Nikon D5200 vs Sony A6500

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Nikon D5200 vs Sony A6500

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5200 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D5200.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A6500 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A6500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A6500.
Compare Sony A6500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A6500 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5300
Compare D5200 vs D5300

Succeeded by the Sony A6600
Compare A6500 vs A6600

Compare NIKON D5300 vs SONY A6600

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Differences

Nikon D5200 advantages over Sony A6500

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$500 vs $1598
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.3 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

500 vs 350 shots
Capture more photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 231 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A6500 advantages over Nikon D5200

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
53 mm vs 78 mm
Thinner
Newer
7 years vs 11 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Less shutter lag
0.18 vs 0.30 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.52x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Faster JPEG shooting
11.1 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.1 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
110 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5200 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A6500 User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D5200

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

Kit with 18-55mm Lens
Body Only
Kit with 18-105mm Lens
Kit with 18-140mm Lens

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Buy the Sony A6500

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm lens

All A6500 Deals

Review Excerpt

Captures sharp, detailed photos with its new 24.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, even at higher ISOs; Features a familiar (D5100) but refined body design; Records Full HD video with full-time autofocus tracking; Packs a ton of advanced features into a consumer-friendly body at a great price.
Autofocuses a little slowly for its class and struggles at times in low light; Changing some basic settings takes more time and effort than it should; Mediocre kit lens.
Read our Nikon D5200 Review

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
Read our Sony A6500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony A65

Nikon D5200

Sony A65

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$798
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5200 vs Sony A65

Sony A6500

Sony A65

$1198
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$798
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Built-in GPS

Compare Sony A6500 vs Sony A65

Compared to Nikon D3200

Nikon D5200

Nikon D3200

$500
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Higher effective ISO

$477
APS-C

Bigger RAW buffer

Compare Nikon D5200 vs Nikon D3200

Sony A6500

Nikon D3200

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$477
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A6500 vs Nikon D3200

Compared to Sony A58

Nikon D5200

Sony A58

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5200 vs Sony A58

Sony A6500

Sony A58

$1198
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$598
APS-C

Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony A6500 vs Sony A58

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro2

Nikon D5200

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$1300
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D5200 vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Sony A6500

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$1198
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Touchscreen

$1300
APS-C

Higher max flash sync
More dots on screen

Compare Sony A6500 vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Compared to Sony A6300

Nikon D5200

Sony A6300

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$846
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D5200 vs Sony A6300

Sony A6500

Sony A6300

$1198
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Touchscreen

$846
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony A6500 vs Sony A6300

Compare Other Cameras?