A5100vs A7R VI
Sony
A7R VI (2025)
Starting from £4399 new
Best for Studio, landscape and commercial photographers needing maximum resolution
View A7R VI
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.
Studio, Landscape And Commercial Photographers Needing Maximum Resolution — A7R VI (2025): The A7R VI cements its place as the resolution flagship of the Sony full-frame range — 61MP, AI-driven autofocus, and 8K video make it as capable for video and action work as it is for studio and landscape photography. The price reflects its position at the top of the lineup, but the capability is hard to match.
Who should buy what
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
A7R VI (2025)
- Studio and commercial photographers who need maximum resolution for large prints and heavy cropping
- Landscape photographers who want best-in-class dynamic range and detail
- Hybrid shooters who need 8K video alongside a 61MP stills sensor
- Professionals upgrading from the A7R V who want faster AI-driven autofocus
Quick take: The a7r vi has the highest resolution at 61mp; the a5100 is the most affordable; only the a7r vi is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A5100 (2014) | A7R VI (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £4,399 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 61MP full-frame stacked back-illuminated CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 61.0MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps oversampled |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | AI processing unit — subject recognition for people, animals, birds and vehicles across the frame |
| Stabilisation | None | In-body 5-axis IS, up to 8.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 8fps mechanical / 7fps electronic with full AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA, NP-FZ100) |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 723g (body with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 131.3 × 96.9 × 82.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, 9.44M-dot, up to 120fps |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.2-inch 4-axis multi-angle touchscreen, 3.69M-dot |
| 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 (10Gbps), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0, 2.5GbE |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A5100 | A7R VI |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| 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