Upgrade Guide
Sony A6500→Sony A9 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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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 A9 II
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Burst rate20fps (blackout-free with full AF/AE) vs 11fps
-
Battery life~500 shots (CIPA) vs ~310 shots (CIPA)
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Generation3 years newer (2019 vs 2016)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A6500 | A9 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Wildlife | +2.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -3.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Landscape | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A6500 | A9 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £3,299 | |
| Released | 2016 | 2019 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | |
| Video | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection | 693 phase-detect + 425 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 20fps (blackout-free with full AF/AE) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~500 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 453g (with battery and card) | 678g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
Compare side-by-side
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