Upgrade Guide
Sony A6500→Sony Cyber-shot RX10 V
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 Cyber-shot RX10 V
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Burst rate30fps (blackout-free, full AF/AE tracking) vs 11fps
-
Battery life630 shots (CIPA) vs ~310 shots (CIPA)
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Generation10 years newer (2026 vs 2016)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution20MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | A6500 | Cyber-shot RX10 V | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.1 | ||
| Street | -2.4 | ||
| Travel | -1.6 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.0 | ||
| Documentary | +1.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.9 | ||
| Landscape | -0.7 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.3 | ||
| Casual | -1.2 | ||
| Food | -1.2 | ||
| Macro | -2.1 | ||
| Architecture | -0.6 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.5 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A6500 | Cyber-shot RX10 V | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £2,199 | |
| Released | 2016 | 2026 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch stacked Exmor RS CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p | Uncropped 4K/60p, 10-bit, H.265 | |
| Autofocus | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection | AI-driven phase-detect AF with real-time subject tracking | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) | Optical (in-lens), no IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 30fps (blackout-free, full AF/AE tracking) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | 630 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 453g (with battery and card) | 1,111g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | EVF, 3.68M dots, 0.78x magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | Tilting screen | |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-600mm f/2.4-4.0 lens (25x optical zoom) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A6500 and Cyber-shot RX10 V next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Cyber-shot RX10 V against your specific genres — not just specs.
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