Decision tools · Compare

A6500 vs Cyber-shot RX10 III

Quick take: The A6500 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the Cyber-shot RX10 III is the most affordable.

16 specs side by side·14 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.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

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
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 A6500Sony · 2016Cyber-shot RX10 IIISony · 2016
Price £345 usedBest£559 used
Sensor 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS20.1MP 1-inch CMOS
Resolution 24.2MPBest20.1MP
Video 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p4K/30p (XAVC S), 1080p HFR up to 960fps, S-Log2
Autofocus 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection25-point contrast-detect AF, Eye AF
Stabilisation IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS)Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS
Burst Rate 11fps14fps (5fps with AF)Best
Battery Life ~310 shots (CIPA)~420 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 453g (with battery and card)Best1095g (with battery and card)
Dimensions 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm132.5 × 94 × 145mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnificationOLED EVF, 2.36M dots
Screen 3.0" tilting touchscreen3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots
Mount Sony E-mountFixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-600mm f/2.4-4
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-I slotSingle SD / Memory Stick slot
Connectivity USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, BluetoothMulti / micro USB, micro HDMI, 3.5mm mic + headphone, Multi Interface Shoe, Wi-Fi, NFC

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
A6500
Cyber-shot RX10 III
Portrait
6.6/10
4.3/10
Street
7.1/10
3.7/10
Travel
6.4/10
4.0/10
Wedding & Events
5.2/10
3.7/10
Filmmaking
5.1/10
4.9/10
Documentary
5.8/10
4.9/10
Sports & Action
6.6/10
4.9/10
Landscape
5.5/10
4.3/10
Wildlife
7.3/10
5.7/10
Casual
4.8/10
2.3/10
Food
6.3/10
3.8/10
Macro
5.7/10
2.9/10
Architecture
5.4/10
4.1/10
Astrophotography
5.3/10
2.9/10

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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