Lumix S9vs A6500
Lumix
Lumix S9 (2024)
Starting from £1299 new
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
View Lumix S9
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel Photographers, Content Creators & L-Mount Entry Buyers — Lumix S9 (2024): The most compact full-frame camera available — a perfect travel and content creation companion with brilliant colour science.
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 S9 (2024)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact package
- Content creators attracted to Real-time LUT and 10-bit video
- Photographers already in the L-mount ecosystem wanting a lightweight second body
- Lumix S5 II users who want something smaller for travel and casual shooting
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; only the a6500 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S9 (2024) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with subject recognition | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 413g (with battery) | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S9 | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| 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 S9
Camera family history