Upgrade Guide
Sony A5100→Sony FX3
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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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 FX3
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic vs 6fps
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Battery life~640 shots (CIPA) vs ~400 shots (CIPA)
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Generation7 years newer (2021 vs 2014)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution12MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A5100 | FX3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | ||
| Travel | -4.5 | ||
| Portrait | -0.5 | ||
| Street | -3.5 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +2.0 | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Low Light | — | ||
| Wedding | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A5100 | FX3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £3,799 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2021 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS (same as A7S III) | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p 10-bit, 12-bit RAW output, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | Real-time tracking with subject recognition (human, animal) | |
| Stabilisation | None | 5-axis IBIS — 5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~640 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 715g body only (with XLR handle) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | None | None — monitor/external EVF use only | |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating | |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
Compare side-by-side
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