A5100vs A7 IV
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.
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
Who should buy what
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
A7 IV (2021)
- Working photographers who want a reliable full-frame all-rounder
- Portrait, wedding, and event photographers needing 33MP and fast AF
- A7 III owners ready for a major upgrade in resolution, AF, and video
- Hybrid shooters who want 4K/60p and 33MP stills in one dependable body
Quick take: The a7 iv has the highest resolution at 33mp; the a5100 is the most affordable; only the a7 iv is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A5100 (2014) | A7 IV (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £2,299 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 659g body only |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A5100 | A7 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Studio Portraits | — | |
| Outdoor Portraits | — | |
| 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