Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D – Detailed Comparison

The Sony a6500 vs Canon 77D comparison might not be a fair one seeing as the Sony a6500 was introduced as a semi-pro and the Canon 77D (also called Canon 900D) as an entry-level camera. However, they are from different manufacturers, so, anything could happen.

That said, the basic idea of this review is to help you decide which of these cameras is better suited for you. This is why we have presented the features and functions of cameras in comparison with each other.

If you’re just here to get a quick rundown of the specs to make a quick decision, go check out the comparison overview and comparison table section right below this.

However, if you are new to the photography and camera scene, please do go through the entire article as we’ve tried to explain what the different features are and what they do.

Finally, you could broaden your range of options by checking out some of our other Sony vs Canon comparison articles like the Sony a6300 vs Canon 7D. Now let’s on get with things.

Comparison Overview — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

Here is a quick rundown of the basic ideas in this review:

Overall Rating Of The Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

Both cameras are pretty impressive. The Sony a6500 was introduced as a semi-pro while the Canon 77D was introduced as an entry-level. However, they happen to have a lot of similar features and functions as you’ll get to see soon enough.

Rating Of The Features Of The Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

Let’s start with the features that both cameras have in common. First off, they both have a viewfinder; that of the Sony a6500 is an electronic one while that of the Canon 77D is optical.

Furthermore, they both have an impressive 24 megapixel sensor resolution, a decent 1/4000 second maximum shooting, an equally decent 25600 maximum ISO.

Also, they both have inbuilt wireless connection, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication connection and can be controlled using a smartphone. They both also have an external flash port, an inbuilt flash, an articulating screen (tilting for the a6500 and full-flex for the 77D) and a microphone port.

That said, both cameras happen to have an edge over the other with certain features. For the Sony a6500, you get in body image stabilization, weather sealing, an 11 frame per second continuous shooting, and a 3840 by 2160 video resolution.

You also get more focus points (425 as against 45), a 100% viewfinder coverage, a wider sensor pixel area and better low light performance (1405 as against 971).

As for the Canon 77D, you get a 600 shot per charge battery life (as against the a6500’s 360 shots per charge), a top LCD screen and the support for the UHS-I memory card. One of the few features that they both do not have is a headphone port.

Price/Value Ratio — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

The Canon 77D is actually really affordable and we believe you’ll be getting value for your money. On the other hand, we believe the affordability of the Sony a6500 is highly subjective. But generally, we wouldn’t call it affordable.

There is a significant difference between the prices of the two cameras. However, we do not think the difference in functionality is equal to the difference in price. So, in our opinion, the Canon 77D will offer you value for your money.

About The Brands

Sony

The Sony brand is known for a number of different things and one of them is cameras. Sony cameras are known for their impressive sensors and not so impressive battery life. Also, Sony happens to be the leading producer of mirrorless cameras. So, most Sony cameras are mirrorless.

Canon

The Canon brand, on the other hand, is the leading producer of DSLR cameras, alongside Nikon. Because of how long Canon has been producing cameras, it has been able to garner a really impressive arsenal of lenses and other camera accessories.

Comparison Table — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

	Sony a6500	Canon 77D
Weight	1 pound	1.19 pounds
Dimensions	4.7 by 2.6 by 2.1 inches	5.2 by 3.9 by 3 inches
Sensor Resolution	24 megapixels	24 megapixels
Battery Life	350 shots per charge	600 shots per charge
Continuous Shooting	11 frames per second	6 frames per second
Image Stabilization	Yes	No
Video Resolution	3840 by 2160	1920 by 1080
Screen Type	Tilting screen	Full-flex screen
Viewfinder	Electronic	Optical
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	95%
Focus Points	425	45
UHS Memory Card Support	UHS-I	No
Weather Sealing	Yes	No
Top LCD Screen	No	Yes
ISO	100 to 25600 and can be expanded to 51200	100 to 25600 and can be expanded to 51200

A Comparison Video — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

Which Is Better For What? — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

Sony a6500	Canon 77D
The Sony a6500 can record 4K videos. So, it is the better camera for recording videos.	On the other hand, you’ll be able to use this camera for longer periods at a time because it has a longer battery life.
Also, this camera is more of the survivalist camera because of its weather sealing.	Also, this camera is the more selfie friendly one because of its fully articulated screen.

