Sony a5100 vs Sony A77

In this write-up, we are matching up the Sony a5100 versus Sony A77, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR and both of them are manufactured by Sony. The image resolution of the a5100 (24MP) and the A77 (24MP) is fairly well matched and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The a5100 was brought out 2 years later than the A77 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the a5100 scores versus the A77 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha a5100 and Sony SLT-A77. The entire galleries are available at Sony a5100 Gallery and Sony A77 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony a5100 comes with external measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs) and the Sony A77 has measurements of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Look at the Sony a5100 versus Sony A77 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the a5100 compared to the A77.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the a5100 and A77 is 89 and 59 respectively.

More often than not, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through specs. The graphic here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the a5100 and A77.

All in all, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same MP so you should expect similar quality of images however you should always factor the production date of the products into consideration. The more recent a5100 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.