Upgrade Guide

Sony A5100→Sony A9

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

You own

Sony

A5100

£200

2014

→

Upgrade to

Sony

£1999 (+£1,799)

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 A9

↑

Weather sealing

Added — fully sealed body
↑

Stabilisation

IBIS added — significant for handheld and video
↑

Burst rate

20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) vs 6fps
↑

Battery life

~650 shots (CIPA) vs ~400 shots (CIPA)
↑

Generation

3 years newer (2017 vs 2014)

Unchanged or similar

Suitability by genre

Full spec comparison

Spec	A5100	A9
Price	£200	£1,999
Released	2014	2017	↑
Sensor	24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS	24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS
Resolution	24MP	24MP	↓
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	None	IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops
Burst Rate	6fps	20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE)	↑
Battery Life	~400 shots (CIPA)	~650 shots (CIPA)	↑
Weight	224g (body only)	673g (with battery and card)	↓
Weather Sealed	No	Yes	↑
Viewfinder	None	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

Compare side-by-side

See A5100 and A9 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

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Other upgrades from the A5100

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Camera family history