Product Summary

• Model name: Sony α6500 (model ILCE-6500)
• Release Date: 6th October 2016
• Focus Type: Autofocus
• Format : APS-C
• Color: Black
• Availability: November 2016
• Price: $ 1,400
• Purchase options: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Key features

• 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor
• BIONZ X® Processor and New Front-End LSI
• 4D FOCUS with 425 phase detection AF points
• Touch Screen Focusing
• Slow motion at up to 120 fps
• 5-axis Image Stabilization Provides 5 Steps Shutter Speed Advantage
• Shutter durability 200,000 cycles

Sony introduced their new flagship APS-C sensor camera, the α6500 (model ILCE-6500).

As the latest addition to Sony’s lineup of award winning mirrorless cameras, the new α6500 shares the same unrivaled 4D FOCUS™ system as the α6300 camera, which can lock focus on a subject in as little as 0.05 seconds, the world’s fastest1 AF acquisition time.  Also shared with the α6300, the new α6500 features 425 phase detection AF points that are densely positioned over nearly the entire image area – the world’s highest2 number of AF points on any interchangeable lens camera.  The new model can shoot images at up to 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus and exposure tracking and up to 8 frames per second in a live-view shooting mode that makes it easy to track fast moving subjects, as it combines all of the benefits of an electronic viewfinder with the immediacy of an optical viewfinder.

The camera can shoot at these high speeds for up to 307 frames3 thanks to its expanded buffer, which, along with the fast response speeds described above, are all achieved with the support of a new front-end LSI chip that has been added to the camera.  This new front-end LSI also serves to enhance both still and video image quality.

Additionally, the new α6500 features Sony’s acclaimed in-camera 5-axis optical image stabilization, making it the first Sony APS-C sensor camera to offer all of the benefits of advanced in-body stabilization, which include a shutter speed advantage of approximately 5 steps4.   It also offers touchscreen AF capabilities for focus point selection and adjustment.

“We are continuing to push the boundaries of modern innovation in digital imaging, in particular within the mirrorless space,” said Neal Manowitz, Vice President of Digital Imaging at Sony Electronics.  “By equipping the α6500 with 5-axis image stabilization and touchscreen AF, we’re offering photographers and videographers more control than ever before and a seemingly endless amount of creative possibilities.  As our flagship APS-C camera, it far exceeds the performance threshold of any camera in its class, and many above its class as well.”

Unmatched AF Capability

Sony’s new α6500 camera utilizes the same 4D FOCUS system as the α6300 – a Fast Hybrid AF system that combines high-speed phase detection AF with extremely accurate contrast AF and allows it to capture and lock on to moving subjects in as little as 0.05 seconds1.  It also features 425 phase detection AF points and High-density Tracking AF Technology, which significantly improves subject detection and tracking performance.

New for the α6500, thanks to faster internal processing capabilities enabled by the front-end LSI, the maximum buffer for high-speed continuous shooting is an impressive 307 frames3, greatly increasing the chances to catch that decisive moment.

The camera’s 425 phase detection AF points, focusing tracking and accuracy are also available when using non-native A-mount lenses5 with Sony’s LA-EA3 mount adaptor.  Additionally, it includes silent shooting, Eye AF in AF-C mode, AF in focus magnifier modes, Expand Flexible Spot AF and more.

5-axis Image Stabilization Provides 5 Steps Shutter Speed Advantage

One of the most exciting developments in the new α6500 is the implementation of 5-axis image stabilization for the first time in a Sony APS-C sensor camera.  Additionally, through a total revision of the internal design of the camera, this newly developed stabilization system fits entirely within a body that is nearly the same size as the α6300 model6. This innovative 5- axis system provides a shutter speed advantage of 5 steps4, ensuring the full resolving power of the sensor can be realized, even in challenging lighting.

The shake compensation provided by the system works with a variety of lenses, including E-mount lenses without OSS (Optical SteadyShot) stabilization and A-mount lenses7 when used with a compatible mount adapter.  When an E-mount lens with OSS is mounted, pitch and yaw are compensated in the lens and horizontal, vertical and roll axes are compensated in the camera body, resulting in optimal 5-axis stabilization 7.

Also, with a simple half press of the shutter button, the effect of the image stabilization can be monitored in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen, allowing framing and focus to be accurately checked and continually monitored.  This is available even when a lens is attached that does not have built-in shake compensation.

New Touch Screen Focusing

The new α6500 comes equipped with touch screen functionality, allowing users to lock focus on a subject simply by touching it on the screen.  This is a powerful compliment to its advanced AF system and video shooting capabilities.

