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Sony A5100 vs A7 IV

The Sony Alpha A5100 and the Sony Alpha A7 IV are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in August 2014 and October 2021. Both the A5100 and the A7 IV are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (A5100) and a full frame (A7 IV) sensor. The A5100 has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the A7 IV provides 32.7 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Sony A5100
versus
Sony A7 IV
Sony A5100   Sony A7 IV
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
24 MP – APS-C sensor 32.7 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/60p Video 4K/60p Video
ISO 100-25,600 ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
No viewfinder, LCD framing Electronic viewfinder (3686k dots)
3.0" LCD – 922k dots 3.0" LCD – 1037k dots
Tilting touchscreen Swivel touchscreen
6 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
400 shots per battery charge580 shots per battery charge
110 x 63 x 36 mm, 283 g 131 x 96 x 80 mm, 659 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha A5100 and the Sony Alpha A7 IV? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Sony A5100 and the Sony A7 IV. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The A5100 can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the A7 IV is only available in black.

Size Sony A5100 vs Sony A7 IV
Compare A5100 versus A7 IV top
Comparison A5100 or A7 IV rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A7 IV is considerably larger (81 percent) than the Sony A5100. Moreover, the A7 IV is substantially heavier (133 percent) than the A5100. It is noteworthy in this context that the A7 IV is splash and dust-proof, while the A5100 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Sony E-Mount Lens Catalog (A5100) and the Sony FE Lens Catalog (A7 IV). Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

Concerning battery life, the A5100 gets 400 shots out of its Sony NP-FW50 battery, while the A7 IV can take 580 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FZ100 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A5100 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 283 g 400 n Aug 2014 549ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7 IV 131 mm 96 mm 80 mm 659 g 580 Y Oct 2021 2,499 amazon.com
3.
 
Sony A1 129 mm 97 mm 81 mm 737 g 530 Y Jan 2021 6,499 amazon.com
4.
 
Sony A7 III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 610 Y Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
5.
 
Sony A7R IIIA 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
6.
 
Sony A7R V 131 mm 97 mm 82 mm 723 g 530 Y Oct 2022 3,899 amazon.com
7.
 
Sony A7S III 127 mm 97 mm 81 mm 699 g 600 Y Jul 2020 3,499 amazon.com
8.
 
Sony A3000 128 mm 91 mm 85 mm 411 g 470 n Aug 2013 329ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A5000 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 269 g 420 n Jan 2014 449ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A6000 120 mm 67 mm 45 mm 344 g 360 n Feb 2014 599ebay.com
11.
 
Sony NEX-3 117 mm 62 mm 33 mm 297 g 330 n May 2010 599ebay.com
12.
 
Sony NEX-3N 110 mm 62 mm 35 mm 269 g 480 n Feb 2013 499ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-5T 111 mm 59 mm 39 mm 276 g 330 n Aug 2013 699ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-F3 117 mm 67 mm 42 mm 314 g 470 n May 2012 599ebay.com
15.
 
Sony RX100 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 240 g 330 n Jun 2012 649ebay.com
16.
 
Sony RX100 II 102 mm 58 mm 38 mm 281 g 350 n Jun 2013 749ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX100 IV 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 298 g 280 n Jun 2015 999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The A5100 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 78 percent) than the A7 IV, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Sony A5100 features an APS-C sensor and the Sony A7 IV a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A7 IV is 134 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the A7 IV uses a more advanced image processing engine (BIONZ XR) than the A5100 (BIONZ X), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Sony A5100 and Sony A7 IV sensor measures

With 32.7MP, the A7 IV offers a higher resolution than the A5100 (24MP), but the A7 IV nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.12μm versus 3.91μm for the A5100) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A7 IV is a much more recent model (by 7 years and 2 months) than the A5100, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the A7 IV has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A7 IV implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A7 IV for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 35 x 23.4 inches or 89 x 59.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 28 x 18.7 inches or 71.2 x 47.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 23.4 x 15.6 inches or 59.3 x 39.6 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony A5100 are 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm for good quality, 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm for very good quality, and 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Sony Alpha A5100 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A7 IV are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

In terms of underlying technology, the A5100 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the A7 IV uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

A5100 versus A7 IV MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under consideration, the A7 IV offers substantially better image quality than the A5100 (overall score 17 points higher). The advantage is based on 1.6 bits higher color depth, 2 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1.3 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony A5100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.812.7134780
2.
 
Sony A7 IV Full Frame 32.7 7008 46724K/60p25.414.7337997
3.
 
Sony A1 Full Frame 49.8 8640 57608k/30p25.914.5316398
4.
 
Sony A7 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7373096
5.
 
Sony A7R IIIA Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
6.
 
Sony A7R V Full Frame 60.2 9504 63368k/24p26.514.83187100
7.
 
Sony A7S III Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/120p23.713.9252086
8.
 
Sony A3000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.712.8106878
9.
 
Sony A5000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.813.0108979
10.
 
Sony A6000 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.113.1134782
11.
 
Sony NEX-3 APS-C 14.0 4592 3056720/30p22.112.083068
12.
 
Sony NEX-3N APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i22.812.5106774
13.
 
Sony NEX-5T APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60p23.613.0101578
14.
 
Sony NEX-F3 APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i22.712.3111473
15.
 
Sony RX100 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.612.439066
16.
 
Sony RX100 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.512.448367
17.
 
Sony RX100 IV 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.659170

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the A7 IV provides a better video resolution than the A5100. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/60p, while the A5100 is limited to 1080/60p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A7 IV has an electronic viewfinder (3686k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the A5100 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Sony A5100 and Sony A7 IV along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Sony A5100none n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
2.
 
