• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 20.9 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Alpha ILCE-A6500
  • Nikon Z 30
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Sony A6300
A6300 vs A6500
 
Successor: Sony A6600
A6500 vs A6600
 
General
Model Number: A6500 Z 30
Alternate Model Number(s): ILCE-6500 Z30
Camera Format: Compact System Camera Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: Yes Yes
Retail Price: $1299.99 $709.95
Street Price: $1,198.00 $696.95
Date Available: 2016-11-15 2022-07-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 16.0 oz (453 g)
includes batteries
13.8 oz (390 g)
includes batteries
Size: 4.7 x 2.6 x 2.1 in.
(120 x 67 x 53 mm)
5.0 x 2.9 x 2.3 in.
(128 x 74 x 60 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony  
Effective Megapixels: 24.2 20.9
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 366.6mm2 (23.50mm x 15.60mm) 368.95mm2 (23.50mm x 15.70mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 3.92 microns 4.22 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed None
Self-Cleaning: Yes No
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: Yes Yes
DxO Sensor Score: 85  
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 24.5  
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 13.7  
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,405  
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 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)
5568 x 3712 (20.7 MP, 3:2),
4176 x 2784 (11.6 MP, 3:2),
2784 x 1856 (5.2 MP, 3:2),
5568 x 3128 (17.4 MP, 16:9),
4176 x 2344 (9.8 MP, 16:9),
2784 x 1560 (4.3 MP, 16:9),
3712 x 3712 (13.8 MP, 1:1),
2784 x 2784 (7.8 MP, 1:1),
1856 x 1856 (3.4 MP, 1:1)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.3), RAW (14-bit compressed ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG JPEG (EXIF 2.31), .NEF (RAW), 12 or 14 bit; RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 11.1 11.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 3840x2160 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (120p/​100p/​60p/​60i/​50p/​50i/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (30p/​25p)
3840x2160 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (120p/​100p/​60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
Movie File Format: 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 MOV, MP4 (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC; Audio: Stereo Linear PCM, AAC)
Composite Video Out: No No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: n/a n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sony E Nikon Z
Lens: n/a Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):   24 - 75mm
Focal Length (actual):   16 - 50mm
Zoom Ratio:   3.10x
Aperture Range:   f/3.5 (wide) / f/6.3 (tele) - f/16
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:   20 cm to Infinity
7.9 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: n/a 46.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
Digital Zoom: Yes No
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x; up to 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 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 Hybrid Phase/Contrast Detect AF with 209 PDAF points; Pinpoint, Single-Point, Dynamic-area AF, Wide-area AF (S/L), Wide-Are (L, People/Animals), Auto-area AF, Auto-area AF (People/Animals); Face and Eye-detect AF
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: EVF / LCD No / LCD
Viewfinder Type: 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: 2,359,296 dots n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.70x  
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 1.07x  
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots (307,200 px) 1,036,800 dots (345,600 px)
Touchscreen: Yes Yes
Articulating Screen: Yes Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No Yes
Selfie Screen: No Yes
Max Playback Zoom: 16.7x  
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 25600 51200
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600, expandable to 51200 Auto, ISO 100 - 51200, expandable to 204,800
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: 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 Auto (2 types), Cloudy, Shade, Direct Sunlight, Flash, Fluorescent (7 types), Incandescent, Kelvin Color Temperature (2,500K-10,000K), Preset manual; Fine tuning available.
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/4000 - 900 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 1200-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Spot Matrix metering; Center-weighted (weight of approximately 75% given to 8mm circle in center of frame or weighting can be based on average of entire frame; Spot: meters circle with diameter of about 3.5mm (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point; Highlight-weighted
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait, Night Scene, Hand-held Twilight, Anti Motion Blur, HDR, Sweep Panorama, Movie/High Frame Rate Custom: U1, U2, U3; Scene Modes: Autumn Colors, Beach / Snow, Blossom, Candlelight, Child, Close-up, Dusk / Dawn, Food, Landscape, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Party / Indoor, Pet Portrait, Portrait, Sports, Sunset; Special Effects: Night Vision, Super Vivid, Pop, Photo Illustration, Toy Camera Effect, Miniature Effect, Selective Color, Silhouette, High Key, Low Key
Self Timer: 2 , 10, 10 (3 or 5 frames) seconds 2/5/10/20s; 1-9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: Auto, Off, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off Fill flash, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Rear-curtain sync, Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Flash off; Auto FP High-Speed sync supported
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 6.0 m / 19.7 ft. n/a
Flash Range Description: Guide Number is 6m/19.7 ft at ISO 100; Range is lens aperture dependent n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/160 1/200
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps -3 to +1 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Multi Interface Shoe Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: No No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support: UHS-I UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW (14-bit compressed ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG .NEF (RAW), 12 or 14 bit; RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: 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 MOV, MP4 (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC; Audio: Stereo Linear PCM, AAC)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: Yes Yes
NFC: Yes No
Bluetooth: Yes Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: Yes Yes
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi USB 2.0 High Speed,USB 3.0 Super Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: No Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional wired, IR or Wi-FI Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
Connections (extended): Micro (Type-D) HDMI, Multi Interface Shoe, Multi Micro USB Type C USB connector (SuperSpeed USB), Micro (Type-D) HDMI, 3.5mm Stereo Microphone Jack (plug-in power supported)
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.62  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):    
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot): 0.59  
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 11.1 11.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 231  
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 11.1  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 110  
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 11.1  
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): 101  
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 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): 0.127 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.29 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.019 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 1.3 seconds  
Play -> Record Time: 0.9 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power: 3.0 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 350 shots 330 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 310 shots  
Battery Life, Video:   75 minutes
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NP-FW50 Proprietary EN-EL25
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary EN-EL25 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): No Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: No Yes
Internal Charging Supported: Yes Yes
Software
Included Software: Free downloads of Image Data Converter (Win only), Capture One Express (for Sony)  
OS Compatibility:    
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: