The Sony a6500 is the flagship of the line of mirrorless cameras with an APS-C sensor. Along with it, the a6000 and a6300 models are on sale. Each model is the ideal camera for its audience segment. Someone needs an affordable camera (a6000), someone is fond of video and wants to shoot in 4K resolution (a6300), and someone even has the most advanced camera with a built-in stabilizer and the latest innovations in the world of photography.

Last year we did a detailed review of the Sony a6300. The new a6500 largely repeats it, but also has a lot of differences.

We asked our friend Dmitry Mukhin, a member of the guild of advertising photographers, to take the camera with him on a trip to Italy and evaluate its capabilities from the user's point of view.

So, the a6500 is Sony's flagship E-mount mirrorless camera that uses an APS-C sensor.

Key features of the camera

• 24MP APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor
• ISO 200-25600, expandable to ISO 100-51200
• 5-axis sensor stabilization
• Touch screen
• The world's fastest autofocus - 0.05 seconds
• 4D-focus system with 425 AF points - also a world record
• 4K video recording
• 2.36 MP OLED viewfinder at 120 fps
• WiFi and NFC support
• Dust- and moisture-resistant housing with magnesium alloy elements

Body and ergonomics

The Sony a6500 received a deeper grip with a slightly thicker handle compared to the a6300. Thanks to this, working with telephoto lenses has become even more convenient.

The camera has 9 function buttons, which can be used to carry out a lot of functions. Moreover, for one button there may be different functions for shooting mode and playback mode.

The C1 and C2 keys have moved to the top panel closer to the shutter button.

Viewfinder

The a6500 features a 2.36MP OLED electronic viewfinder with 1.07x magnification. Refresh rate - 100 fps (can be set to 50 fps).

To the right of the viewfinder is a proximity sensor that switches the data display between the monitor and the viewfinder.

When the touch screen is in a horizontal position, the viewfinder sensor is disabled.

With a touch screen, there is one feature. When you shoot from a low point, rotate the screen and try to set the focus point by touching the screen, your finger will cover the sensor and the camera will switch to the viewfinder at the most crucial moment. Disabling the sensor function every time is inconvenient.

But Sony has provided a small life hack. When the screen is tilted to a horizontal position, the sensor stops working. Everything ingenious is simple.

The eyepiece attachment of the viewfinder has remained the same deep, which allows you to work in the bright sun without flare.

1/250, f/8, ISO 100
1/250, f/8, ISO 100

As a photographer accustomed to a SLR camera, I really liked the bright and very clear viewfinder. Although my trip to Italy didn't have a scorching sun, I regularly used the viewfinder instead of the monitor. Usually mirrorless cameras have to be literally leaned against the face, but in the a6500, due to the protruding nozzle on the eyepiece, it is not necessary to press the camera so tightly.

LCD screen

The Sony a6500 is equipped with a 7.5 cm TFT touch screen with a resolution of 921,600 dots.

The touch function has become one of the key features of this camera. You can specify the focus point, focus, or take a picture.

Moreover, when viewing through the viewfinder, you can control the focus point using the touch screen. In this case, you do not need to specify an absolute place, but move the point with your finger across the screen. For example, controlling the mouse cursor using the touchpad. An illustrative example is shown below.

Although there is also a fly in the ointment - the speed of reaction to commands is not as lightning fast as we would like.

Frequently asked question: When taking a photo, will touching the screen with your nose control the focus? The answer is no. The manufacturer foresaw this situation and added the ability to activate one of the three touch control zones - the entire screen, 1/2 part on the right, 1/4 part on the right.

In the footage review mode, you can double-tap to zoom in on a photo and navigate through the image. But the usual gestures with two fingers do not work here.

The quality of the screen itself is very high. The image is clear, bright and juicy. To work in bright sunlight, there is a special mode "Sunny weather" with increased brightness to the maximum. Of course, this mode puts more battery.

Brightness "Sunny weather" automatically switches to standard when working in 4K mode.

Matrix

The camera is equipped with an APS-C (23.5 × 15.6 mm) Exmor CMOS sensor with a resolution of 24.2 megapixels. The matrix is ​​protected from dust by an antistatic coating and ultrasonic cleaning.

In practice, this permission is quite enough for commercial work and even more so for home use.

The shooting speed reaches 11 fps. Buffer holds up to 100 frames in RAW+JPG format.

A dynamic range of 14 steps allows for very flexible work with the files obtained during the shooting.

1/100, f/5.6, ISO400

In this case, the declared shutter resource is 200,000 operations.

Stabilizer

Sony a6500 received a five-axis stabilizer, which was long awaited in this series of cameras. Interestingly, the camera has not increased in size compared to the a6300, which does not have a stabilizer.

According to our estimates, the stabilizer gives a gain of 2.5–3 steps. This is not a record, but a very good indicator for such a compact camera . Doubling the effect when using the stabilizer in the camera and the lens did not work. It will probably be implemented in the future.

We will not go far, let's consider this issue using the photos of professional photographer Dmitry Mukhin, who used the Sony 6500 on his trip to Italy and kindly agreed to supplement our technical article with interesting details.

Opinion of photographer Dmitry Mukhin

In almost all museums in Europe, and in Italy in particular, amateur photography is allowed without using a tripod and flash.

