The Sony Alpha A6500 is the company’s most advanced APS-C mirrorless camera, and boy, does it come with a lot of technology.
Sony waited only six months before updating the Alpha A6300 with the A6500. However, while this may sound like a premature update, the Alpha 6500 gains several essential features, including in-body image stabilization, which further blurs the line between Sony’s APS-C lineup and its Alpha 7 full-frame range of mirrorless cameras.
In addition, Sony’s newest camera features a touchscreen user interface, which is a beautiful addition. Additionally, the buffer on this camera has been much improved, making it an appealing option for capturing action.
Incorporating these brand-new capabilities elevates the A6500 to the status of one of the crop-sensor cameras that offers the most comprehensive set of features currently available on the market.
Sony a6500 Features
Even though the Sony A6500 has the same 24.2MP APS-C sensor and 4D focus technology (with 425 phase detect AF points) as the Alpha 6300, there are welcome enhancements in other areas of the camera.
It is notable because it is the first Sony APS-C camera with 5-axis in-body image stabilization. This is similar to what we’ve seen with Sony’s second-generation Alpha 7 line of cameras, such as the Alpha A7R II.
The fantastic news is that this not only works with Sony’s optics that do not have stabilization but it can also be used in conjunction with Sony’s OSS lenses, which have stabilization.
The buffer of the A6500 has also been redesigned by Sony, which has resulted in a significant increase in performance. As a result, the camera is now capable of capturing 307 full-size JPEG files or 107 raws at a rapid 11fps burst rate. This is a significant improvement from the A6300, which could only take a maximum of 44 JPEG files and 22 buffs.
Sony a6500 Build Quality.
The Sony A6500 is virtually indistinguishable from its ancestor in terms of its exterior design. Plastic is used for the power switch, battery hatch, and controls on this half-metal, half-plastic design built around a magnesium frame. However, the structure itself is made of metal.
To accommodate the in-body image stabilization feature, the A6500 is somewhat thicker than the A6300, measuring 53 millimeters instead of 49 millimeters; both cameras measure 120 millimeters across and 67 millimeters high. The additional components cause the weight to increase by 49 grams, bringing the total to 453 grams for the A6500 (1lb).
One noticeable improvement we genuinely like and appreciate is the deeper grip, which gives us a stronger grasp on the camera and makes it easier to use. In contrast to the A6300, which only featured a single custom function button to the right of the shutter button, the A6500 features two buttons, both positioned between the mode dial and the shutter button.
Sony a6500 Performance
The processing rates of the Sony A6500 were significantly improved compared to those of the A6300, which is one of the reasons why this camera is such an absolute speed demon.
The powerful processing engine in the Alpha A99 II has been transplanted into the A6500. When shooting at 8 frames per second, the A6500 has a burst shooting buffer that can hold up to 307 JPEGs, giving you 35 seconds of uninterrupted firepower. Alternately, the camera can record 107 raw images or 200 JPEGs in a single burst when set to 11 frames per second.
The challenging lighting conditions did not throw off the multi-zone metering mechanism of the A6500, and it was able to meter flawlessly on the dot without any overexposure or underexposure.
The Sony A6500 has a mediocre, at best, performance regarding its battery life. We could only go through around half an evening’s worth of shooting photographs and a few minutes of 4K film with it, even though it is rated for 350 shots.
In particular, if you intend to record movies in Ultra HD, which causes the camera’s battery to run down at a rate of 1% of every minute of footage, you will need to purchase a couple of additional batteries.
Sony a6500 Image quality
It should come as no surprise that Sony’s 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor, which was first introduced in the A6300 and boasts great performance, has been carried over to the A6500. The Sony A6500 is an incredible camera for still photography in terms of the quality of the images it produces.
The quality of JPEGs taken directly from the camera is extremely high, with photos exhibiting good levels of clarity and contrast. Additionally, the DRO system in the A6500 does a fantastic job of modestly bringing up darker regions, which makes the photographs more suited for immediate use.
Image noise is typically extremely well managed over the sensitivity range when taking JPEGs, as we have seen with the A6300. Photographs are entirely useable even at higher settings such as ISO6400.
However, we recommend utilizing the A6500’s Low noise reduction option rather than the camera’s Normal noise reduction level because the latter looks to be pretty aggressive in the way that it deals with high-ISO photographs.
Sony a6500 Specs
| Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 6000 x 4000 |
| Image ratio w:h | 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 24 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 25 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Bionz X |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 100-25600 (expandable to 51200) |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 51200 |
| White balance presets | 8 |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| Image stabilization notes | 5-axis |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Extra fine, fine, standard |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.3)Raw (14-bit Sony ARW) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 425 |
| Lens mount | Sony E |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.5× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Tilting |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 921,600 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 1.07× (0.71× 35mm equiv.) |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,359,296 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Exposure modes | iAutoProgramAperture priorityShutter priorityManual |
| Built-in flash | Yes |
| Flash range | 6.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| External flash | Yes (via hot shoe) |
| Flash modes | Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/160 sec |
| Drive modes | SingleContinuous (Hi+/Hi/Mid/Lo)Self-timerBracketing |
| Continuous drive | 11.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedHighlight-weightedSpot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±5 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes (3 frames, H/L selectable) |
| Videography features | |
| Format | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S |
| Modes | 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 50i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 16 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 6 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 16 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1280 x 720 @ 25p / 6 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (micro-HDMI) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n + NFC |
| Remote control | Yes (via smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | NP-FW50 |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 350 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 453 g (1.00 lb / 15.98 oz) |
| Dimensions | 120 x 67 x 53 mm (4.72 x 2.64 x 2.09″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Sony a6500 Verdict
Although there are just five new features on the Sony A6500, we should be able to count them on the one hand, but when added together, they make for a camera that is far more powerful and quick than the A6300. Of course, it would’ve been ideal if these features had made their debut in the A6300, but if you’ve been waiting for an APS-C Sony with virtually the same capabilities as the company’s full-frame A7 Mark II, this is the camera you’ve been looking for.
There isn’t any camera that can accomplish as much as the Sony A6500 while still being available at a lower price point. Despite our misgivings about the finicky controls and complex menu system, we still recommend it.
It performs surprisingly well compared to many higher-end DSLRs and mirrorless cameras for sports photography. If you want to go serious with video, you won’t find a much better option elsewhere.
Sony a6500 Pros & Cons
- Expansive video options
- Fast and lightning-fast autofocus technology
- Respectable capacity to act as a buffer
- Notable inconspicuous rolling shutter
- Dim rear LCD
- There is no provision for connecting headphones.
