M10vs A6500
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street & Documentary — M10 (2017): The M10 returned Leica to its roots — thinner, cleaner, and video-free by design. The 24MP sensor is the perfect resolution for a manual-focus rangefinder. The simplified control layout respects the M tradition without digital clutter. A camera for photographers who want to slow down and engage with every frame. One of the most satisfying cameras to use — assuming you have M-mount glass to pair with it.
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
M10 (2017)
- Serious photographers who want to slow down
- Street and documentary photographers
- Leica M-mount lens owners
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 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a6500 is the most affordable; only the a6500 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | M10 (2017) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,000 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | — | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Manual focus (rangefinder coupled) | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | None | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 660g (with battery) | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 139 × 80 × 38.5mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical rangefinder, 0.73× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica M-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | M10 | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history