Lumix G9 IIvs A6500
Lumix
Lumix G9 II (2023)
Starting from £1499 new
Best for Wildlife, sports & hybrid MFT shooters
View Lumix G9 II
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Wildlife, Sports & Hybrid Mft Shooters — Lumix G9 II (2023): Phase-detect AF transforms the G9 II into a genuine MFT all-rounder — the best Lumix MFT camera for both stills and video.
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
Lumix G9 II (2023)
- Stills photographers who want the best MFT camera for sport and wildlife
- G9 owners upgrading to phase-detect AF and improved video specs
- Hybrid MFT shooters who want strong stills and 5.7K video in one body
- Photographers who want the most capable Lumix MFT camera ever made
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 lumix g9 ii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the a6500 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix G9 II (2023) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £649 |
| Sensor | 25.2MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 25.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 5.8K/30p, 4K/120p, C4K/60p, V-Log | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS (with OIS lenses) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 25fps with AF / 75fps electronic (fixed focus) | 11fps |
| Battery Life | 680 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 658g body only | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134.3 × 100.3 × 90.5mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 3.68M dots | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix G9 II | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with Lumix G9 II
Camera family history