Decision tools · Compare
A5100 vs A6400
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the A6400 is weather sealed.
Where the A5100 wins
- Cheaper new: £102 vs £749
- Resolution: 24.3MP
- Weight: 224g (body only)
Where the A6400 wins
- Burst Rate: 11fps mechanical, 8fps with AF tracking
- Battery Life: ~410 shots (CIPA)
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Portrait: 6.7 vs 5.4
- Wedding & Events: 5.6 vs 3.5
16 specs side by side·16 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
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.
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Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- A5100 110 × 63 × 36 mm · 283 g
- A6400 120 × 67 × 60 mm · 403 g
The A5100 is 10 mm narrower, 4 mm shorter, 24 mm slimmer and 120 g lighter than the A6400.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
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.
A6400 — Content Creation & Vlogging: The best value APS-C Sony you can buy — especially used. Real-time Eye AF at this price point was transformative when it launched and still makes it one of the most reliable autofocus systems in the lineup.
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
A6400 (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- Vloggers and content creators who need a flip screen and reliable AF
- Photographers upgrading from a compact or smartphone
- Beginners who want room to grow into a full E-mount lens ecosystem
- Anyone prioritising autofocus performance at an accessible price
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A5100Sony · 2014 | A6400Sony · 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £102 usedBest | £749 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS BSI |
| Resolution | 24.3MPBest | 24.2MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (6K oversampled, no crop), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | Phase-detect, 425 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 11fps mechanical, 8fps with AF trackingBest |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~410 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 224g (body only)Best | 403g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 180° flip for selfie/vlog, 921k dots |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | Micro-USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 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
A5100
A6400
Portrait
5.4/10
6.7/10
Street
7.0/10
7.3/10
Travel
6.4/10
6.7/10
Wedding & Events
3.5/10
5.6/10
Vlogging & Video
4.8/10
5.8/10
Documentary
4.1/10
6.1/10
Sports & Action
4.7/10
6.9/10
Landscape
5.0/10
5.6/10
Wildlife
5.5/10
7.4/10
Casual
5.2/10
5.8/10
Food
5.9/10
6.1/10
Macro
5.2/10
5.2/10
Architecture
5.2/10
5.5/10
Astrophotography
4.7/10
6.0/10
Fun & simple
4.9/10
—
Filmmaking
—
5.1/10
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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