Nikon D500 vs Sony A6500 – Comparison

Let’s compare the Nikon D500 vs Sony A6500. Both cameras are fast, made for action and can record 4K videos, so let’s see which one gives you more for the money.

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.

	Nikon D500	Sony A6500
Megapixels	20.9	24.2
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Format	APS-C (DX)	APS-C
Crop Factor	1.5x	1.5x
AA Filter	None	Yes
Image Resolution	5568 x 3712	6000 x 4000
Body Image Stabilization	No	Yes - 5-Axis
Lens Mount	Nikon FX/DX	Sony E
ISO	100 - 51,200	100 - 25,600
Expanded ISO	50 - 1,638,400	51,200
AF Points	153	425
Cross-type AF Points	99	425 phase
Continuous Mode	10fps	11fps
LCD	3.2" - Articulating	3.0" - Articulating
LCD Resolution	2,359,000 dots	921,600 dots
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Focus Peaking	No	Yes
Top LCD Display	Yes	No
Viewfinder Type	Optical	EVF
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	1.00x	1.07x
Video Resolution	3840x2160 (30/25/24p)	3840x2160 (30/25/24p)
	1920x1080 (60/50/30/25/24p)	1920x1080 (120/100/60/50p)
Microphone Jack	Yes	Yes
Headphone Jack	Yes	No
Memory Card Type	SD + XQD	SD or MS Pro
Dual Card Slots	Yes	No
SD UHS Support	UHS-II	UHS-I
Fastest Shutter Speed	1/8000	1/4000
Slowest Shutter Speed	30"	30"
Bulb Mode	Yes	Yes
JPEG Buffer Size	200	231
RAW Buffer Size	200	110
Time Lapse	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash	No	Yes
Max Flash Sync Speed	1/250	1/160
Startup Time	0.3s	1.3s
Built-in Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes
Built-in GPS	No	No
Built- in NFC	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes	No
USB Type	USB 3.0	USB 2.0
Environmentally Sealed	Yes	Yes
Battery Life (CIPA)	1240 shots	350 shots
Battery Included	Yes (EN-EL15)	Yes (NP-FW50)
Weight	30.2 oz (856g)	16.0 oz (453g)
Size	5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2"	4.7 x 2.6 x 2.1"
Price	Amazon	Amazon
Release Date	2016	2016

Nikon D500 Advantages:

• AA Filter – The Nikon D500 has no AA filter.

• ISO – 1,638,400 vs 51,200. Higher maximum ISO sensitivity.

• LCD – 3.2″ vs 3.0″.

• LCD Resolution – Higher resolution.

• Top LCD Display – When shooting in semi-auto/manual modes, you can quickly preview all of your settings.

• Headphone Jack – Useful for previewing your audio quality straight out the camera.

• Dual Card Slots – More room for extra photos, or simply for backup.

• UHS-II – Faster writing speeds than UHS-I, but you need a memory card that can handle such speeds.

• Faster Max Shutter Speed – 1/8000 vs 1/4000.

• RAW Buffer Size – 200 vs 110.

• Max Flash Sync Speed – 1/250 vs 1/160.

• Bluetooth Support

• USB 3.0 – Faster file transferring out the camera.

• Battery Life – 1240 shots vs 350 shots.

The Nikon D500 has no AA filter, allows you to go way higher in ISO speed, has a bigger LCD screen, 2 memory card slots with UHS-II support, 4x longer battery life. It helps having a top LCD screen if you often shoot in manual modes and want to quickly preview your settings.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

Sony A6500 Advantages:

• Megapixels – 3.3 more megapixels. It’s a small difference and you won’t notice it unless printing really big.

• Body Image Stabilization – The Sony A6500 has built-in body stabilization for photos and videos, which is an excellent feature for traveling and shooting in low light.

• AF Points – 425 vs 153.

• Continuous mode – 11fps vs 10fps. More is better for sports and wildlife since you have more chances of getting a tack sharp shot.

• Focus Peaking – Very useful for seeing if your subject is in focus (both photo and video).

• Viewfinder Magnification – Higher magnification.

• JPEG Buffer Size – 231 vs 200. Useful for long bursts.

• Built-in Flash

• Weight – The Sony A6500 weighs 403g less.

• Size – The Sony A6500 is noticeably smaller.

• Less Expensive – The A6500 costs around $500 less

The A6500 is smaller, lighter, has built-in body stabilization which is great if you use older lenses, or have some prime lenses with no IS. It’s also got more AF points but won’t be as accurate in low light as the D500, and then there’s also the focus peaking. It doesn’t look that exciting compared to the D500, but the A6500 is an excellent camera worth the money, especially if you’re looking for something compact. These two cameras are fairly similar when it comes to performance.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.