Manufacturer description: The Sony Alpha a6500 is a higher-end version of the company's a6300 mirrorless camera. The major additions are a new LSI that greatly improves AF and burst shooting performance, 5-axis image stabilization, and a touchscreen LCD with 'touchpad AF.' Sony claims autofocus speeds of 0.05 secs and a top burst rate of 11 fps (8 fps with C-AF) for up to 307 shots. The in-body IS system is CIPA-rated to five stops.
It retains the a6300's 24.2MP CMOS sensor (APS-C-size), Hybrid AF system, EVF, 4K video capture capability and weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body.
Our review
The Sony a6500 is an outstanding all-around camera. Image quality and 4K video quality are both exceptional and the camera's autofocus system also impresses. Well-suited for sports and action photography, the a6500 offers a deep buffer and burst speeds of both 8 and 11 fps with continuous autofocus. Just be aware that it can take some work to wrap one's head around its long list of capabilities, to get the most out of the camera.
Good for: Anyone wanting a tool that will let them take excellent images or 4K footage in a wide variety of circumstances.
Not so good for: Photographers wanting to effortlessly access all the camera's capabilities.
Key Feature
Body type
Body type Rangefinder-style mirrorless
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
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
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
Contrast Detect (sensor)
Phase Detect
Multi-area
Center
Selective single-point
Tracking
Single
Continuous
Touch
Face Detection
Live View
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 0.7×
Viewfinder resolution 2,359,296
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed 30 sec
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 sec
Aperture priority Yes
Shutter priority Yes
Manual exposure mode Yes
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
Continuous drive 11.0 fps
Self-timer Yes
Metering modes
Multi
Center-weighted
Highlight-weighted
Spot
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 PCM
3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital
1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital
1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital
1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital
1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
1920 x 1080 @ 50i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital
1920 x 1080 @ 50i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital
1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 16 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 6 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital
1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital
1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 16 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital
1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital
1280 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
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