Sony Alpha A6500 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only)

The Sony a6500 was a great hybrid camera that I used from 2016-2021! I used it for freelance photos for video and it was a great tool in my arsenal. My younger brother purchased this camera for me after saving up all his money from working at a summer camp. What a guy! He helped me start my passion for photo/video. The only thing that threw me off initially was the crop sensor but it takes professional grade photos. It also doesn’t use the full frame glass, but that makes the lens selection much cheaper than it’s counterpart in the a7 line. a lot of my photos on my website were taken with this guy and i’m super greatful for it! camgustman . com

A very good value to still shooting with IBIS

I bought this camera for its IBIS to use it with vintage manual focus lenses. I have had improved results compared to the alpha 600 with lenses with focal length up to 180mm. I use it with a focal reducer so the effective focal length of the 180,, is actually 130 mm which is what I set on the stabilization. I have also used it with wide angle lenses which do not need much stabilization. I bought it after reading that the newer Sony IBIS models are not advertised as having any improvement on IBIS over this version. The seller listed this well with good photos and a shutter count that was accurate. I suggest that buying a used Sony camera with out a listed shutter count is a gamble not woth taking. Fior reference my 6000 has a count of over 200,000 but Sony suggests ... MoreI bought this camera for its IBIS to use it with vintage manual focus lenses. I have had improved results compared to the alpha 600 with lenses with focal length up to 180mm. I use it with a focal reducer so the effective focal length of the 180,, is actually 130 mm which is what I set on the stabilization. I have also used it with wide angle lenses which do not need much stabilization. I bought it after reading that the newer Sony IBIS models are not advertised as having any improvement on IBIS over this version. The seller listed this well with good photos and a shutter count that was accurate. I suggest that buying a used Sony camera with out a listed shutter count is a gamble not woth taking. Fior reference my 6000 has a count of over 200,000 but Sony suggests 100,000 is a limit. Use these numbers ot estimate remaining life used camera.

Almost the best of everything that can come small enough to fit in a pocket

This is the second time we're buying this particular camera. It has 2 shortcomings - complex menu and relatively poor battery life (when compared to the newer sibling A6600, which is a real beast in this area). Otherwise this camera with good optics has brought a huge bunch of wonderful images that barely ever needed editing, and since one got lost after two years - we bought the same model again. It proved itself for being able to take high quality photos while being small enough to fit in the ski jacket pocket and durable enough to take a beating when skiing or snowboarding, but also for being the base for one of the cheapest setups for great underwater photos (and its capabilities underwater are great as well, AWB compensation in underwater mode does a good job).

Checks All the Boxes for a Crop-Sensor Workhorse

Everybody loves the Sony A6500, mainly because it meets so many requirements for successful photography. The size is attractive to those of us who've bee lugging full-frame DSLRs with equally large lenses. So it's good for travel when there are weight limits. The quality of the images matches any crop sensor camera we may have had. The high ISO performance is good enough so that we can set aside low-light full-frame specialty cameras like the Nikon D3s or even the Sony A7s. And the focus is fast enough for action shots. The EVF quality is very good, and the IBIS is great to have. I often use the A6500 with the Sony LA-EA4 A-mount adapter, which includes the motor and gear drive for older Sony Zeiss and Minolta A-mount lenses that I already have. They focus just as ... MoreEverybody loves the Sony A6500, mainly because it meets so many requirements for successful photography. The size is attractive to those of us who've bee lugging full-frame DSLRs with equally large lenses. So it's good for travel when there are weight limits. The quality of the images matches any crop sensor camera we may have had. The high ISO performance is good enough so that we can set aside low-light full-frame specialty cameras like the Nikon D3s or even the Sony A7s. And the focus is fast enough for action shots. The EVF quality is very good, and the IBIS is great to have. I often use the A6500 with the Sony LA-EA4 A-mount adapter, which includes the motor and gear drive for older Sony Zeiss and Minolta A-mount lenses that I already have. They focus just as fast as my e-mount lenses. I still get out the full-frames for extreme conditions, but the Sony A6500 is a well-refined workhorse.

