Fujifilm X-E3 vs Sony a5100: An In-Depth Mirrorless Showdown for Everyday Photographers

In today’s camera market, entry-level mirrorless models have matured into serious contenders for both budding enthusiasts and working pros wanting a compact second body. The Fujifilm X-E3 and Sony a5100 sit comfortably in this segment - both offering compelling features at budget-conscious price points, yet catering to subtly different photographic appetites. Having spent hundreds of hours shooting and comparing these two in varied real-world situations - from studio portraits to fast-paced street and wildlife - I’m here to break down exactly how they stack up.

Whether you’re hunting for your first serious interchangeable lens camera, or a smaller “grab-and-go” to complement a heavier rig, this comprehensive guide will help you decide which camera suits your style, workflow, and budget best. Let’s dive into the rich technical details, tactile feel, and performance nuances that only hands-on experience reveals.

Size and Ergonomics: How They Feel in Your Hands

Mirrorless cameras’ biggest appeal often lies in their compactness - perfect for travel or street photography where size matters. And here the Fujifilm X-E3 and Sony a5100 fully embrace their rangefinder-style mirrorless ethos, but with some noteworthy distinctions.

The X-E3 measures 121x74x43mm and weighs a fairly substantial 337g (body only), whereas the a5100 is more diminutive at 110x63x36mm and lighter at 283g. Handling them side-by-side, the X-E3’s slightly larger grip gives you a more secure and confident hold for extended shooting, especially if you're adding bigger lenses - it feels closer to a classic rangefinder camera in that way. The a5100, conversely, is super pocketable and discreet, appealing for street shooters who prioritize minimalism.

Both cameras feature a 3-inch rear screen, but the a5100’s tilting touchscreen offers more flexibility for low or high angle shots - a slight ergonomic edge versus the X-E3’s fixed, though higher resolution (1040k dots) touchscreen. The absence of an electronic viewfinder (EVF) on the a5100 is notable, especially for those who prefer composing through a viewfinder rather than relying solely on the LCD - something the X-E3 has thoughtfully included with a 2.36M dot OLED EVF with 100% coverage.

Above, you can see their top-plate designs. Fujifilm leans into classic dials for shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation - a joy for tactile shooters who appreciate manual controls at their fingertips without diving into menus. Sony’s approach is more streamlined, with fewer dedicated dials, reflecting its consumer-friendly ambitions but slightly less “camera-y”.

In short: If you crave direct control and tactile feedback, the X-E3 feels like an extension of your hands. If you prefer something small, lightweight, and simpler, the a5100 wins in portability.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras pack 24MP APS-C sensors, a tried-and-true size for balancing image quality and lens options. But they’re quite different beasts under the hood.

The X-E3 sports Fujifilm’s proprietary X-Trans III sensor without an optical low pass filter - this unique color filter array arrangement helps deliver exceptional sharpness and fine detail rendering, particularly enhancing micro-contrast and color fidelity. Fuji’s color science also deserves mention here - their reproduce skin tones and film simulations with a subtle, organic look that many photographers adore straight out of camera.

Sony’s a5100, meanwhile, utilizes a more conventional CMOS sensor with a traditional Bayer filter pattern and includes an anti-aliasing (low-pass) filter to reduce moiré artifacts. While this typically means slightly softer files, the Bionz X processor compensates well for noise control and dynamic range.

Dynamic range (DR) is where the X-E3 pulls ahead. While DxOMark hasn’t tested the X-E3, Fujifilm’s X-Trans III sensor is known to deliver approximately 14 stops of DR at base ISO, providing excellent highlight rolloff and shadow recoverability. Sony a5100 measures about 12.7 stops of DR, solid but not groundbreaking.

In low light, Fuji’s max native ISO tops at 12,800 (extended to 51,200) where I found noise characteristics well controlled up to ISO 6400 for clean usable files. Sony pushes native ISO to 25,600 but tends to exhibit more noise at higher ISOs, which is typical for its sensor generation.

The a5100’s raw files offer good latitude too, but Fuji’s raw outputs feel a bit punchier and more adaptable to creative processing.

Autofocus Systems: What Happens When the Action Starts

Autofocus (AF) performance is critical, especially for wildlife, sports, and street photographers. Both cameras incorporate hybrid AF systems combining phase and contrast detection, but with meaningful differences.

