• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 12,800
  • APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Sony DSLR-A500 advantages over Canon EOS M6

  • Lens selection
    Good vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.55 vs 3.72 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 1.2 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 1000 vs 295 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    83 mm vs 72 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens

Canon EOS M6 advantages over Sony DSLR-A500

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Thinner
    44 mm vs 84 mm
    Thinner
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    8 years vs 15 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Lighter weight
    520g vs 900g
    Lighter weight
  • More dots on screen
    1040k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 12.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.2 fps vs 4.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    27 vs 5 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • 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
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony DSLR-A500

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon EOS M6
Body Only (Black)
  • Body Only (Black)
  • Body Only (Silver)
  • Kit with 15-45mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 15-45mm lens (Silver)
  • Kit with 18-150mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 18-150mm lens (Silver)
All EOS M6 Deals

Review Excerpt

  • Enthusiast-oriented compact camera body; Good image quality in most situations; Impressive Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Very good overall performance.

  • Dynamic range and high ISO image quality aren't quite up to par with some of its competition; No 4K video recording; Video features in general are underwhelming; Native EF-M lens selection is limited.

  • Read our Canon EOS M6 Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K20D

Sony DSLR-A500
Pentax K20D
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Top deck display

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Pentax K20D

Canon EOS M6
Pentax K20D
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Pentax K20D

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Sony DSLR-A500
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • More dots on screen
  • More pixels

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A550

Canon EOS M6
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Sony DSLR-A550

Compared to Sony DSLR-A560

Sony DSLR-A500
Sony DSLR-A560
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Less shutter lag
  • $750
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • More cross-type AF points

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Sony DSLR-A560

Canon EOS M6
Sony DSLR-A560
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $750
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Sony DSLR-A560

Compared to Fujifilm X-A3

Sony DSLR-A500
Fujifilm X-A3
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Fujifilm X-A3

Canon EOS M6
Fujifilm X-A3
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • NFC
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Fujifilm X-A3

Compared to Fujifilm X-A5

Sony DSLR-A500
Fujifilm X-A5
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony DSLR-A500 vs Fujifilm X-A5

Canon EOS M6
Fujifilm X-A5
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • NFC
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Fujifilm X-A5

Compare Other Cameras?