Compact with very high quality images

A recent purchase and overall very good. Compact size with sensor quality very close to full frame. I purchased with 16-70 f4 Zeiss Sony lens and find this to produce high quality images, good low light performance and the lens is compact with an equivalent 24-105mm in full frame terms, focus acquisition is very good, quick and consistent, tracking is pretty good.Previous full frame cameras have been Nikon D4, D810 and Leica M240 and the overall image quality is in the same ball park with a lens camera combination dramatically lighter and more compact.Clearly slower lens and the APS C sensor reduces the out of focus element available but the smaller lens is adequate in this area with attractive broken at the longer end of the focal length range..Very highly ... MoreA recent purchase and overall very good. Compact size with sensor quality very close to full frame. I purchased with 16-70 f4 Zeiss Sony lens and find this to produce high quality images, good low light performance and the lens is compact with an equivalent 24-105mm in full frame terms, focus acquisition is very good, quick and consistent, tracking is pretty good.Previous full frame cameras have been Nikon D4, D810 and Leica M240 and the overall image quality is in the same ball park with a lens camera combination dramatically lighter and more compact.Clearly slower lens and the APS C sensor reduces the out of focus element available but the smaller lens is adequate in this area with attractive broken at the longer end of the focal length range..Very highly featured camera, easy to ignore these but in fact the anti motion blur trick of combining four frames really does work incredibly well as an example, other features I didn't think I would use are pretty good. Highly customisable which makes for a potentially steep learning curve, fairly complex menu structure but the camera gives great images out of the box and one can take full advantage of the extra features , customisation etc in a slower manner, as you develop experience with the camera.Viewfinder is very good , screen is clear but not 100% in very bright conditions, touch screen for focus works well, even when using the camera at eye level.I previously had an Olympus OMD EM1 with 12-40 lens ( equiv 24-80mm) alongside my bigger full frame cameras but it was actually heavier than this combination and the quality was markedly lower than the full frame cameras, relatively poor high ISO and significantly less dynamic range whilst this camera provides great images in the same ball park as the full frame cameras.The free Capture One software is very good and the heavily discounted PRO version is a true bargain , I did not expect it to be so good and I am a convert now from the Lightroom subscription package.Overall very pleased.

Good all-in-one

As a beginner after looking through a few YouTube videos I found the camera relatively easy to use. Great picture quality and easily exported to phone to upload. Nice weight, feels comfortable in your hands. The lense works perfectly with this camera. Together they are worlds away from my camera phone which is what I had been using. I got a few batteries with the bundle but have found I have not needed to change too often except for 4k video. Just remember to turn off when not using it. Touch screen is useful and camera auto switches between touch screen and viewfinder when it detects something near the viewfinder which is handy but took a little while to get used to.

Lightweight camera that produces great results

I have been a user of Sony full frame cameras for 7 years. Early in the pandemic I had an opportunity to buy a Sony A6500. I was tempted by the idea of a lighter camera and lens as it appealed for when I am out walking all day taking photos. I was amazed by how good the results were. The full frame cameras have the edge in low light or for high resolution, but the A6500 comes very close. Coupled with a Zeiss or G lens you can create great sharp images. I also find the built in flash useful for occasions when you want fill in. If you want a small lightweight camera that produces great results I can recommend the A6500.

Requires a Steep Learning Curve!

