A5100vs Sony RX100 VII
Sony
Sony RX100 VII (2019)
Starting from £1099 new
Best for Travel & versatility
View Sony RX100 VII
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Casual & Travel — A5100 (2014): 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.
Travel & Versatility — Sony RX100 VII (2019): The most versatile compact camera ever made — 24-200mm zoom, 20fps burst, and 960fps slow-motion in a jacket pocket.
Who should buy what
A5100 (2014)
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
Sony RX100 VII (2019)
- Travel photographers who want the most capable 1-inch compact available
- Vloggers who need fast AF and a flip screen in a jacket-pocket body
- Photographers who want a high-quality compact backup to a mirrorless system
- Anyone who wants professional AF performance without carrying a large camera
Quick take: The a5100 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a5100 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A5100 (2014) | Sony RX100 VII (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £1,099 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS BSI CMOS (stacked) |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p HLG, FHD/960fps super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | 357-point phase-detect + 425 contrast, Eye AF, tracking |
| Stabilisation | None | 3-stop Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 20fps AF/AE tracking (90fps short burst) |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 302g with battery and card |
| Dimensions | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 42.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None | Pop-up EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A5100 | Sony RX100 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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