• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 384.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
  • Sony Alpha ILCE-A6500
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Sony A6300
A6300 vs A6500
Successor:   Sony A6600
A6500 vs A6600
General
Model Number: ZS15 A6500
Alternate Model Number(s): TZ25 ILCE-6500
Camera Format: Compact Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $279.99 $1299.99
Street Price: $272.57 $1,198.00
Date Available: 2012-03-15 2016-11-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 7.3 oz (208 g)
includes batteries
16.0 oz (453 g)
includes batteries
Size: 4.1 x 2.3 x 1.3 in.
(105 x 58 x 33 mm)
4.7 x 2.6 x 2.1 in.
(120 x 67 x 53 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   Sony
Effective Megapixels: 12.1 24.2
Sensor Format: 1/2.3 inch APS-C
Sensor size: 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm) 366.6mm2 (23.50mm x 15.60mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.54 microns 3.92 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:   Fixed
Self-Cleaning: No Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No Yes
DxO Sensor Score:   85
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):   24.5
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):   13.7
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):   1,405
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
4000 x 2672 (10.7 MP, 3:2),
4000 x 2248 (9.0 MP, 16:9),
2992 x 2992 (9.0 MP, 1:1),
3264 x 2448 (8.0 MP, 4:3),
3264 x 2176 (7.1 MP, 3:2),
3264 x 1840 (6.0 MP, Other),
2448 x 2448 (6.0 MP, 1:1),
2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3),
2560 x 1712 (4.4 MP, 3:2),
2560 x 1440 (3.7 MP, 16:9),
1920 x 1920 (3.7 MP, 1:1),
2048 x 1536 (3.1 MP, 4:3),
2048 x 1360 (2.8 MP, Other),
1920 x 1080 (2.1 MP, 16:9),
1536 x 1536 (2.4 MP, 1:1),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3),
640 x 424 (0.3 MP, Other),
640 x 360 (0.2 MP, 16:9),
480 x 480 (0.2 MP, 1:1)
6000 x 4000 (24.0 MP, 3:2),
6000 x 3376 (20.3 MP, 16:9),
4240 x 2832 (12.0 MP, 3:2),
4240 x 2400 (10.2 MP, Other),
3008 x 2000 (6.0 MP, 3:2),
3008 x 1688 (5.1 MP, 16:9),
12416 x 1856 (23.0 MP, Other),
8192 x 1856 (15.2 MP, Other),
2160 x 5536 (12.0 MP, Other),
2160 x 3872 (8.4 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF v2.3), MPO JPEG (EXIF 2.3), RAW (14-bit compressed ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 10.0 11.1
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i/​30p)
1280x720 (60p/​30p)
640x480 (30p)
3840x2160 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (120p/​100p/​60p/​60i/​50p/​50i/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (30p/​25p)
Movie File Format: AVCHD, MP4 XAVC S / AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant / MP4; Audio: LPCM, 2ch / Dolby Digital (AC-3), 2ch, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, 2ch
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: No n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a Sony E
Lens: LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR, 12 elements in 10 groups, 3 Aspherical, 1 ED element n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 24 - 384mm  
Focal Length (actual): 4.3 - 68.8mm  
Zoom Ratio: 16.00x  
Aperture Range: f/3.3 - 6.3 (W) / f/5.9 - 6.3 (T) Multistage Iris Diaphram  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
 
Macro Focus Range: 3 cm to Infinity
1.2 in to Infinity
 
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes No
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x Up to 4x; up to 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detect: Face / AF Tracking / 23pt / 1pt / Spot Hybrid Contrast/Phase Detection: Wide (425 points phase-detection AF, 169 points contrast-detection AF), Zone, Center, Flexible Spot (Small / Medium / Large), Expanded Flexible Spot
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: No Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: LCD EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type:   EVF type; 1.0cm (0.39-inch) 2.3M-dot XGA OLED, 100% coverage, 1.07x mag. (0.70x 35mm eq.), 23mm eyepoint, -4 to +3 diopter
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a 2,359,296 dots
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):   0.70x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):   1.07x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: No Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 460,000 dots 921,600 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom:   16.7x
Top Deck Display: No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):   25600
Minimum ISO (native):   100
ISO Settings: Auto, iISO, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200; High Sensitivity mode (ISO 1600-6400) Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600, expandable to 51200
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent, White Set Auto WB (with new Ambience, Standard and White options), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm white/Cool white/Day white/Daylight), Flash, C. Temp 2500 to 9900K, C Filter G7 to M7 (15-step), Custom, Underwater; AWB micro adjustment
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 15 sec 1/4000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: No Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Intelligent Multiple, Center Weighted, Spot 1200-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Panorama Shot, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Hand Held Night Shot, HDR, Food, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High Sensitivity, Glass Through, Underwater; 3D Photo, Creative Control (Expressive, Retro, High Key, Low Key, Sepia, Dynamic Monochrome, High Dynamic, Toy Effect, Miniature, Soft Focus) Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait, Night Scene, Hand-held Twilight, Anti Motion Blur, HDR, Sweep Panorama, Movie/High Frame Rate
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2 , 10, 10 (3 or 5 frames) seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, Off, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a 6.0 m / 19.7 ft.
Flash Range Description: 0.6 - 6.4m (Wide/ISO Auto), 1.0 - 3.5m (Tele/ISO Auto) Guide Number is 6m/19.7 ft at ISO 100; Range is lens aperture dependent
Max Flash Sync:   1/160
Flash Exposure Compensation:   +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: n/a Multi Interface Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: No Yes
Uncompressed Format:   RAW (14-bit compressed ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: AVCHD, MP4 XAVC S / AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant / MP4; Audio: LPCM, 2ch / Dolby Digital (AC-3), 2ch, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, 2ch
Included Memory: 17.0 MB No memory included
Included Memory Type: built-in memory  
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No Yes
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: No Yes
Remote Control Type:   Optional wired, IR or Wi-FI
Connections (extended): Mini HDMI, DC input Micro (Type-D) HDMI, Multi Interface Shoe, Multi Micro USB
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution):   0.62
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):    
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   0.59
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 10.0 11.1
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 4 231
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   11.1
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   110
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   11.1
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   101
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid):   0.18 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):   0.127 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):   0.29 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused):   0.019 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time:   1.3 seconds
Play -> Record Time:   0.9 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:   3.0 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 260 shots 350 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):   310 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary Proprietary NP-FW50
Usable Battery Types: 3.6V, 895mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary NP-FW50 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes No
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: No
Internal Charging Supported: Yes
Software
Included Software: PHOTOfunSTUDIO 8.0 Advanced Edition, Adobe Reader Free downloads of Image Data Converter (Win only), Capture One Express (for Sony)
OS Compatibility:    
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Optical Image Stabilization, Full HD Movies, High-speed Burst modes. Available in black or silver.