1/3, f/4.0, ISO1600

With the advent of modern digital cameras with high resolution matrix, high ISO values ​​​​and built-in stabilization, which effectively eliminates camera shake in the hands of the photographer at the time of taking long exposure photos in low light conditions, it has become possible to take a decent shot just being in a crowd of tourists.

1/8, f/5.6, ISO800
1/8, f/5.6, ISO 800, 100% crop

ISO sensitivity

The working ISO is similar to the a6300 camera and is at the level of 3200 units. In certain lighting conditions, 6400 and 12800 can be used.

For example, the photo below was taken at ISO 6400. The noise level is low enough that you can shoot at high sensitivity not only on trips, but also in commercial projects.

1/80, f/4.0, ISO6400
1/80, f/4.0, ISO 6400, 100% crop

We took a series of photos with ISO bracketing from 100 to 51200 units.

CPU

The Sony a6500 is equipped with a Bionz X processor. Its power is enough to convert an image from a matrix to 4K on the fly. With photos, it works just as fast.

During the test, there was never a situation when the camera thought during the execution of any task.

autofocus

The a6500 is equipped with a "4D focus" system, the same as the a6300.

The camera has over 2,000 autofocus points, but 425 phase-detection AF points are used simultaneously. This allows very accurate tracking of moving objects.

Below is a Sony image showing that after selecting a subject, the camera focuses on the area in which the subject is located.

Opinion of photographer Dmitry Mukhin

In SLR cameras, to be sure of the result, you get used to working with the central autofocus point or those closest to the center. And to shoot a model in full growth, you have to move the camera due to the fact that the extreme points are not always accurately worked out.

In this field, the a6500 mirrorless camera, which has autofocus points located throughout the frame area, of course, wins by a clear margin.

When traveling, I wanted to make it as easy as possible to get sharp photos. With which the camera did a great job, defining the main plot of most of the shots.

Video filming

The Sony a6500 shoots 4K video (3840×2160 pixels) at bit rates up to 100 Mbps.

The camera has all the necessary features for working with video at a professional level: zebra, focus peaking, S-log3, built-in stabilizer.

To speed up or slow down the scene, the camera can shoot video at a speed of 1 to 100 fps in 4K mode.

Sony is one of the few manufacturers that produces dedicated video lenses for its cameras that feature silent autofocus and continuously variable aperture.

USB-powered capability allows you to shoot long scenes without connecting the battery pack or changing the battery.

Many have wondered how long the a6500 can shoot 4K video. We answer: during testing, we had no problems with overheating.

Moreover, in the a6500 you can turn off the thermal cut-off function, but you should only use this when shooting from a tripod, as the camera can get very hot.

Battery

The a6500 uses an NP-FW50 battery - the same battery used in the a6000, a6300 and the Sony a7II line. The battery can be charged directly in the camera via USB.

It is convenient not only when traveling, but also in commercial work. You can never predict how long a shoot will take, and the ability to charge your camera in any environment, including with an external battery, becomes invaluable.

Accessories

You can use any third-party lenses through adapters, and some retain the ability to work with autofocus. And thanks to Sony opening up the E-mount specs, there are a lot of interesting autofocus lenses out there, such as the Samyang AF 50mm f/1.4 FE and 14mm f/2.8 FE, that offer great value for money.

Results

pros

• Five-axis stabilization
• One of the best in class APS-C picture at high ISO
• RAW with wide dynamic range for post-processing
• Excellent autofocus
• High quality video
• Extensive video shooting options
• Charging and USB powered
• Autofocus support for third-party AF optics

Minuses

• No headphone jack
• Intricately organized menu
• Lack of in-camera RAW processing

conclusions

For myself, I noted the three most striking moments of the operation of the camera. Firstly, these are very “fat” RAWs that can be twisted as you like. Secondly, the stabilizer, which allows you to shoot at low shutter speeds. Thirdly, very accurate white balance work within the same scene.

The a6500 is a great addition to the APS-C mirrorless lineup. Even experienced photographers accustomed to the full frame, we recommend taking a closer look at the new model.

Partly because some features, such as 4D focus and touch screen, are not available even in full-frame cameras of the A7 family.

You, most importantly, come up with an idea, and the Sony a6500 will allow you to implement it.

The Sony Alpha family of E-mount mirrorless cameras has a new addition - the α6500 camera, which is an improved version of the α6300 model, which was released in February this year, has been announced. Outwardly, compared to the α6300, the novelty has not changed much, most of the characteristics have also remained the same. The most notable improvements are in the built-in stabilizer and camera controls.

At the heart of the Sony α6500 is a 24.2-megapixel APS-C format Exmor CMOS sensor with copper interconnects and 4D Focus hybrid autofocus, using 425 phase detection points and locking onto an object in 0.05 seconds. The BIONZ X processor and an auxiliary LSI chip are responsible for image processing, one of whose tasks is to reduce noise at high ISO values. By the way, the sensitivity range of the matrix is ​​​​ISO 100-51200.

Burst speed is 11 frames per second (or 8 frames per second with refocusing and metering exposure for each frame), while using a larger buffer for the series, the camera can take more than three hundred shots. The manufacturer-guaranteed time between failures of the shutter mechanism is 200,000 operations. The minimum shutter speed is 1/4000 s.

One of the most important features of the Sony α6500 is a five-axis sensor-shift stabilization system with an efficiency of up to 5 exposure steps. Another innovation is that the display of the model is now touch-sensitive, and with its help, in particular, you can select the focus point. At the same time, its diagonal is 3 inches, the resolution is 921,600 pixels, and the swivel design allows you to tilt the screen up 90 ° or down 45 °.

