Decision tools · Compare
A5100 vs A9
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5100 is the most affordable; only the A9 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 — Professional Sports, Wildlife & Action Photography: The camera that changed professional photography — the A9's 20fps blackout-free burst and silent shutter proved mirrorless had definitively surpassed the DSLR.
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 (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
- Sports photographers who want the original 20fps mirrorless at a lower used price than the A9 II
- Wildlife photographers who need blackout-free burst with fast, reliable tracking
- Sony FE system users who want a professional sports body
- Photographers interested in the camera that changed the industry
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A5100Sony · 2014 | A9Sony · 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £102 usedBest | £1,026 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 + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE)Best |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 224g (body only)Best | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| 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, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, 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
Portrait
5.4/10
7.5/10
Street
7.0/10
6.0/10
Travel
6.4/10
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
3.5/10
7.5/10
Vlogging & Video
4.7/10
—
Documentary
4.1/10
6.8/10
Sports & Action
4.7/10
8.2/10
Landscape
5.0/10
6.1/10
Wildlife
5.5/10
8.2/10
Casual
5.2/10
4.6/10
Food
5.9/10
6.5/10
Macro
5.2/10
5.8/10
Architecture
5.2/10
6.0/10
Astrophotography
4.7/10
7.3/10
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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