Decision tools · Compare
A5100 vs A7 IV
Quick take: The A7 IV has the highest resolution at 33MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the A7 IV 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.
A7 IV — Portrait & Wedding Photography: 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)
is the right camera for you if…
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
A7 IV (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A5100Sony · 2014 | A7 IVSony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £102 usedBest | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 33.0MPBest |
| 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 | No stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronicBest |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 224g (body only)Best | 659g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | 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 | Slot 1 CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II, slot 2 SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
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
A7 IV
Portrait
5.4/10
8.2/10
Street
7.0/10
6.5/10
Travel
6.4/10
6.3/10
Wedding & Events
3.5/10
7.9/10
Vlogging & Video
4.7/10
6.1/10
Documentary
4.1/10
7.4/10
Sports & Action
4.7/10
7.5/10
Landscape
5.0/10
6.7/10
Wildlife
5.5/10
7.8/10
Casual
5.2/10
5.3/10
Food
5.9/10
7.6/10
Macro
5.2/10
7.3/10
Architecture
5.2/10
6.8/10
Astrophotography
4.7/10
7.3/10
Fun & simple
4.9/10
—
Filmmaking
—
7.2/10
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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