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Review Summary
2022-10-24T20:00:00
My Sony a6500 is one of Sony's top-tier APS-C mirrorless models, with 24MP stills and a video camera with built-in image stabilization. It sits above the similar-looking a6000 that I have before this one, Sony adds a touchscreen capability and stabilization for enthusiasts willing to dig a little deeper into their pockets.
AMotayo
2020-09-22T20:00:00
I bought this camera to persue my hobby. I know it an expensive hobby to pressure but hoby is a hobby. This camera has great features and I am loving it. I had it with 18-135 sony lenses, the feature like image stabilization is great. The only down side is the video can't go over 30 minutes.
vs198907
2020-03-07T19:00:00
THE ONLY ISSUE IS THE TEMPETURE, SHUT DOWN THE DEVICE, RELLY BAD, MISS ALOT OF GOOD MEMORIES, MODEL 6500 NOT RECOMENDED, BUT A FRIEND GET THE 6400 BECAUSE OF ME.
JORTEGA
2020-02-11T19:00:00
Have been using my A6500 for several weeks now, and very pleased with the images I've produced
Boothead
2019-11-26T18:53:12
Solid travel camera, upgrading from the NEX series. Lots of functions, but takes awhile to sort through the menus, or save your favorite shooting profiles. Touch screen super helpful in performing touch focus in photos or videos.
Kenny C.
2019-07-13T20:00:00
Using the camera for underwater and water sports. Great camera and images.
The C.
2019-06-14T20:00:00
Compact, lightweight, maneuverability. Impressive colors.
DarkRican
2019-03-29T20:00:00
Just getting back into Photography after many years. Great camera to learn all the new stuff.
Happy J.
2019-03-06T19:00:00
I am very happy with this Camera. I now have some amazing pictures without having to carry lots of heavy equipment around.
golan3
2019-02-15T19:00:00
Excellent images. I am finding it difficult to set up as I want but pleased I purchased it. Would welcome some more Sony lenses just for APSC format especially telephoto zoom.
Salopian
2019-02-12T08:58:52
The Sony a6500 gets lumped in with entry level cameras, but I dare say it is pretty darn close to semi-pro level. Build quality is good, picture quality is excellent. My only major complaint is how cumbersome and confusing Sony makes their menues and I do feel that the buttons and dials are all kind of jammed too closely together and anyone with larger fingers may have a hard time using it in the fly.
DAVID T.
2019-01-18T14:11:19
This camera takes great pictures right out of the box for this beginner. It has a fast and accurate focus. I love the in body stabilization. The bokeh is nice as well. After searching and reading/watching reviews, I knew that the A6500 was the best camera you can buy for this price point.
Ginger B.
2018-12-19T19:00:00
I have had this camera for some weeks and am now used to its systems. It was purchased to replace my GX8. To date, apart from the lack of a pivoting viewfinder, I am pleased with its systems and quality. I need something compact & lightweight, for when I need to use a system camera, to fit in rucksacks & bike bags. I like a clean shape with no bulges to catch when removing it from the bag. The image quality is good with a good dynamic range, enabling me to bring out detail in difficult conditions. I would have preferred to have a second knob to control some functions and to add further functions, but I can live with it!
PRRkent
2018-12-15T07:31:09
I shoot photos for a living. Corporate work. When I'm not working I use this camera. Absolutely the best pocket camera (with the 2.8 28mm pancake lens). Not great with battery life so carry a spare.
Edward J.
2018-11-29T01:57:19
I started with a couple of A6000s to try out mirrorless. I am hooked and really enjoying the upgrades this camera has over the A6000.
Ryan R.
2018-10-15T09:18:16
So far this camera has been amazing! It is my first real camera and I haven’t had any problems so far. Don’t let the compact size fool you. The imagine quality is great. I expect to use this camera a lot more in the future!
Greyson F.
2018-10-10T14:30:03
Great little camera. Fast autofocus with lots of autofocus points.
Michael M.
2018-09-20T11:00:23
Excellent photos and videos. Lightweight single lens travel camera with the 18 -135 lens. Sony offers many options for other zoom and prime lenses.
Joseph D.
2018-09-02T20:00:00
I have had many Sony cameras and this one by far is the best one yet...Took pictures of my daughter with ease but with pro results ....She already wants me to become PRO..lol Great camera thanks for the memories...
proud d.
