Lumix G9vs A6500
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Wildlife, Sports, Travel — Lumix G9 (2017): The G9 showed that Micro Four Thirds could compete for fast-action stills.
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 (2017)
- Wildlife photographers who want fast burst and long telephoto reach at lower cost
- MFT system users who prioritise stills over video
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 lumix g9 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix G9 (2017) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £649 |
| Sensor | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K 60fps, C4K 24fps | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | 225-point contrast-detect DFD | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops (6.0 stops dual IS) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | 11fps |
| Battery Life | 400 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 658g (body only) | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 136.9 × 97.3 × 91.6mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.83× 3.68M-dot | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | 2× SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, HDMI full-size | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix G9 | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — |
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