Upgrade Guide

Sony A7S→Sony A6500

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

You own

Sony

A7S

£600

2014

→

Upgrade to

Sony

A6500

£649 (+£49)

2016

✅

Strong upgrade

The A6500 improves across 4 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most A7S owners will notice the difference.

What's new in the A6500

Suitability by genre

Full spec comparison

Spec	A7S	A6500
Price	£600	£649
Released	2014	2016	↑
Sensor	12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS	24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS
Resolution	12MP	24MP	↑
Video	1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder)	4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p
Autofocus	Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF	425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection
Stabilisation	None	IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS)
Burst Rate	5fps	11fps	↑
Battery Life	~370 shots (CIPA)	~310 shots (CIPA)	↓
Weight	474g (with battery and card)	453g (with battery and card)	↑
Weather Sealed	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder	Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification	EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification
Screen	3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots	3.0" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount	Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)	Sony E-mount
Memory Cards	Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot	Single SD UHS-I slot

Compare side-by-side

See A7S and A6500 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

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Other upgrades from the A7S

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Camera family history