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Sony A6500 vs Sony A7S II – Comparison

Let’s compare the Sony A6500 vs Sony A7S II. Both are extremely fast and excellent for action photography, but offer 4K video and other exciting features as well.

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 A6500Sony A7S II
Megapixels24.212.2
Sensor TypeCMOSCMOS
Sensor FormatAPS-CFull Frame
Crop Factor1.5xNone
AA FilterYesYes
Image Resolution6000 x 40004240 x 2832
Body Image StabilizationYes - 5-AxisYes - 5-Axis
Lens MountSony ESony E
ISO100 - 25,600100 - 102,400
Expanded ISO51,20050 - 409,600
AF Points425169
Cross-type AF Points425 phase169 phase
Continuous Mode11fps5fps
LCD3.0" - Articulating3.0" - Articulating
LCD Resolution921,600 dots1,228,800 dots
TouchscreenYesNo
Focus PeakingYesYes
Top LCD DisplayNoNo
Viewfinder TypeEVFEVF
Viewfinder Coverage100%100%
Viewfinder Magnification1.07x0.78x
Video Resolution3840x2160 (30/25/24p)3840x2160 (30/25/24p)
 1920x1080 (120/100/60/50p)1920x1080 (120/100/60/50p)
Microphone JackYesYes
Headphone JackNoYes
Memory Card TypeSD or MS ProSD or MS Pro
Dual Card SlotsNoNo
SD UHS SupportUHS-IUHS-I
Fastest Shutter Speed1/40001/8000
Slowest Shutter Speed30"30"
Bulb ModeYesYes
JPEG Buffer Size23163
RAW Buffer Size11028
Time LapseYesYes
Built-in FlashYesNo
Max Flash Sync Speed1/1601/250
Startup Time1.3s2.9s
Built-in Wi-FiYesYes
Built-in GPSNoNo
Built- in NFCYesYes
BluetoothNoNo
USB TypeUSB 2.0USB 2.0
Environmentally SealedYesYes
Battery Life (CIPA)350 shots370 shots
Battery IncludedYes (NP-FW50)Yes (NP-FW50)
Weight16.0 oz (453g)22.1 oz (627g)
Size4.7 x 2.6 x 2.1"5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4"
PriceAmazonAmazon
Release Date20162015

Sony A6500 Advantages:

  • Megapixels – 12 more megapixels. The Sony A6500’s high megapixel count makes it a much better choice for studio and landscape work, especially if printing extremely big.
  • AF Points – 425 vs 169.
  • Continuous mode – 11fps vs 5fps. More is better for sports and wildlife since you have more chances of getting a tack sharp shot.
  • Touchscreen Support
  • Viewfinder Magnification – Higher magnification.
  • JPEG Buffer Size – 231 vs 63. Useful for long bursts.
  • RAW Buffer Size – 110 vs 28.
  • Built-in Flash
  • Weight – The Sony A6500 weighs 174g less.
  • Size – The Sony A6500 is noticeably smaller.
  • Less Expensive – The A6500 costs around $1300 less

The A6500 is all about speed, which is why you get a better AF system with more points, 11 vs 5fps, touchscreen support, much bigger buffer and smaller size. It’s also a lot cheaper since it has a smaller sensor, so if you’re looking for that affordable travel/advanced camera, this is it.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

Sony A7S II Advantages:

  • Sensor Format – Full Frame is bigger than APS-C, which results in slightly less noise at higher ISO levels.
  • ISO – 409,600 vs 51,200. Higher maximum ISO sensitivity.
  • LCD Resolution – Higher resolution.
  • Headphone Jack – Useful for previewing your audio quality straight out the camera.
  • Faster Max Shutter Speed – 1/8000 vs 1/4000.
  • Max Flash Sync Speed – 1/250 vs /160.

The A7S II is a fantastic camera if you want a low light capable FF, with way higher maximum ISO and faster flash sync speed. It’s not as good for printing extremely large images, but 12MP is more than enough for 4K monitors and even medium sized prints.

You can buy it at Amazon or read more reviews.

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