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Sony a1 vs Sony a5100

Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85
Sony Alpha a1 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
65
Features
74
Overall
68

Sony a1 vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Push to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Released January 2021
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony a5000
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Sony a1 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Sony a1 versus Sony a5100, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both designed by Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the a1 (50MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the a1 (Full frame) and a5100 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The a1 was released 6 years after the a5100 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise view of how the a1 grades against the a5100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Sony a5100

 a1 a5100 
IntroducedJanuary 2021August 2014Newer by 79 months
Screen resolution1440k922kClearer screen (+518k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Sony a1

 a5100 a1 

Common features in the Sony a1 and Sony a5100

 a1 a5100 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Sony a1 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony a1 enjoys exterior dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check out the Sony a1 versus Sony a5100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the a1 compared to the a5100.

Sony a1 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the a1 and a5100 is 61 and 89 respectively.

Sony a1 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Sony a1 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions simply by checking specifications. The pic below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the a1 and a5100.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The a1 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony a1 will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 26 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs more aggressively. The fresher a1 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony a1 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Sony a1 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a1 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony a1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Portrait photography camera
88
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/400s)
high resolution (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
72
focusing manually
good resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Sony a1 as a Street photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Street photography camera
79
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
features focus by touch
weather sealing
very good high ISO (32,000)
82
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
boasts focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony a1 Sports photography information
Sony a5100 Sports photography information
90
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (30.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high resolution (50 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery power (530 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
68
good resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
great battery (400 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony a1
Travel photography with Sony a5100
73
good battery power (530 CIPA)
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
features focus by touch
high resolution (50 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
80
great battery (400 CIPA)
boasts focus by touch
good resolution (24MP)
flash built-in
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony a1 Landscape photography info
Sony a5100 Landscape photography info
88
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high resolution (50MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
very good high ISO (32,000)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
good battery power (530 per charge)
has double storage slots
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
good resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
great battery (400 CIPA)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony a1 Vlogging info
Sony a5100 Vlogging info
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
good video quality (7680 x 4320 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
doesn't have selfie friendly display
34
touch screen
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have mic port
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Sony a1 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a1 and Sony a5100
 Sony Alpha a1Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a1 Sony Alpha a5100
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2021-01-26 2014-08-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 50 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 8640 x 5760 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 32000 25600
Max boosted ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 759 179
Lens
Lens mount Sony E Sony E
Total lenses 133 121
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,440 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 9,437 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.9x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting speed 30.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/400s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 7680x4320 1920x1080
Video data format XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 737 grams (1.62 lb) 283 grams (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1347
Other
Battery life 530 pictures 400 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FZ100 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 Single
Pricing at launch $6,498 $448