Among the other specifications of the Sony α6500, we note support for 4K video recording using the XAVC S codec at up to 25 frames per second, Super 35 mode, OLED XGA Tru-Finder electronic viewfinder, S-Log3 and S-Log2 profiles and the presence of built-in wireless transmission adapters Wi-Fi and NFC data.

Sales of the Sony α6500 will start in November, the retail price of the novelty will be $1400.

The Sony ILCE-6300, introduced over a year ago, has been and continues to be a great compact solution with 4K video recording. For a complete set, she lacked built-in optical stabilization. The Sony Alpha a6500 has a stabilizer. Moreover, a touch screen has appeared, and the buffer has also increased significantly, which allows you to shoot long series in RAW at maximum speed.

Specifications

Camera type	Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses
Matrix	APS-C type Exmor CMOS sensor (23.5×15.6 mm)
Effective pixels	24,2
Total pixels	25,0
Low pass filter	Eat
lens mount	E bayonet
CPU	Bionz X
Photo frame dimensions	6000×4000, 4240×2832, 3008×2000 6000x3376, 4240x2400, 3008x1688
Photo format	JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver. 2.31, MPF Baseline compatible), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format)
Video frame size	3840×2160, 1920×1080, 1280×720
Video file format	XAVC S: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, AVCHD: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MP4: MPEG-4, AVC/H.264
Sensitivity	ISO 100-25600 (extended range up to ISO 51200)
Shutter speed range	1/4000 to 30 s
Metering modes	Multi-zone, center-weighted, spot, whole-frame average
Exposure compensation	+/- 5.0EV(1/3 EV, 1/2 EV step selectable)
Flash	Yes (Guide number 6 at ISO 100)
Viewfinder	1 cm (0.39") OLED viewfinder, 2,359,296 dots
Display	Tilting TFT LCD display 3.0 inch, 921k dots
Data carrier	MS PRO Duo/MS PRO-HG Duo/MS Micro(M2), SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Connectors	USB, HDMI, microphone jack (3.5 mm)
Additionally	Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1
Nutrition	Li-ion battery NP-FW50, 7.3Wh
Dimensions, mm	120,0×66,9×53,3
Weight, g	453 (with battery and memory card)

Appearance

All Sony mirrorless cameras with an APS-C sensor are extremely similar to each other (except perhaps the Alpha a3000), and in the case of the a6300 and a6500 models, it is extremely difficult to find differences at a glance, because their body panels are extremely similar, and most of the controls are identical. Of the differences, only two additional programmable keys are striking, installed between the mode selector and the shutter button. And the presence of the touch layer of the display in the ILCE-6500 model is visually imperceptible at all.

The main thing is that the case of the tested mirrorless camera, traditionally for the 5000/6000 family, is thin and light, even if it added about 50 grams. Magnesium alloys are actively used in the body design, which is the norm for cameras from the middle price segment. The build quality is impeccable and there is nothing to complain about.

In front, in addition to the mount, there is an autofocus backlight, a pair of microphones, and an IR receiver window. The latter seems to be archaic, especially in light of the presence of Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetoth modules, but Sony is in no hurry to get rid of it.

On the back, most of the surface is occupied by an inclined display. Above the display is the viewfinder, the key to enter the main menu, as well as the key for the mechanical lock of the pop-up flash. Most of the controls are concentrated on the right side of the rear panel, namely: the AE / AF lock key, surrounded by the operating mode selection lever, keys for entering the quick menu, switching to viewing mode, deleting, as well as a round four-way multifunction key, which is also a second control dial with the enter key in the center.

At the top is a hot shoe, a pop-up flash, a round mode selector, a main command dial, a pair of programmable keys, and a shutter button surrounded by a power lever. From below, everything is quite familiar and boring - a tripod mount connector, as well as a cover for the battery and memory card compartments. The latter is a little surprising, because the cost of the camera is considerable, and the manufacturer did not make a slot for installing a memory card on the side surface. Apparently, the hotel slot fell victim to the struggle for the thickness of the case.

On the left side surface, you can see the system speaker, as well as a spring-loaded cover that hides the USB and HDMI cable connectors, as well as the microphone connection. On the right side surface, only the video button is installed.

Display, viewfinder and user interface

The camera uses a 0.39-inch (1 cm) OLED viewfinder with a resolution of 2359k dots. exactly the same as in the case of the Sony ILCE-6300 model. The viewfinder is complemented by a proximity sensor that automatically switches between the display and the viewfinder. That's just the delay when switching is quite noticeable. The viewfinder brightness can be adjusted both manually and automatically.

The display of the tested camera differs from the a6300 model only in the presence of a touch layer. Unfortunately, touch control functionality is limited to focus point selection, zooming, and moving the zoomed area in the review of the captured image and manual focus, as well as in installed applications.

Otherwise, everything is the same as before - a similar inclined design and exactly the same 3-inch LCD matrix with a resolution of 921 thousand dots. When looking through the viewfinder, the touch screen surface remains active, and in the settings you can choose the size of the active area: the entire screen, the right half or the lower right quarter.

Viewing angles of the display are very large, color reproduction is also excellent. At the maximum brightness level of the backlight, the white field luminosity is 468 cd/m 2 , while the black field luminosity is 1.06 cd/m 2 , which gives a static contrast ratio of 442:1.

