Decision tools · Compare
A6400 vs A6500
Quick take: The A6500 is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
A6400 — Content Creation & Vlogging: The best value APS-C Sony you can buy — especially used. Real-time Eye AF at this price point was transformative when it launched and still makes it one of the most reliable autofocus systems in the lineup.
A6500 — Travel, Street & Versatile Everyday Photography: 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
A6400 (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- Vloggers and content creators who need a flip screen and reliable AF
- Photographers upgrading from a compact or smartphone
- Beginners who want room to grow into a full E-mount lens ecosystem
- Anyone prioritising autofocus performance at an accessible price
A6500 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | A6400Sony · 2019 | A6500Sony · 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £749 | £345 usedBest |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS BSI | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (6K oversampled, no crop), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 425 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 11fps mechanical, 8fps with AF tracking | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA)Best | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 403g (with battery and card)Best | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 120.0 × 66.9 × 59.7mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 180° flip for selfie/vlog, 921k dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Micro-USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
A6400
A6500
Portrait
6.7/10
6.6/10
Street
7.3/10
7.1/10
Travel
6.7/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
5.6/10
5.2/10
Vlogging & Video
5.8/10
—
Filmmaking
5.1/10
5.1/10
Documentary
6.1/10
5.8/10
Sports & Action
6.9/10
6.6/10
Landscape
5.6/10
5.5/10
Wildlife
7.4/10
7.3/10
Casual
5.8/10
4.8/10
Food
6.1/10
6.3/10
Macro
5.2/10
5.7/10
Architecture
5.5/10
5.4/10
Astrophotography
6.0/10
5.3/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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