Sony a5100 vs Sony RX10 IV

Let's look much closer at the Sony a5100 vs Sony RX10 IV, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Sony. The image resolution of the a5100 (24MP) and the RX10 IV (20MP) is fairly comparable but the a5100 (APS-C) and RX10 IV (1") possess totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The a5100 was introduced 4 years before the RX10 IV and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 IV being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the a5100 scores versus the RX10 IV in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha a5100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV. The whole galleries are viewable at Sony a5100 Gallery and Sony RX10 IV Gallery.

For those who are going to lug around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and size. The Sony a5100 offers exterior measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs) while the Sony RX10 IV has specifications of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") along with a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

Compare the Sony a5100 vs Sony RX10 IV in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the a5100 and the RX10 IV.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the a5100 and RX10 IV is 89 and 52 respectively.

Generally, it is tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic here may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the a5100 and RX10 IV.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The a5100 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony a5100 will provide greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The older a5100 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.