Which is better, Sony A5100 or Sony A7S?

A5100: 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: The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.

Who should buy the Sony A5100 vs Sony A7S?

Sony A5100 is best for Casual & Travel. Sony A7S is best for Astrophotography & Low-Light.

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A5100 vs A7S

Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the A7S is weather sealed.

Where the A5100 wins

Cheaper new: £102 vs £264
Resolution: 24.3MP
Burst Rate: 6fps
Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
Weight: 224g (body only)

Where the A7S wins

Weather Sealed: Yes
Wedding & Events: 4.3 vs 3.5
Documentary: 5.6 vs 4.1
Astrophotography: 6.0 vs 4.7

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 A5100 2014 Best for Casual & Travel

£102 used today at eBay

Used £102 at eBay → Full specs & prices

Sony A7S 2014 Best for Astrophotography & Low-Light

£264 used today at MPB

Used £264 at MPB → Full specs & prices

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

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 — Astrophotography & Low-Light: The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.

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 (2014)

is the right camera for you if…

Astrophotographers
Low-light event videographers
Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage

Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted

Specification	A5100Sony · 2014	A7SSony · 2014
Price	£102 usedBest	£264 used
Sensor	24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS	12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS
Resolution	24.3MPBest	12.2MP
Video	1080p/60p	1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder)
Autofocus	Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection	Contrast-detect AF, 25 points
Stabilisation	No stabilisation	No stabilisation
Burst Rate	6fpsBest	5fps
Battery Life	~400 shots (CIPA)Best	~370 shots (CIPA)
Weight	224g (body only)Best	474g (with battery and card)
Dimensions	109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm	126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm
Weather Sealed	Not weather sealed	YesBest
Viewfinder	No viewfinder	Electronic, 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 (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards	Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot	Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot
Connectivity	Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC	Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC

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

Portrait

5.4/10

5.3/10

Street

7.0/10

5.7/10

Travel

6.4/10

5.6/10

Wedding & Events

3.5/10

4.3/10

Vlogging & Video

4.8/10

Documentary

4.1/10

5.6/10

Sports & Action

4.7/10

4.8/10

Landscape

5.0/10

Wildlife

5.5/10

5.4/10

Casual

5.2/10

3.7/10

5.9/10

4.9/10

Macro

5.2/10

4.3/10

Architecture

5.2/10

4.7/10

Astrophotography

4.7/10

6.0/10

Fun & simple

4.9/10

Filmmaking

5.9/10

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 →

Open in the compare tool → A5100 prices A7S prices

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