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Sony

A6500

The Sony A6500 was the first Sony APS-C mirrorless camera to feature in-body image stabilisation — a significant step forward in the A6000 line. It combined the 24.2MP Exmor CMOS sensor with 5-axis IBIS, a fully articulating touchscreen (also a first for the APS-C line), and a dramatically improved buffer (up to 307 JPEGs) over the A6300. A weather-sealed magnesium body with an 11fps burst rate and Sony's 425-point phase-detect AF made it the most complete APS-C Sony available at the time.

GearFrame's Take

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.

Starting from
£649 new
Average price across retailers: ~£774
Available at 4 retailers
✓ Available at 4 retailers 🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only
RetailerPrice
Wex Photo Video
Wex Photo Video
Check on Wex Photo Video →
Clifton Cameras
Clifton Cameras
Check on Clifton Cameras →
Please note that not all products on GearFrame are available from all retailers listed. Older camera models are more likely to be found second hand or refurbished. We currently do not have live price or availability data, but are actively working to bring this to GearFrame.
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Core
Released
2016
Sensor
24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS
Resolution
24.2 MP
Mount
Sony E-mount
Dimensions
120.0 × 66.9 × 53.3mm
Weight
453g (with battery and card)
Weather Sealed
Yes
Performance
Autofocus
425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection
Stabilisation
IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS)
Burst Rate
11fps
Battery Life
~310 shots (CIPA)
Features
Video
4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p
Viewfinder
EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification
Screen
3.0" fully articulating touchscreen
Memory Cards
Single SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity
USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth

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Who should buy this
  • 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
GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre
Travel
9.0
Street
9.0
Portrait
9.0
Wildlife
7.0
Vlogging & Video
7.0
Sports & Action
7.0
Great For
✈️
Travel IBIS, weather sealing, and a compact form make it an excellent travel companion.
🏙️
Street Compact, weather sealed, and fast AF make it a capable and discreet street camera.
👤
Portrait Fast phase-detect AF with face detection and IBIS for sharp handheld portraits.
🦅
Wildlife 11fps and 425 PDAF points handle wildlife well. No animal eye AF (that came with A6600).
🎬
Vlogging & Video 4K with full readout and an articulating screen. IBIS helps handheld video work.
🏅
Sports & Action 11fps with fast phase-detect AF handles many sports scenarios effectively.
⚠️ Not Ideal For

No significant limitations identified — this is a versatile camera without obvious weak spots for most shooters.

📝 How suitability scores are calculated Scores reflect the aggregated consensus from verified purchaser reviews across tracked UK retailers, weighted by photography genre tags applied by reviewers. This is community opinion — not GearFrame editorial assessment. See our full methodology →
Price History — A6500
Go deeper

Keep exploring

📸
Series history
Sony A6000 Series
Sony's APS-C mirrorless range — six generations from 2016 to today.