The X-E3 has 325 AF points, highly densely distributed across the frame, leveraging Fuji’s X-Processor III - with fast, accurate phase-detect autofocus that locks on quickly and tracks subjects confidently in medium to good lighting. Face and eye detection AF is robust though it lacks animal eye tracking, which is a bummer if you shoot pets. AF speed and continuous AF tracking excel enough to comfortably handle casual sports and street action, shooting bursts at a rapid 14 fps with autofocus locked - a real standout for its class.

The a5100 features 179 phase-detect AF points - a fair number but less dense. It achieves about 6 fps burst speed, half that of the Fuji, and requires a bit more patience when tracking fast-moving subjects, especially in lower light. Face detection works capably, but eye detection is less refined and inconsistent in challenging conditions.

For typical portraits, landscapes, and travel, both are fine. For wildlife and sports, the X-E3’s more advanced AFC and higher burst rate make it the stronger contender.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Ready for the Field?

Neither camera has robust weather sealing - this is typical at their price point - so caution is warranted in wet or dusty environments. Both feature durable polycarbonate bodies with metal chassis components.

The Fujifilm X-E3 weighs more and feels rock-solid. Its retro inspired control layout and rugged finish encourage confidence when shooting outdoors.

The Sony a5100, lighter and smaller, is more delicate-feeling but still well-built for everyday carry.

Neither is shockproof or freezeproof, so for rugged location shoots, you’d want to look higher up Fuji’s X-T or Sony’s a6xxx/a7 series or add protective covers.

User Interface and Display: Navigating Your Creative Flow

On the back, the X-E3’s 3.0" touchscreen with 1040k dot resolution is not just sharper but offers intuitive touch-to-focus and touch-shutter functionality - perfect for those who like to quickly tap and shoot or check focus in live view.

The Sony a5100’s slightly larger 3.0" tilting touchscreen (922k dots) is great for selfies and awkward angles, but its touch responsiveness and menu system feel a bit less polished and intuitive based on my hands-on. The absence of an EVF (electronic viewfinder) is a bigger limitation to note - composing solely on the LCD in bright sun can be frustrating.

Fuji’s EVF with higher magnification (0.62x) and resolution offers an immersive shooting experience that prevents eye fatigue and provides vital info overlays clearly.

Lens Ecosystem: Choices Can Make or Break Your System

Sony wins points with the Sony E mount, boasting an expansive ecosystem of 121 native lenses from Sony and third-party brands like Sigma, Tamron, and Zeiss. Whether you want ultra-wide, super-telephoto, or affordable primes, the a5100 gives you huge variety and future upgrade paths.

Fujifilm's X mount has fewer lenses at 54 native options, but they are renowned for their excellent build, optical quality, and compact form factor matching the cameras well. Fuji primes and zooms have character, often delivering stunning sharpness with attractive rendering - especially useful for portrait and street photographers craving "that Fuji look."

Both cameras are APS-C, so the 1.5x crop factor puts full-frame lenses out of play without adapters (which are more readily available for Sony E mount).

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can They Shoot?

Surprisingly, the smaller Sony a5100 edges out with 400 shots per charge (CIPA), while the Fujifilm X-E3 rates around 350 shots. In practice, this translates to a comfortable day of shooting on either camera but you might need to carry a spare if you lens-crawl or shoot extensively with continuous AF and LCD preview.

Sony offers support for Memory Stick Pro Duo cards alongside SD, adding flexibility but most users will stick with SDXC cards on both systems.

Connectivity and Extras: Sharing and Workflow Made Easy

Wireless features are baked in on both, with built-in Wi-Fi for remote shooting and image transfer. The X-E3 adds Bluetooth for simplified pairing and background geotagging with smartphones, whereas the a5100 lacks this but offers NFC for simpler connection initiation.

Both cameras feature micro-HDMI ports and USB 2.0 for tethering and data transfer, though neither supports USB charging - a minor annoyance today.

Microphone input is available on the X-E3 (important for vloggers and content creators) but absent on the Sony a5100, which limits usability for serious video creators.

Video Capabilities: Not Just for Stills

If video matters, the X-E3 captures oversampled 4K UHD at 20/25/24p, delivering excellent detail and color - unconventional frame rates but well optimized. Its microphone jack lets you add external mics for better audio, crucial when making content.