Common Features — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

1. Viewfinder

A viewfinder is that small screen in a camera that is used in framing shots before they are taken. To frame a shot basically means to preview it kinda; get an idea of what the photo will look like when it is shot before it is shot. This way you can prevent any lighting or posture errors.

Actually, the LCD screen can do the same thing because the camera sends the ‘preview’ to both the viewfinder and the LCD screen. And since some mirrorless cameras come without a viewfinder, some people will have to.

However, the LCD screen is not the best at framing and that is because in bright light, it could get difficult to see what’s on the screen. Thankfully, both the Sony a6500 and the Canon 77D have a viewfinder each. Which brings us to the types of viewfinder.

There are basically two types of viewfinder: the optical viewfinder which you’ll find in the Canon 77D and most other DSLRs and the electronic viewfinder which you’ll find in the Sony a6500 and a number of other mirrorless cameras.

The basic difference between the two viewfinders is that the optical kind shows you images the way your lens sees them (which is kinda the way you would see a subject if you were looking through a window) while the electronic shows you images the way your sensor sees them which is digital.

2. Sensor Resolution

If you’ll be doing any kind of professional shooting or you know that you’ll need to crop your photos after they have they shot, you’ll need a camera with an impressive sensor resolution and here is why.

When you crop or blow up a photo, the photo loses some of its details which reduces the quality of the photo.

Now, what an impressive sensor resolution does is give the photo so much details that even when they lose some after they have been cropped or blown up, they still have enough left to make for a decent photo.

It then follows that the higher the sensor resolution in megapixels, the more cropping and blowing up that can be done without compromising the image quality.

3. Auto Exposure Bracketing

When we talk about how exposed a photo is, we basically refer to how much light that photo got; how bright or dark the photo. Exposure is set by a combination of the ISO, aperture and shutter speed. So, different combinations of these three will give you different exposures.

Now, to set the exposure for a photo, one has to take into consideration what kind of and how much light is available in the shooting location. Of course, the effect that one is going for is something else.

So, depending on how much and what kind of light is available, you set your camera’s exposure to give the photo effect you’re going for.

That said, there could be times when it is hard to determine what the right exposure should be. This could be because of how tricky lighting is. If you are caught in this situation, you might have to keep trying and shooting till you hit on the right exposure; that is, if your camera does not have the Auto Exposure Bracketing mode.

In the Auto Exposure Bracketing, a camera is able to automatically take a shot in different exposures. This way, you can then decide which of the exposures is what you’re looking for without having to go through a cycle of trial and error.

4. Wireless Connection

In our opinion, there are different examples of wireless connection and both the Sony a6500 and the Canon 77D have an impressive number.

There is the inbuilt Wi-Fi connection that allows the camera internet access. Via this access, files can be shared between the camera and another device. Photos and videos could also be quickly uploaded to the internet or some social media platforms.

Another kind is the Near Field Communication connection. With this feature, the camera is able to seamlessly connect with a smartphone that also has the feature. And of course, via the connection, files can be sent and transferred.

Bluetooth is another wireless connection that a lot of people are familiar with. If the other device also has the Bluetooth feature, this camera can quickly make a connection and that could form a medium of file transfer. Bluetooth could also be used to sync the camera with another device for secondary control.

Finally, there is smartphone control. Both cameras can be controlled from a smartphone; that is, instead of clicking buttons on your camera to shoot, you could do that from your phone screen.

You’ll have to download the camera app on your smartphone to be able to connect the camera to the phone before any controlling can be done.

