap Focus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 3-axis Shake Reduction (SR) — 4 stops | None |
| Burst Rate | 4fps continuous | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~200 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 262g body only | 224g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 122.5 × 69.5 × 35.2mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None — rear LCD only | None |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD touchscreen, 1.037M dots | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Fixed GR Lens 26.1mm f/2.8 (40mm equivalent) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | GR IIIx HDF | A5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| 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