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Sony A6500 vs Sony A99

Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74
Sony Alpha a6500 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony A6500 vs Sony A99 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 A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Released December 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A900
  • Newer Model is Sony A99 II
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Sony A6500 vs Sony A99 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Sony A6500 vs Sony A99, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and they are both built by Sony. The image resolution of the A6500 (24MP) and the A99 (24MP) is relatively comparable but the A6500 (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) have different sensor measurements.

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The A6500 was brought out 3 years after the A99 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the A6500 grades vs the A99 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Sony A99

 A6500 A99 
ReleasedOctober 2016December 2012More modern by 47 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony A6500

 A99 A6500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k922kCrisper screen (+307k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony A6500 and Sony A99

 A6500 A99 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements

Sony A6500 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony A6500 has outside dimensions 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 A99 has measurements of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check out the Sony A6500 vs Sony A99 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the A6500 compared to the A99.

Sony A6500 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the A6500 and A99 is 81 and 57 respectively.

Sony A6500 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through technical specs. The pic below will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the A6500 and A99.

As you can tell, both of the cameras feature the identical resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The A6500 comes with the smaller sensor which will make getting bokeh more difficult. The younger A6500 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony A6500 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A6500 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A6500 Portrait photography info
Sony A99 Portrait photography info
80
focusing manually
MP count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
81
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A6500 Street photography information
Sony A99 Street photography information
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
supports touch to focus
weather proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
75
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A6500 Sports photography info
Sony A99 Sports photography info
77
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (350 per charge)
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low battery power (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A6500
Travel photography with Sony A99
74
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
supports touch to focus
MP count decent (24MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
weather sealing
good megapixels (24MP)
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse recording
low battery power (500 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A6500 Landscape photography advice
Sony A99 Landscape photography advice
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
not so great battery (350 CIPA)
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
low battery power (500 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A6500 Vlogging factors
Sony A99 Vlogging factors
39
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone port
screen isn't selfie friendly
76
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone port
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Sony A6500 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A6500 and Sony A99
 Sony Alpha a6500Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha a6500 Sony SLT-A99
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2016-10-06 2012-12-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz X Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Max boosted ISO 51200 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 425 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support Sony E Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 121 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 922k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 11.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 453 grams (1.00 lb) 812 grams (1.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 85 89
DXO Color Depth rating 24.5 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.7 14.0
DXO Low light rating 1405 1555
Other
Battery life 350 images 500 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FW50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots 1 Dual
Retail pricing $1,298 $1,998