Additionally, in a first for Sony cameras, the α6500 features touchpad functionality.  When utilizing the viewfinder for framing and shooting, the LCD screen can be used as a touch pad.  Simply drag a finger across the screen to shift the focus point from one area to another.

Powerful 24.2 MP8 Exmor CMOS Sensor, BIONZ X® Processor and New Front-End LSI

The new α6500 features an APS-C sized 24.2 MP8 Exmor CMOS sensor that works together with a BIONZ X image processor and the newly developed front-end LSI to maximize processing power and achieve an impressive sensitivity range of ISO 100-512009.

The image sensor employs a thin wiring layer and large photodiode substrate that maximizes light collection efficiency, plus copper wiring in its structure for outstanding read-out speed.    The BIONZ X image processor and newly developed front-end LSI ensure superior image and video quality with low noise even when using higher ISO settings, in particular those at high sensitivity values where other cameras typically struggle.  The LSI is also responsible for the expanded buffer depth for continuous shooting.

Professional Video Capabilities

The new α6500 becomes the latest Sony interchangeable lens camera to offer internal 4K movie recording, as it can shoot 4K (3840x2160p) video in the popular Super 35mm format on the full width of the image sensor.  When shooting in this format, the camera uses full pixel readout without pixel binning to collect 6K of information – approximately 2.4×10 (20 MP equivalent) as many pixels as 4K UHD and then oversamples the information to produce high quality 4K footage with exceptional detail and depth.

Additionally, the α6500 will focus exceptionally fast during movie shooting thanks to its Fast Hybrid AF system, offers touch focusing  for professionally smooth focus shifts, while also offering adjustable AF transition speed and AF tracking sensitivity.  The camera supports the XAVC S codec11 during video shooting, which records at a high bit rate of up to 100 Mbps during 4K recording and 50 Mbps during Full HD shooting, ensuring maximum detail and clarity in both video formats.

Other professional caliber video features include the ability to record Full HD at 120 fps at up to 100 Mbps, which allows footage to be reviewed and eventually edited into 4x or 5x slow motion video files in Full HD (24p) resolution with AF tracking.

New on the α6500 is the incorporation of a ‘Slow and Quick’ (S&Q) mode that supports both slow motion and quick motion.  In this mode, frame rates from 1 fps to 120 fps can be selected in 8 steps for up to 60x quick motion and 5x slow motion recording12. Footage shot in this mode can be previewed after shooting without the need for PC-based post processing.

The camera also offers S-Log gamma recording13 for wide dynamic range shooting – approximately 14-stop latitude in S-Log3 gamma setting – and supports S-Gamut for a wider color space.  Both options allow for greater creativity for processing video post-production.

Shooters also now have the ability to select, extract and save still images from movie footage directly on the camera.  Approximately 8 MP images and 2 MP images can be pulled from 4K modes and Full HD modes, respectively.

Enhanced Operability and Reliability         

The new α6500 has a refined design, maintaining the mobility of the α6000 series while adapting much of the usability of Sony’s acclaimed α7 II series.  The new model features the same high contrast, high-resolution 2.4 million dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder as the α6300 that offers exceptional corner-to-corner visibility.

New hardware features on the α6500 include a magnesium alloy body and a high-durability shutter with a tested life span of approximately 200,000 release cycles14. It also has several design features that are borrowed from the α7 II series of full-frame cameras, which include a robust lens mount, a recessed grip to improve handling, a larger release button and ten total custom buttons including ‘C1’, ‘C2’ and ‘C3’.  It also has an improved operation feel for its mode and control dials and rear face buttons, as well as a softer eyepiece cup for more comfortable usage.

On the software front, there is a new overall user interface, which allows for a much smoother process for searching and adjusting menu settings, as well two new metering modes – Highlight, where exposure metering is focused on the brightest area of the frame, and Entire Screen Avg, which maintains an average metering for the entire image.

The camera is Wi-Fi®, QR and NFC compatible and fully compatible with Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile™ applications15available for Android™ and iOS platforms, as well as Sony’s growing range of PlayMemories Camera Apps™.  The α6500 also offers location data acquisition via a Bluetooth16 connection to a compatible mobile device and an updated menu structure to deliver a smoother navigational experience.

