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Sony A6500 vs Sony A57

Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74
Sony Alpha a6500 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony A6500 vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Launched October 2016
  • Old Model is Sony A6300
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A55
  • Refreshed by Sony A58
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Sony A6500 vs Sony A57 Overview

Here is a extensive review of the Sony A6500 vs Sony A57, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are built by Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the A6500 (24MP) and A57 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The A6500 was brought out 4 years later than the A57 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick summary of how the A6500 matches up against the A57 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Sony A57

 A6500 A57 
IntroducedOctober 2016September 2012Fresher by 50 months
Screen resolution922k921kClearer screen (+1k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony A6500

 A57 A6500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony A6500 and Sony A57

 A6500 A57 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing

Sony A6500 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Sony A6500 enjoys outer 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) while the Sony A57 has dimensions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") and a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

See the Sony A6500 vs Sony A57 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the A6500 compared to the A57.

Sony A6500 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the A6500 and A57 is 81 and 64 respectively.

Sony A6500 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading specs. The graphic underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A6500 and A57.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Sony A6500 to offer you extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The newer A6500 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Sony A6500 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A6500 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A6500
Portrait photography with Sony A57
80
focusing manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A6500 Street photography factors
Sony A57 Street photography factors
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
offers touch focus
environment proof
good ISO range (25,600)
75
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A6500 Sports photography info
Sony A57 Sports photography info
77
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A6500 Travel photography advice
Sony A57 Travel photography advice
74
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
offers touch focus
decent MP (24MP)
flash built-in
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony A6500
Landscape photography with Sony A57
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
72
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A6500 Vlogging details
Sony A57 Vlogging details
39
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
77
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone socket
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Sony A6500 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A6500 and Sony A57
 Sony Alpha a6500Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a6500 Sony SLT-A57
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2016-10-06 2012-09-13
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz X -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Max enhanced ISO 51200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 425 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 121 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 922k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 11.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 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 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 453g (1.00 pounds) 618g (1.36 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 85 75
DXO Color Depth score 24.5 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 13.7 13.0
DXO Low light score 1405 785
Other
Battery life 350 images 550 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $1,298 $1,000