Upgrade Guide

Sony A6500→Sony A7 V

Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.

You own

Sony

A6500

£649

2016

→

Upgrade to

Sony

A7 V

£2799 (+£2,150)

2024

✅

Worthwhile

Clear improvements over the A6500. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.

What's new in the A7 V

Suitability by genre

Full spec comparison

Spec	A6500	A7 V
Price	£649	£2,799
Released	2016	2024	↑
Sensor	24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS	Full-frame BSI-CMOS 35mm, partially stacked
Resolution	24MP	33MP	↑
Video	4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p	4K 60fps 10-bit
Autofocus	425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection	759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition (human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle)
Stabilisation	IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS)	5-axis IBIS, 8.0 stops
Burst Rate	11fps	10fps mechanical, 20fps electronic	↓
Battery Life	~310 shots (CIPA)	760 shots (CIPA)	↑
Weight	453g (with battery and card)	514g (body only)	↓
Weather Sealed	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder	EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification	EVF 0.90× 9.44M-dot
Screen	3.0" fully articulating touchscreen	3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.44M-dot
Mount	Sony E-mount	Sony E-Mount
Memory Cards	Single SD UHS-I slot	2× SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type A

Compare side-by-side

See A6500 and A7 V next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

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Other upgrades from the A6500

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Camera family history