Z5vs A6500
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible 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 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
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 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a6500 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z5 (2020) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £999 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection | 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 | 4.5fps | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 590g (with battery) | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z5 | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
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