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Sony A6500

 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
 
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Introduced October 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony A6300
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
81
Imaging
68
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony A6500 summary

Sony A6500 is Sony's Advanced Mirrorless camera initially revealed on October of 2016. It includes a 24 MegaPixel, CMOS APS-C sized sensor and has a full resolution of 6000 x 4000.

Sony launched this camera in order to replace the previous Sony A6300 (Read Full Comparison)

The A6500 places at #18 out of 61 in Advanced Mirrorless cameras & overall #91 out of 1459 for digital cameras in our list. Please try our Smart camera finder to see camera listings based on your customized criteria.

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Here is a graph of different factors used in the rating system.

Sony A6500 family

The Sony A6500 has a history of related digital cameras. Listed below, you can see all previous and more recent models along with important specs.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Sony-Alpha-a6100 front thumbnailSony A6100
A6500 vs A6100
24MPAPS-C11.0 fps2019
Sony-Alpha-a6600 front thumbnailSony A6600
A6500 vs A6600
24MPAPS-C11.0 fps2019
World's smallest camera makes it into Guinness Book of Records
Sony-Alpha-a6400 front thumbnailSony A6400
A6500 vs A6400
24MPAPS-C11.0 fps2019
Sony-Alpha-a6500 front thumbnailSony A650024MPAPS-C11.0 fps2016
Sony-Alpha-a6300 front thumbnailSony A6300
A6500 vs A6300
24MPAPS-C11.0 fps2016
Sony-Alpha-a5100 front thumbnailSony a5100
A6500 vs a5100
24MPAPS-C6.0 fps2014
Handle those 8K RED files like a boss
Sony-Alpha-a6000 front thumbnailSony A6000
A6500 vs A6000
24MPAPS-C11.0 fps2014
Sony-Alpha-a5000 front thumbnailSony a5000
A6500 vs a5000
20MPAPS-C4.0 fps2014
Sony-Alpha-NEX-6 front thumbnailSony NEX-6
A6500 vs NEX-6
16MPAPS-C10.0 fps2013

Sony A6500 Pros and Cons

Below is a collection of advantages and drawbacks of the Sony A6500 based on factors that are typically regarded as essential in a camera.

above average ISO range (25,600)
above average minimum ISO (100)
built-in flash
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
has a tilting screen
has HDMI socket
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has microphone socket
has phase detect AF
high resolution screen (922 thousand dots)
includes touch focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
manual focus
NFC connection
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
resolution is good (24MP)
screen is a good size (3")
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports bluetooth
supports face detect focusing
supports tracking focus
touchscreen enabled
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
missing headphone socket
Coronavirus is affecting the sensor business

Sony A6500 Sensor details

The Sony A6500 is powered by the Bionz X processor chip. The sensor size in the Sony A6500 is 23.5mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 367 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 6000 x 4000 pixels and aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis). Sensor stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter can cause cropping.

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The CMOS sensor has 24MP and features a native ISO range of 100 - 25600. This ISO can be extended electronically to a high of 51200. RAW files are saved which means that you have wider margin for error.

The image below illustrates the A6500's sensor dimensions when compared to other common sizes. The A6500 sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is displayed in green.

Sony Alpha a6500 sensor size Instagram's $20 billion Ad success

To get an understanding of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony A6500 dimensions

Sony A6500 weighs around 1.00 pounds (453 gr / 15.98 oz) & has external size of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1"). The weight of average Advanced Mirrorless camera is 453 gr so the Sony A6500 is similar as compared to various competitors.

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Listed below is a photo of the Sony A6500 beside a soda to help you get a feel for its scale.

Sony Alpha a6500 dimensions scale

The top view below will show the button arrangement on the A6500.

Sony Alpha a6500 topview buttons dials

Sony A6500 Lens specs

The A6500 uses the Sony E mount and has 170 lenses available in the market. Below is a small number of the lenses we have in our database which will fit the A6500.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Sony-20mm-F1.8G lensSony 20mm F1.8G20mmf/1.8373g
Sigma-35mm-F1.4-DG-DN-Art-E-Mount lensSigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN Art35mmf/1.4645g
Last day to get your files as Canon Irisa shuts down
Lensbaby-Sol-45-Mirrorless-Sony-E lensLensbaby Sol 45 Mirrorless45mmf/3.5272g
Zeiss-Batis-135mm-F2.8-Sony-FE lensZeiss Batis 135mm F2.8135mmf/2.8614g
Sigma-18-50mm-F2.8-DC-DN-Contemporary-E-Mount lensSigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary18-50mmf/2.8 290g
Samyang-AF-75mm-F1.8-FE--Rokinon-AF-75mm-F1.8-FE-Sony-FE lensSamyang AF 75mm F1.8 FE75mmf/1.8230g
400 Megapixel mode coming to Fujifilm GFX 100
Sigma-40mm-F1.4-DG-HSM-A-Sony-FE lensSigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A40mmf/1.40g
Control Profoto B10 & B10 Plus with your Android Phone

Sony A6500 Connectivity

The A6500 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • NFC Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that incorporate NFC or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be used wirelessly with smartphones. You are able to copy pictures and sometimes alter camera settings without connecting directly to the camera.

Several applications even enable a Liveview and release the shutter whenever you are not close to the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external screen. Most cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack using the USB socket.

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Sony A6500 Video specs

The highest possible video resolution in the Sony A6500 is 3840 x 2160 and you can shoot in MPEG-4, AVCHD and XAVC S format. 2160p delivers a fantastic resolution for video. You can crop to 1080p in order to get clearer video. Be mindful of the considerable file sizes and make sure you have got decent SD cards that have fast write speed. Even though the camera contains a microphone port, it is unfortunately missing a headphone port which means that you will not have the capability to monitor your sound levels.

