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Yet another Sony A6000 A6500 question
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Jul 14, 2020 19:39:06   #
Bob Link
 
My S.O. has an A6000 and has just added- per advice on this site- a Sony 350mm telephoto. Now between swapping lenses constantly- a macro for flowers and bugs, a "regular" for vistas, and the tele for birds and long shots, she's thinking another body would be nice. So, used A6000s are available as are A6500s. I read here that the A6500's stabilization is improved which would be nice with the tele. But the probably most important question is the difference in learning curves between the 2. IE. would she have to do a bunch of rethinking if swapping between an A6000 and an A6500? She is enthusiastic but has yet acquainted herself with all of the features of the A6000.

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Jul 14, 2020 20:23:37   #
a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel
 
I'm not a good "model" for your S.O. but when I switched from the a6000 to the a6500 I did not find it much of a change. It's certainly not like going from Windows 7 to 10 nor PC to Mac. There are minor differences and they are almost all improvements.

The 6500 is a better camera at a higher price. It's heavier, better built, better sealed, better performing and has a silent shutter which is great for wildlife. The AF is in a whole different class than the 6000.

Just a thought, however: The RX10 IV solves the lens problem completely at the disadvantage of IQ not as good. But "not as good" is still very good. Whether it's good enough depends on how you use it. I have both and use both. I was skeptical but once I tried the RX10 III (rented) I immediately bought one and upgraded to the model 4 when that was released. My percentage of keepers approximately tripled.

There are many examples of what it can do which can be found on the internet.
https://500px.com/search?submit=Submit&q=rx10&type=photos

If I could only have one camera it would be the RX10 IV.

The a6500 has 12 little boxes you get to see and use (menu items) under the Fn button on the back. You get to decide what things you might change during use. Sony menus are infamous and unloved (I don't mind them) but the Fn button really alleviates the in-use issues for the most part. The manual can be seen on-line and it's not wonderful but it's pretty complete.

If either of you has specific questions I'd be happy to help via PM.

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Jul 15, 2020 07:41:49   #
wireloose
 
Functionally they are very similar as A6K has indicated. The focus system on the A6500 is also significantly improved. I would think she would be very pleased with the upgrade.

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Jul 15, 2020 08:18:15   #
Low Budget Dave
 
The A6000 and A6500 will be fairly similar for all the features commonly used, and the less-common features (I think) she will find that she will set them up differently anyway. Because Sony tends to bury some features in the menu system, people with two cameras tend to use one for tripod / landscape / macro, and the other for everything else.

They both have custom settings and memory settings, of course, so she can use each one as the back-up for the other, as long as she doesn't mind spending time setting them up.

The main differences are in the details, which she may not ever use anyway. The Sony A6000, for example, has the C1 button right next to the shutter, and by default, it changes the focus mode. I found that not particularly usable, but I never bothered to change it.

The A6500 has a C1 and a C2 button, but they are back next to the camera mode dial, which I find more convenient. The C1 changes White balance by default, and the C2 changes Focus mode. If you are used to the old way, you can switch them, but most people I know just train themselves that a button in a slightly different place will do a slightly different thing.

If she doesn't use the C1 button at all, then no harm done. If she does us it, then suggest that she set it to "focus Magnifier" to see if she like that better. Over the course of a few years, the A6000 and A6500 will both grow on you to the point where the menu system does not seem all that cumbersome.

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Jul 15, 2020 08:20:03   #
aellman Loc: Boston MA
 
a6k wrote:
I'm not a good "model" for your S.O. but when I switched from the a6000 to the a6500 I did not find it much of a change. It's certainly not like going from Windows 7 to 10 nor PC to Mac. There are minor differences and they are almost all improvements.

The 6500 is a better camera at a higher price. It's heavier, better built, better sealed, better performing and has a silent shutter which is great for wildlife. The AF is in a whole different class than the 6000.

Just a thought, however: The RX10 IV solves the lens problem completely at the disadvantage of IQ not as good. But "not as good" is still very good. Whether it's good enough depends on how you use it. I have both and use both. I was skeptical but once I tried the RX10 III (rented) I immediately bought one and upgraded to the model 4 when that was released. My percentage of keepers approximately tripled.

There are many examples of what it can do which can be found on the internet.
https://500px.com/search?submit=Submit&q=rx10&type=photos

If I could only have one camera it would be the RX10 IV.

The a6500 has 12 little boxes you get to see and use (menu items) under the Fn button on the back. You get to decide what things you might change during use. Sony menus are infamous and unloved (I don't mind them) but the Fn button really alleviates the in-use issues for the most part. The manual can be seen on-line and it's not wonderful but it's pretty complete.

If either of you has specific questions I'd be happy to help via PM.
I'm not a good "model" for your S.O. but... (show quote)



a6k,

Your increase in the percentage of keepers finally puts an issue to rest that has bedeviled me for years.

Turns out, after all this time, it really is all about the camera, not the photographer, which I have strongly suspected.

Who knew?
Alan

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Jul 15, 2020 09:14:47   #
a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel
 
aellman wrote:
a6k,

Your increase in the percentage of keepers finally puts an issue to rest that has bedeviled me for years.

Turns out, after all this time, it really is all about the camera, not the photographer, which I have strongly suspected.

