A6500vs A7S
Sony
A6500 (2016)
Starting from £649 new
Best for Travel, street & versatile everyday photography
View A6500
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
Who should buy what
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
A7S (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The a6500 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A6500 (2016) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £600 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) | None |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 453g (with battery and card) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A6500 | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Landscape | — |
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