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EOS-1D vs A6500

Quick take: The A6500 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the EOS-1D is the most affordable.

16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

EOS-1D — Professional Digital Camera History Collectors: Canon's first pro digital DSLR — a 4MP, 8fps APS-H monster from 2001 that set the template for every 1D to follow. A landmark piece of digital camera history.

A6500 — Travel, Street & Versatile Everyday Photography: The first Sony APS-C with IBIS — the A6500 added in-body stabilisation, touch AF, and a far deeper buffer to the A6300's already strong formula.

Who should buy what
EOS-1D (2001)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Collectors of professional digital camera milestones
  • Canon historians documenting the evolution of the EOS-1 line
  • Sports photography archivists
A6500 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Travel photographers who want IBIS in a compact weather-sealed E-mount body
  • A6300 owners who need the stabilisation or touch AF the A6300 lacked
  • Street and documentary photographers who want a capable compact with weather sealing
  • Sony E-mount shooters looking for a capable used body at an accessible price
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification EOS-1DCanon · 2001A6500Sony · 2016
Price £150Best£649
Sensor 4.1MP APS-H CMOS (1.3× crop)24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS
Resolution 4.1MP24.2MPBest
Video —4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p
Autofocus 45-point AF with 7 cross-type points425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection
Stabilisation —IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS)
Burst Rate 8fps continuous (up to 21 RAW frames)11fpsBest
Battery Life ~1200 shots per chargeBest~310 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1225g (body only)453g (with battery and card)Best
Dimensions 155.6 × 117.8 × 77.5mm120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder OVF, 0.72× magnification, 100% coverageEVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification
Screen 2.0" fixed LCD3.0" tilting touchscreen
Mount Canon EFSony E-mount
Memory Cards CompactFlash Type I/IISingle SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity USB 1.1, FireWireUSB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
EOS-1D
A6500
Portrait
4.7/10
6.6/10
Street
3.6/10
7.1/10
Travel
3.7/10
6.6/10
Wedding & Events
5.0/10
5.2/10
Documentary
3.7/10
5.8/10
Sports & Action
5.6/10
6.6/10
Landscape
3.7/10
5.5/10
Wildlife
5.9/10
7.3/10
Casual
1.9/10
4.8/10
Food
3.1/10
6.3/10
Macro
2.9/10
5.7/10
Architecture
3.3/10
5.4/10
Astrophotography
5.6/10
5.3/10
Filmmaking
—
5.1/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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