Upgrade Guide
Sony A7S→Sony A5100
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the A7S. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the A5100
-
Resolution24MP vs 12MP (+12MP)
Unchanged or similar
-
Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7S | A5100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astrophotography | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.5 | ||
| Street | +0.5 | ||
| Travel | +1.5 | ||
| Portrait | +0.5 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.5 | ||
| Casual | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7S | A5100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £600 | £200 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2014 | |
| Sensor | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) | 1080p/60p | |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection | |
| Stabilisation | None | None | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 6fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 474g (with battery and card) | 224g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | None | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7S and A5100 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 A5100 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the A7S
Related buying guides
Camera family history