Sony A6500 Gets Silver Award at DPReview

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DPReview published their full in-depth review for Sony A6500 APS-C mirrorless camera. This Sony A6500 camera achieved an impressive 85% overall score and Silver Award from the experts at DPReview.

From DPReview Conclusion:

The Sony a6500 is an outstanding all-around camera. Image quality and 4K video quality are both exceptional and the camera’s autofocus system also impresses. Well-suited for sports and action photography, the a6500 offers a deep buffer and burst speeds of both 8 and 11 fps with continuous autofocus. Just be aware that it can take some work to wrap one’s head around its long list of capabilities, to get the most out of the camera.

Pros:

  • Excellent stills image quality in both JPEG and Raw
  • Impressive buffer depth with buffer countdown
  • In-body image stablization averages 2.5 stops of added stability
  • One of the best APS-C cameras at high ISO
  • Flexible Raw files with plenty of dynamic range
  • Impressive autofocus performance and frame coverage
  • Superb video quality
  • Extensive video support features
  • Solid construction
  • Good degree of customization
  • USB charging is convenient
  • 14-bit Raw in most shooting modes
  • 3rd party lens support for phase-detect AF
  • New menus are less cluttered than previous generations’
  • New highlight-weighted metering mode
  • Eye sensor disengages when the screen is pulled out, EVF won’t switch on
  • Redesigned eyecup slides on and locks in place, no longer prone to falling off

Cons:

  • Touchscreen operation is laggy, feels unrefined
  • Still no “My Menu” option for clustering most-used menu options
  • Only one top plate control dial
  • Rolling shutter can be distracting in 4K/24p video
  • No Lock-on AF area modes when shooting video
  • Lock-on AF can be erratic (failing to distinguish chosen target)
  • ‘Live View’ in 8 fps mode shows only static image between captures
  • Cool greens and green yellows can yield displeasing JPEG colors, especially skintones
  • No in-camera Raw conversion option
  • Lack of headphone socket for audio monitoring
  • Drops to 12-bit mode in various modes inc. continuous shooting and silent shutter
  • Risk of overheating limits use for extended recording periods
  • Screen automatically dims when shooting 4K video
  • Lack of included charger makes it hard to keep a spare battery charged
  • Lossy compression of Raw risks occasional artifacts

Sony a6500: $1,398 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

You can read the full review at DPReview.

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