In terms of displaying information, there are comments only for the oleophobic coating, or rather, its absence. In the case of the ILCE-6300 model, this is not so critical, but the tested camera has a touchscreen display, so it is covered with prints instantly.

The quick menu of the camera has remained unchanged, but the main menu has been slightly modernized due to the huge number of options available. Firstly, one more photography settings tab was added, and secondly, the number of sub-items was significantly increased (14 in the first tab and 9 in the second one against only 7 in the menu of the ILCE-6300 model). As in the case of the younger model, it is possible to customize the quick menu and physical keys. In order not to describe each item, below are screenshots.

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Features and additional functions

Among competing cameras, Sony solutions stand out with a huge number of additional features that are integrated into both the most affordable and flagship solutions.
The tested camera was no exception. There is a high-resolution panorama function with automatic stitching, multi-frame noise reduction, HDR mode, software dynamic range increase, face detection with the ability to register them, and automatic shutter release when a smile is detected. However, now all this is even in smartphones, so it does not cause much enthusiasm, as in the days of Sony NEX 3 and NEX 5. The presence of Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth 4.1 modules can be written as pluses, but these modules are increasingly appearing even in budget DSLRs, so flaunting this will not work. But not many cameras can boast of a built-in 5-axis stabilizer with a declared efficiency of 5 EV. However, in the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, the efficiency of the 5-axis stabilizer is declared at 5.5 EV, but the cost of this camera is much higher. Also impressive is the huge number of phase focus sensors integrated into the matrix, namely 425, and the sensors cover almost the entire field of the frame. Another notable feature is the large image buffer, which can store up to 307 full-resolution JPEGs (Fine compression) with focus and exposure tracking.

Camera in action

Turning on and preparing the camera for work is still the Achilles' heel of mirrorless cameras.

Some are able to take a picture in half a second, and for some, even a second is not enough, while for DSLRs, measuring the duration of preparation for work is a completely meaningless task, because this time is extremely short. In the case of the tested camera, the first shot can be taken in 0.28 seconds, which is a relatively good result. Much more important is the speed and duration of continuous shooting, and here the Sony ILCE-6500 has something to please.

The maximum speed is 11 fps (Hi+ mode), and the continuous bursts when shooting in JPEG (high quality) with continuous AF/AE tracking and 8 fps (Hi mode) is an impressive 307 frames. Our methodology involves using RAW, JPEG with the best quality (ultra-fine) and RAW + JPEG at the highest available speed, i.e. 11 frames per second. The result was amazing - 107 frames in RAW, 100 in RAW + JPEG and 228 in JPEG. Thanks to the huge buffer capacity, the duration of continuous shooting at maximum speed does not depend much on the write speed of the memory card. But writing such a huge amount of data from the buffer to a slow card takes too long, so it's better to use fast cards. Unfortunately, there is no support for SDXC UHS-II. It is worth noting here that the Sony Alpha A6300 in similar conditions was able to shoot series lasting 20, 23 and 45 frames, respectively. In press releases, the manufacturer actively focuses on extremely fast autofocus and a huge number of focus sensors, namely 425, which no competitor can offer.

However, the a6300 has the same number of focus points. The number of contrast detection zones for related cameras is also identical - 169 each. When tested according to the CIPA standard, autofocus copes with the task in 0.05 seconds, but our methodology is somewhat different. With a Sony E 3.5-5.6/PZ 16-50 OSS lens, the test camera was able to lock onto the subject in 0.25 seconds, which is by no means a record figure. It is noteworthy that the younger model Sony a6300 was able to focus in 0.28 seconds under the same conditions. The difference is so small that it can be attributed to the measurement error. Unfortunately, ultra-high autofocus sensitivity is not announced.

The autofocus working range is -1…+20 EV, i.e. exactly the same as in the case of a6300. When tested according to our methodology, the Sony Alpha a6500 was able to focus at 0.76 lux illumination, and the younger a6300 at 0.77 lux illumination. And this is only slightly less than -2 EV (0.625 lux). But in any case, competing solutions from Olympus and Panasonic have significantly higher autofocus sensitivity - from -4 EV. With manual focusing, the user has three assistants at once: a simple distance scale, a function to increase the focus area (focused magnifier), as well as highlighting sharpness edges with the ability to select the function activity mode and backlight color.
It is noteworthy that you can start the auto focus process when the “manual focus” mode is set using the dedicated key. What's more, auto focus can be initiated even when using a focused magnifier. In terms of ekpopara installation modes, everything is the same as before - a standard PASM set is available.
But in terms of the choice of metering modes, the a6500 is slightly different from the a6300. In addition to the standard modes, there are options for setting “average over the entire frame” and “highlight”. The latter mode ensures that the exposure is set correctly when shooting brightly lit areas or bright light sources. The exposure bracketing settings from the a6300 do not differ at all. Capable of shooting 3 to 5 frames in 0.3/0.7/1/2/3 EV increments and up to 9 frames in 0.3/0.7/2 EV increments. Under laboratory conditions, under fluorescent lighting, the metering error does not exceed 0.05 EV. Such a meager error is difficult to notice even when compared with the standard. However, with complex mixed lighting or the presence of zones with a large difference in brightness in the frame, you have to select the appropriate metering mode or enter manual correction.

