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Sony A6500 vs Sony W690

Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74
Sony Alpha a6500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony A6500 vs Sony W690 Key Specs

Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony A6300
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Revealed February 2012
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Sony A6500 vs Sony W690 Overview

Here is a extensive review of the Sony A6500 and Sony W690, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the A6500 (24MP) and W690 (16MP) and the A6500 (APS-C) and W690 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The A6500 was manufactured 4 years later than the W690 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W690 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the A6500 scores versus the W690 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Sony W690

 A6500 W690 
RevealedOctober 2016February 2012Fresher by 57 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony A6500

 W690 A6500 

Common features in the Sony A6500 and Sony W690

 A6500 W690 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Sony A6500 vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony A6500 comes with exterior measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs) whilst the Sony W690 has proportions of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony A6500 and Sony W690 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the A6500 and the W690.

Sony A6500 vs Sony W690 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A6500 and W690 is 81 and 95 respectively.

Sony A6500 vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing just by viewing specifications. The photograph here may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A6500 and W690.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A6500 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A6500 will render extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The newer A6500 should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A6500 vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A6500 vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A6500
Portrait photography with Sony W690
80
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A6500 Street photography features
Sony W690 Street photography features
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
supports focus by touch
environment proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A6500 Sports photography advice
Sony W690 Sports photography advice
77
silent mode (1/32,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
not so great battery life (350 per charge)
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A6500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W690 as a Travel photography camera
74
environment proofing
connects via bluetooth
supports focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
not so great battery life (350 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
68
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A6500 Landscape photography info
Sony W690 Landscape photography info
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery life (350 per charge)
43
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A6500
Vlogging with Sony W690
39
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone port
screen isn't selfie friendly
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
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Sony A6500 vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A6500 and Sony W690
 Sony Alpha a6500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha a6500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2016-10-06 2012-02-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz X BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest boosted ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 425 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash options Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 453g (1.00 lb) 142g (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 85 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1405 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 shots 220 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FW50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $1,298 $297