I bought the A6000 from Sony in 2010. When it first came out, the A6000 was the real deal, and every photographer wanted to own one. It’s served me well, but I have to admit I haven’t been cautious with the handling.
Fast Forward to 2019, my camera has taken a beating. The lenses are dull, and some of the buttons have started malfunctioning. I take this as a cue to replace it. Will I switch to another brand?
Of course not! I am still going to get another Sony model with more autofocus points and perhaps a touch-sensitive screen. In this Sony A6300 vs. A6500 review, I’ll cover their features, pros, cons, and suitability and tell you which of the two models is worth purchasing.
Short on time?
The biggest differences between the A6300 and A6500 is that the A6500 has a touch screen and 5-axis image stabilization. It also costs a bit more.
Individual Product Reviews
Sony A6300
The A6300 is a mid-range mirrorless camera that lets you capture stunning images and record 4K video. It comes with many impressive focusing specs such as fast autofocus speed and an XGA OLED Tru-Finder that enhances visibility across the shooting range.
Key Features
- 24MP Exmor CMOS sensor
- 4K (UHD) video – 25/24p
- 425 phase-detection points
- 120 frames per second
- 2.36M-dot OLED finder
What I like
The A6300 has fast autofocus that locks a target within 0.05 seconds and shoots up to 11 frames per second. On top of that, it supports continuous shooting as it comes with an adaptable motion tracking.
Thanks to its revamped hybrid AF, you can shoot movies in both HD and 4K quality. You can also customize the A6300 for any shoot.
Besides having an ergonomic design, the A6300 has a robust magnesium alloy body that’s resistant to both moisture and dust.
What I don’t like
Although its panel is clear, and it has high contrast, the noise and lagging seem to increase in low-light and dark conditions. The A6300 doesn’t have a touch-sensitive screen, either, so be ready for long and hard presses when adjusting your camera settings.
Pros
- Robust lens mount
- Extremely quick autofocus
- High-quality Full HD footage
- Easy file transfer
- Fast-tracking viewfinder
Cons
- Non-touch screen LCD
- Confusing menu system
The A6300 is easily the best mirrorless camera as it offers corner-to-corner visibility and captures gorgeous 4K video. Add to that the boost in image quality and superb construction and you have a fantastic camera that you can’t put down.
Check Price of the Sony A6300 on Amazon
Sony A6500
The A6500 is a small camera with a sensitive touch-screen and revamped menu system. This camera is also compact and comes with plastic seals that protect it from moisture and dust.
Key Features
- 24.3 megapixels
- 4D focus system
- Wide 425 phase detection
- Ultra-fast OLED
- 4K movie recording
What I like
The Sony A6500 takes incredible shots as it leverages an advanced 24-megapixel Exmore sensor that increases it sensitive while reducing noise. Using the high-resolution OLED Tru-Finder viewfinder, you will get better views of objects before you lock them on target and take a shoot.
Thanks to its revamped menu and the touch-sensitive screen, the a6500 enables you to adjust your camera for various shoots without subjecting yourself to lengthy and cumbersome button presses.
What I don’t like
Even though it comes with amazing specs and sensors, the A6500’s advanced menu system may prove too much for a new user. The other issue is that its built-in flash doesn’t trigger the off-camera flash.
The LCD screen of this camera is small and has a lower resolution that’s equivalent to only 640×480 pixels within an area that’s half that of a smartphone. So touch focusing may not work well for you.
Pros
- Higher color depth
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- Touch-sensitive screen
- Weather sealed body
Cons
- Poor menu layout
- Doesn’t booty properly
The Sony A6500 is a fantastic mirrorless camera with a user-friendly touch screen and a 5-axis image stabilization that gives you the freedom to shoot objects in motion. It has a durable shutter mechanism and is compatible with various mountable lenses.
Check Price of the Sony A6500 on Amazon
About the Cameras
Since the Sony A6300 and Sony A6500 have many similar features and attributes, it’s easy to assume they can suit everyone. Yes, a person can use them interchangeably, but when you narrow down to the specifics and usability, you will realize each serves a different segment. So, which camera suits who and is best for what situation?
The Sony A6300 camera is suitable for beginners and amateurs who want a compact and sturdy camera that lets them capture high-quality images and record 4K footage in different circumstances. This group includes hobbyists and semi-pro photographers. Its sharp OLED viewfinder provides vivid previews.
With faster autofocus and a better image sensor, users can capture high-quality stills and videos. It’s possible to record in S-Log gamma format and color-edit your clips in movie-grade. The magnesium-alloy body is a welcome upgrade that any user who’s concerned about durability will surely love.
Check Price of the Sony A6300 on Amazon
A step up from the A6300 camera, the Sony A6500 is suitable for hobbyists and amateur photographers who want a compact camera for day-to-day use with a steady handheld video. Users will benefit from it’s easy-to-use the Touch LCD screen and a 5-axis image stabilization which enables them to capture sharper images for subjects like wildlife or sports in motion.
This camera makes long continuous shooting a joy. If you usually shoot lots of videos and want greater flexibility with lens choice, you will find this camera handy. One thing that resonates positively with many users, including those who use the viewfinder alone, is the sensitive touchscreen.
Check Price of the Sony A6500 on Amazon
About the Category
Sony has an impressive collection of Mirrorless cameras starting with the Alpha 6000 series through the A7s to the A9 cameras. These mirrorless cameras make use of imaging sensors found in similar digital cameras and have interchangeable lenses. With an incredible range of digital cameras, you’re sure to find the best Sony camera for your photography needs.
