OM System TG-7vs A6500
OM System
OM System TG-7 (2023)
Starting from £449 new
Best for Adventure, underwater & outdoor use
View OM System TG-7
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Adventure, Underwater & Outdoor Use — OM System TG-7 (2023): Waterproof to 15m, freezeproof and shockproof — the TG-7 is the most capable rugged compact for adventure and outdoor use.
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
OM System TG-7 (2023)
- Divers and snorkellers who need a waterproof camera without a housing
- Outdoor and adventure photographers who want a rugged pocket compact
- Parents who want an indestructible camera for children and family adventures
- Travellers who want a tough backup camera that can go anywhere
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 om system tg-7 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM System TG-7 (2023) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £449 | £649 |
| Sensor | 12MP BSI CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 12.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase/contrast AF | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | Digital IS | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 20fps | 11fps |
| Battery Life | 340 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 253g | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 113.0 × 66.5 × 32.7mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed TFT LCD | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Fixed 25mm-equiv f/2.0 lens (4× optical zoom) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM System TG-7 | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Outdoor | — | |
| Underwater | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| 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