2018-08-20T08:33:07
This is not an inexpensive camera but it is a great little camera for a crop sensor. It does pretty good in low light photography and video which is why I went with this one.
Steve G.
2018-08-15T20:00:00
Pleased with all the features and results of the Sony A6500
Dh47
2018-08-07T20:00:00
I have had the camera a couple of months and have now had chance to use it in anger. It is an upgrade from my Nikon D3200. It has overcome the lack of ISO performance, the lack of critical focus due to lack of lens calibration, gives me image stabilization. Then there are all the other bits like you can see what depth of field you are getting and the exposure rendering on the image before you press the button. Ability to detect and focus on the subjects eye, I have some amazingly sharp portraits as a result. Small Negatives/ opportunities to improve I expected it to use a lot of battery power to drive the view finder and so bought a spare battery as you do. However out of the box I found there was no separate battery charger. The camera was the charger and could not be used for hours whilst charging the battery, after paying all that for the camera I thought it a bit off to buy a separate charger. Infrared remote release; The Nikon has the sensors front and back this does not. So if you are shooting landscapes from a tripod and naturally stand behind you have to reach around the camera to get the remote to work. We all don't want to use the remote to take selfies! Instructions; Your products come with a vast amount of paper but finding the bit in your language takes ages and then it's not comprehensive. It was a few weeks before I found what I needed to know on the internet and I still have not managed to get it to work with my Sony Experia phone!
Stephen R.
2018-07-05T20:00:00
Once you learn the complex menus and set it up this little gem is spactacular...and the video is even more amazing in 4K.....10/10
Jimmy7777
2018-07-03T17:35:39
It is an excellent camera. I was looking for a versatile compact camera with a lens for easy handling during travel. I have found one and am very happy. Adorama is a reputable company to do business with as evident from my experience. The shipment box arrived all busted and appeared to have sticky hands gotten inside. Fortunately, the camera and the lens kit was untouched. I immediately reported to Adorama customer service about the incident. They agreed to send me the missing items which arrived safely. I am pleased with doing business with Adorama.
Manhar P.
2018-06-29T20:00:00
Bought December 2017, so far it doesn't disappoint me. Encounter a minimal issue but I'm glad the service center able to repair faster than usual.
REM01
2018-06-21T20:00:00
I love everything about this camera. The photos it takes and the feel in my hands. It is very easy to use. I had 2 break in 2 weeks when I first got it. The 3rd one has been great. I had some bad luck.
DS442
2018-06-08T20:09:46
Best sony camera... and warranty is good
herbert p.
2018-06-06T12:02:53
As a lifelong Nikon shooter whose back is not what it once was, I was looking for a travel solution that would get me close to the results I can achieve with my D750. Sony's A6500 is a very good performer in many regards. Menus are acceptable and there are enough customizable buttons to make most important choices rapidly accessible. It is ergonomically well-designed and light enough to carry comfortably. Face recognition is very strong, commonly achieving tack-sharp results. Video output is excellent. However the A6500 falls short in its ability to render some colors faithfully, in particular running slightly yellow/green in skin tones. AF is strong most of the time, although with the 18-135 zoomed to its longest settings, sometimes it fails to find focus at all for a few seconds. Outdoors the EVF's display is duller than that of a DSLR's TTL display, making shooting a little less enjoyable. I have also had a difficult time coaxing dynamic range out of deep shadows in AWR (raw) files using Adobe Camera raw, compared to the output of my D750, to a greater extent than I would have expected, even allowing for the Sony's smaller sensor. Overall I like working with this camera, but think it has a bit farther to go before it can compete with standard DSLR features.
FRED B.
2018-06-05T20:00:00
Only owned the a6500 a short time, but easier and more versatile to use than my older DSLR. Easy to use for street shots, videos, etc and many features found on more expensive cameras. I have been a photographer for many year, this is a great camera for a beginner or pro. Takes a little time to adjust to the smaller size and learn features to fully use this camera. Worth it!
