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Panasonic G9 vs Sony A6500

Portability
62
Imaging
60
Features
90
Overall
72
Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Panasonic G9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 658g - 137 x 97 x 92mm
  • Announced November 2017
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Introduced October 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A6300
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Panasonic G9 and Sony A6500, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the G9 (20MP) and the A6500 (24MP) is very comparable but the G9 (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The G9 was revealed 14 months later than the A6500 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the G9 scores against the A6500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic G9 over the Sony A6500

 G9 A6500 
IntroducedNovember 2017October 2016More recent by 14 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k922kClearer display (+118k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic G9

 A6500 G9 

Common features in the Panasonic G9 and Sony A6500

 G9 A6500 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Touch display Easily navigate

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic G9 has outside dimensions of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") along with a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs) while the Sony A6500 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

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Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the G9 against the A6500.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G9 and A6500 is 62 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements only by going through specifications. The photograph below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the G9 and A6500.

Plainly, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The G9 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony A6500 will produce more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The younger G9 will have an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G9 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G9 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A6500 Portrait photography highlights
76
manual focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
80
manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G9 as a Street photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Street photography camera
75
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
environment proofing
good high ISO (25,600)
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
offers touch focus
environment proof
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G9 Sports photography factors
Sony A6500 Sports photography factors
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
high fps (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
not so great battery pack (400 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
77
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G9 Travel photography highlights
Sony A6500 Travel photography highlights
70
environment proofing
has bluetooth
includes focus by touch
MP count decent (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery pack (400 CIPA)
74
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
offers touch focus
decent MP (24MP)
built-in flash
terrible battery (350 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G9 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A6500 Landscape photography highlights
76
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
not so great battery pack (400 shots)
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic G9
Vlogging with Sony A6500
76
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone jack
39
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes microphone support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic G9 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G9 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DC-G9Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 Sony Alpha a6500
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2017-11-08 2016-10-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 225 425
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 3,680 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.83x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 20.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 658 grams (1.45 pounds) 453 grams (1.00 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 97 x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 85
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 400 shots 350 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 2 1
Pricing at launch $1,500 $1,298