Upgrade Guide

Sony A5100→Sony A7R III

Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.

You own

Sony

A5100

£200

2014

→

Upgrade to

Sony

A7R III

£1799 (+£1,599)

2017

✅

Worthwhile

Clear improvements over the A5100. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.

What's new in the A7R III

Suitability by genre

Full spec comparison

Spec	A5100	A7R III
Price	£200	£1,799
Released	2014	2017	↑
Sensor	24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS	42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS
Resolution	24MP	42MP	↑
Video	1080p/60p	4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p
Autofocus	Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection	399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF
Stabilisation	None	5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops
Burst Rate	6fps	10fps with AF/AE tracking	↑
Battery Life	~400 shots (CIPA)	~650 shots (CIPA)	↑
Weight	224g (body only)	650g body only	↓
Weather Sealed	No	Yes	↑
Viewfinder	None	EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification
Screen	3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots	3.0" touchscreen, tilting
Mount	Sony E-mount	Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards	Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot	Dual SD slots (one UHS-II)

Compare side-by-side

See A5100 and A7R III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

Get a personalised upgrade score

Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the A7R III against your specific genres — not just specs.

Other upgrades from the A5100

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Camera family history