Z5 IIvs A6500
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Full-Frame Value — Z5 II (2024): The most accessible full-frame mirrorless — dual card slots, weather sealing, and Nikon colour at a sensible price.
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
Z5 II (2024)
- DSLR photographers making the switch to full-frame mirrorless
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame Z quality at the most accessible price
- Z5 owners wanting significantly improved autofocus and uncropped 4K
- Landscape and portrait photographers stepping up from APS-C
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 z5 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a6500 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 II (2024) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 700g body only | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 II | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
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