Sony A6500 vs Canon 90D

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A6500 vs Canon 90D

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.

APS-C 337.5mm²
32.5 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Canon 90D Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 90D in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 90D.
Compare Canon 90D image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 90D conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A6600
Compare A6500 vs A6600
Compare Sony A6600 vs Canon 90D

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Differences

Sony A6500 advantages over Canon 90D

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
Bigger pixels
~ 3.92 vs 3.23 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Thinner
53 mm vs 76 mm
Thinner
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.59x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Faster JPEG shooting
11.1 fps vs 10.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
231 vs 57 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.1 fps vs 10.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
110 vs 27 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Canon 90D advantages over Sony A6500

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$1349 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
~0.40 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

1300 vs 350 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
5 years vs 7 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More pixels
32.5 vs 24.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A6500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 90D User Reviews

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Buy the Sony A6500

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm lens

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Buy the Canon 90D

Body Only

Body Only
KIt with 18-135mm Lens
KIt with 18-55mm Lens

Review Excerpt

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

Highest resolution Canon APS-C camera yet; Great image quality; Faster 10fps burst shooting; Very fast autofocus; Dual Pixel CMOS AF in Live View; 4K video; 1080p120 slow-mo video.
Low-pass filter reduces fine detail from high-res sensor; High ISO performance isn't as good as some rival cameras; Video recording limited to 29:59.
Read our Canon 90D Review

The Competition

Compared to 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

Canon 90D

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$1199
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$1300
APS-C

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 90D vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Compared to 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

Canon 90D

Sony A6300

$1199
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Lens selection

$846
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Canon 90D vs Sony A6300

Compared to Canon 80D

Sony A6500

Canon 80D

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$935
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A6500 vs Canon 80D

Canon 90D

Canon 80D

$1199
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Built-in Bluetooth

$935
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 90D vs Canon 80D

Compared to Nikon D7500

Sony A6500

Nikon D7500

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$930
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A6500 vs Nikon D7500

Canon 90D

Nikon D7500

$1199
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
On-sensor phase detect

$930
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Fast startup

Compare Canon 90D vs Nikon D7500

Compared to Sony A6400

Sony A6500

Sony A6400

$1198
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

$798
APS-C

Less expensive
Newer

Compare Sony A6500 vs Sony A6400

Canon 90D

Sony A6400

$1199
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$798
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Canon 90D vs Sony A6400

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