EOS R8vs A6500
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Full-Frame Entry — EOS R8 (2023): Canon's most affordable full-frame mirrorless — 4K/60p 10-bit and class-leading Dual Pixel AF at an accessible entry price.
Travel, Street & Versatile Everyday Photography — A6500 (2016): 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 R8 (2023)
- Photographers wanting full-frame image quality at the lowest RF price
- EOS RP owners upgrading to better autofocus and modern video specs
- Beginners who want to start on full-frame without overspending
- Travel photographers who want a lightweight full-frame RF body
A6500 (2016)
- 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
Quick take: The a6500 is the most affordable; only the a6500 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R8 (2023) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,099 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled 10-bit, FHD/180p | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 1053 zones, eye/face/subject tracking | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 461g body only | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 86.1 × 70.0mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS R8 | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with EOS R8
Camera family history