Upgrade Guide

Sony A6500→Sony A7C II

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

You own

Sony

A6500

£649

2016

→

Upgrade to

Sony

A7C II

£1499 (+£850)

2023

✅

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 A7C II

Unchanged or similar

Suitability by genre

Full spec comparison

Spec	A6500	A7C II
Price	£649	£1,499
Released	2016	2023	↑
Sensor	24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS	33MP Full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS
Resolution	24MP	33MP	↑
Video	4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p	4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit internal
Autofocus	425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection	759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition
Stabilisation	IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS)	5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops
Burst Rate	11fps	10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic	↓
Battery Life	~310 shots (CIPA)	~530 shots (CIPA)	↑
Weight	453g (with battery and card)	514g body only	↓
Weather Sealed	Yes	No	↓
Viewfinder	EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification	EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification
Screen	3.0" fully articulating touchscreen	3.0" vari-angle touchscreen
Mount	Sony E-mount	Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Memory Cards	Single SD UHS-I slot	Dual slots: SD UHS-II + CFexpress Type A

Compare side-by-side

See A6500 and A7C II 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