Sony A6500 vs Ricoh GR III

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A6500 vs Ricoh GR III

Leave Feedback

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A6500 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A6500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A6500.
Compare Sony A6500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A6500 conclusion.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
28.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Ricoh GR III Review.
How does it shoot? Ricoh GR III in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GR III.

Succeeded by the Sony A6600
Compare A6500 vs A6600
Compare Sony A6600 vs Ricoh GR III

Buy From

Differences

Sony A6500 advantages over Ricoh GR III

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

350 vs 200 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Faster JPEG shooting
11.1 fps vs 4.3 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.1 fps vs 4.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
110 vs 9 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Ricoh GR III advantages over Sony A6500

Less expensive
$897* vs $1598
Save money for lenses or accessories
Fast startup
~0.70 vs 1.3 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Thinner
33 mm vs 53 mm
Thinner
Newer
6 years vs 8 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Lighter weight
257g vs 453g
Lighter weight
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Longer exposure
1200 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 231 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 51200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A6500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read GR III User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A6500

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm lens

All A6500 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Ricoh GR III

Ricoh GR III

All GR III Deals

Review Excerpt

Comfortable, premium body with good controls; Touch-screen for subject selection; Hybrid image stabilization system; Excellent image quality; Better high ISO JPEGs than the A6300; Extremely fast 11.1 fps burst capture; Very deep buffers for raw and JPEG alike; 4K video capture with no pixel binning
Pricey for an APS-C camera; JPEG colors aren't the most accurate; Very slow buffer clearing; Laggy touch-pad AF function; Poorly-placed movie button; No headphone jack; Mediocre battery life
Read our Sony A6500 Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Ricoh GR III, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Ricoh GR III Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Samsung NX500

Sony A6500

Samsung NX500

$1216
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

$1600
APS-C

More pixels
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

Compare Sony A6500 vs Samsung NX500

Ricoh GR III

Samsung NX500

$1221
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

$1600
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Ricoh GR III vs Samsung NX500

Compared to Canon EOS M3

Sony A6500

Canon EOS M3

$1216
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$1049
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Sony A6500 vs Canon EOS M3

Ricoh GR III

Canon EOS M3

$1221
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$1049
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tiltable Screen

Compare Ricoh GR III vs Canon EOS M3

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro2

Sony A6500

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$1216
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Touchscreen

$1300
APS-C

Higher max flash sync
More dots on screen

Compare Sony A6500 vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Ricoh GR III

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$1221
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1300
APS-C

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Ricoh GR III vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Compared to Sony A6300

Sony A6500

Sony A6300

$1216
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Touchscreen

$748
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony A6500 vs Sony A6300

Ricoh GR III

Sony A6300

$1221
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Touchscreen

$748
APS-C

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Ricoh GR III vs Sony A6300

Compared to Sony A6400

Sony A6500

Sony A6400

$1216
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

$848
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher extended ISO

Compare Sony A6500 vs Sony A6400

Ricoh GR III

Sony A6400

$1221
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

$848
APS-C

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Ricoh GR III vs Sony A6400

Compare Other Cameras?