Sony A7iii vs A6500 Camera Comparison Review

It's maybe not completely fair to compare the size and weight of these cameras because one is a full-frame and the other has a smaller APS-C sensor.

But we are here to compare them so here goes...

The A7iii is overall a very similar size, but the difference is in the viewfinder at the top and the larger grip at the front.

So, although the width only differs by 1/4 of an inch, the height and thickness are nearly 1 inch different. This also adds to the weight which is about 7oz more.

This clearly shows that if size and weight are your main concern then the A6500 is clearly the way to go. Obviously, it's rarely as simple as that.

Here are the exact specs:

Sony A7iii: 5 x 3 7/8 x 3 inches (126.9 x 95.6 x 73.7 mm), 1lb 7oz

Sony A6500: 4 3/4 x 2 3/4 x 2 1/8 inches (120.0 x 66.9 x 53.3 mm), 1lb

The number of megapixels (24.2) is impressive on both of these cameras, but the big difference is in the sensor.

The A7iii has a new Exmor Full-frame CMOS which is clearly going to capture far more data. Fans of full frames are going to be hardpressed to give it up for a APS-C which has a 1.5 crop factor. Personally, I use APS-Cs all the time and don't find it a big deal, but it's a bit of a personal preference.

Just be aware that it not only affects the size of the sensor and data, but also the aperture (because of the amount of light that can hit the sensor). So if you look at lenses for the camera you have to compensate on both the focal range and aperture.

The new sensor on the A7iii also claims to have 15 stops of dynamic range, which is insanely impressive. The A6500 is harder to get numbers on, but from what I have read in forums it is at least 10, possibly a little more. But not 15!

You can see in the images above that the LCDs actually look quite a bit different on these cameras. Although they are close in diagonal size (3 vs 2.95) the aspect ratio on the A7iii is 3:2 and on the A6500 16:9.

What that means in practical terms is that the A6500 fills the whole screen in video mode. It also displays during 4K shooting. The A7iii does not.

Both screens have touch functionality ONLY for choosing the autofocus point. Sony is a bit weak in this area and does not allow menu navigation on either of these models via the screen.

The other slight difference in the screens is the tilt angle. The A7iii tilts up a little more and down a little less (107/41 vs 90/45 degrees up/down). It's a minor difference if you ask me, but it depends on what kind of things you shoot. Either way, both cameras lack the 180 degree selfie/vlogger style LCD that many modern cameras have.

If you use the viewfinder a lot on your camera then the A7iii is better than A6500 because although they both have the same resolution, it is better place (front and centre like in a DSLR) and has a better magnification - 0.78 vs 0.74 on the A6500.

And as someone who shoots with my left eye, it's ok to have the viewfinder on the far left, but if you don't? then the A6500 viewfinder placement might be quite annoying as the camera will be jutting out way to the right!

This is a strength for Sony with their combination phase and contrast focus system. The A6500 has improved significantly since the A6000 but compared to the A7iii it seems lacking.

The A7iii has 693 point phase detection & 425 point contrast detection, compared to 425, 169 (respectively) for the A6500. However, keep in mind that the smaller sensor somewhat compensates for this. Still, the A7iii has an impressive breadth of focus points and coverage which means that you will get better video and focus faster on moving objects (and still objects, but it's less important for landscape scenes obviously).

Both of these cameras also feature Sony's eye tracking auto-focus which usually does a great job of picking out eyes in complex situations even when not looking directly at the camera.

It's a close call on the continuous shooting front with the A6500 beating the A7iii to the gate with 1 frame (11 fps vs 10fps). However, the other notable advantage of the A6500 is the larger buffer for this type of shooting. It holds 107 RAW and 301 JPG compared to 89 and 177 respectively for the A7iii.

So, if shooting fast moving subjects is your game, you may well be swayed by what the A6500 has to offer!

Sony A6000 Flash Hotshoe

Both cameras have a hot shoe which is great news for users of an external flash. However, if you just want to quickly shoot something without carrying one around, only the A6500 can help you. Of course, as we all know, built-in flashes are only "reasonable" at best, and even then only at close proximity. So having one is usually not a big benefit.

Where the A7iii comes into it's own though is in low light. You can extend the ISO all the way to 2048007. And Sony claims their new sensor and chip combo mean you can get even better shots, with less noise, at higher ISOs than ever before. There is a 1.5 stop improvement over the A7ii according to Sony's specs.

The A7iii is far superior when it comes to battery life. And if you have ever suffered from losing a shot because your battery suddenly died (happens to me a lot in cold whether here in Switzerland) this is a game changer.

The A7iii has nearly double the battery life of the A6500 with 710 vs 350 shots with the LCD in use. A massive difference.

Another area where the A7iii excels is in the two card slots it has. One is UHS II compliant, the other UHS I. The A6500 only has one.

Both have audio out, which is great for recording external audio for videos, but the A7iii also has an earphone jack which steps it up a notch for the pros.

As the newest cameras in their respective ranges (full frame and APS-C) both have very similar specs in a lot of areas.

Video: with 4K at 30fps and 1080p at up to 120fps, you could use either as a top-notch movie camera. 

Image Stabilisation: whether you have lens stabilisation or not, it's always great if the body has it two and both have 5-axis in-body stablisation.

Body Weather Protection: although not the top of the line in this area, both cameras have both moisture and dust protection to help survive the great outdoors.

Sony - E Mount: If you have used the E-mount before, then you may be able to use all your lenses. Just remember that the full frame lenses are large (with an FE designation) and can be used on both cameras, while the E lenses are designed to fit the mirrorless/APS-C.

The A7iii and A6500 are very similar in a lot of ways, but there are some clear cases where I would choose one over the other.

Full Frame: if you prefer full frame and better access and grip on your camera, the A7iii is closer to a DSLR while still being small. This choice will also give you a slight edge on image quality, especially at lower light.

Video: both do 4K and 120 fps at 1080p, and both have image stabilisation. However, the A6500 has a 16:9 LCD which lends itself to better viewing of what you are shooting. It's a small difference for some, but if video is your thing, you might appreciate this a lot.

Moving Subjects: The A6500 is the clear winner here with an extra frame per second and a larger buffer. However, keep in mind the slight improvement in auto-focus the A7iii offers.

Battery life & Card Slots: If you shoot a lot and cannot afford to lug around, charge and change batteries a lot, then the A7iii is almost 2x the battery life. For most people though, you can live with just buying some extra batteries, right?

But, when you combine this with the dual card slots, the A7iii lends itself to pros a lot more than the A6500.