SONY Cameras
Sony a6500 Review
Sony a6500 was the one of the upgrades to the extremely popular a6000. It kept a similar 24 MP APS-C sensor with most specs remaining the same, but it added features such as the electronic shutter, a better EVF, a new weather resistant body and the option of oversampled 4K 30 fps recording. It that way it’s very similar to the a6300, released a few months earlier, but most notably the a6500 also added IBIS and introduced a new more durable body.
The a6500 is no longer in production. It remains popular on the used market. It was replaced by the Sony a6600, released in 2019, and later by the a6700, released in 2023.
SONY E-Mount
Sony introduced the E-mount in 2010 alongside their first mirrorless cameras, giving them a huge head start. Over a decade later, there are over 100 native lenses and more than 200 if you include third-party options. Because the mount hasn’t changed, old lenses still work with newer cameras, creating a huge second-hand market. Compare that to Canon and Nikon, which only introduced new mounts in 2018, Sony users have had years to build and upgrade their kits without starting from scratch. For beginners entering the Sony system that means more options and much better prices.
SONY a6500 Price
Sony 6500 Specifications
General
Sony a6500 features a 24.2 MP APS-C sensor paired with Sony’s BIONZ X processor. The sensor is exactly the same as in the a6300, released 8 months earlier, and the same sensor was also used in the a6100, a6400 and a6600, released in 2019.
The a6500 features a compact weather sealed body. It has a slightly larger grip than the the a6000 and a6300 for better ergonomics.
There is an additional customizable button on the top of the camera and the a6500 also introduces a revised menu system.
The tilting screen is the same as on the a6300. For the first time in the a6000 series, it is touch-sensitive, but there is no touch sensitivity when in the menu. The touch screen only works for selecting and moving the focus point.
The camera also introduces in-body image stabilization (IBIS) into Sony’s APS-C lineup (Sony marketed IBIS as ‘Steady Shot’). IBIS performance was good for the time, but compared to newer models it’s clearly outdated.
Sony a6500 has just one card slot, which supports only older UHS-I SD cards. Battery life is very poor, so users need to purchase a few additional batteries for prolonged shooting.
Autofocus
Sony a6500 features Sony’s ‘Fast Hybrid AF’ system, just like the a6300. A similar system was already used in the a6000 in 2014 where it was one of the best autofocus systems in the industry at the time. In the a6300 and a6500 it was further improved, offering 425 phase-detection AF points and 169 contrast-detection AF points.
Face detection and eye-detection are available for humans and autofocus tracking works well even when the subject is moving. Since the a6500 introduces a touch screen, you can use the ‘touch to focus’ option (tell the camera where it should focus by tapping the screen).
Continuous autofocus is also supported in video mode.
Photography
Image quality was impressive for the time. It was an improvement over the original a6000 and even today you can still get great results in good conditions. That said, image quality from newer models, a6100, a6400 and a6600 is definitely better. They all still use the same sensor, but have a much better processor.
14-bit RAW is available only in Single Shot mode and the quality drops down to 12-bit RAW when shooting in any kind of continuous mode. Some reviewers note that there is little to no noticeable loss of image quality between 14-bit and 12-bit RAW files.
Sony a6500 is capable of shooting at up to 11 fps in 12-bit RAW with autofocus tracking. In the a6000 and a6300 the buffer was very limited, but the a6500 allows up to 10 seconds of continuous shooting at 11 fps (more than 100 shots) before the shooting speed drops to about 1 fps. If you don’t mind shooting just JPEGs then you can shoot for more than 20 seconds continuously. Keep in mind that, if the buffer is reached, it can take the camera more than 100 seconds to fully clear the buffer and you cannot change any settings at this time.
Live View is still available at up to around 8 fps.
Shutter options include mechanical and electronic front-curtain (EFCS) modes. Sony a6500 does not have a true fully electronic shutter mode like more recent models. A silent shooting mode is still available, but only in 12-bit RAW and it’s limited to 3 fps. The use of the silent shutter causes rolling shutter distortion, low-light performance and dynamic range are reduced and banding may occur under certain lighting conditions, especially with flickering lights.
Video
Sony a6500 can record oversampled 4K video at up to 30 fps using full width of the sensor, producing quite detailed footage considering its APS-C sensor size, though rolling shutter is noticeable.
Full HD (1080p) recording is available at up to 60 fps with full sensor readout and up to 120 fps with an additional 1.15x crop and reduced detail.Â
Picture profiles include Sony’s S-Log 2 and S-Log 3. Recording is limited to 8-bit.