This is a feature that you’ll appreciate if you have to shoot in a place that isn’t very safe or comfortable. You can just place the camera in a position where it can pick the action and then go somewhere safe or comfortable to shoot.

5. ISO

Here is one of those features that are responsible for the exposure setting and it talks about how much light your camera lets in. Basically, the higher you go with your ISO, the more light it lets in and vice versa.

Which is why if you are shooting in a place that is really very bright, you’ll want to go down with the ISO. The reason is, if you let in all the light the sun has to offer, you’ll end up having more light than substance as your photo.

However, if you are shooting in a place that is dark or dim, you’ll need to go high with the ISO so that your camera can let in as much artificial light as is possible to make up for the lack of light. Because no matter how dark the effect you want, your sensor needs to be able to see.

That said, both the Sony a6000 and the Canon 77D have an impressive ISO range which happens to be exactly the same. Both ISOs can go from 100 to 25600 and can be expanded to 51200.

6. Maximum Shutter Speed

Both cameras have a 1/4000 second maximum shutter speed. Maximum shutter speed tells about how fast a shutter can go, basically. And the reason you’ll want a shutter that can go really fast is that it helps you capture fast moving subjects in great detail.

Usually because of the speed of certain subjects, capturing them without things getting blurry could be quite tricky. But with a fast shutter, you’ll be able to practically freeze time and capture moments in great detail.

Slowing down your shutter speed could also be a good thing. If you want to create an illusion of movement or speed, slowing down your shutter could help.

Because the shutter is slowed down, moving subjects will look blurry when they’ve been shot and that blur is what will give the photo the movement or speed illusion because ordinarily, photos don’t show movement.

The 1/4000 second maximum shutter speed of both cameras is pretty impressive; not the fastest but definitely impressive.

7. Flash

The flash is a quick source of light that provides that quick burst of light as we click the shutter button to shoot. It is kinda like a mode we can switch on if we have to shoot in the dark or in a place that is dim.

That said, there are actually two kinds of flash; the inbuilt flash and the external flash. The inbuilt flash obviously comes in the camera (not all though) and so you can be sure that it will always be available. Thankfully, both the Sony a6500 and the Canon 77d have this flash.

On the other hand, there is the external flash. No camera comes with an external flash but some cameras like the Sony a6500 and the Canon 77D have an external flash port which is a provision for you to attach an external flash.

The external flash is usually a better light source than the inbuilt flash because it has better coverage and quicker recovery time. As a result of its quick recovery time, the external flash is the better option if you’ll be doing flash photography.

8. Screen

Both the Sony a6500 and the Canon 77D have an articulating screen that is also touch sensitive. Any screen that can be angled in certain directions without having to move the camera body is referred to as an articulating screen.

Now, there are different kinds of articulating screen. That of the Canon 77D is a full-flex screen which means it can be rotated or turned to face the exact opposite direction. Some people refer to this kind of screen as selfie-friendly.

On the other hand, that of the Sony a6500 is a tilting screen. And as the name implies, it can only be tilted; it can only be angled upward and then back down.

That said, both cameras’ screens are touch sensitive which means you can skip the buttons and just swipe across or tap the screen to operate. Taping on and swiping across the screen is usually swiftly than using buttons; that is, if the touch screen works properly.

9. Microphone Port

Despite the fact that a good number of cameras have an inbuilt microphone, an external microphone port is absolutely necessary, especially those that are serious about recording videos with their camera.

The reason is that the inbuilt microphone usually ends up picking up some handling and environment noises. With the microphone port, you can get an external microphone that will offer you the quality you need.

Plus, with an external microphone, you can place your camera at a distance and it still will be able to pick the sounds you’re recording. This is because an external mike is more flexible and can be moved some distance from the camera unlike the one that is built-in.

10. RAW Support

What it means for a camera to have RAW support is that the camera can shoot in RAW. RAW is a format that cameras shoot in, same as jpeg. We had to point that out because we believe that to understand one, you’ll have to do it in comparison with the other.

