Upgrade Guide
Sony RX1→Sony A6500
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The A6500 improves across 4 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most RX1 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the A6500
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Burst rate11fps vs 5fps (2.5fps with AF-S per frame)
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Battery life~310 shots (CIPA) vs ~220 shots (CIPA)
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Generation4 years newer (2016 vs 2012)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
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 | RX1 | A6500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +2.6 | ||
| Street | +0.5 | ||
| Travel | +1.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.7 | ||
| Documentary | +1.9 | ||
| Landscape | +1.2 | ||
| Casual | +1.4 | ||
| Food | +2.1 | ||
| Macro | +2.6 | ||
| Architecture | +1.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.6 | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | RX1 | A6500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £336 used | £345 used | |
| Released | 2012 | 2016 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/60 | 4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 25-point contrast-detect AF with face detection | 425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps (2.5fps with AF-S per frame) | 11fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 482g (with battery and card) | 453g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Optional EVF (FDA-EV1MK) or optical finder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Fixed Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm f/2 | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / Memory Stick slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the A6500 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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