Last Updated on 10/07/2016 by Anthony Thurston
Sony’s A6300 is one of the top performing APS-C cameras on the market, and is right up there with the likes of Fujifilm’s X-Pro2 and X-T2 in many respects, but Sony has a new flagship APS-C offering it unveiled this morning, the new A6500.
Sony’s 5-Axis IBIS (Sensor-based stabilization technology) is a welcome addition to the A6500, which also includes the same 425 AF points as the A6300 – but features a better processor, allowing for faster and better AF performance overall.
Similarly to Canon’s EOS-M5 which allows users to use the touch screen to move their AF point in lieu of a joystick, the A6500 offers a similar feature allowing for quick and easy AF point movement when the camera is up to the users eye. A6500 owners will also have 10 user-customizable buttons to help make the camera easier to use based on their personal preferences.
Sony A6500 Spec Overview
- 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor
- BIONZ X Image Processor
- XGA Tru-Finder 2.36m-Dot OLED EVF
- 3.0″ 921.6k-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
- Internal UHD 4K Video & S-Log3 Gamma
- S&Q Motion in Full HD from 1-120 fps
- 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization
- Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC
- 4D FOCUS with 425 Phase-Detect Points
- Up to 11 fps Shooting and ISO 51200
Another key upgrade in the A6500 is its improved buffer, which allows for photographers to shoot at a continuous 11 frames per second for well over 200 frames – a key feature for ‘spray and pray’ photographers looking to take advantage of the excellent AF speed and tracking the A6500 is capable of.
In addition, we do not know to what extent yet, but Sony says that they have changed/updated the cameras menu to make it easier and quicker to navigate. It will be interesting to see how that is received from long time Sony users who were used to the old menu layout, as well as if Sony brings the updated menu to other cameras.
As far as pricing, as you would expect from a new flagship offering, the A6500 is being offered at a flagship APS-C price of $1400 ($100/$200 cheaper than Fujifilm’s X-T2/X-Pro2 flagship duo). In terms of availability, Sony is saying the A6500 should hit stores right around the end of November or early December, just in time for the holidays.
We are on site at Sony’s A6500 launch event and will have some hands on initial thoughts with the new camera soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, those looking for more information can find all of the relevant details about this camera on Sony’s website, here.