Let me first start off by saying I've owned my A6500 for 5 months now and I'm just now starting to understand how to use it. With that said, I can honestly say (I now) love it! This is my first mirrorless that wasn't a point and shoot so that required a steep learning curve. So that meant I had to learn about aperture, shutter speed, ISO and all the different lenses that come with it, not to mention the equipment. At first I was so overwhelmed by the amount of time and energy I was putting into learning how to use it I seriously considered returning it. But what stopped me was the great results I was getting (and continue to get) once I started to get the hang of it, and this was only after pouring through several photography books, including Bryan Peterson's, ... MoreLet me first start off by saying I've owned my A6500 for 5 months now and I'm just now starting to understand how to use it. With that said, I can honestly say (I now) love it! This is my first mirrorless that wasn't a point and shoot so that required a steep learning curve. So that meant I had to learn about aperture, shutter speed, ISO and all the different lenses that come with it, not to mention the equipment. At first I was so overwhelmed by the amount of time and energy I was putting into learning how to use it I seriously considered returning it. But what stopped me was the great results I was getting (and continue to get) once I started to get the hang of it, and this was only after pouring through several photography books, including Bryan Peterson's, YouTube videos and talking to other photographers that it all started to make sense. What makes it truly worthwhile for me is when my pictures look almost professional grade, which is a very real possibility with this camera. Another thing I love about the A6500 is it's perfect for shooting at night when I have the aperture set wide to 1.8, using either my Sony 35mm or 85mm lenses, which I also highly recommend. Totally worth it! Now I'm starting to add-on new equipment, like a recently purchased Manfrotto tripod and a Sony remote control which both really cut down on camera shake and the blurriness I used to get in my pictures. Another must-have! Pictures turn out almost perfect with these two additional accessories. I'm now dabbling in light photography, long exposures and panoramas which I want to explore more of on my next vacation. In parting, if you're looking to explore all the possibilities of a mirrorless camera, step up to the A6500 for some blow your mind photographs. You won't regret it!

Still Great Camera

Moving from Sony a6000, which produces great images with right lenses, it is a noteworthy upgrade.The 5-axis stabilization being the biggest of them. If you often take handheld pictures in less than perfect light, it definitely helps by providing a few steps of extra room (to reduce low light noise and/or decrease handshake blur).Being moisture resistant (it is not weather sealed!) also helps with pictures in the rain, snow or at the ocean since minor exposure to elements is OK.Touch screen also helps significantly with focusing and focus tracking tasks, although normal settings navigation is either poor or rather nonexistent.The camera also features more accurate/faster focus over a6000, but in real life situations a6000 is more than capable already.All a6000 ... MoreMoving from Sony a6000, which produces great images with right lenses, it is a noteworthy upgrade.The 5-axis stabilization being the biggest of them. If you often take handheld pictures in less than perfect light, it definitely helps by providing a few steps of extra room (to reduce low light noise and/or decrease handshake blur).Being moisture resistant (it is not weather sealed!) also helps with pictures in the rain, snow or at the ocean since minor exposure to elements is OK.Touch screen also helps significantly with focusing and focus tracking tasks, although normal settings navigation is either poor or rather nonexistent.The camera also features more accurate/faster focus over a6000, but in real life situations a6000 is more than capable already.All a6000 series cameras produce great images, which in truth are very close to each other. Taken in ideal conditions, I cannot differentiate between a6000 and a6500 images. Taken in poor light conditions, a6500 images will be superior but only upon close inspection.A6500 is the winner for me at the moment, but you cannot go wrong with any of them.

Wonderful camera except a couple of vital things!

There is so much to love about the A6500. I bought it with the 18-135 lens and it's brilliant for almost all everyday situations, the size and weight are great (especially for hiking) , the auto focus in particular is super fast and accurate. I love the latitude of the pictures, you can seriously under expose parts of the image and have other bits over exposed and using Lightroom process the image to look just right. Tracking auto focus for photographing birds and animals is fantastic. There are 2 things I do not like 1) the screen has very limited movement, I thought I would be able to live with it but it's hopeless for proper low level photography of flowers etc, you can not use it at all in a portrait orientation and for that reason I wouldn't buy a camera with ... MoreThere is so much to love about the A6500. I bought it with the 18-135 lens and it's brilliant for almost all everyday situations, the size and weight are great (especially for hiking) , the auto focus in particular is super fast and accurate. I love the latitude of the pictures, you can seriously under expose parts of the image and have other bits over exposed and using Lightroom process the image to look just right. Tracking auto focus for photographing birds and animals is fantastic. There are 2 things I do not like 1) the screen has very limited movement, I thought I would be able to live with it but it's hopeless for proper low level photography of flowers etc, you can not use it at all in a portrait orientation and for that reason I wouldn't buy a camera with this screen again (why do Sony think only Full frame users want a proper screen!) and 2) After 2 years mine has become unreliable, sometimes it just freezes, sometimes the buttons and dials behave in a very strange way, sometimes it just seems to have a life of its own.... which is very frustrating!I do not use it for video so I find it impossible to rate the sound quality!