Noises

The sensitivity level range is the same as that of the younger model - from ISO 100 to ISO 51,200, with the standard range limited to 25,600 ISO equivalent. The camera has the already familiar multi-frame noise reduction function, but it only works when shooting in JPEG format.

click on thumbnails to view full size

Canon EOS was taken as an opponent , which, like the hero of the material, is equipped with an APS-C sensor.


As you can see in the graph, when shooting in RAW over the entire sensitivity range, the difference between the opponents is small. When shooting in RAW, the tested camera has a slight jump in the graph. When changing the sensitivity in the range of ISO 100 ... 6400 by one step, the noise level changed by approximately 3 dB, and the difference between the values ​​​​of 6400 and 12800 is 1.7 dB. This leap is clearly achieved through hidden software processing. In principle, there is nothing wrong with this, because at such a high sensitivity you can’t do without noise reduction, but still it’s not entirely fair. When shooting in JPEG with noise reduction turned off, latent noise reduction is present throughout the entire range, and as sensitivity increases, its activity is unstable, but still grows on average.

Stabilization

One of the main differences between the tested camera and the Sony ILCE-6500 is a 5-axis stabilizer built into the “carcass” with a declared efficiency of 5 EV when tested using the CIPA method. This is not the best result, but no one can provide better among cameras comparable in cost. As an opponent, the much more expensive Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II was taken, which is also equipped with a 5-axis stabilizer, but with a declared efficiency of 5.5 EV.

Flash

The tested camera has a built-in flash, but the guide number is extremely small - only 6 at ISO 100. The flash settings are extremely poor. A power divider is not provided, but there is a power correction function in the range of -3 ... + 3 EV in increments of a third of a step. The operating modes are quite standard: fill, slow sync on the first or second curtain, as well as wireless sync with external flashes. Unfortunately, the latter mode is not compatible with the built-in flash. Given that the low-power built-in flash is of little use for anything other than synchronization, its presence is essentially meaningless.

But there is also reason for joy. For Sony cameras, there are a lot of relatively inexpensive reportage-class flashes from Chinese manufacturers, including automatic TTL solutions. Flagship speedlights with high power, swivel head, reflector zoom, high-speed sync, and built-in radio sync start at $119. Only Canon and Nikon devices have such a nice bonus among mirrorless cameras, and even then only due to the compatibility of “hot shoes” with the lines of DSLRs from these manufacturers. But in the case of Panasonic, Olympus and Fujifilm, you will have to pay many times more for a reportage TTL flash. Of course, Sony's own solutions are also not cheap, but users of cameras from this manufacturer have a choice.

Photo examples

Video recording mode

The video mode mirrorless battle is tough, but there are only two main players here - Panasonic and Sony.
For Sony, the ILCE-6300 is a good breakthrough in terms of video recording, which supports 4K video recording, supports gamma S-Log2 / S-Log3, has a zebra, video output to HDMI with 4:2:2 color subsampling is provided. for recording with an external recorder, but this camera does not have built-in stabilization and a headphone jack. The Sony ILCE-6500 has stabilization, like the more expensive Panasonic DMC-GH5. Of course, this problem can be solved by connecting an HDMI-DVI + mini-jack adapter, but this is at least inconvenient. The Panasonic DMC-GH5 is also capable of recording 4K video at 60p, while the tested camera is limited to 25 frames per second.
In addition, the maximum video bitrate does not exceed 100 Mb / s, while even the Panasonic DMC-GH4 has 200 Mb / s, and the newer Panasonic DMC-GH5 in the second half of 2017, the manufacturer promises a data stream of up to 400 Mb / s . In addition, Panasonic's flagship camera is capable of recording 4K/60p 10-bit video with 4:2:2 chroma sub-sampling to an external recorder, while the protagonist of the material is limited to 4K/25p, 8-bit and 4:2:2 ratio. Among the shortcomings of the video mode, it is worth noting the decrease in the brightness of the display backlight when shooting video with a high bitrate, which is very inconvenient when shooting on a sunny day. Another important point is the sensitivity of autofocus, which Panasonic's competing solutions are more tenacious in low light.
In general, the tested camera, although significantly cheaper than one of its main competitors, in video mode loses even to its predecessor, which, in turn, is noticeably cheaper. The advantages of the Sony ILCE-6500 include less noise due to the larger sensor size, which is important when shooting in low light, as well as a wider dynamic range. An example of video recording in the dark.

XAVC S 4K 25p Sample video XAVC S 4K 25p

Sample video XAVC FullHD 50p

Sample video AVCHD FullHD 50p

Sample video MP4 FullHD 50p

Offline work

The camera uses an NP-FW50 battery with a capacity of 7.7 Wh (1080 mAh), which, when tested according to the CIPA standard, is enough for shooting 350 shots. For comparison, the Panasonic DMC-GH5, when tested by the same method, is able to capture 410 frames. But here we should not forget that this camera is much larger than the experimental one, which makes it possible to use a more capacious battery (13.3 Wh). In real conditions, the camera was able to shoot up to 480 shots, of which a third was shot in series of 30-40 frames. The charge level indicator with the ability to display in percent works accurately, and even after a half-hour cold test in the freezer, the indicator readings remained accurate. In video recording mode, you can shoot 105 minutes of video, but the length of each clip is limited to 29 minutes. Charging the battery is possible both in an external charger and in the camera body, so when working "in the field" you can replenish the charge using an external battery (power bank).

Conclusion

The Sony Alpha a6500 easily copes with its main competitors in photography mode, although it is inferior in terms of autofocus sensitivity. In video mode, Panasonic wins. But here we should not forget that the tested camera is much more compact and lighter, which is extremely important for non-professional use as a camcorder with a minimum of additional equipment.

