Upgrade Guide
Sony A5100→Sony Sony FX5
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 Sony FX5
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate10fps vs 6fps
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Generation12 years newer (2026 vs 2014)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution17MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | A5100 | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.5 | ||
| Street | -1.7 | ||
| Travel | -0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +3.5 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +1.1 | ||
| Documentary | +4.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.1 | ||
| Landscape | +0.1 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.3 | ||
| Casual | — | ||
| Food | +1.5 | ||
| Macro | — | ||
| Architecture | +0.9 | ||
| Astrophotography | +2.0 | ||
| Fun & simple | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A5100 | Sony FX5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £4,699 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2026 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 16.6MP full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 17MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 5K/60p open-gate, 4K/120p, internal RAW/X-OCN, 10-bit Log, triple base ISO | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | AI-powered hybrid phase-detect AF (759 points) with subject tracking | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | IBIS with Dynamic Active Mode | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 10fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~105 min actual recording, ~170 min continuous (LCD) | ↓ |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 734g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | Optional detachable EVF (DVF-EL1), OLED | |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | Fully articulating touchscreen (4-axis arm) | |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | CFexpress Type A + SDXC (dual) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A5100 and Sony FX5 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Sony FX5 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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