Jaz18
2018-06-01T15:35:14
No video review here. This purchase was an upgrade from 6300 to get the badly needed IBIS feature. With 6300 I was unable to get enough steady action pictures at tele end of 24-240 lens. It is my workhorse lens on both APS-C and FF cameras. However, the AF focus lock has not improved. Difficulty to pick up and hold on to subjects moving in busy background feels the same like with 6300. Also, at tele end and distant subjects, the camera sometimes fixes the focus at never-land. Out of curiosity, I tried to figure out what distance the camera is focused on, but could not find any. Looks like in these instances the lens is focusing nowhere. To correct it, I have to refocus on closer subject, let go and then try again at distant subject. So, just like with 6300, I am losing some action tele shots. Just for different reason. Working with open aperture to help the AF technology does not seem to improve the situation. F 6.3 at 240mm tele end is an equivalent of about F 10 on APS-C sensor. That might be too much for the 6500 AF system to handle even in bright outdoors. Switching to manual focus in a hurry is not an option. Today’s lenses are focusing electronically. With tele lenses that means too much focus hunting that slows down my manual adjustments. With non-tele lenses no such problems. However, I bought this body as a backup for my FF while doing action photos with tele zooms. Because of AF problems, I do not bother anymore. For backups in shorter distances, non-action photos and for general use the RX100v5 is better option for me.
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Browse our FAQ
Interchangeable lens digital camera with built-in flash
E-mount
Sony E-mount lenses
APS-C type (23.5 x 15.6mm)
Approx. 24.2 megapixels
Approx. 25.0 megapixels
3.02
R, G, B primary color
Yes
Charge protection coating on optical filter and image sensor shift mechanism
Cleaning Mode
JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver.2.31, MPF Baseline compliant), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format)
L: 6000 x 4000(24M),
M: 4240 x 2832(12M),
S: 3008 x 2000(6.0M)
L: 6000 x 3376(20M),
M: 4240 x 2400(10M),
S: 3008 x 1688(5.1M)
Wide: horizontal 12,416 x 1,856 (23M), vertical 5,536 x 2,160 (12M), Standard: horizontal 8,192 x 1,856 (15M), vertical 3,872 x 2,160 (8.4M)
RAW
RAW & JPEG
JPEG Extra fine
JPEG Fine
JPEG Standard
Yes
13 types: Posterization (Color), Posterization (B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R/G/B/Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera(Normal/Cool/Warm/Green/Magenta), Soft High-key , Soft Focus(High/Mid/Low), HDR Painting(High/Mid/Low), Rich-tone Monochrome, Miniature(Auto/Top/Middle(H)/Bottom/Right/Middle(V)/Left), Watercolor, Illustration(High/Mid/ Low)
Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Autumn leaves, Black & White, Sepia, Style Box(1-6), (Contrast (-3 to +3 steps), Saturation (-3 to +3 steps), Sharpness (-3 to +3 steps))
Yes (Off / PP1-PP9) Parameters: Black level, Gamma (Movie, Still, Cine1-4, ITU709, ITU709 [800%], S-Log2, S-Log3), Black Gamma, Knee, Color Mode, Saturation, Color Phase, Color Depth, Detail, Copy, Reset
Off, Dynamic Range Optimizer (Auto/Level (1-5)), Auto High Dynamic Range (Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure Difference Level (1-6 EV, 1.0 EV step))
sRGB standard (with sYCC gamut) and Adobe RGB standard compatible with TRILUMINOS Color
XAVC S
AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant
MP4
XAVC S:MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, AVCHD: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MP4: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
XAVC S:LPCM 2ch
AVCHD: Dolby Digital (AC-3) 2ch, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator
MP4: MPEG-4 AAC-LC 2ch
Posterization (Color), Posterization (B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R/G/B/Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera(Normal/Cool/Warm/Green/Magenta), Soft High-key
Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Autumn leaves, Black & White, Sepia, Style Box (1-6), (Contrast (-3 to +3 steps), Saturation (-3 to +3 steps), Sharpness (-3 to +3 steps))
Yes (Off / PP1-PP9) Parameters: Black level, Gamma (Movie, Still, Cine1-4, ITU709, ITU709 [800%], S-Log2, S-Log3), Black Gamma, Knee, Color Mode, Saturation, Color Phase, Color Depth, Detail, Copy, Reset
xvYCC standard (x.v.Color when connected via HDMI cable) compatible with TRILUMINOS Color
3840 x 2160(30p, 100M) Approx.100Mbps
3840 x 2160(25p, 100M) Approx.100Mbps
3840 x 2160(24p, 100M) Approx.100Mbps
3840 x 2160(30p, 60M) Approx.60Mbps
3840 x 2160(25p, 60M) Approx.60Mbps
3840 x 2160(24p, 60M) Approx.60Mbps
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
ON/OFF selectable
3840 x 2160(30p)
3840 x 2160(25p)
3840 x 2160(24p)
1920 x 1080(60p)
1920 x 1080(60i)
1920 x 1080(50p)
1920 x 1080(50i)
1920 x 1080(24p),
YCbCr 4:2:2 8bit / RGB 8bit
Yes
Yes
Memory Stick PRO Duo
Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo
Memory Stick Micro(M2)
SD memory card
SDHC memory card (UHS-I compliant)
SDXC memory card (UHS-I compliant)
microSD memory card
microSDHC memory card
microSDXC memory card
Multi slot for Memory Stick Duo/SD memory card
FAT12, 16, 32, exFAT
Long exposure NR: On/Off , available at shutter speeds longer than 1 sec.
