A5100vs A7R
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, Tripod Landscape & Camera History — A7R (2013): The world's first 36MP full-frame mirrorless — a landmark camera that launched the A7R series, despite contrast-detect AF and significant shutter shock limitations.
Who should buy what
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
A7R (2013)
- Collectors and photographers interested in the camera that started the A7R lineage
- Studio photographers who work on a tripod and can manage contrast-detect AF
- Landscape photographers who prioritise resolution over autofocus performance
- Sony FE system users who want a historical body at a very low used price
Quick take: The a7r has the highest resolution at 36mp; the a5100 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A5100 (2014) | A7R (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £349 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 36.4MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) |
| Stabilisation | None | None |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 4fps |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 465g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A5100 | A7R |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Architecture | — |
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