You’re probably wondering, what are Sony A-series cameras best for? They are suitable for day to day photography, street photography, sports photography, and portrait photography. These cameras are easy to operate and carry around, which is basically what every photographer wants in their camera.
The Sony A series packs many features onto a small body. Some of their notable features include eye and face autofocus abilities, Built-in Wi-Fi, electronic viewfinder, outstanding 4K video quality, first burst rate at 11 fps amongst others. It’s easy to pair them with phones or tablets via their built-in WiFi. All these features will serve you well.
What strikes us is how the four A-series of cameras all roughly the same weight, shape, and battery life. They also have a 3-inch LCD screen and crisp OLED viewfinder and the ability to capture stunning 24-megapixel photos. The quality of Sony JPEGs that come out of these cameras has the right balance of white.
After the A6000, Sony improved the resolution of the succeeding cameras and introduced external audio jacks. Both the A6300 and A6500 have a generous ISO performance for low light. Sony has gradually increased the number of autofocus points on the latest cameras enabling faster autofocus and advanced tracking of subjects in both videos and stills.
About the Brand
Founded in 1946, Sony is a Japanese multinational firm with diverse consumer and business interests that span sectors such as financial services, gaming, entertainment, and electronics. Forbes ranks them number 60 among the World’s Most Valuable Brands in 2019.
Over the years, the company has continued to innovate and release many “world’s first “products. The company creates and markets a range of products such as digital cameras, personal stereos, PCs, memory flash media, ebook readers, game consoles, and flat-screen TVs.
Sony has a good reputation worldwide. As a “boutique” consumer electronics manufacturer, the firm makes premium products. Millions of consumers use their electronic products as they’re durable and feature high-quality builds. To continue improving, they actively seek customer feedback from different channels, including social media.
Like many progressive tech giants, Sony has suffered a spate of cyber-attacks in recent years. GOP hacked its servers and distributed copies of unreleased films such as Still Alice, Mr. Turner, and Annie in torrents. It didn’t stop there. Sensitive emails exchange between executives were released, most of which contained scathing remarks about movie stars and celebrities. On Christmas 2014, a DDoS attack also took down the Sony’s PlayStation Network and Xbox for a few days.
Sony Camera FAQs
What is the warranty period for Sony Cameras?
Sony offers a 2-year warranty on most of its cameras. The warranty period for a camera is effective from the date of purchase.
Are Sony digital cameras compatible with SanDisk® memory cards?
Some Sony cameras are compatible with memory cards from SanDisk. To see which cameras are compatible or find suggestions, check the product compatibility chart on SanDisk’s website.
Where can I check the Terms and Conditions for my product?
You will find the warranty details of your Sony product in your product box.
Product Variants / Models
When it comes to features, Sony A6500 and Sony A6300 have a lot in common. They share the same viewfinder and burst rate. Their core stills and video specs are similar too, though we believe the front-end LSI of the A6500 can enhance its JPEG performance.
Some of the other matching features include:
- 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- 922k dots LCD resolution
- 425-point on-sensor
- Smartphone remote control
- 11.0 FPS burst shooting rate
- 2,359k dot electronic viewfinder
Unfortunately, both lack a control dial in front, which, in our opinion, would have aided their usability. It’s a glaring omission considering the high position these cameras occupy in the DSLR camera market.
Are there any noticeable differences between the two? Yes. The A6500 offers Sensor-shift Image Stabilization, which is lacking in the A6300.
The A6300 has a longer battery life than the A6500. You can take 400 shots with the former and 350 shots with the latter. The difference of 50 shots between the two is significant if you’re shooting outdoors for extended periods.
The other distinguishing attribute is their screens. Even though they share the same resolution, A6500’s screen is touch-enabled, whereas the a6300’s isn’t. With your eye on the viewfinder, you can use the touchpad to move your AF point around, double-tap, zoom and swipe around in playback mode.
With regards to weight, the A6300 is the lighter one. However, the weight difference isn’t noticeable or impactful as they have the same number of lenses.
Check Price of the Sony A6500 on Amazon
Head to Head Comparison
| Specification | Sony A6300 | Sony A6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Controls and Usability | Older menu system | Updated menu system |
| Battery Life | 400 shots | 350 shots |
| Touch and See | Not touch-sensitive | Touch-enabled screen |
| Weight | Weighs 404 g | Weighs 453 g |
| Image Stabilization | Not supported | 5-axis stabilization |
Battery life
Consider how long your battery can last and how many shots you can take with a single charge.
Touch and see
A touch-sensitive camera is easy to operate and adjust than a non-sensitive one.
Weight
Get a camera that’s compact and lightweight so you can carry it easily. The A6300 is the lighter of the two.
Image stabilization
Sensor-based image stabilization allows you to capture sharper images at slower shutter speeds.
Controls and usability
Always go for a camera that’s extremely usable and has better controls so you can make the most of out of it.
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Final Thoughts
We’ve looked at two fantastic cameras—the Sony A6500 and A6300—that occupy a high position in the market. Both share many of the core features of the A-series cameras such as the Autofocus, video options, and E-mount lenses. Unless you get hold of them, you may not be able to notice their differences.
Going for less than $1,500, these Sony mirrorless cameras are affordable to amateurs and pros who want reliable and extremely usable cameras. Beginners may feel the prices are a little high, but when you consider the number of features they carry and the superb images they capture, they’ll appreciate their value and be able to upgrade quickly.
The A6300 is the cheaper of the two and offers less. A step up, the A6500 is well-defined, extremely-usable, and compact. I recommend it because it has 5-axis image stabilization for sharper image quality, a redesigned menu, and an LCD that’s sensitive to the touch.
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