Sony A7 IV3686 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
3.
 
Sony A19437 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
4.
 
Sony A7 III2359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
5.
 
Sony A7R IIIA3686 n3.0 / 2340 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
6.
 
Sony A7R V9440 n3.2 / 2100 full-flex Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
7.
 
Sony A7S III9440 n3.0 / 1440 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
8.
 
Sony A3000202 n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
9.
 
Sony A5000none n3.0 / 461 tilting n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
10.
 
Sony A60001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
11.
 
Sony NEX-3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
12.
 
Sony NEX-3Noptional n3.0 / 460 tilting n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
13.
 
Sony NEX-5Toptional n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 10.0/s n n
14.
 
Sony NEX-F3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s Y n
15.
 
Sony RX100none n3.0 / 1229 fixed n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
16.
 
Sony RX100 IIoptional n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
17.
 
Sony RX100 IV2359 n3.0 / 1228 tilting n 1/2000s 16.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The A5100 has one, while the A7 IV does not. While the built-in flash of the A5100 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A7 IV is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The A5100 writes its imaging data to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, while the A7 IV uses CFexpress (type A) or SDXC cards. The A7 IV features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the A5100 only has one slot. The A7 IV supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the A5100 can use UHS-I cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha A5100 and Sony Alpha A7 IV and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony A5100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
2.
 
Sony A7 IVYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
3.
 
Sony A1Ystereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
4.
 
Sony A7 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
5.
 
Sony A7R IIIAYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
6.
 
Sony A7R VYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
7.
 
Sony A7S IIIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
8.
 
Sony A3000Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Sony A5000-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
10.
 
Sony A6000Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
11.
 
Sony NEX-3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Sony NEX-3N-stereo / mono--micro2.0---
13.
 
Sony NEX-5TYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
14.
 
Sony NEX-F3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
15.
 
Sony RX100-stereo / mono--micro2.0---
16.
 
Sony RX100 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
17.
 
Sony RX100 IV-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-

It is notable that the A7 IV has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The A5100 lacks such a headphone port.

The A7 IV is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the A5100 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the A5100 from Sony. Further information on the features and operation of the A5100 and A7 IV can be found, respectively, in the Sony A5100 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A7 IV Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Sony A5100 or the Sony A7 IV – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Advantages of the Sony Alpha A5100:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • More compact: Is smaller (110x63mm vs 131x96mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 376g or 57 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (78 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2014).


Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha A7 IV:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (32.7 vs 24MP), which boosts linear resolution by 17%.
  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (17 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.6 bits more color depth).
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (2 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1.3 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (BIONZ XR vs BIONZ X).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/60p vs 1080/60p).
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 922k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (580 versus 400) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
  • More solid recording: Has a full-sized HDMI port for a sturdy connection to an external recorder.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
  • More modern: Reflects 7 years and 2 months of technical progress since the A5100 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A7 IV is the clear winner of the contest (26 : 7 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

A5100 07:26 A7 IV

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony A5100 and the Sony A7 IV place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the A5100 or the A7 IV perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A51004.5/5+....4.5/55/5 Aug 2014 549ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7 IV5/5+ +4.5/589/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2021 2,499 amazon.com
3.
 
Sony A15/5o4.5/593/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2021 6,499 amazon.com
4.
 
Sony A7 III..+ +4.5/589/1005/55/5 Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
5.
 
Sony A7R IIIA..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
6.
 
Sony A7R V5/5+ +4.5/592/100.... Oct 2022 3,899 amazon.com
7.
 
Sony A7S III4.5/5+ +5/591/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2020 3,499 amazon.com
8.
 
Sony A30003/5+....4/54/5 Aug 2013 329ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A50003/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 449ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A60005/5+4.5/580/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2014 599ebay.com
11.
 
Sony NEX-3......70/1004.5/54/5 May 2010 599ebay.com
12.
 
Sony NEX-3N3/5......4.5/54.5/5 Feb 2013 499ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-5T........4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2013 699ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-F34/5....74/1004.5/54.5/5 May 2012 599ebay.com
15.
 
Sony RX1005/5+ +..78/1004/55/5 Jun 2012 649ebay.com
16.
 
Sony RX100 II5/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 749ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX100 IV4.5/5+ +..85/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2015 999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Sony A5100 vs Sony A7 IV

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Sony A5100 Sony A7 IV
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date August 2014 October 2021
    Launch Price USD 549 USD 2,499
    Sensor Specs Sony A5100 Sony A7 IV
    Sensor Technology CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.5 x 15.6 mm 35.9 x 23.9 mm
    Sensor Area 366.6 mm2 858.01 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.2 mm 43.1 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 32.7 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 7008 x 4672 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.91 μm 5.12 μm
    Pixel Density 6.55 MP/cm2 3.82 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 4K/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 50 - 204,800 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ X BIONZ XR
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 80 97
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.8 25.4
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.7 14.7
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1347 3379
    Screen Specs Sony A5100 Sony A7 IV
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x
    Viewfinder Resolution 3686k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 922k dots 1037k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Sony A5100 Sony A7 IV
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 6 shutter flaps/s 10 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-ShutterYES
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards CFexA or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support UHS-I Dual UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Sony A5100 Sony A7 IV
    External Flash no Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.2
    HDMI Port micro HDMI full HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in no NFC
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Sony A5100 Sony A7 IV
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Sony NP-FW50 Sony NP-FZ100
    Battery Life (CIPA)400 shots per charge580 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 110 x 63 x 36 mm
    (4.3 x 2.5 x 1.4 in)
    131 x 96 x 80 mm
    (5.2 x 3.8 x 3.1 in)
    Camera Weight 283 g (10.0 oz) 659 g (23.2 oz)
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