Upgrade Guide
Sony A5100→Sony RX100
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 RX100
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
-
Burst rate10fps (focus fixed at the first frame) vs 6fps
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution20MP (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 | RX100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -2.1 | ||
| Street | -0.7 | ||
| Travel | -0.4 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.3 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Documentary | -0.8 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | -1.1 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | -1.2 | ||
| Food | -2.3 | ||
| Macro | -2.3 | ||
| Architecture | -1.6 | ||
| Astrophotography | -2.1 | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A5100 | RX100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £102 used | £74 used | |
| Released | 2014 | 2012 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 20.2MP 1-inch CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | Full HD 1080p/60 | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | 25-point contrast-detect AF with face detection | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 10fps (focus fixed at the first frame) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 240g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | No viewfinder | |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots | |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-100mm f/1.8-4.9 | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Single SD / Memory Stick slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
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Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the RX100 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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