A5100vs A7C
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.
Compact Travel & Content Creation — A7C (2020): The A7C proves full-frame doesn't have to be bulky. Excellent battery life, reliable Eye AF and a vari-angle screen in a pocketable body is a compelling combination for travel and content creators. The A7C II improved on it, but the original remains a strong value buy.
Who should buy what
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
A7C (2020)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame in the smallest possible body
- Content creators who need a flip screen and reliable Eye AF
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want to keep a compact kit
- Vloggers who need 4K and great battery life on the road
Quick take: The a5100 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a5100 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A5100 (2014) | A7C (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~740 shots (CIPA) — outstanding for a Sony mirrorless |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 509g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None | None built-in — use rear screen or accessory EVF |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Single SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A5100 | A7C |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
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