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Sony A6500 vs Sony QX30

Portability
81
Imaging
68
Features
85
Overall
74
Sony Alpha a6500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
46
Features
37
Overall
42

Sony A6500 vs Sony QX30 Key Specs

Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Launched October 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony A6300
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Revealed September 2014
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Sony A6500 vs Sony QX30 Overview

Here is a thorough overview of the Sony A6500 versus Sony QX30, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Lens-style and they are both offered by Sony. The image resolution of the A6500 (24MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is fairly well matched but the A6500 (APS-C) and QX30 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The A6500 was announced 2 years later than the QX30 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a concise summation of how the A6500 scores vs the QX30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Sony QX30

 A6500 QX30 
RevealedOctober 2016September 2014Fresher by 26 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution922k0kClearer display (+922k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony A6500

 QX30 A6500 

Common features in the Sony A6500 and Sony QX30

 A6500 QX30 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Sony A6500 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony A6500 features physical measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs) whilst the Sony QX30 has dimensions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A6500 versus Sony QX30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the A6500 vs the QX30.

Sony A6500 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A6500 and QX30 is 81 and 91 respectively.

Sony A6500 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A6500 and QX30.

Clearly, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The A6500 having a larger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Sony A6500 will give more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The younger A6500 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A6500 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A6500 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A6500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Portrait photography camera
80
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
39
good resolution (20 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A6500 Street photography advice
Sony QX30 Street photography advice
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
has focus via touch
weather sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A6500 Sports photography advice
Sony QX30 Sports photography advice
77
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
bad battery pack (350 CIPA)
48
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A6500 Travel photography features
Sony QX30 Travel photography features
74
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
has focus via touch
megapixel count good (24MP)
has built in flash
bad battery pack (350 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
65
comes with touch to focus
good resolution (20 megapixels)
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low battery pack (200 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A6500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Landscape photography camera
80
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
bad battery pack (350 per charge)
40
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (")
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery pack (200 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A6500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony QX30 as a Vlogging camera
39
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
35
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone port
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Sony A6500 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A6500 and Sony QX30
 Sony Alpha a6500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a6500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Category Advanced Mirrorless Lens-style
Launched 2016-10-06 2014-09-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz X Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6000 x 4000 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 425 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Total lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" -
Display resolution 922k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter speed 11.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless None
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 453 grams (1.00 lbs) 193 grams (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 85 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 24.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 1405 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 200 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $1,298 $348