A6500vs Sony FX30
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.
Video Creators & Filmmakers — Sony FX30 (2022): The Cinema Line entry point — S-Cinetone colour science, 4K/120p, and XLR audio in a compact, affordable body that punches far above its price.
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
Sony FX30 (2022)
- Filmmakers and video creators who want a dedicated cinema-style APS-C body
- Content creators who need S-Cinetone and S-Log3 in a compact form factor
- A6700 owners who want cinema-style ergonomics and a full-size HDMI port
- Video professionals who want Sony's colour science without full-frame pricing
Quick take: The sony fx30 has the highest resolution at 26mp; the a6500 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A6500 (2016) | Sony FX30 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 26.1MP APS-C BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 26.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection | Real-time tracking AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) | 5-axis Active IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 20fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 453g (with battery and card) | 579g body only |
| Dimensions | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm | 129.7 × 77.8 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | None (EVF optional via XLR handle) |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A6500 | Sony FX30 |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Documentary | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
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