• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Olympus OM-D E-M1
  • Sony Alpha ILCE-A6500
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Sony A6300
A6300 vs A6500
Successor: Olympus E-M1 II
E-M1 vs E-M1 II
Sony A6600
A6500 vs A6600
General
Model Number: E-M1 A6500
Alternate Model Number(s):   ILCE-6500
Camera Format: Compact System Camera Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $1300.00 $1299.99
Street Price: $1,099.00 $1,198.00
Date Available: 2013-10-15 2016-11-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 17.5 oz (497 g)
includes batteries
16.0 oz (453 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.1 x 3.7 x 2.5 in.
(130 x 94 x 63 mm)
4.7 x 2.6 x 2.1 in.
(120 x 67 x 53 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: Live MOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   Sony
Effective Megapixels: 16.1 24.2
Sensor Format: 4/3 APS-C
Sensor size: 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm) 366.6mm2 (23.50mm x 15.60mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 3.75 microns 3.92 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 2.0x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: None Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: Yes Yes
DxO Sensor Score: 73 85
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.0 24.5
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 12.7 13.7
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 757 1,405
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3),
2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3),
1280 x 980 (1.3 MP, Other),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
6000 x 4000 (24.0 MP, 3:2),
6000 x 3376 (20.3 MP, 16:9),
4240 x 2832 (12.0 MP, 3:2),
4240 x 2400 (10.2 MP, Other),
3008 x 2000 (6.0 MP, 3:2),
3008 x 1688 (5.1 MP, 16:9),
12416 x 1856 (23.0 MP, Other),
8192 x 1856 (15.2 MP, Other),
2160 x 5536 (12.0 MP, Other),
2160 x 3872 (8.4 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG, MPO, 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG JPEG (EXIF 2.3), RAW (14-bit compressed ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 9.9 11.1
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (30p (24Mbps/​16Mbps))
1280x720 (30p (12Mbps/​8Mbps))
640x480 (30p)
3840x2160 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (120p/​100p/​60p/​60i/​50p/​50i/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (30p/​25p)
Movie File Format: MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG) XAVC S / AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant / MP4; Audio: LPCM, 2ch / Dolby Digital (AC-3), 2ch, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, 2ch
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Lens: n/a n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):    
Focal Length (actual):    
Zoom Ratio:    
Aperture Range:    
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:    
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: Yes
Digital Zoom Values:   Up to 4x; up to 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: High-speed Dual AF: 37-point On-Chip Phase Detection AF or 81-point Contrast Detection AF with Group Target, Small Target and Super Spot AF modes Hybrid Contrast/Phase Detection: Wide (425 points phase-detection AF, 169 points contrast-detection AF), Zone, Center, Flexible Spot (Small / Medium / Large), Expanded Flexible Spot
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: EVF / LCD EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type: EVF; 2.36M-dot LCD, 1.48x magnification, 100% coverage, 21mm eyepoint, -4 to +2 diopter, eye sensor EVF type; 1.0cm (0.39-inch) 2.3M-dot XGA OLED, 100% coverage, 1.07x mag. (0.70x 35mm eq.), 23mm eyepoint, -4 to +3 diopter
Focus Peaking: Yes Yes
EVF Resolution: 2,360,000 dots 2,359,296 dots
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.74x 0.70x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 1.48x 1.07x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 1,037,000 dots 921,600 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: Yes Yes
Articulating Screen: Yes Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 14.0x 16.7x
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 25600 25600
Minimum ISO (native): 200 100
ISO Settings: AUTO: ISO Low (100) - 25600 (customizable, Default 200-1600) / Manual ISO Low (100) - 25600, 1/3 or 1 EV steps selectable Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600, expandable to 51200
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Lamp, Fluorescent, Daylight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Custom WB, One-touch WB Auto WB (with new Ambience, Standard and White options), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm white/Cool white/Day white/Daylight), Flash, C. Temp 2500 to 9900K, C Filter G7 to M7 (15-step), Custom, Underwater; AWB micro adjustment
Shutter Speed Range: 1/16000 - 60 sec 1/4000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Digital ESP metering (324-area multi pattern metering), Center weighted average metering, Spot metering, Spot metering with highlight control, Spot metering with shadow control 1200-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Scene select AE (Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Sport, Night, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Documents, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Fisheye Conv., Wide Conv., Macro Conv., 3D with 3D lens(H-FT012 by Panasonic) only, still only.), Art Filter, Underwater wide / macro Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait, Night Scene, Hand-held Twilight, Anti Motion Blur, HDR, Sweep Panorama, Movie/High Frame Rate
Self Timer: 2, 10 seconds 2 , 10, 10 (3 or 5 frames) seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer): Yes  
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: No Yes
Flash Modes: Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1 (FULL) - 1/64) Auto, Off, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 7.0 m / 23.0 ft. 6.0 m / 19.7 ft.
Flash Range Description: Bundled FL-LM2 flash has GN of 7m/ISO 100 Guide Number is 6m/19.7 ft at ISO 100; Range is lens aperture dependent
Max Flash Sync: 1/320 1/160
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe, PC Sync Terminal Multi Interface Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support: UHS-I UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG RAW (14-bit compressed ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG) XAVC S / AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant / MP4; Audio: LPCM, 2ch / Dolby Digital (AC-3), 2ch, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, 2ch
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: Yes Yes
NFC: No Yes
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: Yes Yes
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed,WiFi USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Via Wi-Fi or optional Remote Cable RM-UC1 Optional wired, IR or Wi-FI
Connections (extended): Micro HDMI (Type-D), combined AV/USB connector, Accessory Port 2, 3.5mm stereo mini jack Micro (Type-D) HDMI, Multi Interface Shoe, Multi Micro USB
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.47 0.62
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.47  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): Unlimited  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot): 0.54 0.59
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 9.9 11.1
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 50 231
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 9.9 11.1
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 50 110
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 9.9 11.1
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): 34 101
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.14 seconds 0.18 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.068 seconds 0.127 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.27 seconds 0.29 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.047 seconds 0.019 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Full Autofocus lag, Multi-area AF mode = 0.138s  
Startup Time: 0.8 seconds 1.3 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.4 seconds 0.9 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 4.9 seconds 3.0 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 350 shots 350 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):   310 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary BLN-1 Proprietary NP-FW50
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary BLN-1 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes No
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes No
Internal Charging Supported: No Yes
Software
Included Software: Olympus Viewer 3 CD-ROM Free downloads of Image Data Converter (Win only), Capture One Express (for Sony)
OS Compatibility:    
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: