Nikon Zfvs A6500
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street & Travel Photography — Nikon Zf (2023): Full-frame performance in a stunning retro body — the Zf's 8-stop IBIS and gorgeous design make it uniquely compelling.
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
Nikon Zf (2023)
- Photographers who want full-frame Z quality in a retro-styled body
- Street and travel photographers attracted to the classic dial aesthetic
- Zfc owners who want to step up to full-frame without losing the retro design
- Anyone who wants the best-looking full-frame mirrorless available
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 nikon zf has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a6500 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Nikon Zf (2023) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.5MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p oversampled, FHD/120p, N-Log, 10-bit | 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, 8.0 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 710g with battery | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 144.0 × 103.0 × 49.0mm | 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" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Nikon Zf | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| 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