Sony to Launch a6500 Replacement Later This Month
- The same autofocus technology
- Better LCD touchscreen technology
- A third exposure control (hopefully near the grip, if you’re listening Sony)
- Better ergonomics; possibly larger build
Photo by Rico Reutimann on Unsplash
Sony Alpha a6500 Camera
It looks like Sony is finally launching a replacement to the much-beloved Sony a6500 by the end of this month.
Sony Alpha Rumors, the internet’s one-stop shop for all buzz about Sony, published the news after it was confirmed by two independent sources.
So, let’s dive into all the rumors about the a6500 replacement.
Rumored a6500 Replacement Specs
Sony A6500
One of the sources with Sony Alpha Rumors said the a6500 replacement will be “a sort of ‘cheaper’ a9 with a slightly bigger grip than the current a6500 to accommodate the bigger NP-FZ100 battery.”
We’re assuming that if this is a less-expensive version of the a9 that it will mean that the a6500 replacement will also feature in-body image stabilization and phenomenal video specs.
Since the a6400 shoots 4K/24p and 1080/120p at full-pixel readout, the a6500 replacement has to feature something closer to 4k/60p.
Sony A6500
Since Sony is also known as one of the leaders in autofocus tech, we assume the new camera will also feature their Real-Time Tracking autofocus.
Though none of these Sony rumors have been officially corroborated by Sony, Sony Alpha Rumors has an impressive track record with their reporting, so it’s safe to bet that more info will be dropping once we approach the end of the month.
Pros & Cons of the a6500
Sony A6500
Given that the upcoming Sony cameras info we have isn’t concrete, we figured we’d better take a closer look at some of the features the a6500 has that we would and wouldn’t like in the Sony a6500 replacement.
The Sony a6500 is known for its autofocus technology, so this had better be in the a6500 replacement or Sony will have some unhappy photographers on its hands!
Sony A6500
Contrarily, the a6500 doesn’t have the best touchscreen. Sony tried to do some interesting things with their touchscreen technology, like the fact that it is ultra-sensitive, but in the end, it mostly ends up being a nuisance.
Sometimes the a6500 truly just feels too small as well. Some of the buttons are oddly placed, like the two custom function buttons located on top of the camera. I think this issue would be fixed with a new design and possibly a slightly larger build.
Sony a6500 Replacement Wish List:
Can’t Wait for the a6500 Replacement? Buy Used!
Sony A6500
We found some killer deals on Sony a6500s on MPB. Starting at $829, you can own one of these cameras if you don’t already.
Plus, as past camera drops have proven, used prices on a6500 are probably about to drop even further so if there is a time to buy one, the time is now. Since this camera is the inspiration, if you will, for its replacement, you can get a lot of the same features we expect to see in the new version, but obviously at a much lower price.
If you’re looking for something a little different and less expensive still, we also scoped out a Sony a5100 for barely over $200.
If you want to wait for the Sony a6500 replacement to drop, you can sell or trade-in your current camera on MPB when the time comes.
