Sony a6500 Video Camera Review!

THE GOOD

► Great AF
► Stabilization is good
► Less overheating
► Touch AF works well
► Improved body and feel
► Slightly different but good slow motion/quick motion features
► Slightly improved menu design

THE BAD
► Still no flip OUT screen
► SD card slot is still under camera
► Battery life not improved/worse
► Rolling shutter still pretty bad

Sony a6500

FINAL THOUGHTS

This camera is a no brainer if you are always behind the camera.

Vloggers/Youtubers will need additional gear to get the most out of this camera.

This is by far the smallest and best camera for $1400 right now.

ALTERNATIVE 4K CAMERAS

Sony a6300

Panasonic G85

Panasonic GH5

[BromlowFamily]

I have the a6500, and love it. I upgraded from the 5100 for the 120fps and the 4k.

[franklindner]

The autofocus on the Sonys is so good I don't care about the flip out screen anymore I just use the reflection of the lens to center myself. I trust the AF enough to do its job, also outside in 4K the screen is so dimm you would not see to much ti begin with.

[uniurvival]

Low light, image quality, autofocus, and stills / video performance is why I got the 6500.. Although I did like the panasonic G7.

[Vikingdescendent]

A great all around performer and value for a camera with so many features and quality. The 'jello effect' can be reduced when using 4K in the menu settings. The more you demand from the sensor and SD card in 4K, the more it will affect performance. Headphone jacks can be found on external microphones. The build quality is much better than that of the a6000 and even better than the Nex 7. Once you learn and get use to the menu system, it's all up you.

[ReneLopez-qcvx]

I've had mine for almost a month now, and i knew what i was getting into, with the already known cons. I've adapted pretty well coming from the Canon family. Battery life is the only inconvenience, but with all the capabilities this thing packs, i've got no buyer-remorse.

Thanx for finally doing a review on the camera, Caleb Always look forward hearing your thoughts on the latest things you come across. Keep it up!

[ChrisWoodcox]

Although I had already purchased the beautiful Sony a6500 featured in your video watching it reassured me that I had made the right choice. I'm upgrading from the a6000 (which I have shots thousands of photos and dozens of videos with). I can't say enough great things about the a6000. I'm glad Sony has made yet another step in the right direction with the 6500. Thanks for your always informative and well produced informational videos. You sir are exceptional at what you do.

[CinematographyDatabase]

I'm using this as my main vlogging camera for now. I shoot in Slog3 and have found it pretty easy to grade with the LUTs I have. What profile are you shooting in for the shots in this video?

[juliensantini]

Great review as always. I personally bought the sony a6300 this weekend. It is the perfect camera for me. The screen is fine as I am always behind the camera. It is very quick to get the right exposure. For the stabilization, I will be either using a glidecam or a shoulder rig so in body stabilization is not as useful to me. The overheating is really fine since I don't shoot single clips of over five minutes at a time. I shot 4k 24fps this weekend in 30 degree weather with clips of around 3 minutes on and off for 2 hours without any a problems. For me, the money I saved by going for the a6300 instead of the a6500 can be spent in better lenses. Also, charging with a battery bank is so useful.

[HermanThind]

I have been shooting a 70d and 5d mii for years. Recently started trying and exploring MFT format for video. After researching everything I could find, ALMOST pulled trigger on the a6500. Then my usage came into play: I use the flip out screen on my Canons - even on commercial shoots. I went for the Pana G85. Couldn't be happier. And the lenses (great MFT lenses) are way cheaper than Sony's, and smaller and lighter. I can still use all my Canon lenses, but with the price savings was able to buy a really nice 25mm prime (nifty 50 equivalent). I also got an astounding travel camera that fits in my messenger bag.

What I find is that I take my g85 everywhere. - and doing client work, the dual IBIS is SO darned good, that I wander around shooting g b-roll hand-held.

While the 70d had been my go-to camera, the G85 has quickly replaced it, and it allowed me to get into mirrorless, and Micro 4/3s to do stuff my Canons couldn't, including hand-held shots for run-and-gun work.

The a6500 was nice when I tried it, but the overall cost of the Sony system, and the key issues pointed out in this video, kept me away. Great review!

[Tropictank]

Very informative video. I would like to know Which mirrorless camera is your favorite video camera?

[FilmPhantom]

Damn it Caleb. Why do you have to be so informative? I was so sold on getting a g85 BUT now I'm considering a a6500. However I would like to say I appreciate all that you do for the little guys.

[girisonnaseri]

great review as usual. I am still stuck with my A6000. Does it make sense to move on A6500 or GH5? I still plan to keep the A6000 as my second angle camera.

[GabrielFerreiraDOP]

don't know if someone already tipped you off, but I use a FeelWorld 7" monitor (same one you reviewed a while back) and If I want to hold every information on the monitor while shooting 4K, you just to shot using M mode (the still Manual mode). The only problem is that the camera monitor stays off. But I kind of liked that way, since I'll be saving the camera's battery.

[avarmadillo]

Nice review, Caleb.I own both the 6500 and the GH5. As usual, there are pluses and minuses to both.
I like shooting hand held and I find the Sony, once set up properly, is very easy to shoot that way.
The problem is the LCD---which can't be seen out and about.
But I did find a solution for the only slightly adventurous soul.
Kinotehnik make an LCDVF that is mounted with a magnet frame held on the LCD by an adhesive.
They make them in different sizes but the one that can work with the 6500 is the 16X9 frame and viewfinder.
If you vision isn't perfect they make different strength lenses you can screw into the eye piece.
I had to modify the adhesive frame because it is a bit too wide. I did it with a belt sander.
Once you have it fitting it make shooting hand held on the brightest days something a lot of fun to do.

All that said, with all the video features and pic. profiles and low-light, low-noise of the 6500 I think it is superior over all to the GH5. Image quality and color are excellent--and I can't recall when I've ever said that about a Sony cam.

[StreetsOfVancouverChannel]

I think that the only thing you missed out mentioning is that the A6500 captures a 6K images for video and down-rez's to 4K in the saved movie file....

Very reasonable and fair review!

[MakeSomething]

100% agree with everything said. This would be the the perfect camera with headphone jack, flip-up screen, better card placement, touch screen menu, better menu and better rolling shutter. This is so close to being the perfect YouTube camera.

[ChadwickFamilyFilms]

Kinda funny that you show a GH4 at 1:25 in when you talk about a Sony.

[TausifHussain]

Can you compare to the GH5. Is autofocus usable on GH5 for filming yourself

[Vgedzo]

a bit off topic but you mentioned g85 so im looking for a camera with a flip out screen for vlogging but aldo making some good quality videos. looking for the sony a5100 and now thinking of the g85 ... which one ?

Nice, im thinking to buy one for use in a gimbal. Thanks for video