Leica SL2vs A6500
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Commercial, Landscape, Video — Leica SL2 (2019): Leica's most capable system camera — excellent for photographers who want L-mount glass access.
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
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
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 leica sl2 has the highest resolution at 47mp; the a6500 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Leica SL2 (2019) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,200 | £649 |
| Sensor | Full-frame CMOS 35mm | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 47.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 11fps |
| Battery Life | 370 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 835g (body only) | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L-Mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Leica SL2 | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Architecture | — | |
| Street | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
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