Sony a5100 vs Sony A6500

On this page, we will be analyzing the Sony a5100 vs Sony A6500, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are designed by Sony. The image resolution of the a5100 (24MP) and the A6500 (24MP) is relatively similar and both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The a5100 was launched 3 years prior to the A6500 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the a5100 grades against the A6500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha a5100 & Sony Alpha a6500. The complete galleries are available at Sony a5100 Gallery & Sony A6500 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Sony a5100 features external dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs) whilst the Sony A6500 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

See the Sony a5100 vs Sony A6500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the a5100 compared to the A6500.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the a5100 and A6500 is 89 and 81 respectively.

Usually, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor sizing only by going over a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the a5100 and A6500.

Clearly, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the exact same resolution so you can expect similar quality of photographs though you really should consider the age of the products into consideration. The older a5100 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.