A6400vs A6500
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Content Creation & Vlogging — A6400 (2019): 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.
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
A6400 (2019)
- 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)
- 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 is the most affordable; only the a6500 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A6400 (2019) | A6500 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £649 |
| 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 | None (no IBIS) | 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) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 403g (body, battery, card) | 453g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 120.0 × 66.9 × 59.7mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | 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" fully articulating 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 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A6400 | A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| 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