Product Photo

Sample Image

Specification

Lens Mount	Sony E-Mount
Camera Format	APS-C (1.5x Crop Factor)
Pixels	Actual: 25 Megapixel Effective: 24.2 Megapixel
Max Resolution	24 MP: 6000 x 4000
Aspect Ratio	3:2, 16:9
Sensor Type / Size	CMOS, 23.5 x 15.6 mm
File Formats	Still Images: JPEG, RAW Movies: AVCHD Ver. 2.0, MP4, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, XAVC S Audio: AAC LC, AC3, Dolby Digital 2ch, Linear PCM (Stereo)
Bit Depth	14-bit
Dust Reduction System	Yes
Memory Card Type	SD SDHC SDXC Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick PRO HG-Duo
Image Stabilization	Sensor-Shift, 5-Way
Video Recording	Yes, NTSC/PAL
Video Format	UltraHD XAVC S 3840 x 2160p / 30 fps (100 Mbps) / 30 fps (60 Mbps) / 25 fps (100 Mbps) / 25 fps (60 Mbps) / 24 fps (100 Mbps) / 24 fps (60 Mbps) High Definition XAVC S 1920 x 1080p / 120 fps (100 Mbps) / 120 fps (60 Mbps) / 100 fps (100 Mbps) / 100 fps (100 Mbps) / 60 fps (50 Mbps) / 50 fps (50 Mbps) / 30 fps (50 Mbps) / 25 fps (50 Mbps) / 24 fps (50 Mbps) High Definition AVCHD 1920 x 1080p / 60 fps (28 Mbps) / 50 fps (28 Mbps) / 25 fps (24 Mbps) / 25 fps (17 Mbps) / 24 fps (24 Mbps) / 24 fps (17 Mbps) High Definition AVCHD 1920 x 1080i / 60 fps (24 Mbps) / 60 fps (17 Mbps) / 50 fps (24 Mbps) / 50 fps (17 Mbps) High Definition MP4 1920 x 1080p / 60 fps (28 Mbps) / 50 fps (28 Mbps) / 30 fps (16 Mbps) / 25 fps (16 Mbps) High Definition MP4 1280 x 720p / 30 fps (6 Mbps) / 25 fps (6 Mbps)
Aspect Ratio	16:9
Video Clip Length	Up to 29 Min 59 Sec
Audio Recording	Built-in Mic: With Video, Stereo Optional External Mic: With Video, Stereo
Focus Type	Auto & Manual
Focus Mode	Automatic (A), Continuous-servo AF (C), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus (M), Single-servo AF (S)
Autofocus Points	Phase Detection: 425 Contrast Detection: 169
Viewfinder Type	Electronic
Viewfinder Size	0.39″
Viewfinder Pixel Count	2,359,296
Viewfinder Eye Point	23.00 mm
Viewfinder Coverage	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	Approx. 1.07x
Diopter Adjustment	– 4.0 to +3.0 m
Display Screen	3″ Rear Screen Tilting Touchscreen LCD (921,600)
Screen Coverage	100%
ISO Sensitivity	Auto, 100-25600 (Extended Mode: 100-51200)
Shutter	Type: Electronic & Mechanical Speed: 30 – 1/4000 second,  Bulb Mode
Metering Method	Center-weighted average metering, Multi-zone metering, Spot metering
Exposure Modes	Modes: Aperture Priority, Auto, Intelligent Auto, Manual, Movie, Program, Scene Selection, Shutter Priority, Superior Auto, Sweep Panorama Metering Range: EV -2.0 – EV 20.0 Compensation: -5 EV to +5 EV (in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps)
White Balance Modes	Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent (Cool White), Fluorescent (Day White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Fluorescent (Warm White), Incandescent, Shade, Underwater
Continuous Shooting	Up to 11 fps at 24.2 MP for up to 233 frames in JPEG format Up to 11 fps at 24.2 MP for up to 301 frames in JPEG format Up to 11 fps at 24.2 MP for up to 107 frames in raw format Up to 8 fps at 24.2 MP Up to 6 fps at 24.2 MP Up to 3 fps at 24.2 MP
Flash Modes	Auto Fill-in Hi-Speed Sync Off Rear Sync Red-eye Reduction Slow Sync Wireless
Built-in Flash	Yes
Guide No.	19.69′ (6 m) ISO100
Max Sync Speed	1 / 160 seconds
Flash Compensation	-3 EV to +3 EV (in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps)
Dedicated Flash System	TTL
External Flash Connection	Hot Shoe, Wireless
Self Timer	10 seconds, 5 seconds, 2 seconds
Connectivity	1/8″ Microphone, HDMI D (Micro), Micro-USB, USB 2.0
Wi-Fi Capable	Yes
Battery	1x NP-FW50 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack, 7.2  VDC, 1080 mAh
AC Power Adapter	AC-PW20 (Optional)
