An Expert Comparison of the Sony A6500 and Sony WX350: Which Sony Suits Your Photography?

When Sony launched the A6500 in late 2016, mirrorless cameras were quickly becoming indispensable tools for photographers demanding professional-grade autofocus, speed, and high image quality in a compact body. Meanwhile, the Sony WX350, released two years earlier in 2014, epitomizes the ultra-portable small sensor superzoom category - accessible, pocketable, and an easy go-to for casual shooters.

In this detailed comparison, I’ll draw on extensive hands-on testing of both cameras to break down their performance, usability, and value across diverse photography styles and use cases. From portraiture to wildlife, landscapes to travel photography, and even video capabilities, this article serves photographers of all levels looking to understand which Sony camera best fits their needs and budget.

Let’s dive in, starting with the basics.

Size and Handling: Compact Convenience Versus Advanced Control

The Sony WX350 is the clear winner for portability. Measuring a mere 96x55x26mm and weighing only 164g, this palm-friendly compact camera easily slips into jackets or pockets. In contrast, the A6500 sits at 120x67x53mm and 453g - a substantial size difference, yet still classifiable as a compact mirrorless system rather than a bulky DSLR.

Handling the two in the field reveals their intended audience. The A6500 features a traditional grip, crucial for steadying longer lenses and facilitating manual control. Its robust magnesium alloy body includes weather sealing (though not fully waterproof), a relief for outdoor shooters requiring splash and dust protection.

The WX350’s smooth, minimalistic compact design lacks a dedicated grip and weather sealing but remains sleek and unobtrusive - ideal for street photography or casual walks.

Control Layout and Interface: Hands-On with the A6500 Versus the WX350

Professional-level handling doesn’t end with size. The A6500 sports an intricate top plate with customizable dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and an OLED screen indicating settings - a boon for experienced users seeking tactile and fast adjustments.

By comparison, the WX350 offers a streamlined experience lacking manual exposure modes entirely. Its fixed lens and limited physical controls cater to point-and-shoot simplicity, enabling quick snapshots without fuss but at the cost of creative flexibility.

The A6500’s tilting touchscreen LCD with 922k-dot resolution and real-time adjustments provide a responsive user interface, especially appreciated for live view focusing and review. The WX350’s fixed, non-touch 460k-dot screen suffices for framing but doesn’t support touch AF or menu navigation, reflecting its budget-conscious design priorities.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Core Differences

Perhaps the most decisive factor in image quality lies in sensor size and technology.

The A6500’s APS-C sensor provides much larger surface area (about 367 mm² vs. 28 mm² for the WX350), enabling superior dynamic range (13.7 stops per DXOmark) and color depth (24.5 bits). The sensor's advantage shines through in low light, preserving detail with significantly less noise up to ISO 1400+.

The WX350’s smaller sensor struggles in dim conditions and narrow dynamic range limits recovery during post-processing. Its JPEG-only output restricts flexibility further.

In practical terms, landscapes and portraits benefit noticeably on the A6500, producing richer colors and finer detail. The WX350 is enough for casual shooting where convenience trumps quality, like family snaps or travel snapshots on bright days.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

The A6500 adopts an advanced hybrid AF system combining 425 phase-detect points and contrast detection, an industry-leading setup for APS-C cameras in 2016. It supports eye AF for portraits, quickly locking focus on human eyes, an indispensable feature for portraiture.

The camera’s burst shooting at 11 fps with continuous autofocus and exposure tracking is well-suited to fast-moving subjects like sports or wildlife.

The WX350, by contrast, relies exclusively on contrast detection AF with unreported but markedly slower performance. Its continuous shooting tops out at 10 fps, but without AF tracking, making it less reliable for action photography.

One notable omission in both cameras is dedicated animal eye AF, a newer feature that would benefit wildlife photographers specifically.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

Portrait Photography

The A6500’s larger sensor inherently provides shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh, especially when paired with fast prime lenses on Sony’s E-mount. The 425-point AF, combined with eye detection, ensures tack-sharp portraits with lifelike skin tones accurate to real-world lighting.

The WX350’s small sensor and slower lens (F3.5-6.5) offer little control over background blur or precise focusing, which limits its appeal to portrait enthusiasts beyond snapshot-quality images.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution are critical for landscapes, where shadows and highlights coexist in complex scenes. The A6500 excels here with its wide dynamic range and 24MP resolution, capturing nuanced textures and vibrant colors, ready for large prints.

Weather sealing protects it against moisture and dust in rugged environments.

The WX350’s Toyota Corolla equivalent status works fine for casual vistas but fails at delivering dramatic tonal range or fine detail under challenging conditions, and no weather sealing means cautious handling outdoors.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The A6500’s fast burst rate and hybrid AF system enable it to track erratic animal or athlete motion effectively. Coupled with telephoto lenses from Sony’s expanding E-mount lineup, it becomes a capable wildlife or sports shooter.

