Announced just six months after the previous Sony A6300, Sony hasn't left it long before bringing out the Alpha A6500. While this might sound like a premature update, A6500 gains in-body image stabilization to further blur the line between Sony’s APS-C line-up and its Alpha 7 full-frame range of mirrorless cameras.
Sony has also bestowed its latest APS-C mirrorless camera with a greatly enhanced buffer to make it a tempting proposition for shooting action, while there's also the welcome inclusion of a touchscreen interface finally.
The inclusion of these new features makes the Sony Alpha A6500 one of the most fully featured crop-sensor cameras on the market.
Features
- APS-C CMOS sensor, 24.2MP
- 3.0-inch, vari-angle touchscreen, 921,000 dots
- 4K video capture
While the Sony A6500 sticks with the Sony Alpha A6300’s 24.2MP APS-C sensor and 4D focus system (with 425 phase detect AF points), there have been some welcome improvements elsewhere.
It’s notably the first Sony APS-C camera to come with a 5-axis in-body image stabilization - just as we've seen with Sony's second-generation Alpha 7 series of cameras.The great news is that it not only works with Sony's non-stabilized optics, but it can also be used in conjunction with Sony's OSS stabilized lenses.
Sony has also overhauled the buffer of the A6500, delivering a considerable boost in performance that sees the camera capable of capturing 307 full-size JPEG files or 107 RAWs - all at a quick 11fps burst rate.
A faster large scale integration (LSI) chip and image processing algorithm improves texture reproduction while reducing noise. With this new chipset and code, the A6500 specifically produces less noise in the mid-to-high portions of the camera’s 100-25,600 (expandable up to ISO 51,200) sensitivity range.
The Sony A6500 gains no additional video capabilities over its predecessor. However, users will find themselves well equipped to shoot 4K at 25p and 30p, plus Full HD footage up to 120p for slow motion action.
In an effort to address the A6300’s infamous overheating issues, Sony has come up with a new ‘Auto PWR OFF Temp’ setting that prioritizes recording over keeping the camera cool.
This effectively turns off the camera's thermal limiter, so you can shoot 4K footage for 29 minutes and 50 seconds straight. After that you can record another half hour session assuming the camera is operating within normal conditions.
It removes a major restriction, but this is only a bandaid solution at best. While we haven’t seen the same overheating problems on the Sony A6500, it has still gets decently warm during cold winter, which leaves us weary of how it will perform in warmer months or under a hot sun.
Build
- Magnesium alloy and plastic construction
- Practically identical to the Sony Alpha A6300
- Dimensions: 120 x 67 x 53mm (W x D x H)
- Weight: 453g (1 pound)
Physically speaking, the Sony A6500 is largely identical to its predecessor. It’s still a half metal and plastic construction consisting of an all-around magnesium frame. Meanwhile, the remainder of the body smaller bits like the power switch, battery hatch and controls are made with plastic.
That said, the Sony A6500 is a smidge thicker at 53mm to accommodate for the in-body image stabilization system. Comparatively, the Sony measured 49mm – otherwise, the newer body is still 120mm wide and 67mm tall. The added components also add 49 grams of weight, bringing the total weight of the A6500 to 453g (1 pound).
Handling
- Slightly deeper grip
- Basic touchscreen integration
- Controls and menus still need work
A deeper grip is one notable change we actually appreciate as it allows us to get a better hold of the camera. There’s also an additional custom function button on the top deck. These two customizable function buttons have also been repositioned from the right of the shutter button to just between it and the mode dial.
The Sony also gains a touchscreen, bringing some more versatility to the camera’s articulating 921k-dot monitor. Unfortunately, it’s only useful for changing focus point while taking photos and video. You can also use it as a touchpad to change your focusing point while looking through the viewfinder – a feature we’ve seen on the Fujifilm X-T20 and Olympus Pen-F.
The touch-interface is nowhere near as robust as Olympus or even Fujifilm. Even more disappointingly, Sony’s touch-interface hasn’t evolved much since being included in the Sony Alpha A5100. In the future we’d like to see the ability to swipe through photos, pinch to zoom and more interaction with on screen controls.
The rear LCD screen by-itself is also still terribly dim and nearly unreadable in the sun, which is a big problem for monitoring video recordings and you’ll probably have to resort to reading zebra stripes.
Otherwise the control layout of the A6500 remains, to its detriment, unchanged since its forbearer. All of our complaints of the Sony A6300’s fiddly controls – from accidentally clicking in a direction on the rear dial to the recessed movie record button – still stand.
Menu systems also continue to be a sore spot with Sony. Although, the A6500 has a better organized and color-coded menu structure, it’s still a chore to tab almost a half dozen pages to find specific settings.
