Z30vs A6500
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel & Everyday Video — Z30 (2022): Nikon's lightest Z-mount body — no fuss, excellent subject tracking, and a flip screen for creators.
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
Z30 (2022)
- Vloggers and content creators who don't need an EVF
- Beginners entering the Nikon Z system at the lowest price point
- Streamers who want a compact interchangeable-lens camera for desk use
- Travel and lifestyle shooters who want a compact APS-C Z body
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 z30 is the most affordable; only the a6500 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z30 (2022) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £649 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 405g body only | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z30 | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — |
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