In contrast, the WX350, despite a 20x zoom giving a long reach, cannot reliably track fast subjects due to its slower AF and limited frame rates. This makes it better suited to static wildlife or distant landscapes rather than action scenes.

Street Photography

For street shooters prioritizing stealth and portability, the WX350’s tiny stature is a plus, though the A6500’s compact body remains an option for those who want manual control in a subdued package.

Low light shooting favors the A6500 due to its sensor size and higher maximum ISO.

Macro Photography

Neither camera is designed explicitly for macro work, but the A6500’s interchangeable lenses include excellent macro options with precise focusing and image stabilization. The WX350’s fixed lens macro distance is more limited.

Video Capabilities: 4K with the A6500 Versus Full HD on the WX350

Video shooters gain substantially from the A6500’s 4K recording at 30p in XAVC S format at 100 Mbps. It offers manual exposure controls during video, microphone input for improved sound capture, and 5-axis sensor stabilization, a boon for handheld footage.

The WX350 tops out at 1080p with limited frame rates and no microphone jack or 4K support, catering to basic video needs.

For vloggers, event videography, or hybrid shooters, the A6500 is a more future-proof option.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Durability

The A6500 boasts magnesium alloy chassis and partial weather sealing, vital for professional reliability in inclement weather.

The WX350’s plastic shell lacks any rugged features or sealing, emphasizing lightness over durability.

Battery Life and Storage Options

The WX350 surprisingly outlasts the A6500 in shots per battery charge with ~470 shots vs. ~350 for the A6500, likely due to its smaller sensor and simpler electronics.

Both use common SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but only the A6500 supports Sony’s Memory Stick Pro Duo alongside typical SD, offering some backward compatibility.

Wireless Connectivity and Extras

The A6500 includes built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, with remote app controls for time-lapse and camera settings. These support a seamless workflow for modern photographers.

The WX350 has built-in Wi-Fi but lacks Bluetooth/NFC, limiting pairing ease, especially with newer smartphones.

Price-to-Performance Breakdown

The A6500 commands a premium price, but it justifies this via superior image quality, autofocus performance, durability, and 4K video. The WX350 appeals as a budget secondary camera or for photographers prioritizing ultimate portability with zoom reach.

Testing Notes and Real-World Use

In my fieldwork using the A6500, paired with Sony's 55mm f/1.8 prime, portraits rendered skin tones with natural warmth and creamy bokeh. I successfully tracked marathon runners at 11 fps, with sharp focus maintained throughout.

On a forest hike, the A6500 tackled dynamic lighting brilliantly, separating shadows without crushed blacks. The tilting touchscreen was a lifesaver when composing from low angles.

Meanwhile, the WX350 proved perfect for urban strolls where heavy gear wasn’t welcome. Its 20x optical zoom captured distant street performers but struggled with autofocus in dim cafes.

Overall Performance Ratings

Here, the A6500 dominates with excellence in sensor performance, autofocus, video, and build, while the WX350 excels mainly in portability and battery life.

Genre-Specific Performance Overview

• Portraits, landscape, and sports: A6500 is a clear favorite.
• Travel and street photography: WX350 scores well for its size; A6500 competitive if weight is manageable.
• Macro and night/astro photography: A6500’s sensor and stabilization confer significant advantages.
• Video: The A6500 is in a different league.

Sample Images: A Closer Look at Output Quality

To better appreciate the differences, here are sample shots side by side.

Sony A6500 front Sony A6500 screen back Sony WX350 front Sony WX350 screen back

Observe the finer detail resolution and color fidelity on the A6500. Look for noise patterns and highlight retention comparing night scenes.

Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose the Sony A6500 if you are a serious enthusiast, professional, or hybrid shooter who demands superior image quality, fast and reliable autofocus, substantial video capabilities, and a robust, weather-sealed build. It shines in all major photography disciplines from portraits to sports and video.

• Opt for the Sony WX350 if you want a genuinely compact, budget-friendly point-and-shoot with a long zoom range for casual photography, travel snapshots, and street candid shots where discretion and lightness outweigh image finesse.

Final Thoughts

I’ve reviewed both cameras extensively in diverse environments. While the Sony A6500 is, by design, a powerhouse stitching together cutting-edge autofocus, image quality, and robust handling tailored for serious photographers, the Sony WX350 remains a handy pocket companion, adept for spontaneous shooting where portability is paramount.

Each camera occupies a distinct niche, reflecting Sony’s versatile approach to meeting the needs of casual users and advanced photographers alike.

If your photography ambitions include prints, professional workflows, or video, invest in the A6500. If you want simplicity and zoom packed in your pocket to capture everyday moments, the WX350 suffices.

Both cameras have their place - understanding their relative strengths ensures your choice aligns with your photography journey.

Questions? Thoughts about which camera matches your style best? Drop a comment or reach out - happy to share more insights from my extensive camera testing experience.