Upgrade Guide
Sony A7 II→Sony A6500
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A7 II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the A6500
-
Burst rate11fps vs 5fps
-
Generation2 years newer (2016 vs 2014)
Unchanged or similar
-
ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A7 II | A6500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | ||
| Street | +1.0 | ||
| Travel | +1.0 | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +2.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7 II | A6500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | £649 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2016 | ↑ |
| Sensor | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p 60fps | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 11fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 350 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 599g (body only) | 453g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony E-Mount | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
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