We feel think this could be easily fixed by simply adding a favorites section similar to Fujifilm's system. Thankfully, though, you can pin most things to the quick menu.
Autofocus performance
- 425 phase-detect AF points
- 169 contrast-detect AF points
- 0.05 sec AF speed
Equipped with the same 4D Focus system we loved so much in the A6300, the Sony latest crop sensor camera still has the densest AF system we've seen on an interchangeable-lens camera. 425 phase-detect AF pixels combined with 169 additional contrast-detect points allows the camera to find focus lighting fast.
Combined with the 11fps continuous shooting speed and a greatly enhanced buffer, and the Sony A6500 is a serious sports and wildlife camera. It very well competes with DSLR legends like the Nikon D500 and Canon 7D Mark II, as well as other higher-end mirrorless cameras like the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II.
We tested out its sports shooting capabilities at a hockey game and were able to capture tons of action in sharp detail. The AF system did a spectacular job of finding focus and staying locked on even with the players flying down the rink and moving between each other.
It was an especially challenging task as we were shooting through a sheet of protective plexiglass smeared by the impact of a thousand pucks that missed the goal.
Aside from shooting sports, the Sony A6500 also proved perfect for following fast-moving cars on Sony's specially laid-on track day event.
Performance
- 11fps burst shooting
- Buffer of up to 307 JPEG/107 RAW
- BIONZ X image processor
As we’ve previously mentioned, the Sony A6500 is a veritable speed demon. This is only possible thanks to processing speed being thoroughly boosted.
The A6500 has been treated to the A99 II’s potent processing engine. This gives the A6500 a burst shooting buffer of up to 307 JPEG frames when shooting at 8fps, resulting in 35 seconds of firepower. Alternatively, at 11fps shooting this camera can capture 200 JPEGs shots in a single bout or 107 RAWs.
A fast frame rate isn't enough and you really need a good buffer capacity too, especially when you're not quite sure when the key moment is going to happen – luckily, the Sony A6500 is well endowed in both of these regards.
Image quality
- ISO100-25,600 (expandable to 51,200)
- 6,000 x 4,000 image size
Sony’s 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor delivers outstanding performance in the A6300, so it’s little surprise that it’s been carried over to the A6500.
In terms of image quality, the Sony A6500 is an amazing camera for stills.
In terms of image quality, the Sony A6500 is an amazing camera for stills.
We’re seeing some very flexible dynamic range and impeccable sharpness. The Sony A6500 has also been performing stunningly at night with clean usable files at ISO 6,400.
Thanks to the upgraded LSI, we can also push the sensitivity envelope to ISO 12,800 and even 25,600 with usable results. Noise is still evident at these high ISO speeds, but it’s nothing a little bit of noise reduction can’t help.
Video quality
- 4K 25p/30p video capture
- 1080p 120p/60p/30p video capture
- S-Gamut/S-Log shooting
Of course, the Sony A6500’s other bread and butter is video and it basically comes with everything you’d want.
You have 4K (3,840 x 2,160) at 25p and 30p recording in a Super 35mm format. In this mode, the camera uses its entire sensor to capture 6K source to avoid cropping. The oversampled video data is then crunched down into a final 4K output with enhanced depth and detail.
Full HD 1080p recording is also available if you want to deal with smaller files (about half compared to Ultra HD video) and the option to go up to 120p, means you can capture slow motion video.
Video professionals will also be glad to hear the Sony A6500 samples 4K footage at 4.2.0 internally and 4.2.2 externally over HDMI. Plus it has all the flat picture profiles you would want to grade footage later.
Built-in stabilization is something we felt was sorely needed on the A6300 for video and now that it’s finally here, it puts the A6500 on par with the Sony A7 series. Although Sony has a few zoom lenses with optical stabilization, putting it on the sensor make it that much easier to slap on a prime lens and just start shooting without a monopod or any other camera support equipment.
Despite all these improvements though, rolling shutter is still an extremely apparent problem on this camera. So don’t buy this for your next big parkour video or move it from side-to-side too quickly.
Verdict
We might be able to count the Sony Alpha A6500's five new features on a single hand, but they add up to a much faster and robust device. A small part of us wishes this would have been in the original Sony A6300 all along now. However, if you’ve been waiting for an APS-C camera with nearly the same capabilities as the company’s full-frame cameras, this is it.
Despite our reservations about the fiddly controls and dense menu system, no other camera does as much as the Sony A6500 does and while being more affordable to boot. It keeps up surprisingly well with many higher-end DSLRs and mirrorless cameras for sports. And if you’re looking to get serious with video, you won’t find a much better starting place than this.
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