Decision tools · Compare
A5100 vs A9 II
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the A9 II 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.
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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.
A9 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & Photojournalism: The A9 II polished the A9's groundbreaking formula — 20fps blackout-free, improved subject tracking, and a LAN port made it the professional sports standard.
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
A9 II (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- Sports photographers who need 20fps with reliable eye and body tracking
- Photojournalists who need LAN transfer and instant wireless file delivery
- Wildlife photographers who want the fastest Sony AF in a proven body
- A9 owners who need the improved ergonomics, weather sealing, and Ethernet
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A5100Sony · 2014 | A9 IISony · 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £102 usedBest | £1,766 used |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.3MPBest | 24.2MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | 693 phase-detect + 425 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 20fps (blackout-free with full AF/AE)Best |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~500 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 224g (body only)Best | 678g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 128.9 × 96.4 × 77.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet (LAN), HDMI |
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
A9 II
Portrait
5.4/10
7.6/10
Street
7.0/10
6.1/10
Travel
6.4/10
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
3.5/10
7.5/10
Vlogging & Video
4.7/10
—
Documentary
4.1/10
6.9/10
Sports & Action
4.7/10
8.3/10
Landscape
5.0/10
6.1/10
Wildlife
5.5/10
8.2/10
Casual
5.2/10
4.7/10
Food
5.9/10
6.8/10
Macro
5.2/10
5.9/10
Architecture
5.2/10
6.1/10
Astrophotography
4.7/10
7.2/10
Fun & simple
4.9/10
—
Filmmaking
—
6.7/10
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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