The A6500 is Sony's latest flagship APS-C E-mount compact system camera and is essentially an enhanced version of the A6300 that provides a number of performance and handling upgrades for those with deeper pockets.

Fantastic image quality; Extended memory buffer; Powerful 5-axis in-body stabilisation; Highly customisable

No in-camera raw processing; Memory card access can be fiddly; Focus Area options could be more streamlined

It weighs just 453g when the battery and card are inserted, yet crams in a DSLR-sized APS-C sensor. This is able to capture an extraordinary amount of detail with its maximum resolution of 24.2MP.

Not too long after the A6300 was announced, Sony sprung the A6500 on the world. Sporting many of the same specifications of the A6300 , the new camera is designed to be a premium version of the model, intending to appeal to high-end enthusiasts and potentially even some pro photographers.

4K video; High-resolution viewfinder; Great autofocusing system

Touchscreen could be better implemented; No headphone socket

4K video; High-resolution viewfinder; Great autofocusing system;

Touchscreen could be better implemented; No headphone socket;

Sony announced its new flagship APS-C camera, the a6500, a week ago and we had the chance to see a pre-production version at the Sony Europe headquarters in Weybridge. We couldn't bring back pictures or video footage but spending a few hours with the new camera gave us an idea about its new features...

The Sony Alpha 6500 ($1,399.99, body only) packs the same stellar 24MP APS-C image sensor, hybrid focus system, and 11.1fps capture rate as the Alpha 6300 , and adds in-body image stabilization and a touch screen to the mix.

Compact body; 11.1fps burst shooting; Large buffer; Tilting touch-screen LCD; Crisp 120fps EVF; In-body image stabilization; Excellent image quality; Integrated flash; Wi-Fi with NFC; 4K video and 120fps 1080p

Dense menu system; Some add-on apps must be purchased; No external charger included; Battery life lags behind competing models; Only one memory card slot; No grip available; Requires FE lens to complete weather sealing

The A6500 is one of the best compact system cameras around, and sits at the very top of the APS-C tree. Capable of producing superb images straight out of the camera, its raft of high-speed features make it a particularly good match for anyone who likes to shoot fast-moving action subjects, be it wildlife or your pet dog. That said, Sony sadly still hasn’t quite reached perfection. Yes, we’ve finally got a touchscreen, but you can only use it for certain things. The A6500 is also pretty expensive, and if you tend to shoot non-moving fare like landscapes, portraits and macro, you might be better suited to the A6300. In that sense, the two cameras mirror the Fujifilm X-T2 and X-T20, which are their main rivals. Which you go for depends a lot on your preferences for a camera's controls and feel, as Sony and Fujifilm differ greatly here - but we reckon the X-T2 just edges it, thanks to its better frame rate and design. Buy the Sony A6500 here from Wex photographic

Excellent image quality; Great for capturing fast-moving objects; Touchscreen for fast operation;

Expensive; Poor battery life;

Excellent image quality; Great for capturing fast-moving objects; Touchscreen for fast operation;

Expensive; Poor battery life;

by Mike Tomkins | Posted: 06/07/2017 When Sony first told us of the A6500 late last year, we must admit we felt a mixture of surprise and bewilderment. Following very closely in the footsteps of the A6300, the Sony A6500 was in many respects extremely similar to that camera -- much more so than we'd...

Comfortable, premium body with good controls; Touch-screen for subject selection; Hybrid image stabilization system; Excellent image quality; Better high ISO JPEGs than the A6300; Extremely fast 11.1 fps burst capture; Very deep buffers for raw and JPEG alike; 4K video capture with no pixel binning

Pricey for an APS-C camera; JPEG colors aren't the most accurate; Very slow buffer clearing; Laggy touch-pad AF function; Poorly-placed movie button; No headphone jack; Mediocre battery life

The Sony A6500 is a mid-range, prosumer mirrorless camera. It follows an established line of products that go back to the NEX-6 model when Sony separated the Alpha branding for A-mount SLT cameras from its E-mount mirrorless cameras.