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Ricoh GR IV vs A5100

Quick take: The Ricoh GR IV has the highest resolution at 26MP; the A5100 is the most affordable.

16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

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.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

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
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 Ricoh GR IVRicoh · 2025A5100Sony · 2014
Price £1,299£200Best
Sensor 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS
Resolution 26.0MPBest24.3MP
Video 1080p/60p1080p/60p
Autofocus Hybrid phase/contrast-detect AFHybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection
Stabilisation 6-stop IBIS (Shake Reduction)No stabilisation
Burst Rate 4fps6fpsBest
Battery Life 250 shots (CIPA)~400 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 262g (with battery and card)224g (body only)Best
Dimensions —109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedNot weather sealed
Viewfinder None (optional external finder accessory)No viewfinder
Screen 3.0" fixed touchscreen3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots
Mount Fixed 18.3mm f/2.8 lens (28mm equivalent)Sony E-mount
Memory Cards Single microSD (UHS-I) + 53GB internalSingle SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot
Connectivity USB-C, Wi-Fi, BluetoothMicro 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
Ricoh GR IV
A5100
Portrait
4.5/10
5.4/10
Street
8.4/10
7.0/10
Travel
7.2/10
6.7/10
Wedding & Events
5.1/10
3.5/10
Documentary
5.3/10
4.1/10
Landscape
5.4/10
5.0/10
Casual
6.3/10
5.1/10
Food
6.0/10
5.9/10
Macro
4.5/10
5.2/10
Architecture
5.4/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
4.5/10
4.7/10
Fun & simple
4.7/10
4.5/10
Vlogging & Video
—
5.0/10
Sports & Action
—
4.7/10
Wildlife
—
5.5/10

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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