Lumix S5 IIXvs A6500
Lumix
Lumix S5 IIX (2023)
Starting from £2399 new
Best for Professional video, filmmaking & hybrid shooters on L-mount
View Lumix S5 IIX
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Video, Filmmaking & Hybrid Shooters On L-Mount — Lumix S5 IIX (2023): The S5 II with ProRes RAW and 6K Open Gate — the most serious L-mount video tool in a portable, weather-sealed body.
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 S5 IIX (2023)
- Video professionals who need ProRes RAW output and 6K Open Gate in a portable L-mount body
- L-mount filmmakers who want USB power for extended recording without battery changes
- Hybrid shooters who need both 24MP stills quality and professional video specs in one camera
- S5 II users who specifically need ProRes RAW support for their post-production workflow
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 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S5 IIX (2023) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,399 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 6K/30p Open Gate, 4K/60p 10-bit, ProRes RAW via HDMI — V-Log, LUT support | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF — improved over S5 with subject recognition | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6.5 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 9fps mechanical, 30fps electronic (6MP crop) | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 740g body only | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134.3 × 102.3 × 90.1mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 3.68M-dot, 0.78× | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C with power delivery, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks, HDMI full-size | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S5 IIX | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Street | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with Lumix S5 IIX
Camera family history