Decision tools · Compare
A6500 vs RX100 IV
Quick take: The A6500 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the RX100 IV is the most affordable; only the A6500 is weather sealed.
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.
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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 · 2016 | RX100 IVSony · 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £345 used | £300 usedBest |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MPBest | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p (XAVC S), 1080p HFR up to 960fps, S-Log2 |
| Autofocus | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection | 25-point contrast-detect AF, Eye AF, Lock-on AF |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) | Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 16fps (5.5fps with AF)Best |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA)Best | ~280 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 453g (with battery and card) | 298g (with battery and card)Best |
| Dimensions | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 41mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | Pop-up OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" LCD, 1.23M dots, tilts 180° up |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / Memory Stick slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | Multi / micro USB, micro HDMI (4K out), 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
RX100 IV
Portrait
6.6/10
4.0/10
Street
7.1/10
7.1/10
Travel
6.4/10
6.3/10
Wedding & Events
5.2/10
2.6/10
Filmmaking
5.1/10
4.0/10
Documentary
5.8/10
3.9/10
Sports & Action
6.6/10
—
Landscape
5.5/10
4.2/10
Wildlife
7.3/10
—
Casual
4.8/10
4.2/10
Food
6.3/10
4.4/10
Macro
5.7/10
3.4/10
Architecture
5.4/10
4.3/10
Astrophotography
5.3/10
2.8/10
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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