Sigma fp Lvs A6500
Sigma
Sigma fp L (2021)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for High-resolution creative & documentary shooters
View Sigma fp L
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
High-Resolution Creative & Documentary Shooters — Sigma fp L (2021): 61MP and phase-detect AF in the world's smallest full-frame body — the fp L is the most capable iteration of Sigma's extraordinary compact.
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
Sigma fp L (2021)
- Commercial photographers who want 61MP in the world's smallest full-frame body
- Filmmakers using the fp L as a high-resolution cinema camera
- fp owners who need more resolution for large-format printing
- L-mount photographers who want extreme resolution in an ultra-compact form
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 sigma fp l has the highest resolution at 61mp; the a6500 is the most affordable; only the a6500 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Sigma fp L (2021) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £649 |
| Sensor | 61MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 61.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 12-bit Cinema DNG RAW, 4K/24p | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with face/eye detection | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | None (lens-based only) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 18fps electronic | 11fps |
| Battery Life | 200 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 427g body only | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 112.6 × 69.9 × 45.3mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional clip-on EVF available) | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.15" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Sigma fp L | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| 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