High ISO NR: Normal/Low/Off
Auto/ ISO 100 to 51200
Auto / Daylight / Shade / Cloudy / Incandescent / Fluorescent / Warm White / Cool White / Day White / Daylight> / Flash /Underwater/ Color Temperature <2500 to 9900K> & color filter / Custom
Yes
Yes (Standard/ Ambience/ White)
3 frames, H/L selectable
Fast Hybrid AF(phase-detection AF/contrast-detection AF)
Exmor CMOS sensor
425 points (phase-detection AF) / 169 points (contrast-detection AF)
EV-1 to EV20 (ISO100 equivalent with F2.0 lens attached)
AF-A (Automatic AF), AF-S (Single-shot AF), AF-C ( Continuous AF), DMF (Direct Manual Focus), Manual Focus
Wide (425 points (phase-detection AF), 169 points(contrast-detection AF)) / Zone / Center / Flexible Spot (S/M/L) /Expanded Flexible Spot/ Lock-on AF ( Wide / Zone / Center / Flexible Spot (S/M/L)/Expanded Flexible Spot)
Yes (only with LA-EA2 or LA-EA4 attached(Sold separately))
Yes
Yes
Predictive control, Focus lock
Yes(with Built-in LED type)
Approx. 0.3- approx. 3.0m (with E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens attached)
Yes, (Sold separately)
1200-zone evaluative metering
Exmor CMOS sensor
EV-2 to EV20 (at ISO100 equivalent with F2.0 lens attached)
Multi-segment
Center-weighted
Spot (Standard/ Large)
Entire Screen Avg.
Highlight
AUTO(iAuto/Superior Auto)
Programmed AE (P)
Aperture priority (A)
Shutter-speed priority (S)
Manual (M)
Movie / S&Q Motion (Programmed AE (P) / Aperture priority (A) / Shutter-speed priority (S) / Manual (M) )
Sweep Panorama
Scene Selection
Portrait
Sports Action
Macro
Landscape
Sunset
Night Scene
Hand-held Twilight
Night Portrait
Anti Motion Blur
+/- 5.0EV(1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps selectable)
Bracket: Cont., Bracket: Single, 3/5/9 frames selectable. With 3 or 5 frames, in 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 EV increments, with 9 frames, in 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or 1.0 EV increments.
Locked when shutter button is pressed halfway. Available with AE lock button. (On/Off/Auto)
Still images: ISO 100-25600 (ISO numbers up to ISO 51200 can be set as expanded ISO range.),
AUTO (ISO 100-6400, selectable lower limit and upper limit)
Movies: ISO 100-25600 equivalent, AUTO (ISO 100-6400 equivalent, selectable lower limit and upper limit)
1.0 cm (0.39 type) electronic viewfinder (color)
2 359 296 dots
Auto/Manual (5 steps between -2 and +2)
Manual (5 steps)
100%
Approx. 1.07x (35mm camera equivalent: Approx. 0.70x) with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m-1
-4.0-+3.0 m-1
Approx. 23mm from the eyepiece lens, 21.4mm from the eyepiece frame at -1m-1 (CIPA standard)
Graphic Display
Display All Info.
No Disp. Info.
