G85vs A6500
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel & Video — G85 (2016): The G85 is the definitive enthusiast MFT package — combining 4K/30p, Dual I.S. 2 stabilisation, and weather sealing in an affordable, well-built body. It lacks phase-detect AF (contrast-detect only) but covers travel, landscape, and casual video effectively. One of the best-value used-market MFT cameras available — a practical, capable companion for photographers who want reliability over cutting-edge specs.
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
G85 (2016)
- Travel photographers who want weather sealing on a budget
- Vloggers and hybrid shooters
- MFT system users stepping up from entry-level
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 g85 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | G85 (2016) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £649 |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 16.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 426g (body only) | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 128.4 × 89.2 × 74.3mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | G85 | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| 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