The a6500 features built-in stabilization (IBIS) to help with handheld recording, but its performance is reportedly dated. Sometimes, if you are recording outside, the screen gets darker automatically.
The camera has a 30-minute maximum clip length, which was standard for most cameras at the time.
| Feature | Sony a6500 |
|---|---|
| Release Date | October 2016 |
| Megapixels | 24.2 MP |
| Image Resolution | 6000 × 4000 |
| Sensor Size | APS-C |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Image Processor | BIONZ X |
| IBIS | 5-axis, 2-3 stops |
| Weather Sealing | Yes |
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Body Type | Mirrorless |
| PHOTO | |
| Native ISO | 100 – 25,600 |
| Expandable ISO | 100 – 51,200 |
| Shutter Speed | 1/4000 – 30s |
| Burst Rate (Mechanical) | 11 fps 12-bit RAW (14-bit RAW only in 'Single Shooting' Mode) |
| Burst Rate (Electronic) | 3 fps RAW (12-bit) |
| Buffer | ~ 100 RAW |
| Shutter Types | Mechanical, Electronic, EFCS |
| Silent Shooting | Yes (Electronic Shutter) |
| Exposure Compensation | ±5 EV |
| High-Res (Sensor Shift) | No |
| Pre-Capture Mode | No |
| VIDEO | |
| 4K Video | 4K 30fps (oversampled from 6K) |
| Max Frame Rate | 4K 30fps / 1080p 60fps / 1080p 120fps (1.15x crop) |
| Bit Depth | 8-bit |
| Recording Limit | 29m 59s |
| Timelapse Recording | No |
| AUTOFOCUS | |
| AF System | 'Fast Hybrid AF' |
| AF Points | 425 |
| AF Coverage | ~ 90% Frame Coverage |
| AF Joystick | No |
| DISPLAY / VIEWFINDER | |
| Articulated Screen | Tilting |
| Touch Screen | Limited (focus only) |
| LCD Size | 3.0" |
| LCD Resolution | 921,600 |
| EVF Resolution | 2,359,296 |
| EVF Refresh Rate | 120 fps |
| EVF Coverage | 100% |
| EVF Magnification | 1.07× |
| MORE INFO | |
| Card Slot 1 | SD (UHS-I) |
| Card Slot 2 | / |
| Sensor Protection System | No |
| USB | Micro USB |
| USB Charging | Yes |
| HDMI | Type D (Micro HDMI) |
| Microphone Port | 3.5 mm |
| Headphone Port | No |
| Built-in Flash | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Battery | NP-FW50 |
| Battery Life | ~ 300 frames |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Yes |
| Dimensions | 120 × 67 × 53 mm |
| Weight | 453 g |
Understanding Sony's APS-C Camera Lineup
Sony’s modern APS-C camera lineup, commonly referred to as the a6000 series, includes some of the most popular beginner and hobbyist cameras on the market. They’re compact, lightweight and offer fast autofocus, great image quality and excellent value. They benefit from Sony’s long-standing E-mount ecosystem and there are plenty of affordable used options available since they are very popular and has been around for quite a while.
Sony a6000
2014
Sony a6300
2016
Sony a6500
2016
Sony a6100
2019
Sony a6400
2019
Sony a6600
2019
Sony a6000 was released in 2014. The mid-range Sony a6300 and the high-end Sony a6500 were released in 2016. Most notable improvements over the original model are the slightly upgraded sensor design, an even better AF system, higher-quality video recording options, the addition of 4K video recording and a weather-resistant body. The high-end a6500 also added IBIS, an improved buffer, a touch screen and a more rugged weather-sealed camera body.
Sony a6000, a6300 and a6500 are considered the 1st generation of a6000-series cameras. They are no longer in production, but can be found at an affordable price on the used market.
Sony a6100, a6400 and a6600, released in 2019, are the 2nd generation of a6000-series cameras. They basically serve as updated successors to their respective 1st generation models: the entry-level a6000 was replaced by the a6100, the mid-range a6300 was replaced by the a6400 and the high-end a6500 was replaced by a6600.
All 2nd generation models still keep the same 24 MP APS-C sensor, but they upgrade to a much better processor taken from the Full-Frame Sony A9 (a new version of the BIONZ X processor). This led to even better autofocus performance, noticeably better color science and more natural-looking skin tones. They all also gained a tilting flip-up screen (instead of a basic tilting screen), improved eye autofocus, a new menu system, a 13 hour video recording limit (instead of 30 minutes) and more.