Digital Level Gauge
Histogram
Yes (1x, 2x)
7.5cm (3.0-type) wide type TFT
Yes
921 600 dots
Manual (5 steps between -2 and +2), Sunny Weather mode
Up by approx. 90 degrees, Down by approx. 45 degrees
Yes
Graphic Display
Display All Info
No Disp. Info
Digital Level Gauge
Histogram
For viewfinder
On/Off
Yes
Yes Focus Magnifier (5.9x, 11.7x)
Yes
(selectable level + range or lower limit as custom setting)
Yes (Level setting: High/Mid/Low/Off, Color: White/Red/Yellow)
Yes
Yes
On/On (Regist. Faces)/Off
Yes
Yes
8
Yes
Smile shutter (selectable from 3 steps)
Yes (Available with LCD monitor/ Viewfinder operation)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Approx. 2x
Approx. 2x
M:Approx. 1.4x
S:Approx. 2x
L:Approx. 4x
M:Approx. 5.7x
S:Approx. 8x
Approx. 4x
Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type
Still images:1/4000 to 30 sec, Bulb,
Movies: 1/4000 to 1/4(1/3 steps)
up to 1/60 in AUTO mode (up to 1/30 in Auto slow shutter mode)
1/160 sec.
Yes(ON/OFF)
Yes (ON/OFF)
Image Sensor-Shift mechanism with 5-axis compensation (Compensation depends on lens specifications)
5.0 steps (based on CIPA standard. Pitch/yaw shake only. With Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA lens mounted. Long exposure NR off.)
Built-in flash
6 (in meters at ISO 100)
16mm (focal-length printed on the lens body)
Pre-flash TTL
+/- 3.0 EV (switchable between 1/3 and 1/2 EV steps)
3/5/9 frames selectable. With 3 or 5 frames, in 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 EV increments, with 9 frames, in 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1.0 EV increments.
Flash off
Autoflash
Fill-flash
Slow Sync.
Rear Sync.
Red-eye reduction (on/off selectable)
Wireless control
Hi-speed sync
Approx. 4 sec
Sony a System Flash compatible with Multi Interface Shoe, attach the shoe adapter for flash compatible with Auto-lock accessory shoe
Yes
Single Shooting
Single Shooting
Continuous shooting (Hi+/Hi/Mid/Lo selectable)
Self-timer
Self-timer (Cont.)
Bracket: Single
Bracket: Cont.
White Balance bracket
DRO bracket
10 sec. delay/5 sec. delay/2 sec. delay/Continuous self-timer (3 frames after 10 sec. delay/5 frames after 10 sec. delay/3 frames after 5 sec. delay/5 frames after 5 sec. delay/3 frames after 2 sec. delay/5 frames after 2 sec. delay)/Bracketing self-timer (Off/2 sec. delay/5 sec. delay/10sec. delay)
Continuous shooting: Hi+: 11 fps, Hi: 8 fps, Mid: 6 fps, Lo: 3 fps
JPEG Extra fine L: 233 frames, JPEG Fine L: 269 frames, JPEG Standard L: 301 frames, RAW: 107 frames, RAW&JPG: 100 frames
Single (with or without shooting information Y RGB histogram & highlight/shadow warning)
12/30-frame index view
Enlarged display mode (L: 16.7x, M: 11.8x, S: 8.3x, Panorama (Standard): 19.2x, Panorama (Wide): 29.1x)
Auto Review (10/5/2 sec, Off)
Image orientation (Auto/Manual/Off selectable)
Slideshow
Panorama scrolling
Folder selection (Date/ Still/ MP4/ AVCHD/XAVC S HD/XAVC S 4K)
Yes
View on Smartphone - Yes
Send to Computer -Yes
View on TV- Yes
Yes
Yes
Mass-storage, MTP, PC remote
Yes
Yes (NFC forum Type 3 Tag compatible)
Yes (Wi-Fi Compatible, IEEE 802.11b/g/n(2.4GHz band) )
Yes (Bluetooth Standard Ver. 4.1 (2.4GHz band))
HDMI micro connector (Type-D)
BRAVIA Sync (Control for HDMI)
PhotoTV HD
4K movie output/4K still image PB
Yes
Yes (3.5 mm Stereo minijack)
Yes (RMT-DSLR2 (sold separately))
Yes
Built-in stereo microphone or XLR-K2M/XLR-K1M/ECM-XYST1M (sold separately)
Built-in, monaural
Exif Print, Print Image Matching III, DPOF setting
Yes
Yes (Body 2 sets /memory card 4 sets)
Peripheral Shading, Chromatic Aberration, Distortion
One rechargeable battery pack NP-FW50
Approx. 310 shots (Viewfinder) / approx. 350 shots (LCD monitor) (CIPA standard)
Actual Recording - Approx. 65 min (Viewfinder) / Approx. 70 min (LCD monitor) (CIPA standard)
Continuous Recording -0 Approx. 105 min (Viewfinder) / Approx. 105 min (LCD monitor) (CIPA standard)
Yes
Yes
AC Adapter AC-PW20 (sold separately)
32 - 104 degrees F / 0 - 40 degrees C
Approx. 4 3/4 x 2 3/4 x 2 1/8" (120.0 x 66.9 x 53.3mm)
Approx. 1 lb (453g) with battery and Memory Stick Pro Duo included
027242911727
great pics it takes
By trebie2
it is a great camera ibis works and the low light pics are good
great
By tondhoosh
great 4k quality and good stabilizer and also sensitive iso
New Sony flagship APS-C sensor camera, the a6500 (model ILCE-6500).
