Decision tools · Compare
A5100 vs A7S III
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the A7S III is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·16 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
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 III 2020
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
£3389
new today at Wex Photo Video
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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 III — Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking: If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.
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 III (2020)
is the right camera for you if…
- Filmmakers and videographers who need 4K/120p at 10-bit
- Event videographers who shoot in dark venues regularly
- Documentary filmmakers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Hybrid shooters where video is primary and stills are secondary
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A5100Sony · 2014 | A7S IIISony · 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £102 usedBest | £3,389 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 24.3MPBest | 12.1MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 10fps mechanicalBest |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recordingBest |
| Weight | 224g (body only)Best | 699g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
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 III
Portrait
5.4/10
7.5/10
Street
7.0/10
6.2/10
Travel
6.4/10
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
3.5/10
7.5/10
Vlogging & Video
4.7/10
5.9/10
Documentary
4.1/10
7.7/10
Sports & Action
4.7/10
7.4/10
Landscape
5.0/10
5.5/10
Wildlife
5.5/10
7.5/10
Casual
5.2/10
4.9/10
Food
5.9/10
6.8/10
Macro
5.2/10
5.8/10
Architecture
5.2/10
5.5/10
Astrophotography
4.7/10
7.8/10
Fun & simple
4.9/10
—
Filmmaking
—
8.2/10
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 →
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