That said, the basic difference between a jpeg and RAW is that jpeg compresses photos while RAW doesn’t. Both formats have their good points but professionals usually go for RAW because it allows their photos retain all their quality which is room enough for whatever editing they need to do.

11. Face Detection

Finally, both cameras are able to detect faces from a number of other elements. In detecting and focusing on the human faces, the cameras make the human faces the major aspect of the photograph. Because of this feature, both cameras will do well as portrait cameras.

A Sony a6500 Demonstration Video — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

Unique Features — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

1. Mirrorless Vs DSLR

First off in the differences is that the Sony a6500 is mirrorless while the Canon 77D is DSLR. Basically, DSLRs have mirrors while mirrorless cameras obviously do not.

So, when light goes in through the lens on a DSLR, the light gets bounced off the mirrors and unto the viewfinder and the sensor. Whereas with a mirrorless camera, light goes on straight to the sensor from the lens. The sensor then sends a digital image to the electronic viewfinder or LCD screen as the case may be.

Now, because of the absence of mirrors, mirrorless cameras are usually lighter than their DSLR counterparts; it doesn’t always happen but it does happen quite often.

On the other hand, DSLRs have been known to have a longer battery life than their mirrorless counterparts. This one is basically always the case.

2. Weight

Before you come for us, we know that this isn’t exactly a feature. But it is something important to consider, especially if you do a lot of traveling. That said, the Canon 77D is heavier than the Sony a6500 but we are not sure if the difference is enough to be significant.

You’ll have to figure that out yourself. So, the Sony a6500 weighs 1 pound while the Canon 77D weighs about 1.2 pounds. It’s an about .2 pound difference between the cameras which might not make so much of a difference.

One more thing! Lenses and other accessories are not included in the weight value we just pointed out. So, you’ll have to bear in mind that both cameras will get heavier when an accessory is added.

That said, just to give a feel of what adding lenses will feel like, the lens addition won’t affect the weight difference between the cameras. This is because both cameras have an APS-C sensor so they’ll require lenses of the same size and weight for the same focal length and aperture.

3. Image Stabilization

Of the two cameras in this review, only the Sony a6500 has in body image stabilization which some people call IBIS. Without image stabilization, a camera could produce really blurry photos if it is jostled mid-shot.

Since the Canon 77D does not have in body image stabilization, one will have to be really steady with the hands when shooting with this camera. Or, you could look for a sturdy surface to place the camera on.

The more effect solution, though, is optical stabilization lenses. Optical stabilization lenses basically do the same as the in body image stabilization, howbeit, for a cost. The Canon 77D has 91 of these available with it.

4. Video Resolution

This one has to do with the quality of videos that the camera can produce. And in our opinion, both cameras actually have an impressive video resolution. However, the Sony a6500 does have the more impressive video resolution of the two cameras.

While that of the Sony a6500 is a 3840 by 2160 resolution that of the Canon 77D is a 1920 by 1080 resolution. 1920 by 1080 is kinda like a standard video resolution for cameras as a good number of cameras have this feature.

On the other hand, 3840 by 2160 is a pretty impressive video resolution and is the resolution that produces the 4K video that a lot of people are crazy about. The thing about 4K videos is that you might not miss it if you’ve never had but you’ll get to love it when you start to use it.

5. Continuous Shooting

This one tells of how many continuous shots a camera can take in one second. The idea for this is for the photographer to be able to take as many shots as possible in as little time as possible.

This mode is really appreciated by wildlife photographers, sports photographers, the paparazzi, that photographer at a kid’s birthday party and basically every photographer who either has little time to shoot or shoots subjects that move around quickly and a lot.

That said, both cameras actually have a decent continuous shooting rate. That said, the Sony a6500 has an 11 frame per second continuous shooting rate which is almost twice the Canon 77D’s 6 frames per second.

