The Sony A6500 is the flagship model for Sony's APS-C sensor-based mirrorless camera line and features an E-lens mount. The Sony A6500 was brought out only 8 months after the forerunner A6300 was shipped, which begs the question as to what changes and differences would justify a new model so soon.

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 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.

It took Sony two years to update its mid-range mirrorless camera a6000 with the a6300. But it took only around nine months for the a6500 to arrive. At first glance, the a6500 does not seem to differ much from its predecessor.

14 Requires pairing with compatible Android or iOS mobile devices running the free PlayMemories Mobile app. For GPS pairing, Android 5.0 or later and compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 or later. iPhone/iPad: iPhone 4S or later/iPad 3rd generation or later is required.

Buyers have found this mirrorless camera to be an excellent product. They have reported it to be a good backup camera for a professional, an advanced hobbyist, or a travel camera. They particularly like the in-body stabilization that compensates for hand movement and camera shake.

Touchscreen for better and immediate focus response; Compact design able to fit in a large jacket pocket easily; 11 fps continuous shooting with exposure tracking and autofocus; Color-coded menu system makes it easier to recognize and remember various parts of the menu; 2-megapixel APS-C Exmor...

Absence of touch-screen can be a hindrance; Not weather sealed which makes it inappropriate for harsh environments

When Sony debuted the A6300 prosumer mirrorless camera in March, it delivered a much-needed boost to autofocus performance with the company's Fast Hybrid AF system. But the lack of built-in image stabilization -- which most other mirrorless cameras have -- earned the company a big, fat demerit. And despite its excellent video cred with 4K and support for professional profiles, it didn't have the now-essential touchscreen for smooth and easy autofocus.

With built-in image stabilization and touch focus for video, the A6500 addresses two of the biggest complaints about the A6300, plus a performance boost.