A6500vs RX100 VI
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.
Travel & Vlogging — RX100 VI (2018): The RX100 VI trades fast apertures for a remarkable 24-200mm zoom range — giving it more versatility than any previous model. 4K/30p, 24fps burst, a pop-up EVF, and an articulating screen round out an exceptional compact package. Variable aperture limits low-light performance at the long end, but for travel and events where reach matters, there is no practical alternative at this size.
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
RX100 VI (2018)
- Travel photographers who need versatile reach in a pocketable body
- Vloggers and content creators who need 4K and an articulating screen
- Event photographers who want discreet, capable wide-to-tele coverage
- Wildlife and sports enthusiasts who want a compact travel option
Quick take: The a6500 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a6500 is the most affordable; only the a6500 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A6500 (2016) | RX100 VI (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £700 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch BSI Stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p, 960fps HFR |
| Autofocus | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection | Fast Hybrid AF, 315 phase-detect points, Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) | Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 24fps |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~240 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 453g (with battery and card) | 301g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 42.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | Pop-up EVF, 2.35M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / Memory Stick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A6500 | RX100 VI |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Landscape | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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