6. Weather Sealing

A weather sealed camera is protected (to some extent) against certain weather elements like dust and water. Some weather sealed cameras are fully protected in which case they are referred to as waterproof while some others are only partially protected in which case they are referred to as water resistant.

The latter is the case with the Sony a6500; it is actually both dust and water resistant. So, while it can survive some mild dust and water exposure, it shouldn’t be submerged in water.

On the other hand, the Canon 77D isn’t weather sealed at all. So, you don’t want to expose it to any degree of dusty or wet situation.

7. Top LCD Screen

The top LCD screen is one thing that the Canon 77D has that the Sony a6500 does not. This screen is strategically placed such that while you shoot, you can quickly check out settings without compromising the position of the camera to look at the main screen.

8. Available Lenses

Finally, it is necessary that you know how many lenses you can get with a camera. The Sony a6500 has 102 lenses available with it while the Canon 77D has 319 lenses.

Remember, though, that the Canon 77D has 91 optical stabilization lenses because of the absence of in body image stabilization. Also, bear in mind that because the Sony a6500 is a mirrorless camera, it can accommodate the lenses from other cameras with the aid of adapters.

A Canon 77D Demonstration Video — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

Unique Pros — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

Pros Of The Sony a6500 — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

• First off, the Soy a6500 has in body image stabilization. So, without needed to get any added anything, you can be sure the photos you take won’t come out blurry.
• Furthermore, this camera is both dust and water resistant.
• Also, this camera has way more focus points (425) than the Canon 77D (45). As a result, it will focus faster and more precisely than the Canon 77D.
• The Sony a6500 has a 100% viewfinder coverage as against the Canon 77D’s 95%. As a result, the Sony a6500’s viewfinder will present you with a more complete view of the subject you are shooting than the Canon 77D’s.
• Furthermore, this camera has the more impressive continuous shooting rate of the two cameras.
• This camera also has the more impressive sensor pixel area.
• The Sony a6500 has the more impressive video resolution of the two cameras.
• Furthermore, this camera has a more impressive color depth (24.5) than the Canon 77D (23.6).
• This camera also has a more impressive dynamic range (13.7) than the Canon 77D (13.3).
• Finally, this camera is lighter than the Canon 77D.

Pros Of The Canon 77D — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

• First off, the Canon 77D has a more impressive battery life (600 shots per charge) than the Sony a6500.
• Furthermore, this camera has a top LCD screen which allows for a peak at camera settings without having to compromise the position of the camera.
• Also, an Ultra-High Speed memory card (the UHS-I to be precise) can be used with this camera. This memory allows for files to be transferred at ultra-high speeds.
• The Canon 77D can time-lapse without having to download any special apps which are usually pretty expensive.
• Furthermore, the flash of this camera has a more impressive coverage (12 meters) than that of the Sony a6500 (6 meters).
• Also, this camera has more lenses available with it than the Sony a6500.
• Finally, this camera is considerably more affordable than the Sony a6500.

Unique Cons — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

Cons Of The Sony a6500 — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

• The Sony a6500 doesn’t have a very impressive battery life.

Cons Of The Canon 77D — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

• First off, the Canon 77D doesn’t have in body image stabilization. However, it isn’t all dismal as the Canon 77D has a couple of optical stabilization lenses that can do the job just right.
• Also, this camera isn’t protected against weather elements. So, one will have to be careful when and where one uses this camera.