Who knew?
Alan


Alan, a nice, humorous jab 😀 but as you noted, a good question. I don't want to hijack the thread so I'll limit myself to quoting Bob Dole: "depends". For me in this case, the ergonomics became the most important factor in how I used the cameras - wildlife and birds almost exclusively.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bob%20Dole%27s%20underwear

I really do love my a6500 and would not want to give it up until something a lot better would come along.

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Jul 15, 2020 09:15:24   #
Toment Loc: FL, IL
 
I just got a 6600 with 18-135 lens. An immense improvement over the 6500. I have 9 batteries for the 6500 and two are plenty for the 6600 (larger battery). VERY fast focus, very accurate. Keepers are up.
Give your SO a chance at a better camera. I’m glad I did it.
Good luck!

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Jul 15, 2020 09:40:37   #
dbfalconer Loc: Salida CO
 
Bob Link wrote:
My S.O. has an A6000 and has just added- per advice on this site- a Sony 350mm telephoto. Now between swapping lenses constantly- a macro for flowers and bugs, a "regular" for vistas, and the tele for birds and long shots, she's thinking another body would be nice. So, used A6000s are available as are A6500s. I read here that the A6500's stabilization is improved which would be nice with the tele. But the probably most important question is the difference in learning curves between the 2. IE. would she have to do a bunch of rethinking if swapping between an A6000 and an A6500? She is enthusiastic but has yet acquainted herself with all of the features of the A6000.
My S.O. has an A6000 and has just added- per advi... (show quote)


I’m a hobbyist and like my a6000 very much. (When I moved from point n shoot, the a6000 was new and highly recommended, so I never had Nikon or Canon cameras.)
When we did an Alaska ‘trip of a lifetime’ last summer, friends recommended I take a backup body. I rented an a6500 and also a 100-400 lens. I was so glad I did!
I only had a couple of days to try out the 6500 but felt pretty confident with it. The layout and settings and menus were similar enough. Loved the long lens! As ours was a driving trip, it was pretty easy to have both cameras at the ready on my lap. I even rigged them so I could carry both around my neck at the same time. Hiked glaciers and photographed at Brooks Falls that way!

As someone else wrote, the Rx10iv is an alternative I have seriously considered too. I’m concerned about its bulkiness. And I’m interested to read the a6600 is possibly even better than the 6500.

I’d recommend your SO try out these options before buying.
For now, I’m still swapping lenses frequently and trying to improve my shooting techniques and editing. And waiting for prices to come down as newer models appear.
I do wish Sony would make more crop-sensor lenses. I’m reticent to make the leap to fullframe. Probably not justified for my purposes.

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Jul 15, 2020 10:04:46   #
rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
 
Okay, I must be the only un-informed person on line today. What is an "SO"?

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Jul 15, 2020 10:05:44   #
Toment Loc: FL, IL
 
significant other

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Jul 15, 2020 10:11:13   #
rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
 
Toment wrote:
significant other
Thank you. I was stalled at "Stupid Oncologist."

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Jul 15, 2020 10:22:27   #
Toment Loc: FL, IL
 
rdgreenwood wrote:
Thank you. I was stalled at "Stupid Oncologist."


HA HA

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Jul 15, 2020 14:18:13   #
rkaminer Loc: New York, NY
 
Bob Link wrote:
My S.O. has an A6000 and has just added- per advice on this site- a Sony 350mm telephoto. Now between swapping lenses constantly- a macro for flowers and bugs, a "regular" for vistas, and the tele for birds and long shots, she's thinking another body would be nice. So, used A6000s are available as are A6500s. I read here that the A6500's stabilization is improved which would be nice with the tele. But the probably most important question is the difference in learning curves between the 2. IE. would she have to do a bunch of rethinking if swapping between an A6000 and an A6500? She is enthusiastic but has yet acquainted herself with all of the features of the A6000.
My S.O. has an A6000 and has just added- per advi... (show quote)


the A6500 has stabilization built into the body, I am not sure about the 6000 but the 6300 does not have that feature and presumably the 6000 also does not.

I own the 6500 because of that feature, otherwise i would have purchased the less expensive model and get similar performances.

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Jul 15, 2020 14:20:45   #
Bob Locher Loc: Southwest Oregon
 
Your S.O. should definitely pick up the A6500. The image stabilization of the 6500 will make a huge improvement, especially with a 350 mm lens. If the lens is the Sony 70-350 the improvement is startling. I went through the same sequence - I own the 70-350 mm lens and the A6500, and an A6000.
I suggest buying through KEH - you pay little more than most eBay prices AND you get a 30 day money back and 6 month warranty. Also, I recommend Gary Friedman's book on the A6500 - it is exhaustive and covers everything. (I have no connection with either firm except as a happy customer.)
Cheers

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Jul 15, 2020 14:21:12   #
Bob Locher Loc: Southwest Oregon
 
Your S.O. should definitely pick up the A6500. The image stabilization of the 6500 will make a huge improvement, especially with a 350 mm lens. If the lens is the Sony 70-350 the improvement is startling. I went through the same sequence - I own the 70-350 mm lens and the A6500, and an A6000.
I suggest buying through KEH - you pay little more than most eBay prices AND you get a 30 day money back and 6 month warranty. Also, I recommend Gary Friedman's book on the A6500 - it is exhaustive and covers everything. (I have no connection with either firm except as a happy customer.)
Cheers

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