The Sony a5100 maxes out at 1080p Full HD, but with options up to 60fps and even 120fps slow-motion at 720p. While lacking 4K is a downside for the a5100, the slower motion frame rates can be creatively fun.

Neither offers in-body stabilization, so lens IS or gimbals help smooth handheld shots.

Photography Genre Scorecard: Finding Your Perfect Match

Enough about specs - time for the real question: which camera serves your photography passion best? Let’s break it down by genre:

Portraits:

Fujifilm X-E3 wins with superior color science, excellent skin tones, and richer in-body face and eye AF. The classic Fuji primes also give dreamy bokeh and character. Sony’s softer OLPF sensor and decent AF make it capable but less compelling for polished portraits.

Landscapes:

X-E3’s better dynamic range, higher-res EVF, and renowned color reproduction make it ideal for demanding landscapes and nature work. Sony is competent but lags in highlight recovery.

Wildlife and Sports:

X-E3 blows a5100 out of the water with its 14fps burst, denser AF points, and more aggressive AF tracking. If action is your thing, the Fuji is the clear choice.

Street Photography:

Sony’s smaller size and stealthier presence make it excellent for candid street shots. However, X-E3’s EVF and tactile dials appeal to street shooters who want a classic camera feel.

Macro:

Both lack inbuilt stabilization, but Fuji’s superior AF point density and sharper lenses give it an edge for macro detail.

Night/Astrophotography:

X-E3’s cleaner high ISO output and stronger dynamic range favor night work; Sony’s higher ISO ceiling is nice but noisier.

Video:

Fuji’s 4K and microphone jack make it more versatile. Sony is fine for casual 1080p.

Travel:

Here, Sony’s size, weight, and tilting screen plus larger lens variety for convenience make it a great travel companion, unless you prioritize image quality and build, which leads back to the X-E3.

Professional Work:

For pro gigs, X-E3’s faster AF, Fujifilm RAW support, and build edge make it more reliable. Sony’s lack of EVF and slower burst hurts reliability under pressure.

Real-World Image Samples: Seeing is Believing

To truly understand what these cameras produce, I tested both side-by-side in identical conditions - indoors, outdoors, bright sun, and low light. The results:

Fujifilm X E3 front Fujifilm X E3 screen back Sony a5100 front Sony a5100 screen back

The Fuji files show richer color depth, especially in reds and skin tones, and finer detail in shadows without excessive noise. Sony’s images are cleaner straight from camera but can feel a shade flatter, requiring more post-processing.

Overall Performance Scores: The Bottom Line Numbers

No review would be complete without distilling this down to a quick comparative summary.

• Fujifilm X-E3: 8.7/10
• Sony a5100: 7.9/10

The Fuji edges out on image quality, autofocus, video, and control ergonomics. Sony remains a solid, compact, lightweight shooter with great lens access and battery life.

Price-Performance and Who Should Buy Which?

Currently, the Fujifilm X-E3 retails around $700, while the Sony a5100 hovers near $450, often discounted. Both deliver solid value, but your money stretches differently depending on priorities:

• Choose the X-E3 if: You want superb image quality, tactile handling, faster AF and burst, 4K video, and plan to shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or video seriously. The Fuji is a camera for the hands-on enthusiast who enjoys direct control and distinctive image rendering.

• Choose the a5100 if: Budget and portability are paramount, your shooting is everyday hobbyist street or travel photography with occasional video, and you want access to a vast lens ecosystem without breaking the bank. The Sony suits casual shooters or beginners stepping up from smartphones.

Final Thoughts: Which Mirrorless Gem Wins This Round?

Reflecting on years of comparative testing and countless shooting hours, the Fujifilm X-E3 emerges as the more sophisticated tool: faster, better in low light, with a user interface and build designed for storytellers who crave control and style. It’s a camera that rewards deliberate shooting and grows with you.

The Sony a5100, meanwhile, remains a worthy, no-frills compact system camera with surprising image quality for its age and price. It’s perfect for travelers and those dipping toes into interchangeable lenses without intimidation.

Neither is perfect, both come with compromises - and that’s the beauty of camera gear: matching tools to the photographer’s unique needs, style, and budget.

Hopefully, this detailed face-off keeps your next camera decision from feeling like a leap of faith and instead makes it an informed, confident step toward your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!