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Sony A6500 vs Zeiss ZX1

Portability
81
Imaging
68
Features
85
Overall
74
Sony Alpha a6500 front
 
Zeiss ZX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
79
Features
62
Overall
72

Sony A6500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Key Specs

Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Revealed October 2016
  • Previous Model is Sony A6300
Zeiss ZX1
(Full Review)
  • 37MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 4.34" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 51200
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 35mm (F2-22) lens
  • 800g - 142 x 93 x 46mm
  • Revealed September 2018
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Sony A6500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Sony A6500 versus Zeiss ZX1, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Sony and Zeiss. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the A6500 (24MP) and ZX1 (37MP) and the A6500 (APS-C) and ZX1 (Full frame) use different sensor sizing.

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The A6500 was released 24 months before the ZX1 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Zeiss ZX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the A6500 matches up versus the ZX1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Zeiss ZX1

 A6500 ZX1 

Reasons to pick Zeiss ZX1 over the Sony A6500

 ZX1 A6500 
RevealedSeptember 2018October 2016Fresher by 24 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen dimension4.34"3"Bigger screen (+1.34")
Screen resolution2765k922kCrisper screen (+1843k dot)

Common features in the Sony A6500 and Zeiss ZX1

 A6500 ZX1 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Sony A6500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Sony A6500 features physical dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs) whilst the Zeiss ZX1 has specifications of 142mm x 93mm x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check the Sony A6500 versus Zeiss ZX1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the A6500 and the ZX1.

Sony A6500 vs Zeiss ZX1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the A6500 and ZX1 is 81 and 67 respectively.

Sony A6500 vs Zeiss ZX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A6500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing simply by checking technical specs. The graphic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the A6500 and ZX1.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A6500 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Zeiss ZX1 will give you more detail as a result of its extra 13 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older A6500 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Sony A6500 vs Zeiss ZX1 sensor size comparison

Sony A6500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A6500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A6500 Portrait photography information
Zeiss ZX1 Portrait photography information
80
focusing manually
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW formats
87
focusing manually
sensor resolution is amazing (37MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A6500 Street photography details
Zeiss ZX1 Street photography details
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
features touch to focus
weather proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
71
screen articulates
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
boasts focus via touch
good high ISO (51,200)
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors (800 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A6500 Sports photography information
Zeiss ZX1 Sports photography information
77
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (350 per charge)
64
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is amazing (37MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A6500 Travel photography factors
Zeiss ZX1 Travel photography factors
74
weather proof
has bluetooth
features touch to focus
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
low battery pack (350 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly display
65
supports bluetooth
boasts focus via touch
sensor resolution is amazing (37MP)
good max aperture (f2)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (800 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A6500 Landscape photography factors
Zeiss ZX1 Landscape photography factors
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
low battery pack (350 CIPA)
70
focusing manually
good max aperture (f2)
bigger than average screen (4.34 inches)
sensor resolution is amazing (37MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A6500 Vlogging factors
Zeiss ZX1 Vlogging factors
39
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
31
good max aperture (f2)
has touchscreen
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
no external mic jack
heavier than competitors (800 grams)
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Sony A6500 vs Zeiss ZX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A6500 and Zeiss ZX1
 Sony Alpha a6500Zeiss ZX1
General Information
Brand Name Sony Zeiss
Model Sony Alpha a6500 Zeiss ZX1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2016-10-06 2018-09-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz X -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 37MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 7488 x 4992
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Max boosted ISO 51200 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 425 255
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Maximal aperture - f/2-22
Amount of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 4.34"
Resolution of screen 922 thousand dot 2,765 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot 6,221 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 11.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
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 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 453 grams (1.00 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") 142 x 93 x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 85 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 24.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 1405 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-FW50 -
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo 512GB internal
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $1,298 -