Upgrade Guide
Sony A5100→Sony ZV-1 II
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 ZV-1 II
-
Burst rate15fps vs 6fps
-
Generation9 years newer (2023 vs 2014)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution20MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A5100 | ZV-1 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | ||
| Travel | +0.5 | ||
| Portrait | -3.5 | ||
| Street | -0.5 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +2.0 | ||
| Landscape | -2.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Family & Everyday | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A5100 | ZV-1 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £200 | £649 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2023 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | Phase-detect + contrast, 315 points, Real-time Eye AF | |
| Stabilisation | None | Optical SteadyShot (OIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 15fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 224g (body only) | 292g | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | No | No | |
| Viewfinder | None | None | |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Fixed zoom — 18–50mm f/1.8–4.0 equiv | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
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