Upgrade Guide
Sony A6100→Sony A6500
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A6100. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the A6500
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
Unchanged or similar
-
ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A6100 | A6500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +2.0 | ||
| Street | +2.0 | ||
| Travel | +1.0 | ||
| Casual | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -1.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A6100 | A6500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £649 | |
| Released | 2019 | 2016 | ↓ |
| Sensor | APS-C Exmor CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | |
| Video | 4K 30fps | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 425-point phase-detect, real-time tracking | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | None | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 11fps | |
| Battery Life | 420 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 396g (body only) | 453g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.39" 1.44M-dot | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k-dot | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony E-Mount | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | SD UHS-I / Memory Stick | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
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