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Sony A6500 vs Sony RX10 II

Portability
81
Imaging
68
Features
85
Overall
74
Sony Alpha a6500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II front
Portability
58
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Sony A6500 vs Sony RX10 II Key Specs

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
  • Introduced October 2016
  • Replaced the Sony A6300
Sony RX10 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Released June 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony RX10
  • Replacement is Sony RX10 III
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Sony A6500 vs Sony RX10 II Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Sony A6500 and Sony RX10 II, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A6500 (24MP) and the RX10 II (20MP) is pretty comparable but the A6500 (APS-C) and RX10 II (1") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The A6500 was launched 17 months after the RX10 II which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX10 II being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple overview of how the A6500 grades vs the RX10 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Sony RX10 II

 A6500 RX10 II 
ReleasedOctober 2016June 2015More modern by 17 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 II over the Sony A6500

 RX10 II A6500 
Screen resolution1229k922kClearer screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Sony A6500 and Sony RX10 II

 A6500 RX10 II 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Sony A6500 vs Sony RX10 II Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and volume. The Sony A6500 provides outside dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs) and the Sony RX10 II has sizing of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

See the Sony A6500 and Sony RX10 II in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the A6500 and the RX10 II.

Sony A6500 vs Sony RX10 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the A6500 and RX10 II is 81 and 58 respectively.

Sony A6500 vs Sony RX10 II top view buttons comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony RX10 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes merely by going through a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the A6500 and RX10 II.

Clearly, both cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A6500 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony A6500 will provide more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more recent A6500 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.

Sony A6500 vs Sony RX10 II sensor size comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony RX10 II Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A6500 vs Sony RX10 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A6500 Portrait photography details
Sony RX10 II Portrait photography details
80
has manual focus
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A6500 Street photography factors
Sony RX10 II Street photography factors
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
environment sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
72
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
weather proofing
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Sports Comparison

Sony A6500 Sports photography advice
Sony RX10 II Sports photography advice
77
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (350 shots)
68
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
has tracking focus
weather proofing
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A6500
Travel photography with Sony RX10 II
74
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
supports touch to focus
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A6500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX10 II as a Landscape photography camera
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
bad battery life (350 shots)
62
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
weather proofing
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A6500 Vlogging details
Sony RX10 II Vlogging details
39
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
31
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have microphone socket
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Sony A6500 vs Sony RX10 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A6500 and Sony RX10 II
 Sony Alpha a6500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a6500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
Class Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-10-06 2015-06-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz X Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 51200 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 425 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Max aperture - f/2.8
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 922 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames/s 14.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.20 m
Flash options Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 453 grams (1.00 lbs) 813 grams (1.79 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") 129 x 88 x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 85 70
DXO Color Depth score 24.5 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 13.7 12.6
DXO Low light score 1405 531
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 400 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $1,298 $998