Hands-on and in-depth with the Sony a6500

Sliver-Surfer · 10-06-2016, 07:51 PM

New a6500 has the below differences from sony a6300..maybe a few I missed
5-Axis stabilization 5 stops of improvement
Touchscreen AF
Shoots 11fps over 300 JPEG frames in a burst (100 in raw)
Gains a second custom button on the top plate, taking the total number of customizable function buttons to 10.
It can shoot 4K/25p and 24p from the full width of its sensor
Hands-on and in-depth with the Sony a6500

Last edited by Sliver-Surfer; 10-06-2016 at 08:00 PM.

The Squirrel Mafia · 10-06-2016, 08:55 PM

This camera looks pretty great. I'd get it if I didn't have a camera right now. The upcoming Olympus OMD E-M1 mark II also looks like a neat camera. The mirrorless camera world is getting rather interesting.

rawr · 10-07-2016, 12:56 AM

Still only -1 EV for low-light AF, just like the A6300 and A5100, and only a bit better than the 0EV for the A6000/A5000/NEX6/NEX7 etc.

Not much point having 425 AF points if none of them perform in poor light. Sony can do better - eg the -4 EV A7S, -2 EV A7R2.

Kunzite · 10-07-2016, 02:08 AM

In its honor, I'll compose a haiku (or at least, try something resembling one).

"The buffer is full.
Where would all those pictures go?
Battery empty."

I'm waiting for the first camera for which the buffer size will be larger than the battery life. The A6500 is 50 frames short...

**clackers** · 10-07-2016, 02:30 AM

Pricey. You could go full frame for that, with change!

D1N0 · 10-07-2016, 03:24 AM

I don't get Sony. Why not make a more suitable body like the A7 II series for such a capable package, so you can actually control and hold the camera while shooting with big lenses.

GeneV · 10-07-2016, 05:24 AM

I like the form factor of my A6000 just fine. It fits in a waistpack, even with the 16-70/4. I will just carry the full frame if I want the larger body, and the larger body does work better with larger lenses. Trouble is, Sony does not offer many larger lenses. Their APS-C niche is compact systems.

The reason I had no interest at all in the A6300 was the absence of in-body stabilization. Now that IBIS has been added to the A6500, it is far more attractive to someone like me who owns a lot of Pentax M and K lenses, and a few old Zeiss Contax lenses which got new life when adapted to E-mount. Sony's live view is my favorite way to use these older lenses. You Focus while seeing the resulting DOF, without the finder going dark.

Last edited by GeneV; 10-07-2016 at 05:47 AM.

Sliver-Surfer · 10-07-2016, 06:02 AM

Originally posted by Kunzite

In its honor, I'll compose a haiku (or at least, try something resembling one).

"The buffer is full.
Where would all those pictures go?
Battery empty."

I'm waiting for the first camera for which the buffer size will be larger than the battery life. The A6500 is 50 frames short...

My son squeezed over 1000 shots out of an a6000 using mf at the local airshow. I got just under 1000 shots using the A7 MF. on one battery. I always bring extra batteries anyway but we shot to battery exhaustion and then just popped in a fresh $9 generic battery in the time it takes to say :
"Two cameras here.
In one small bag on my waist.
More room for water."

You Tube

Sliver-Surfer · 10-07-2016, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by D1N0

I don't get Sony. Why not make a more suitable body like the A7 II series for such a capable package, so you can actually control and hold the camera while shooting with big lenses.

With proper technique control of large or small lenses have little to do with the right hand.

ChristianRock · 10-07-2016, 07:52 AM

I'm sure lots of people think this is worth 1300 bucks but I'm not one of them...

Still, it's a good thing this camera exists, competition is a good thing.

GeneV · 10-07-2016, 09:34 AM

Originally posted by clackers

Pricey. You could go full frame for that, with change!

At a list price of $1,400, it is about the same price as a Nikon D610, which is about the cheapest FF DSLR I've seen. That also assumes you want a full frame, which is larger and slower.

You could pick up an A7 or the first A7R for less, but not the current A7RII, which is twice that much.The original A7R (which I own) was a nice introduction to FF digital, but it is a completely different animal in handling and speed, You would never want it for the quicker action the A6500 and A6300 handle.

