Best Equipment Camera Comparisons

Canon 5D IV vs Sony A6500 – Comparison

Let’s compare the Canon 5D IV to the Sony A6500, a small but fast mirrorless camera.

Our comparison table below covers all the important specifications of each camera. Below that, we specifically talk about the new improvements and which model is better suited for your needs.

Canon 5D IVSony A6500
Megapixels30.424.2
Sensor TypeCMOSCMOS
Sensor FormatFull FrameAPS-C
Crop FactorNone1.5x
AA FilterYesYes
Image Resolution6720 x 44806000 x 4000
Body Image StabilizationNoYes - 5-Axis
Lens MountCanon EFSony E
ISO100 - 32,000100 - 25,600
Expanded ISO102,40051,200
AF Points61425
Cross-type AF Points41425 phase
Continuous Mode7fps11fps
LCD3.2" - Fixed3.0" - Articulating
LCD Resolution1,620,000 dots921,600 dots
TouchscreenYesYes
Focus PeakingNoYes
Top LCD DisplayYesNo
Viewfinder TypeOpticalEVF
Viewfinder Coverage100%100%
Viewfinder Magnification0.71x1.07x
Video Resolution4096x2160 (30/25/24p)3840x2160 (30/25/24p)
 1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p1920x1080 (120/100/60/50p)
Microphone JackYesYes
Headphone JackYesNo
Memory Card TypeCF + SDSD or MS Pro
Dual Card SlotsYesNo
SD UHS SupportUHS-I & UDMA7UHS-I
Fastest Shutter Speed1/80001/4000
Slowest Shutter Speed30"30"
Bulb ModeYesYes
JPEG Buffer SizeUnlimited231
RAW Buffer Size19110
Time LapseYesYes
Built-in FlashNoYes
Max Flash Sync Speed1/2001/160
Startup Time0.5s1.3s
Built-in Wi-FiYesYes
Built-in GPSYesNo
Built- in NFCYesYes
BluetoothNoNo
USB TypeUSB 3.0USB 2.0
Environmentally SealedYesYes
Battery Life (CIPA)900 shots350 shots
Battery IncludedYes (LP-E6N)Yes (NP-FW50)
Weight31.4 oz (890g)16.0 oz (453g)
Size5.9 x 4.6 x 3.0"4.7 x 2.6 x 2.1"
PriceAmazonAmazon
Release Date20162016

Canon 5D Mark IV Advantages:

  • Sensor – 6 more megapixels
  • FF vs APS-C – The 5D IV has a much bigger sensor and will therefore have less noise at higher ISO’s
  • Higher Max ISO – Half stop max higher native ISO, 1 stop higher expanded ISO. You can also go as low as 50.
  • LCD Size – 3.2″ vs 3.0″ and much higher resolution
  • Top LCD Screen – Very useful for quickly checking out all of your settings, battery info etc.
  • Headphone Jack – Good for monitoring audio quality
  • Dual Memory Cards – You can use SD + CF cards
  • Faster Max Shutter Speed – 1/8000 vs 1/4000
  • JPEG Buffer – Unlimited vs 231. Most people never go above ~50-60 anyways.
  • Flash Sync Speed – 1/200 vs 1/160
  • Startup Time – The 5D IV turns on almost 3x faster
  • Built-in GPS
  • USB 3.0 vs 2.0 – Faster file transferring out of the camera
  • Battery Life – 550 shots longer battery life

The Canon 5D IV is a full frame DSLR, which is why it’s that bigger and heavier. For photography, the longer battery life means you’ll be able to shoot for a longer time, the startup time is way faster and you get 2 memory card slots so you can be way more secure with your files.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews here.

Sony a6500 Advantages:

  • Body Stabilization – The A6500 has built-in 5-axis stabilization that works for photographs and videos
  • AF System – The A6500 has 425 vs 61 AF points, and they’re all phase-detection. The 5D IV is still extremely fast and might be more reliable for really fast moving subjects, especially in low light where the 5D wins
  • 11 vs 7fps – 4 more frames every second is great for action photography
  • LCD Screen – It’s fully articulated compared to the fixed one, so it’s better for shooting in awkward positions
  • Focus Peaking – The Sony A6500 can highlight what’s in focus! Excellent when focusing manually, whether it’s video or photography
  • Full HD – 120p instead of 60p, much better for clear, smooth slow motion clips
  • RAW Buffer – Much bigger with 110 vs 19 shots
  • Built-in Flash
  • Weight & Size – The A6500 is twice as light and much more compact
  • Less Expensive – Body only, the A6500 costs around $2100 less

What are the advantages you’ll appreciate most of the time? Body stabilization, much more AF points, 11 vs 7fps, an articulating LCD screen and of course the compact design. The A6500 can also record Full HD videos at 120p and offers focus peaking.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews here.

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