As the latest addition to Sony's lineup of award winning mirrorless cameras, the new a6500 shares the same unrivaled 4D FOCUS system as the a6300 camera, which can lock focus on a subject in as little as 0.05 seconds, the world's fastest AF acquisition time. Also shared with the a6300, the new a6500 features 425 phase detection AF points that are densely positioned over nearly the entire image area - the world's highest number of AF points on any interchangeable lens camera. The new model can shoot images at up to 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus and exposure tracking and up to 8 frames per second in a live-view shooting mode that makes it easy to track fast moving subjects, as it combines all of the benefits of an electronic viewfinder with the immediacy of an optical viewfinder.
The camera can shoot at these high speeds for up to 307 frames thanks to its expanded buffer, which, along with the fast response speeds described above, are all achieved with the support of a new front-end LSI chip that has been added to the camera. This new front-end LSI also serves to enhance both still and video image quality. Additionally, the new a6500 features Sony's acclaimed in-camera 5-axis optical image stabilization, making it the first Sony APS-C sensor camera to offer all of the benefits of advanced in-body stabilization, which include a shutter speed advantage of approximately 5 steps. It also offers touchscreen AF capabilities for focus point selection and adjustment.
Unmatched AF Capability
Sony's new a6500 camera utilizes the same 4D FOCUS system as the a6300 - a Fast Hybrid AF system that combines high-speed phase detection AF with extremely accurate contrast AF and allows it to capture and lock on to moving subjects in as little as 0.05 seconds1. It also features 425 phase detection AF points and High-density Tracking AF Technology, which significantly improves subject detection and tracking performance.
New for the a6500, thanks to faster internal processing capabilities enabled by the front-end LSI, the maximum buffer for high-speed continuous shooting is an impressive 307 frames, greatly increasing the chances to catch that decisive moment
The camera's 425 phase detection AF points, focusing tracking and accuracy are also available when using non-native A-mount lenses with Sony's LA-EA3 mount adaptor. Additionally, it includes silent shooting, Eye AF in AF-C mode, AF in focus magnifier modes, Expand Flexible Spot AF and more.
5-axis Image Stabilization Provides 5 Steps Shutter Speed Advantage
One of the most exciting developments in the new a6500 is the implementation of 5-axis image stabilization for the first time in a Sony APS-C sensor camera. Additionally, through a total revision of the internal design of the camera, this newly developed stabilization system fits entirely within a body that is nearly the same size as the a6300 model. This innovative 5- axis system provides a shutter speed advantage of 5 steps, ensuring the full resolving power of the sensor can be realized, even in challenging lighting.
The shake compensation provided by the system works with a variety of lenses, including E-mount lenses without OSS (Optical SteadyShot) stabilization and A-mount lenses when used with a compatible mount adapter. When an E-mount lens with OSS is mounted, pitch and yaw are compensated in the lens and horizontal, vertical and roll axes are compensated in the camera body, resulting in optimal 5-axis stabilization
Also, with a simple half press of the shutter button, the effect of the image stabilization can be monitored in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen, allowing framing and focus to be accurately checked and continually monitored. This is available even when a lens is attached that does not have built-in shake compensation.
