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Sony A6500 vs Olympus E-M1 II – Comparison

Let’s compare the Sony A6500 vs Olympus E-M1 II. Both cameras are fast and offer 4K video recording, but the A6500 is quite cheaper which can make this buying decision harder for you.

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.

Sony A6500E-M1 II
Megapixels24.220.4
Sensor TypeCMOSLive MOS
Sensor FormatAPS-CMicro Four Thirds
Crop Factor1.5x2.0x
AA FilterYesNone
Image Resolution6000 x 40005184 X 3888
Body Image StabilizationYes - 5-AxisYes
Lens MountSony EMicro Four Thirds
ISO100 - 25,600200 - 25,600
Expanded ISO51,200None
AF Points425121 Hybrid
Cross-type AF Points425 phase121 phase
Continuous Mode11fps18fps
LCD3.0" - Articulating3.0" - Fully Articulated
LCD Resolution921,600 dots1,037,000 dots
TouchscreenYesYes
Focus PeakingYesYes
Top LCD DisplayNoNo
Viewfinder TypeEVFEVF (2.36M)
Viewfinder Coverage100%100%
Viewfinder Magnification1.07x1.48x
Video Resolution3840x2160 (30/25/24p)4096x2160 (24p)
 1920x1080 (120/100/60/50p)3840x2160 (30/25/24p)
Microphone JackYesYes
Headphone JackNoYes
Memory Card TypeSD or MS ProSD + SD
Dual Card SlotsNoYes
SD UHS SupportUHS-IUHS-II
Fastest Shutter Speed1/40001/32000
Slowest Shutter Speed30"60"
Bulb ModeYesYes
JPEG Buffer Size231118
RAW Buffer Size110102
Time LapseYesYes
Built-in FlashYesNo
Max Flash Sync Speed1/1601/250
Startup Time1.3s0.8s
Built-in Wi-FiYesYes
Built-in GPSNoNo
Built- in NFCYesNo
BluetoothNoNo
USB TypeUSB 2.0USB 3.0
Environmentally SealedYesYes
Battery Life (CIPA)350 shots440 shots
Battery IncludedYes (NP-FW50)Yes (BLH-1)
Weight16.0 oz (453g)20.2 oz (574g)
Size4.7 x 2.6 x 2.1"5.3 x 3.6 x 2.7"
PriceAmazonAmazon
Release Date20162016

Sony A6500 Advantages:

  • Megapixels –  3.8 more megapixels. It’s a small difference and you won’t notice it unless printing really big.
  • Sensor Format – APS-C is bigger than MFT, which results in slightly less noise at higher ISO levels.
  • ISO – 51,200 vs 25,600. Higher maximum ISO sensitivity.
  • AF Points – 425 vs 121.
  • JPEG Buffer Size – 231 vs 118. Useful for long bursts.
  • RAW Buffer Size – 110 vs 102.
  • Built-in Flash
  • Built-in NFC
  • Weight – The Sony A6500 weighs 121g less.
  • Size – The Sony A6500 is noticeably smaller.
  • Less Expensive – The A6500 costs around $600 less

The A6500 has a few more megapixels but that won’t make a difference in 99% cases, it has a bigger sensor with 1 stop higher ISO, better AF system and twice as long RAW/JPEG buffer.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

Olympus E-M1 II Advantages:

  • AA Filter – The Olympus E-M1 II has no AA filter.
  • Continuous mode – 18fps vs 11fps. More is better for sports and wildlife since you have more chances of getting a tack sharp shot.
  • LCD – It’s  fully articulated.
  • LCD Resolution – Higher resolution.
  • Viewfinder Magnification – Higher magnification.
  • 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 – 1/32000 vs 1/4000.
  • USB 3.0 – Faster file transferring out the camera.
  • Max Flash Sync Speed – 1/250 vs /160.
  • Battery Life – 440 shots vs 350 shots.

The E-M1 II has no AA filter, is faster in burst mode and has an articulated LCD screen with a higher resolution. You’ll also appreciate the 2 memory card slots with UHS-II support if you need one extra memory card for backup, video or just long traveling. Battery life is noticeably longer, it’s got USB 3.0 for fast file transferring and is noticeably bigger than the A6500.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

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