Operating/Storage Temperature	Operating 32 to 104°F (0 to 40°C)
Dimensions (WxHxD)	4.7 x 2.6 x 2.1″ / 120.0 x 66.9 x 53.3 mm excluding protrusions
Weight	15.98 oz / 453 g with battery and memory card
Pixels	Actual: 21.0 Megapixel Effective: 20.1 Megapixel
Sensor	1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) CMOS
File Formats	Still Images: JPEG, RAW Movies: AVCHD Ver. 2.0, MP4, XAVC S Audio: AAC LC, AC3, Dolby Digital 2ch, Linear PCM (Stereo)
Max Resolution	20 MP: 5472 x 3648
Aspect Ratio	1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9
Image Stabilization	Optical
Color Spaces	sRGB, Adobe RGB
Lens	Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar, 10 elements in 9 groups 9 Aspherical EFL: 8.8-25.7mm (35 mm equivalent: 24-70mm) Aperture: f/1.8 (W) – 2.8 (T)
Zoom	Optical: 2.9x Clear Image Zoom: 5.8x Digital: 11x
Focus Range	Wide: 1.97″ (5 cm) – Infinity Telephoto: 11.81″ (30 cm) – Infinity
ISO Sensitivity	Auto, 125-12800 (Extended Mode: 80-12800)
Shutter	Type: Mechanical Speed: 4 – 1/2000 second in  Auto Mode Type: Mechanical Speed: 30 – 1/2000 second in  Program Mode Type: Mechanical Speed: 30 – 1/2000 second in  Manual Mode 30 – 1/2000 second in  Aperture Priority Mode Type: Mechanical Speed: 30 – 1/2000 second in  Shutter Priority Mode Type: Electronic Speed: 4 – 1/32000 second in  Auto Mode Type: Electronic Speed: 30 – 1/32000 second in  Bulb Mode Type: Electronic Speed: 30 – 1/32000 second in  Program Mode Type: Electronic Speed: 30 – 1/32000 second in  Aperture Priority Mode Type: Electronic Speed: 30 – 1/32000 second in  Shutter Priority Mode
Exposure Metering	Center-weighted, Multi, Spot
Exposure Modes	Modes: Aperture Priority, Intelligent Auto, Manual, Memory Recall, Movie, Panorama Shot, Programmed Auto, Scene Selection, Shutter Priority, Superior Auto
Shooting Modes	Anti-motion Blur Fireworks Gourmet Handheld Twilight High Sensitivity Landscape Macro Night Portrait Night Scene Pet Mode Portrait Sports Sunset
White Balance Modes	Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature Filter, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent (Cool White), Fluorescent (Day White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Fluorescent (Warm White), Incandescent, Shade
Continuous Shooting	Up to 24 fps at 20.1 MP for up to 148 frames in JPEG format Up to 24 fps at 20.1 MP for up to 71 frames in raw format
Self Timer	10 Sec, 5 Sec, 2 Sec
Remote Control	RM-VPR1 (Optional)
Flash Modes	Auto Flash On Off Rear Sync Red-eye Reduction Slow Sync
Built-in Flash	Yes
Maximum Effective Flash Range	Wide: 1.31 – 33.46′ (0.4 – 10.2 m) Telephoto: 1.31 – 21.33′ (0.4 – 6.5 m)
External Flash Connection	None
Memory Card Type	Memory Stick Duo Memory Stick Pro Duo Memory Stick PRO Duo (High Speed) Memory Stick PRO HG-Duo SD SDHC SDXC
Video Recording	Yes, NTSC/PAL
Resolution	3840 x 2160p: 30 fps, 25 fps, 24 fps 1920 x 1080p: 60 fps, 50 fps, 30 fps, 25 fps, 24 fps 1920 x 1080i: 60 fps, 50 fps 1280 x 720p: 30 fps, 25 fps 1920 x 1080p: 240 fps, 480 fps, 960 fps 1824 x 1026p: 240 fps, 480 fps, 960 fps 1676 x 566p: 240 fps, 480 fps, 960 fps 1920 x 1080p: 250 fps, 500 fps, 1000 fps 1824 x 1026p: 250 fps, 500 fps, 1000 fps 1676 x 566p: 250 fps, 500 fps, 1000 fps
Video Clip Length	Up to 29 Min
Audio Recording	Built-in Mic: With Video, Stereo
Viewfinder Type	Electronic
Diopter Adjustment	– 4 to +3 m
Viewfinder Coverage	100%
Screen	3.0″ LCD Rear Screen Tilt (1,228,800 pixels)
Connectivity	HDMI D (Micro), Micro-USB, USB 2.0
Wi-Fi	Yes, 802.11b/g/n built-in
Battery	1x NP-BX1 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 3.6 VDC, 1240 mAh
AC Power Adapter	AC-UB10C (Included)
Dimensions (WxHxD)	4.0 x 2.3 x 1.6″ / 101.6 x 58.1 x 41.0 mm
Weight	10.55 oz / 299 g with battery and memory card