Sony a5100 vs Sony W800

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Sony a5100 and Sony W800, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Sony. The image resolution of the a5100 (24MP) and the W800 (20MP) is pretty well matched but the a5100 (APS-C) and W800 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

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The a5100 was announced 7 months after the W800 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W800 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the a5100 matches up against the W800 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha a5100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800. The whole galleries are provided at Sony a5100 Gallery and Sony W800 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Sony a5100 enjoys exterior dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs) while the Sony W800 has specifications of 97mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Sony a5100 and Sony W800 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view size comparison of the a5100 and the W800.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the a5100 and W800 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Typically, its difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes just by reading through specs. The picture below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the a5100 and W800.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The a5100 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony a5100 will resolve extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern a5100 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.