New Touch Screen Focusing
The new a6500 comes equipped with touch screen functionality, allowing users to lock focus on a subject simply by touching it on the screen. This is a powerful compliment to its advanced AF system and video shooting capabilities.
Additionally, in a first for Sony cameras, the a6500 features touchpad functionality. When utilizing the viewfinder for framing and shooting, the LCD screen can be used as a touch pad. Simply drag a finger across the screen to shift the focus point from one area to another.
Powerful 24.2 MP Exmor CMOS Sensor, BIONZ X½ Processor and New Front-End LSI
The new a6500 features an APS-C sized 24.2 MP8 Exmor CMOS sensor that works together with a BIONZ X image processor and the newly developed front-end LSI to maximize processing power and achieve an impressive sensitivity range of ISO 100-51200.
The image sensor employs a thin wiring layer and large photodiode substrate that maximizes light collection efficiency, plus copper wiring in its structure for outstanding read-out speed. The BIONZ X image processor and newly developed front-end LSI ensure superior image and video quality with low noise even when using higher ISO settings, in particular those at high sensitivity values where other cameras typically struggle. The LSI is also responsible for the expanded buffer depth for continuous shooting.
Professional Video Capabilities
The new a6500 becomes the latest Sony interchangeable lens camera to offer internal 4K movie recording, as it can shoot 4K (3840x2160p) video in the popular Super 35mm format on the full width of the image sensor. When shooting in this format, the camera uses full pixel readout without pixel binning to collect 6K of information - approximately 2.4x (20 MP equivalent) as many pixels as 4K UHD and then oversamples the information to produce high quality 4K footage with exceptional detail and depth.
Additionally, the a6500 will focus exceptionally fast during movie shooting thanks to its Fast Hybrid AF system, offers touch focusing for professionally smooth focus shifts, while also offering adjustable AF transition speed and AF tracking sensitivity. The camera supports the XAVC S codec during video shooting, which records at a high bit rate of up to 100 Mbps during 4K recording and 50 Mbps during Full HD shooting, ensuring maximum detail and clarity in both video formats.
Other professional caliber video features include the ability to record Full HD at 120 fps at up to 100 Mbps, which allows footage to be reviewed and eventually edited into 4x or 5x slow motion video files in Full HD (24p) resolution with AF tracking.
New on the a6500 is the incorporation of a 'Slow and Quick' (S&Q) mode that supports both slow motion and quick motion. In this mode, frame rates from 1 fps to 120 fps can be selected in 8 steps for up to 60x quick motion and 5x slow motion recording. Footage shot in this mode can be previewed after shooting without the need for PC-based post processing.
The camera also offers S-Log gamma recording for wide dynamic range shooting - approximately 14-stop latitude in S-Log3 gamma setting - and supports S-Gamut for a wider color space. Both options allow for greater creativity for processing video post-production.
Shooters also now have the ability to select, extract and save still images from movie footage directly on the camera. Approximately 8 MP images and 2 MP images can be pulled from 4K modes and Full HD modes, respectively.
Enhanced Operability and Reliability
The new a6500 has a refined design, maintaining the mobility of the a6000 series while adapting much of the usability of Sony's acclaimed a7 II series. The new model features the same high contrast, high-resolution 2.4 million dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder as the a6300 that offers exceptional corner-to-corner visibility. New hardware features on the a6500 include a magnesium alloy body and a high-durability shutter with a tested life span of approximately 200,000 release cycles14. It also has several design features that are borrowed from the a7 II series of full-frame cameras, which include a robust lens mount, a recessed grip to improve handling, a larger release button and ten total custom buttons including 'C1', 'C2' and 'C3'. It also has an improved operation feel for its mode and control dials and rear face buttons, as well as a softer eyepiece cup for more comfortable usage.
On the software front, there is a new overall user interface, which allows for a much smoother process for searching and adjusting menu settings, as well two new metering modes - Highlight, where exposure metering is focused on the brightest area of the frame, and Entire Screen Avg, which maintains an average metering for the entire image.
The camera is Wi-Fi, QR and NFC compatible and fully compatible with Sony's PlayMemories Mobile applications available for Android and iOS platforms, as well as Sony's growing range of PlayMemories Camera Apps. The a6500 also offers location data acquisition via a Bluetooth16 connection to a compatible mobile device and an updated menu structure to deliver a smoother navigational experience.
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