Decision tools · Compare
A5100 vs A7S II
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the A7S II is weather sealed.
Where the A5100 wins
- Cheaper new: £102 vs £369
- Resolution: 24.3MP
- Burst Rate: 6fps
- Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 224g (body only)
Where the A7S II wins
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Wedding & Events: 5.6 vs 3.5
- Documentary: 5.8 vs 4.1
- Sports & Action: 5.2 vs 4.7
- Astrophotography: 6.8 vs 4.7
16 specs side by side·16 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
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.
Sony
A7S II 2015
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
£369
used today at Wex Photo Video
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- A5100 110 × 63 × 36 mm · 283 g
- A7S II 127 × 96 × 60 mm · 627 g
The A5100 is 17 mm narrower, 33 mm shorter, 24 mm slimmer and 344 g lighter than the A7S II.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
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.
A7S II — Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking: A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market price.
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
A7S II (2015)
is the right camera for you if…
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A5100Sony · 2014 | A7S IISony · 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £102 usedBest | £369 used |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MPBest | 12.1MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | Contrast-detect AF, 169 points; limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 6fpsBest | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 224g (body only)Best | 584g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
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
A7S II
Portrait
5.4/10
5.8/10
Street
7.0/10
5.3/10
Travel
6.4/10
5.2/10
Wedding & Events
3.5/10
5.6/10
Vlogging & Video
4.8/10
—
Documentary
4.1/10
5.8/10
Sports & Action
4.7/10
5.2/10
Landscape
5.0/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
5.5/10
5.6/10
Casual
5.2/10
3.6/10
Food
5.9/10
5.2/10
Macro
5.2/10
4.8/10
Architecture
5.2/10
4.8/10
Astrophotography
4.7/10
6.8/10
Fun & simple
4.9/10
—
Filmmaking
—
6.2/10
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 →
Next
More comparisons with A5100
Camera family history