Decision tools · Compare
A5100 vs A6500
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the A6500 is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·16 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.
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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.
A6500 — Travel, Street & Versatile Everyday Photography: The first Sony APS-C with IBIS — the A6500 added in-body stabilisation, touch AF, and a far deeper buffer to the A6300's already strong formula.
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
A6500 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
- Travel photographers who want IBIS in a compact weather-sealed E-mount body
- A6300 owners who need the stabilisation or touch AF the A6300 lacked
- Street and documentary photographers who want a capable compact with weather sealing
- Sony E-mount shooters looking for a capable used body at an accessible price
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A5100Sony · 2014 | A6500Sony · 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £102 usedBest | £345 used |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MPBest | 24.2MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 11fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 224g (body only)Best | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| 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, Bluetooth |
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
A6500
Portrait
5.4/10
6.6/10
Street
7.0/10
7.1/10
Travel
6.4/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
3.5/10
5.2/10
Vlogging & Video
4.7/10
—
Documentary
4.1/10
5.8/10
Sports & Action
4.7/10
6.6/10
Landscape
5.0/10
5.5/10
Wildlife
5.5/10
7.3/10
Casual
5.2/10
4.8/10
Food
5.9/10
6.3/10
Macro
5.2/10
5.7/10
Architecture
5.2/10
5.4/10
Astrophotography
4.7/10
5.3/10
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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