A5100vs A7 II
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.
Travel, Portrait — A7 II (2014): The camera that proved full-frame IBIS was possible in a compact body.
Who should buy what
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
A7 II (2014)
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want full-frame on a budget
- Film shooters adapting vintage lenses (IBIS helps enormously)
Quick take: The a5100 is the most affordable; only the a7 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A5100 (2014) | A7 II (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £549 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p 60fps |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | 350 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 599g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-Mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | Wi-Fi, NFC, Micro USB, Micro HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A5100 | A7 II |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
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