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Q3 Monochrom vs A6500

Quick take: The Q3 Monochrom has the highest resolution at 60MP; the A6500 is the most affordable.

16 specs side by side·15 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?

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
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 Q3 MonochromLeica · 2025A6500Sony · 2016
Price £5,900£649Best
Sensor 60MP full-frame CMOS, monochrome (no colour filter array)24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS
Resolution 60.0MPBest24.2MP
Video 8K/30p, C4K/60p 10-bit, ProRes 422 HQ (FHD)4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p
Autofocus Contrast-detect AF with face, eye, body and animal (beta) detection425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection
Stabilisation Digital stabilisation (Visual compensation); no IBIS or optical ISIBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS)
Burst Rate 15fps (5fps with AF per frame)Best11fps
Battery Life 302 shots (CIPA)~310 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 746g (with battery)453g (with battery and card)Best
Dimensions 130.0 × 80.3 × 92.6mm120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.79xEVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification
Screen 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.84M dots3.0" tilting touchscreen
Mount Fixed Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPHSony E-mount
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-IISingle SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity USB-C 3.1 Gen 2, micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0USB, 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
Q3 Monochrom
A6500
Portrait
2.7/10
6.6/10
Street
6.8/10
7.1/10
Travel
3.4/10
6.6/10
Wedding & Events
3.3/10
5.2/10
Filmmaking
5.8/10
5.1/10
Documentary
5.9/10
5.8/10
Landscape
7.6/10
5.5/10
Casual
2.5/10
4.8/10
Food
3.9/10
6.3/10
Macro
4.5/10
5.7/10
Architecture
7.8/10
5.4/10
Astrophotography
5.6/10
5.3/10
Fun & simple
3.2/10
—
Sports & Action
—
6.6/10
Wildlife
—
7.3/10

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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