Common Pros — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

	Sony a6500	Canon 77D
Viewfinder	As already mentioned, a viewfinder is better for framing shots than the LCD screen. And considering that some mirrorless cameras do not have a viewfinder, it is a good thing that the Sony a6500 has a viewfinder.	DSLRs usually have a viewfinder. And that of the Canon 77D is an optical viewfinder.
Sensor Resolution	24 megapixels is pretty impressive and we consider it enough room to crop and blow up your photos to a decent extent without compromising image quality.	Same as the Sony a6500.
Auto Exposure Bracketing	With this feature, you camera is able to accurately guess what the right exposures could be and shoot in them. This way, you need not go through the trial and error cycle of finding out the right exposure at those times when it could be difficult.	Same as the Sony a6500.
Flash	The Sony a6500 has an inbuilt flash which is nice because of its constant availability. This camera also has a port for an external flash. So, if you’ll be doing flash photography, you can use an external flash with this camera which you’ll want to because the external flash is faster than the inbuilt flash.	Same as the Sony a6500.
Wireless Connection	Because of the inbuilt Wi-Fi, this camera can connect with other device via an internet connection. You can also send your photos and videos to an internet location right from the camera. The Near Field Communication connection allows the camera connect with a smartphone that has this feature. This connection serves as a transfer means without internet connection. And if that other device doesn’t have NFC, it probably has Bluetooth. Via a Bluetooth connection, you can transfer files to the connected device or just sync the two devices for secondary control.	Same as the Sony a6500.
Smartphone Control	The Sony a6500 can be controlled from a smartphone which is a neat feature to have if you need to shoot in safety or comfort.	Same as the Sony a6500.
Articulating Screen	The Sony a6500 has a tilting screen which allows you comfortable take overhead shots and shots from some other tricky angles.	The canon 77D’s screen is more flexible as it is a full-flex. It can even be used to record oneself by oneself.
Touch Screen	The Sony a6500’s screen is also touch sensitive and swiping across and tapping on the screen is usually swifter that hitting buttons.	Same as the Sony a6500.
Microphone Port	You can use an external microphone with this camera and you’ll want to if you are serious about recording videos.	Same as the Sony a6500.
RAW Support	The Sony a6500 can shoot in RAW which is nice because shooting in RAW allows you retain all the original details of a photo.	Same as the Sony a6500.
Face Detection	Finally, this camera has the face detection feature making it a good choice for portrait photographers.	Same as the Sony a6500.

Common Cons — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

	Sony a6500	Canon 77D
Headphone Port	This camera has an inbuilt speaker. However, it doesn’t offer good quality sound so you almost always need a pair of headphones. But because this camera doesn’t have a headphone port, you can’t use headphones.	Same as the Sony a6500.

What People Think About Both Cameras — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

Sony a6500	Canon 77D
Generally, a good number of people seem excited about the picture and video quality that this camera produces. A number of people have also expressed their satisfaction with the camera’s weather protection. However, a lot of the people that have made any form of comment on this camera have compared it with its predecessor, the a6300. Apparently, the most prominent difference between these two cameras is that the a6500 has in body image stabilization while the a6300 doesn’t. Other improvements that were pointed out include the buffer size and the camera grip.	A lot of people seem to think that this camera offers quite a lot for its price range. It takes really good photos and while it doesn’t record 4K videos, a good number of people seem to be content with the 1080 videos. Furthermore, some people have said a thing or two about the ergonomics of this camera. Apparently, it is built to fit just right in the palms and the controls are placed such that one can locate them by feel. The touch sensitive screen seems to be functioning properly on this camera also.
That said, practically everybody is of the opinion that the touchscreen is a fail. Apparently, it could be slow to respond or even totally unresponsive sometimes. A number of other people also believe that the camera could have sported some other more interesting features for the price it goes for like a fully articulated screen and a faster shutter.	However, very few people have actually complained about the camera’s inability to record 4K videos.

Our Take — Sony a6500 Vs Canon 77D

Sony a6500	Canon 77D
The Sony a6500 is a really impressive camera. It has a good sensor resolution, good video resolution, impressive continuous shooting rate, in body image stabilization and is weather sealed. So we definitely like it.	We also like the Canon 77D, especially when we consider the fact that it is an entry-level camera. The photos are good quality, videos are decent and continuous shooting is also decent. We should also mention that this camera is pretty lightweight for a DSLR and we like that.
Interested? Get the Sony a6500 now!	Interested? Get the Canon 77D now!