Cons:
- no oleophobic coating of the touch screen;
– autofocus operation in low light;
- automatic decrease in the brightness of the display backlight when shooting video with a high bitrate;
- No headphone jack.
Pros:
– compact and lightweight body;
– high-quality materials and assembly;
- touchscreen;
– long continuous shooting at high speed;
- high quality video.

Advantages

Comfortable and durable body
Integrated Image Stabilizer
Excellent image quality
Ultra HD video recording mode
Clear viewfinder and flip-up display
Fast autofocus
Fast and long continuous shooting

Flaws

Slow SD card slot

• Value for money
  Good
• Place in the overall rating
  8 out of 70

• Value for money: 74
• Image quality (40%): 92.8
• Equipment and management (35%): 86.7
• Speed ​​(10%): 90.8
• Video quality (15%): 90.2

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Sony Alpha 6500: a test of a powerful DSLM camera with an APS-C format matrix

Not everyone will be happy with the appearance of the Sony Alpha 6500: only about six months have passed since the previous model was introduced to the market, and now the title of the manufacturer's top DSLM model is being passed to its successor.

First of all, this can piss off those buyers who have just taken a device that has suddenly ceased to be a top one.

But are there really serious grounds for reasoning in this way? In the end, the innovations here can be listed on the fingers of one hand, and they relate primarily to equipment and speed.

But the extra charge for the novelty of the Sony Alpha 6500, which is 20,000 rubles (the price of a camera without a lens is 120,000 rubles), attracts much more attention. An indication that for this amount you will already receive a new model of the 6000 series does not necessarily make the device much better. Therefore, some interested parties may have a question: generally speaking, is it worth it? Absolutely right! But not for everyone.

Sony Alpha 6500: finally with stabilization

Undoubtedly, the main innovation is the presence of an image stabilizer. In more detail, the integrated 5-axis stabilizer compensates for micro-shake of the camera even when used with lenses without the Optical SteadyShot system. In practice, this means you can use 4.5 stops higher exposure when shooting handheld. During the test, the Alpha 6500 with a 50mm lens, even at a shutter speed of 1/20 second, continued to produce clear images. Test photos in full resolution can be found in the photo gallery at the end of the article.

Sony Alpha 6500: Suitable for Operators

Sony Alpha 6500: in addition to WLAN and TAC modules, there is Bluetooth on board for transmitting GPS data from a smartphone

Videographers should also warmly welcome the appearance of an image stabilizer. Finally, clear and detailed recordings in Ultra HD resolution at 30 frames per second will look "calm".

This will be facilitated by the ability to get rid of camera shake when the user presses the buttons. The Sony Alpha 6500 is the manufacturer's first DSLM camera to feature a high-resolution 3-inch flip-out touch screen. This greatly facilitates the implementation of soft focus transitions during continuous video recording.

However, Sony still has room to improve here. In addition to the ability to move between 399 focal points, the touch display does not have any other comfort features. Browsing through the photo gallery with swipes, zooming in on photos, or even just navigating menus with familiar gestures is not about the Alpha 6500. A software ! And a little surprised. After all, the Alpha 6500 is the second camera after the Alpha 99 II that Sony has implanted a revised and visually better structured menu.

The co-processor, christened the name "LSI", first of all, increases the pace of work. On the one hand, its presence is manifested in the short turn-on time (1.1 s) and the extremely fast autofocus with its maximum 0.3 s. On the other hand, it has a significant effect on continuous shooting: while the fast-paced with its approximately 11 frames per second is quite consistent with the 6000 series, the duration of the "burst" here is quite serious. Only after at least 240 JPEGs or a good 110 compressed RAWs does the Sony Alpha 6500 need a break. These characteristics are already quite close to those of the DSLR-"sport machine gun".

Sony Alpha 6500: Temp Reducing SD Card

Sony Alpha 6500: Bluetooth, WLAN, high resolution display - time duration battery life with a maximum of 440 shots, respectively, a short

Where the competitor from Nikon clearly outperforms the Sony Alpha 6500, it concerns, first of all, the capabilities of the built-in slot for SD memory cards. On the one hand, its location in the same compartment with the battery deserves criticism, on the other hand, the data transfer rate.

Anyone who takes advantage of the longest possible continuous shooting will have to wait more than a minute before this entire "queue" is stored on the map. However, there is a small consolation - the ability to view the footage before saving it to the gallery.

Nevertheless: as in the case of the Alpha 99 II, the write speed is incomparably slow with the overall high rate of the device. In short, the time has come to support UHS-II cards, because despite complying with all standards, when recording 4K video at 100 Mbps, the Sony Alpha 6500 requires a UHS-I Class 3 SD card.

Sony Alpha 6500: First-class image quality

Sony Alpha 6500: at minimum ISO, the pop-up flash hits approximately six meters

Still, enough grumbling, as the Alpha 6500 is one of the best models that the APS-C market currently has to offer. Much of the credit goes to image quality. 24 megapixels at minimum ISO provide clear and mesmerizingly detailed shots of a "full-format" level.

High-resolution structures, extremely sharp lines, low-noise surfaces: images look amazingly good. The sharpness of the contours measured by us at the level of 1885 line pairs per frame height confirmed this visual impression.

