A5100vs A7R 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.
Landscape, Studio, Commercial — A7R IV (2019): 61MP in a mirrorless body — the resolution benchmark.
Who should buy what
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
A7R IV (2019)
- Landscape photographers who print large
- Studio shooters needing maximum detail
Quick take: The a7r iv has the highest resolution at 61mp; the a5100 is the most affordable; only the a7r iv is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A5100 (2014) | A7R IV (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS 35mm |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 61.0MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K 30fps |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | 567-point phase-detect, real-time tracking |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | 670 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 665g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.44M-dot |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-Mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | 2× SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 4.1, USB-C 3.2 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A5100 | A7R IV |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Architecture | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| 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