D1N0 · 10-07-2016, 09:55 AM

Originally posted by GeneV

At a list price of $1,400, it is about the same price as a Nikon D610, which is about the cheapest FF DSLR I've seen. That also assumes you want a full frame, which is larger and slower.

You could pick up an A7 or the first A7R for less, but not the current A7RII, which is twice that much.The original A7R (which I own) was a nice introduction to FF digital, but it is a completely different animal in handling and speed, You would never want it for the quicker action the A6500 and A6300 handle.

There is the A7 II which in Holland is €1750. The A6500 will be €1700. This handling and speed thing is not what many photographers need. They will choose the better IQ of a Full frame camera.

wildman · 10-07-2016, 10:18 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by GeneV

The original A7R (which I own) was a nice introduction to FF digital, but it is a completely different animal in handling and speed, You would never want it for the quicker action the A6500 and A6300 handle

Originally posted by D1N0

This handling and speed thing is not what many photographers need. They will choose the better IQ of a Full frame camera.

You both, of course, are right.

My gripe is that, as the market is now, it's much easier to find slow, bloated, and complex with high IQ then it is to find fast, responsive, simple, light, compact and ergonomic with adequate IQ.

GeneV · 10-07-2016, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by D1N0

There is the A7 II which in Holland is €1750. The A6500 will be €1700. This handling and speed thing is not what many photographers need. They will choose the better IQ of a Full frame camera.

Interesting difference in prices between the continents. Sony says the A6500 will be $1,400 in the U.S. That is the list price. I suspect the online selling price will be lower.

The online price for the A7II is $1,700 (B&H) -$1,900 (Best Buy). So, here, the A7II is significantly more than the likely price of the A6500.

FWIW, the A7II has never tempted me. It is 24mp compared to 36mp for the K1 or A7R, but tests seem to show no advantage in ISO from the lower pixel density. The K1 at about the same price seems a big winner over the A7II if the IQ differences are important.

---------- Post added 10-07-16 at 01:57 PM ----------

Originally posted by wildman

You both, of course, are right.

My gripe is that, as the market is now, it's much easier to find slow, bloated, and complex with high IQ then it is to find fast, responsive, simple, light, compact and ergonomic with adequate IQ.

And while I own and enjoy two FF bodies (K1 and A7R), I still see 24mp APS-C as much more than adequate for 99% of what we do, better for some things.

10-06-2016, 07:51 PM	#1
Sliver-Surfer Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,558	Hands-on and in-depth with the Sony a6500 New a6500 has the below differences from sony a6300..maybe a few I missed 5-Axis stabilization 5 stops of improvement Touchscreen AF Shoots 11fps over 300 JPEG frames in a burst (100 in raw) Gains a second custom button on the top plate, taking the total number of customizable function buttons to 10. It can shoot 4K/25p and 24p from the full width of its sensor Hands-on and in-depth with the Sony a6500 Last edited by Sliver-Surfer; 10-06-2016 at 08:00 PM.

10-07-2016, 12:45 PM	#14
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by D1N0 There is the A7 II which in Holland is €1750. The A6500 will be €1700. This handling and speed thing is not what many photographers need. They will choose the better IQ of a Full frame camera. Interesting difference in prices between the continents. Sony says the A6500 will be $1,400 in the U.S. That is the list price. I suspect the online selling price will be lower. The online price for the A7II is $1,700 (B&H) -$1,900 (Best Buy). So, here, the A7II is significantly more than the likely price of the A6500. FWIW, the A7II has never tempted me. It is 24mp compared to 36mp for the K1 or A7R, but tests seem to show no advantage in ISO from the lower pixel density. The K1 at about the same price seems a big winner over the A7II if the IQ differences are important. ---------- Post added 10-07-16 at 01:57 PM ---------- Originally posted by wildman You both, of course, are right. My gripe is that, as the market is now, it's much easier to find slow, bloated, and complex with high IQ then it is to find fast, responsive, simple, light, compact and ergonomic with adequate IQ. And while I own and enjoy two FF bodies (K1 and A7R), I still see 24mp APS-C as much more than adequate for 99% of what we do, better for some things. Last edited by GeneV; 10-07-2016 at 12:58 PM.