Also pleased with the detail, which remains high up to ISO 3200 - it is even slightly better than the previous model. Of course, there are questions about the occasional slight blurring of the picture, as a result of which noise in the image becomes noticeable at 100% zoom, starting from ISO 3200. Still, in general, this is a very good result!

Equipment makes the same convincing impression. It all starts with a high-quality, weather-resistant magnesium alloy body that, at 453 grams, is pleasantly light yet comfortable. WLAN, NFC and, for the first time, Bluetooth for receiving GPS data from a smartphone find their place on board, as well as an external microphone connector and two dials for adjusting aperture and shutter speed.

Particularly good is the 0.7x high-resolution OLED electronic viewfinder, which boasts not only a pleasantly large size, but also surprisingly smooth images thanks to a picture refresh rate of 100 frames per second. The only negative in this case: the high performance of the viewfinder vigorously exhausts the battery power. The battery can last from 230 to 480 shots, being in this regard - in contrast to the maximum 110 minutes of video recording - rather a weak average.

It happens better. And cheaper. Approximately 120,000 rubles (for a camera without a lens) is already serious. However, with the Alpha 6500, buyers will get a best-in-class DSLM camera. However, those who can refuse the touch screen and the image stabilization system can choose a much cheaper, also first-class model.

F5.6, 1/15c, ISO 100; Sony FE 35 mm F2.8;
F5.6, 1/250s, ISO 1600; Sony FE 35mm F2.8

F8, 1/40c, ISO 400; Sony SEL DT 50mm F1.8
F8, 1/160s, ISO 1600; Sony SEL DT 50mm F1.8
F8, 1/2.500c, ISO 25600; Sony SEL DT 50mm F1.8
F1.8, 1/640c, ISO 100; Sony SEL DT 50mm F1.8
F2, 1/30c, ISO400; Sony SEL DT 50mm F1.8;
F1.8, 1/800s, ISO 100; Sony SEL DT 50mm F1.8

Sony Alpha 6500: alternative

For those who are looking for a camera based, first of all, on the possibilities of their budget, we recommend that you pay attention to the leader in terms of price and quality ratio in the categories of DSLM and DSLR cameras. Right here we will show you the leaders for this characteristic. All the DSLM and DSLR cameras we tested, sorted by value for money, will show .

1.

Image quality (40%)

: 88.1

Video quality (15%)

: 98.3

Equipment and management (35%)

: 82.3

: 15.8MP

Sensor dimensions

: 17.3 x 13mm

Overall score: 87.9

Value for money: 100

2.

Image quality (40%)

: 84.1

Video quality (15%)

: 92.5

Equipment and management (35%)

: 83.3

Effective number of pixels

: 15.8MP

Sensor dimensions

: 17.3 x 13mm

Overall score: 85.2

Value for money: 95

3.

Image quality (40%)

: 89.8

Video quality (15%)

: 74.5

Equipment and management (35%)

: 70.8

Effective number of pixels

: 24.0 MP

Sensor dimensions

: 23.5 x 15.6 mm

Overall score: 80.1

Value for money: 89

TEST RESULTS
Image quality (40%)
Equipment and management (35%)
Performance (10%)
Video quality (15%)
CONCLUSION During the tests, the Sony Alpha 6500 (a6500) took the second place in our corresponding rating. With top-notch image quality and numerous features including a touchscreen display as well as nimble autofocus and fast burst shooting, the Sony Alpha 6500 (a6500) is convincing in almost every way. But the data transfer rate of the SD memory card slot cannot be compared with the high speed of the camera.	90.1% OVERALL RESULT

Sony Alpha 6500 test results

Specifications and test results Sony Alpha 6500

Price-quality ratio	74
Camera type	DSLM
Effective number of pixels	24.0 MP
Maximum photo resolution	6000 x 4000 pixels
Sensor type	CMOS
Sensor dimensions	23.5 x 15.6mm
Cleaning the sensor	Yes
Built-in stabilizer (in camera)	Yes
Video recording	Yes
Lens mount	Sony E
Lens when evaluating image quality	Sony SEL 1.8/50
Lens when evaluating performance	Sony FE 3.5-5.6/28-70 OSS
Minimum shutter release time	1/4.000 c
Maximum shutter release time	30 s
Viewfinder	electronic
Viewfinder coating	100 %
Viewfinder magnification	0.70x
Display: diagonal	3.0 inches
Display: Resolution	921.600 subpixels
Display: touchscreen	Yes
Display: Trigger video recording from the touchscreen	Yes
Display: Rotatable	turning
Display: selfie mode	-
Second display	-
Orientation sensor	Yes
GPS	-
Minimum ISO	ISO 100
Maximum ISO	ISO 51.200
Min. flash sync time	1/160s
White balance (number of presets)	3 Presets
White balance: Kelvin	Yes
Resolution at ISO min	1.848 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 400	1.832 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 800	1.741 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 1600	1.727 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 3200	1.727 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 6400	1.692 line pairs
Detail at ISO min	93,8 %
Detail at ISO 400	93,9 %
Detail at ISO 800	93,9 %
Detail at ISO 1600	93,8 %
Detail at ISO 3200	88,4 %
Detail at ISO 6400	80,7 %
Visual noise at ISO min	1.04 VN (1.1 VN1, 0.5 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 400	1.15 VN (1.2 VN1, 0.7 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 800	1.14VN (1.2VN1, 0.6VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 1600	1.43VN (1.5VN1, 0.8VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 3200	2.09VN (2.2VN1, 1.1VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 6400	2.19 VN (2.3 VN1, 1.2 VN3)
Expert Judgment: Noise and Detail at ISO Min	Very good
Expert Review: Noise and Detail at ISO 1600	Very good
Expert Review: Noise and Detail at ISO 3200	Fine
Expert Review: Noise and Detail at ISO 6400	satisfactorily
Ready time to shoot from off state	1.1s
Shutter release delay time for manual focus	0.04 s
Shutter lag time with autofocus in daylight	-
Shutter release time with autofocus in low light	-
Shutter lag time in Live-View with autofocus in daylight	0.30 s
Burst speed in RAW	11.1 photos/sec
Burst length in RAW	-
JPEG Burst Speed	11.1 photos/sec
JPEG burst length	-
Battery	NP-FW50
Battery cost	50 €
Battery: max. photos with flash	230 photos
Battery: max. photos without flash	440 photos
Battery: max. photos in Live-View with flash	480 photos
Battery: max. photos in Live-View without flash	250 photos
Battery: video recording duration	1:49 h:min
Microphone jack	yes, 3.5 mm
Built-in flash	Yes
Flash control	Yes
Remote shutter release	Yes
Memory card type	SDXC
WLAN	Yes
NFC	Yes
Housing material	magnesium alloy
Housing: dust and splash proof	Yes
Dimensions	120 x 67 x 53mm
Weight without lens	453 g

