Sony a6500 vs. Sony a6400: The Ultimate Comparison

In this article, we break down the differences between the Sony a6500 and the Sony a6400 mirrorless cameras, so you can decide which camera is best for you.

Deciding between two similar cameras can be a tough call, and when prices are similar, it’s important to compare the features and see which is most compatible with your needs.

We did the work for you to make your decision easier, so look at the following side-by-side comparison of the Sony a6500 and Sony a6400 cameras to see which is the best fit for you.

• Key Details at a Glance
• Detailed Side-by-Side Comparison

Key Details at a Glance:

Here are the side-by-side key specs of the Sony a6500 and the Sony a6400 cameras:

	Sony a6500	Sony a6400
Price	New: $998.00	New: $898.00
Release Date	10/6/16	1/15/19
Sensor	24MP APS-C CMOS	24MP APS-C CMOS
Viewfinder	EVF	EVF
Articulating LCD Screen	Yes	Yes
LCD Screen Size	3	3
Viewfinder Resolution	2359k	2359k
Lens Type	Sony E Mount	Sony E Mount
Continuous Shooting Speed	11.0 fps	11.0 fps
Video Resolution	3840×2160	3840×2160
Weather sealed	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	Sensor-Shift	No
Color Depth	24.5	24.0
Dynamic Range	13.7	13.6
Low Light ISO	1405	1431
Battery Life	350	410
Time-Lapse Recording	With app	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Selfie Friendly LCD	No	Yes
Wireless Connection	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth Connection	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	Yes	Yes
AE Bracketing	Yes	Yes
Smartphone Remote	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash	Yes	Yes
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Lenses Available	115	115
Dimensions	120x67x53mm	120x67x60mm
Weight	453g	403g

In-Depth Comparison:

Looking at key specs of each camera can help give you an idea of which camera will fit your style best, but here we go a bit deeper in-depth to help you understand how these features function within the cameras.

Design

The Sony a6400 and Sony a6500 have very similar designs, but there are a few differences that set them apart. Beginning with the dimensions, the Sony a6500 is 120x67x53mm compared to the Sony a6400 which is 120x67x60mm.

Due to the difference in depth, the Sony a6400 is slightly thicker in design. It’s not a major change to the camera design, and can be contributed to the hinge LCD screen, in which this camera allows you to flip the LCD screen so you are able to see yourself if you are taking selfies or vlogging.

Image via Engadget

The Sony a6500 does have a hinged screen though, just not one that will flip completely, instead it works well when angled to shoot above or below eye level.

Image via Imaging Resource

Slightly lighter in weight, the Sony a6400 is 50g lighter than the Sony a6500. Again, the weight difference isn’t a huge determining factor for which camera performs better, but it is important to note that the Sony a6400 is a bit sleeker in design.

Overall, the color, physical design, and dimensions aren’t very different, but when deciding between the two, the LCD hinge design can be a deciding factor. If you know you’ll be using your camera for selfies or vlogging, the design of the Sony a6400 is the way to go.

Image Quality

Another aspect of the cameras with very little difference is the image quality. Due to the 24.2 megapixel resolution, the Sony a6400 may technically have better contrast for some shots, but the difference isn’t very noticeable.

Shot on A6400:

Shot on A6500:

Images via Alphashooters

However, the Sony a6500 has built in image stabilization which helps utilize slower shutter speeds without having hand blur. Since the Sony a6500 has image stabilization built in, it makes it a better option for still shots.

The Sony a6500 also has a higher burst buffer, allowing 233 JPEGs or 107 RAW shots to be taken before the camera slows, whereas the Sony a6400 can handle 99 JPEGs or 46 RAW shots.

Autofocus

With the Sony a6400 being a newer model, the autofocus technology has seriously upgraded. The Sony a6500 takes 0.5 seconds to autofocus, while the Sony a6400 can autofocus in 0.025 seconds.

Of course, these speeds depend on the lighting and setting of your shoots, but the Sony a6400 can autofocus pretty quickly. The Sony a6400 has an impressive real time tracking feature that manages to really stick to its subjects, which is convenient for close up shots and far shots with moving subjects.

This camera is great for subjects that are constantly moving, like toddlers, sporting events, or even wildlife. If you’re looking for a camera with revamped autofocus technology that really gets the job done, the Sony a6400 is the better choice.

Low Light Performance

The Sony a6400 has a higher extended ISO, 102400, compared to the Sony a6500, 51200, which provides more flexibility with low light shooting.

Image via Jomaker

This speaks for itself, as the ISO range will allow for better low lighting shoots with the Sony a6400. This isn’t to say that the Sony a6500 doesn’t perform well in low light conditions, though.

As a newer model, the Sony a6400 is equipped with a broader ISO range to help with low light performance while also reducing noise. If you know you’ll be using your camera a lot in low light conditions, the Sony a6400 is a good choice.

Video

Image via Trusted Reviews

The newer Sony a6400 has been marketed towards the vlogging and social media crowd, specifically with the ability to flip the LCD screen to see yourself filming in real time. This addition makes video for vlogs, YouTube, and other self-recorded videos much easier than the Sony a6500.

One downside to this feature, however, is the screen will be blocked if you are using a microphone hot shoe attachment.

The Sony a6500 has built in-camera stabilization, which definitely comes in handy when shooting video. This feature helps reduce camera shake and produces smoother video quality when shooting video that can’t be stabilized with a tripod or rig.

Both cameras shoot 4k video, so the quality is great. With both cameras having a microphone port, quality sound is easy to achieve with these cameras as well.

If you plan on vlogging, you may choose to opt for the Sony a6400, since the features are more geared towards social media and vlogging activities. If you plan on shooting video that can’t be stabilized with a tripod, it’s probably best to go with the Sony a6500.

Final Thoughts

Overall, these cameras are similar in design and technology, with a few differences in autofocus and low light technology, as well as newer vlogging features in the Sony a6400.

It comes down to your purpose when deciding between the two cameras, with the Sony a6500 being a better choice if you know you need in-camera stabilization or a higher burst buffer, and the Sony a6400 having newer autofocus technology and a hinged screen for vlogging and selfie mode.