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10-06-2016, 08:55 PM	#2
The Squirrel Mafia Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 3,054	This camera looks pretty great. I'd get it if I didn't have a camera right now. The upcoming Olympus OMD E-M1 mark II also looks like a neat camera. The mirrorless camera world is getting rather interesting.

10-07-2016, 12:56 AM	#3
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Still only -1 EV for low-light AF, just like the A6300 and A5100, and only a bit better than the 0EV for the A6000/A5000/NEX6/NEX7 etc. Not much point having 425 AF points if none of them perform in poor light. Sony can do better - eg the -4 EV A7S, -2 EV A7R2.

10-07-2016, 02:08 AM	#4
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	In its honor, I'll compose a haiku (or at least, try something resembling one). "The buffer is full. Where would all those pictures go? Battery empty." I'm waiting for the first camera for which the buffer size will be larger than the battery life. The A6500 is 50 frames short...

10-07-2016, 02:30 AM	#5
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Pricey. You could go full frame for that, with change!

10-07-2016, 03:24 AM	#6
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	I don't get Sony. Why not make a more suitable body like the A7 II series for such a capable package, so you can actually control and hold the camera while shooting with big lenses.

10-07-2016, 05:24 AM	#7
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	I like the form factor of my A6000 just fine. It fits in a waistpack, even with the 16-70/4. I will just carry the full frame if I want the larger body, and the larger body does work better with larger lenses. Trouble is, Sony does not offer many larger lenses. Their APS-C niche is compact systems. The reason I had no interest at all in the A6300 was the absence of in-body stabilization. Now that IBIS has been added to the A6500, it is far more attractive to someone like me who owns a lot of Pentax M and K lenses, and a few old Zeiss Contax lenses which got new life when adapted to E-mount. Sony's live view is my favorite way to use these older lenses. You Focus while seeing the resulting DOF, without the finder going dark. Last edited by GeneV; 10-07-2016 at 05:47 AM.

10-07-2016, 07:47 AM	#9
Sliver-Surfer Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,558 Original Poster	Originally posted by D1N0 I don't get Sony. Why not make a more suitable body like the A7 II series for such a capable package, so you can actually control and hold the camera while shooting with big lenses. With proper technique control of large or small lenses have little to do with the right hand.

10-07-2016, 07:52 AM	#10
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	I'm sure lots of people think this is worth 1300 bucks but I'm not one of them... Still, it's a good thing this camera exists, competition is a good thing.

10-07-2016, 09:34 AM	#11
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by clackers Pricey. You could go full frame for that, with change! At a list price of $1,400, it is about the same price as a Nikon D610, which is about the cheapest FF DSLR I've seen. That also assumes you want a full frame, which is larger and slower. You could pick up an A7 or the first A7R for less, but not the current A7RII, which is twice that much.The original A7R (which I own) was a nice introduction to FF digital, but it is a completely different animal in handling and speed, You would never want it for the quicker action the A6500 and A6300 handle.

10-07-2016, 09:55 AM	#12
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	Originally posted by GeneV At a list price of $1,400, it is about the same price as a Nikon D610, which is about the cheapest FF DSLR I've seen. That also assumes you want a full frame, which is larger and slower. You could pick up an A7 or the first A7R for less, but not the current A7RII, which is twice that much.The original A7R (which I own) was a nice introduction to FF digital, but it is a completely different animal in handling and speed, You would never want it for the quicker action the A6500 and A6300 handle. There is the A7 II which in Holland is €1750. The A6500 will be €1700. This handling and speed thing is not what many photographers need. They will choose the better IQ of a Full frame camera.

10-07-2016, 10:18 AM - 1 Like	#13
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	Originally posted by GeneV The original A7R (which I own) was a nice introduction to FF digital, but it is a completely different animal in handling and speed, You would never want it for the quicker action the A6500 and A6300 handle Originally posted by D1N0 This handling and speed thing is not what many photographers need. They will choose the better IQ of a Full frame camera. You both, of course, are right. My gripe is that, as the market is now, it's much easier to find slow, bloated, and complex with high IQ then it is to find fast, responsive, simple, light, compact and ergonomic with adequate IQ.