Sony A6500 Mirrorless Camera Review

Hi, this is Jay P. Morgan. Kenneth and I recently took a look at the Sony a6500 mirrorless camera. People are constantly asking us for recommendations on a small camera that's easy to use for everyday pictures. This is a great little camera that fits the bill. See what we thought, here on The Slanted Lens.

Keep those cameras rollin' and keep on clickin'.

-Jay P.

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[jgaskell]

Love the channel, but I trust this kid's video knowledge as much as I trust a fart at a Chipotle.

[JonnyPink]

As a fan of the channel, a Sony junkie and in particular the A6500, I think you guys missed it on this one. The A6500 - for the most part - works best in auto about 99% of the time....unless shooting at night. Another thing is that auto focus - as time goes by, will be the norm and manual focus will become old technology like film and tape. If walking, you have to have a gimbal or stabilizer even with OSS lenses. Great stuff though - just binge watching today on a day off!! Going to the a7R III next year. I think the their full frames have now caught up to what the A6500 can do!

[vegasti]

Well.. At least we know for sure it's an honest review and that they aren't sponsored by sony to follow a script since they hardly mentioned the IBIS - the biggest reason to get this over the older a6300 :) . I'm planning to use this as a pro camera for video mostly in tandem with the a7rii, so it's mostly going to be used with high end FE glass. But I'm probably also going to get some aps-c lenses for when I don't want to lug around those heavy full frame lenses.

[micahmackenzie]

Great info on the new Sony A6500. Thinking of switching already from 5d Mark IV for this beauty! Would you recommend it?

[johnzxrk]

What camera would you recommend for high speed motorcycle video? I now use GoPro cameras and the SENA C-10. I would like a better clear focusing camera. I appreciate your advise. Thanks for you camera review, I was going to buy this camera, but now I am glad I didn't.

[DetroitDon]

I am pondering buying this camera in a few months. My question is how does the Nikon vintage lens work on this camera. Also, thinking about leaving for Sony, but the price for Sony lens are outrageous HIGH, your thoughts?

[ObelixCMM]

In Body Image Stabilization is the biggest advantages of this camera, and you guys didn't even mention it. 4K IQ is better than anything else under $3, 000.00

[BradleyLindseth]

When you are shooting S-Log it is always better to "expose to the right" by a stop. It seems like you will be blowing out some of the highlights but amazingly enough you can get the detail back in post and you will have better, less muddy Shadows. Great video per usual!

[wenyulian]

You said that people don't want to spend 2-3k on cameras for armatures, but a6500 + 18-105 zoom will be 2k already. It is more expensive than its competitors in the same range. Unfortunately or fortunately, I have ordered it just for 4K and small size as a travel camera. I don't like its manual system too. One more question, do you think that evf has advantage than ovf when using flash in studio?

[wissahickonmedia]

JP, I'm curious as to what camera you used to shoot this review? I noticed there is a lot more highlight clipping in this video review than in your GH5 review. What was going on here behind your video camera shooting you?

[keiou]

Why didn't you use Eye autofocus?

[markshirley]

Im not a big fan of the small Sony's I've owned one and found it fiddly to use but I need a camera to go on a gimbal and shoot in low light, I can't think of a better suited camera than the A6500. Most of the reviews I've watched using a gimbal seem to be using the A6300/500 because of the AF.

[edshotsdotcodotuk]

Min shutter in aperture priority. Came in with the A6300, so great. Have it on the custom switch as the bottom option.

A6300 and A6500 have gamma assist to help with the SLog. Or use a standard profile then switch at the last moment.

That video button NEEDS to move.

[richardpcrowe]

Nice review... Would not some fill flash have added a bit of "kick" to the portraits? Funny thing, I have owned a Canon 50mm f/1.8 since Version One and never used it for portraits to any great degree with my Canon Crop Sensor Cameras. However, the Sony 50mm f.1.8 OSS lens has become my go to portrait lens on the A6500. I also like the Sony 85mm f/1.8. Eye AF on the A6500 with native Sony glass is wonderful for portraits...

[spytromics]

Very nice review.  Thanks for actually using real photos & videos.  Most camera reviews are just a rehash of spec sheets.  I have the a6500 and am quite happy with it.  As you mentioned, it's not perfect.  The thing about Sony cameras is that they're not camera-first like Canon, Nikon, etc.  A Sony camera is more of a computer with a sensor & lens attached.  There are so many options that you can program like a computer.  I agree that the a6300 is best with A mode or even P mode.  It's actually amazing how great P mode can be.  The camera really is that smart.

Thanks.

[Stevesmith-ywcr]

Why is there a skeleton with a hat in this video? A skeleton walks into a sits down and asks the would like a beer and a mop.

[RachelCrabtree]

So am I correct in assuming that you have to purchase a separate lens to this camera? Can it be used without external emounted lens? Thanks for any advice you have to offer :)

[johnzxrk]

How would this camera be if I was to use it in a video application?

[kenburke]

I can't decide what camera to buy for 4k video shooting, GH5 - bad autofocus, Sony - Overheats, Nikon - lacks features, Fuji - short record time, Olympus seems ok.... Not sure

[SullyCortez]

lol 1600?? this thing is perfectly fine at 12, 800 for video. Even for photos. I'd be perfectly fine taking it up to 12, 800 compared to other cameras. The noise is very fine and looks pleasing it's not blotchy and terrible. I personally use cine lenses ONLY for manual focusing, but for stills I use a native emount. Even for video lately I've been using auto focusing with face tracking for video and it's been solid as hell. I also use adapted glass via the metabones mark iv and it's awesome especially video autofocus with certain lenses is almost as good as native glass. You can reprogram the video button to a custom button btw. And ibis for me, works great if you're not trying to walk. The stabilizer really isn't meant to be used as a walk around camera literally for video. It needs a tripod. or monopod or gimbal. Don't get me wrong, it can def help going handheld with certain lenses without a rig, but I find it to be most helpful in stills mode not video. Sometimes I notice it jumps around too much in video when it tries to compensate. The meter on the A6500 lies, I would always use a waveform or false color for video. For stills the built in meters can work well, especially the 'entire screen avg' which works better than center weighted. Great video guys always love to hear other peoples opinions. I shoot short films with this with a rig and it's perfect. when you build it out.