A detailed description of the technical characteristics of the Sony a6500 is available on the official websites Sony.ru, Sony.ua, Sony.com, where the camera is positioned from 'The palm-sized all-around all-star' to 'Professional pocket camera'.

The main differences from the a6300 model:

1. a6500 is a newer model introduced in November 2016 while it was introduced 8 months earlier (February 2016)
2. a6500 received a proprietary stabilization system built into the camera. a6500 can compensate for 5 kinds of camera movements. It is stated that the effectiveness of the stabilizer reaches 5 steps! The a6500 stabilizer works wonderfully. There is an indication of the focal length for manual lenses. Thus, with the a6500, you can use the stabilizer with any lens.
3. a6500 has Bluetooth
4. a6500 has a touch screen, with which you can, for example, set the point or focus area. At the same time, it is impossible to navigate through the menu with touches and other usual actions.
5. the a6500 has slightly redesigned controls (another programmable button has been added) and a redesigned menu.
6. a6500 has increased by about 5 times! You can shoot about 100 frames in one burst in RAW format !
7. a6500 uses the same sensor as , but with an additional LSI chip, which helps to create a better image at high ISO values, increases the buffer and improves video quality. I did not notice a significant increase in noise reduction.
8. a6500 was able to shoot Full HD at a frame rate of 120 fps, which makes possible the effect of slow motion (Slow Motion).
9. The a6500 uses a new shutter rated for 200,000 actuations (that's just 5 hours of continuous operation at 11 fps). It's a pity that the minimum shutter speed was left at 1/4000.
10. other little things have been changed or added, for example, overheating control, additional settings, the ability to save 8 MP images from 4K video, etc.

Photo examples

Examples of photographs from this camera can be viewed (and / or downloaded from their sources) in the lens reviews and.

My experience

All in all, the Sony a6500 is a good camera/camcorder with great potential. In general, I am delighted with modern technology. The sediment was left only by the focusing system and some lags in control.

The '4D Focus' technology it uses performs very well with the kit lens. The same technology is used in the Sony a6500 camera, but when using it with lenses, no miracle happened. The focusing speed depends on the capabilities of the motors and the logic of the lenses, in the general case, there is no need to talk about high speed. All these ' ' are just marketers' dreams. Worst of all, the tenacity of focusing is at the level of ancient SLR cameras.

Usually everything is simple with SLR cameras - in the vast majority of SLR cameras, except for some renegades like Canon D30 / D60, the central phase focusing point is cross-shaped. In difficult shooting conditions, such a point is a kind of panacea - turn it on and get accurate and fast focus. With the Sony a6500, this 'trick' does not work. In any focus mode and with any focus areas / points, getting the camera to focus on what I want is not always possible.

Sony a6500 often clings to the background (for the background), ignoring the subject being shot. In general, it is much more convenient and comfortable for me to work with a central focus point on some one because of the more confident tenacity of focus and unambiguous focusing on the object that the camera was aimed at. Why 11 fps and a 300 frame buffer if everything is out of focus? Why 425 phase focus points, if with three points it grabs the focus much more tenaciously? Perhaps I had some negative experience with the camera and the specified lenses, many other reviews praise the focusing of the Sony a6500.

Still, there are positive aspects of focusing - this is its accuracy.

Prices

The real prices for the Sony a6500 camera can be found in the online catalog or.
In the comments, you can ask a question on the topic and they will definitely answer , and you can also express your opinion or describe your experience.
For the selection of photographic equipment, I recommend large catalogs, such as E-katalog. Many little things for photos can be found on Aliexpress.

All Sony E mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensor

• NEX-3 , NEX-C3 , NEX-F3 ,
• , NEX-5N , NEX-5R , NEX-5T
• NEX-6, NEX-7
• a3000, a3500
• a5000, a5100
• a6000, a6100, a6400, a6600

All Sony E lenses for APS-C

1. 20mm f/2.8 (black/silver)
2. 50mm f/1.8 OSS (black/silver)
3. (black/silver)