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Sony A6500 Weather Sealing

Sony A6500 provides environment proofing which makes it a good option for use for tough conditions. This is particularly beneficial if you are unsure about the elements you may face for outdoor photography.

Sony A6500 Display and Viewfinder

The Sony A6500 includes a 3 inch tilting display supporting a resolution of 922 thousand dots.

Additionally the display is touch friendly which means that you can set focus point as well as adjust settings by using your fingertips.

Sony Alpha a6500 screen and viewfinder World's smallest camera makes it into Guinness Book of Records

The View Finder specs for Sony A6500 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • Resolution 2,359 thousand dots
  • Coverage 100%
  • Magnification 0.7x

For bright outdoor situations which make the camera displays washed out and difficult to see, viewfinders can be pretty helpful.

Sony A6500 Shutter specs

Sony A6500 continuous shooting speed is 11.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/4000s. The camera also offers silent electronic shutter of 1/32000s. Keep in mind that the electronic shutter can lead to "rolling shutter" under certain circumstances.

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Sony A6500 Flash and Hot shoe specs

Sony A6500 comes with both integrated flash together with external flash support. The maximum flash sync speed is 1/160s.

Sony A6500 Autofocus specs

Sony A6500 comes with both Phase Detect Autofocus as well as Contrast Based Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more quicker & precise in comparison with Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera includes Face detect which can be handy for portraits.

The AF system includes 425 focus points to choose from. Sony A6500 has tap to focus. You are able to use your fingers in order to adjust focus points. It also comes with Tracking Autofocus for objects that move. Sony A6500 has got manual focusing when required for low light conditions or you want more precise control on focusing.

Coronavirus is affecting the sensor business

Sony A6500 Battery life

The battery life (NP-FW50) in the Sony A6500 is fashioned to last for 350 shutters with respect to the CIPA measurements which is comparable with it's competition. The average Advanced Mirrorless camera battery life is 386. Sony A6600 has got the best (810) battery life for this class of cameras.

Listed below is a listing of Advanced Mirrorless cameras having the highest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
Sony-Alpha-A7c front thumbnailSony A7c
A6500 vs A7c
740 yesyesyes
Instagram's $20 billion Ad success
Canon-EOS-R7 front thumbnailCanon R7
A6500 vs R7
660 yesnoyes

Sony A6500 for different styles of photography

The following graph indicates a summary of the Sony A6500 for different styles of photography. To look at more, have a look at the specific section below.

Sony A6500 Portrait photography info

The Sony A6500 receives a rating of 80 which is superb, and means the camera is a outstanding choice to use for portrait images. Photographing portraits favors greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support along with the capability to utilize external flash.

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has manual focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW formats

Street photography with Sony A6500

With a fantastic points total of 85, the Sony A6500 is a great pick to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of image quality and portability.

Last day to get your files as Canon Irisa shuts down
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
boasts touch focus
weather proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)

Sony A6500 Sports photography details

A exceptional sports photography score of 84 indicates the Sony A6500 is a superb option for taking pictures of sports. A camera must have excellent autofocus and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

400 Megapixel mode coming to Fujifilm GFX 100
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus

Sony A6500 Travel photography advice

Weight is very important in choosing a travel camera. Over-all, the Sony A6500 gets a brilliant 79 for a travel camera which makes it a fantastic choice for your trips.

Control Profoto B10 & B10 Plus with your Android Phone
weather proofing
has bluetooth
features touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen

Landscape photography with Sony A6500

If you find yourself planning to choose a camera for landscape photography, the most essential aspect is going to be image quality. The Sony A6500 and it's fantastic rating of 85 for a landscape camera is a excellent fit amongst it's rivals.

Google will print your 'Best' photos for $8 a month
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing

Vlogging with Sony A6500

A camera for vlogging really should offer a moving screen, mic input and if possible IBIS. Taking all things in to account, the Sony A6500 is just not good for vlogging as it gets a lousy rating of 39.

Photographer fined '$200,000' for failing to deliver photos
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes microphone socket
screen isn't selfie friendly

Sony A6500 Alternatives

If you are shopping for alternatives to the A6500, below is a list of the top rated cameras which fall in to the class of Advanced Mirrorless.

The line chart below gives you a bird's eye view of the A6500 versus it's highest rated competitors listed earlier.

These are various other cameras you might take into account as alternate options. To look at a thorough comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

World's smallest camera makes it into Guinness Book of Records

Specifications

General Information
Make
Sony
Model type
Sony Alpha a6500
Class
Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced
2016-10-06
Physical type
Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
Bionz X
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor measurements
23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area
366.6mm²
Sensor resolution
24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution
6000 x 4000
RAW pictures
Max native ISO
25600
Max enhanced ISO
51200
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points
425
Lens
Lens mount type
Sony E
Available lenses
121
Focal length multiplier
1.5
Screen
Display type
Tilting
Display size
3"
Display resolution
922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.7x
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
85
DXO Color Depth rating
24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating
13.7
DXO Low light rating
1405
Features
Minimum shutter speed
30s
Fastest shutter speed
1/4000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed
1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate
11.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes
Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize
1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution
3840x2160
Video data format
MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
453 grams (1.00 lb)
Dimensions
120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
Other
Battery life
350 images
Battery type
Battery Pack
Battery ID
NP-FW50
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse recording
With downloadable app
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots
1
Price at release
$1,298