A5100vs A6000
Sony
A6000 (2014)
Starting from £249 new
Best for Entry-level mirrorless & budget E-mount
View A6000
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Entry-Level Mirrorless & Budget E-Mount — A6000 (2014): The Sony that started a generation of E-mount loyalty — 11fps, 24MP, and 179 phase-detect points in a compact body that remained excellent value for nearly a decade.
Who should buy what
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
A6000 (2014)
- First-time mirrorless buyers who want a capable, proven body at the lowest price
- Sony E-mount users who want a compact backup or second body
- Parents and travellers who want good image quality without a large camera
- Anyone curious about APS-C mirrorless who wants to try the system affordably
Quick take: The a5100 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A5100 (2014) | A6000 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £249 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor APS HD CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | 179 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points |
| Stabilisation | None | None |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~360 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 344g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 119.9 × 66.9 × 45.1mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, OLED 1.44M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 921k dots (no touch) |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A5100 | A6000 |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with A5100
Camera family history