Z6 IIIvs A6500
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Hybrid Video & Action — Z6 III (2024): Partial-stacked FF sensor for near-zero blackout, 6K RAW video, and 60fps burst — Nikon's most capable hybrid.
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
Z6 III (2024)
- Hybrid photographers who want partially-stacked sensor speed with full-frame quality
- Z6 II owners ready for a major AF and video upgrade
- Sports and action shooters who want 6K RAW video and fast burst
- Professionals who want a versatile full-frame Z body for any situation
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 z6 iii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a6500 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z6 III (2024) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,199 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-frame Partial-stacked CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 6K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, N-Log, 10-bit | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle/aircraft) | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 6.0 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 760g body only | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 101.5 × 74.0mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.90× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z6 III | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Street | — |
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