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Sony A7 III vs Sony A6500

Portability
63
Imaging
74
Features
92
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A7 III front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Sony A7 III vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Sony A7 III
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 650g - 127 x 96 x 74mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Superseded the Sony A7 II
  • Replacement is Sony A7 IV
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Previous Model is Sony A6300
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Sony A7 III vs Sony A6500 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Sony A7 III and Sony A6500, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and both are created by Sony. The resolution of the A7 III (24MP) and the A6500 (24MP) is pretty similar but the A7 III (Full frame) and A6500 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The A7 III was brought out 17 months after the A6500 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A7 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the A7 III matches up versus the A6500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7 III over the Sony A6500

 A7 III A6500 
ReleasedFebruary 2018October 2016Newer by 17 months

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Sony A7 III

 A6500 A7 III 

Common features in the Sony A7 III and Sony A6500

 A7 III A6500 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution922k922kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Sony A7 III vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and size. The Sony A7 III has got external dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs) whilst the Sony A6500 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check the Sony A7 III and Sony A6500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the A7 III and the A6500.

Sony A7 III vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A7 III and A6500 is 63 and 81 respectively.

Sony A7 III vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7 III vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to picture the difference between sensor dimensions only by going over specifications. The image here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the A7 III and A6500.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit different sensor dimensions. The A7 III provides the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF easier. The younger A7 III should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Sony A7 III vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Sony A7 III vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7 III vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7 III Portrait photography highlights
Sony A6500 Portrait photography highlights
84
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
80
has manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A7 III as a Street photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
environment proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
has focus by touch
environment proof
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A7 III Sports photography advice
Sony A6500 Sports photography advice
87
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
better than average battery life (610 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
77
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
low battery power (350 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7 III Travel photography information
Sony A6500 Travel photography information
73
better than average battery life (610 per charge)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (24 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
74
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
has focus by touch
good MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
low battery power (350 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7 III Landscape photography info
Sony A6500 Landscape photography info
85
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
better than average battery life (610 CIPA)
has dual storage slots
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
low battery power (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7 III as a Vlogging camera
Sony A6500 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes mic jack
does not have selfie friendly display
39
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Sony A7 III vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7 III and Sony A6500
 Sony Alpha A7 IIISony Alpha a6500
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A7 III Sony Alpha a6500
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2018-02-27 2016-10-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.8 x 23.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 852.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 51200 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 693 425
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony E
Number of lenses 121 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 922k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes no built-in flash Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 650 gr (1.43 lbs) 453 gr (1.00 lbs)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 96 85
DXO Color Depth score 25.0 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score 14.7 13.7
DXO Low light score 3730 1405
Other
Battery life 610 photographs 350 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FZ100 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Two 1
Retail cost $1,998 $1,298