All 6 models can shoot at 11 fps with the mechanical shutter. Video recording is always limited to 8-bit and all cameras (except the original a6000) can record high-quality 4K video at up to 30 fps oversampled from 6K. Image quality is comparable across the entire lineup since all six cameras use a very similar 24 MP APS-C CMOS sensor.
A few key differences worth noting:
– a6000 and a6100 are entry-level models with a cheaper body without weather sealing and IBIS.
– a6300 and a6400 both have a weather-sealed body, neither has IBIS.
– a6500 and a6600 both have IBIS and a durable weather-sealed body, a6600 also adds a larger battery.
Sony a6100 and a6400 are still in production and serve as entry-level and mid-range APS-C models. Sony a6600 replaced the a6500 in 2019 and it served as the most advanced APS-C model until the release of the new a6700 which completely replaced the a6600 by introducing a new sensor and processor.
Alternatives to the a6500
Sony a6100
Sony a6400
Sony a6700
Sony a6100 (2019) is Sony’s modern entry-level APS-C camera and basically a replacement of the original a6000. It has a similar 24 MP sensor, it offers excellent autofocus performance, it can shoot at 11 fps with the mechanical shutter and it can record oversampled 4K video at 25 fps and at 30 fps with a 1.2x crop. Video recording is limited to 8-bit and the maximum clip length is set to 13 hours. The a6100 uses the same non-weather-sealed body as the original a6000.
Sony a6400 (2019) is Sony’s modern mid-range APS-C model also featuring the same 24 MP sensor. Most specifications are similar to the a6100, but the a6400 uses a weather-sealed body and doesn’t apply a crop in 4K 30 fps recording. Video recording is still limited to 8-bit, but the a6400 includes Sony’s higher-quality S-Log 2 and S-Log 3 picture profiles.
Sony a6700 (2023) is Sony’s most advanced APS-C model featuring a new 26 MP BSI sensor paired with Sony’s new BIONZ XR processor and Sony’s AI processing unit. It features several notable upgrades like a fully articulating screen and an even more advanced AF system with an AI-based deep-learning engine for enhanced subject recognition and tracking. It offers continuous shooting at up to 11 fps, it can record 4K video at 120 fps and oversampled 4K video at up to 60 fps in 10-bit. It has IBIS and a weather sealed body.
Nikon Z50 II
Nikon Z50 II (2024) could be considered a competitor to the newer a6400. It has a 21 MP BSI sensor and uses a new version of Nikon’s hybrid AF system. It can record 4K video at up to 30 fps and at 60 fps with a 1.5x crop in 10-bit, but the footage is not oversampled. It can shoot at up to 11 fps in RAW with the mechanical shutter and up to 15 fps in RAW with the electronic shutter (30 fps in JPEG). The body is weather resistant.
Canon R10
Canon EOS R10 (2022) is a mid-range APS-C camera. It has a 24 MP sensor. It offers continuous shooting at up to 15 fps with the mechanical shutter and 23 fps with the electronic shutter in 12-bit RAW. It can record 4K video at 60 fps with a 1.6x crop and oversampled 4K video at up to 30 fps without a crop, but video recording is limited to 8-bit. It has no IBIS and no weather-sealing.
SONY a6500 Price
Final Verdict
Sony a6500 was Sony’s flagship APS-C camera at the time of its release and the only model to combine in-body image stabilization (IBIS) with weather sealing. It was later replaced by the a6600, which introduced a newer processor, resulting in improved autofocus performance, better color science and more natural-looking skin tones.
Today, both cameras have effectively been replaced by the a6700, which now sits at the top of Sony’s APS-C lineup. In addition to being the only current model with IBIS, it introduces a new 26 MP BSI sensor, Sony’s BIONZ XR processor and a dedicated AI processing unit that further improves subject recognition and tracking. Other major upgrades include a fully articulating screen, 10-bit video recording, 4K 120 fps recording and oversampled 4K 60 fps video.
The a6700 is the most advanced APS-C camera in Sony’s lineup, but it is also the most expensive. For buyers on a tighter budget, the entry-level a6100 and mid-range a6400 remain compelling alternatives and are widely available on the used market at attractive prices. Both offer a more modern feature set than the older a6500, although they lack IBIS and its more robust body design.