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Sony A6500 vs A6300

The Sony Alpha A6500 and the Sony Alpha A6300 are two enthusiast cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in October 2016 and February 2016. Both the A6500 and the A6300 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Sony A6500
versus
Sony A6300
Sony A6500   Sony A6300
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
24 MP – APS-C sensor 24 MP – APS-C sensor
4K/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200) ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200)
Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots) Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)
3.0" LCD – 922k dots 3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Tilting touchscreen Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
11 shutter flaps per second 11 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationLens stabilization only
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
350 shots per battery charge400 shots per battery charge
120 x 67 x 53 mm, 453 g 120 x 67 x 49 mm, 404 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha A6500 and the Sony Alpha A6300? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Sony A6500 and the Sony A6300. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The A6300 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the A6500 is only available in black.

Size Sony A6500 vs Sony A6300
Compare A6500 versus A6300 top
Comparison A6500 or A6300 rear

In this particular case, the Sony A6500 and the Sony A6300 have exactly the same width and height, and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. However, the A6300 is markedly lighter (11 percent) than the A6500. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Sony E-Mount Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A6500 120 mm 67 mm 53 mm 453 g 350 Y Oct 2016 1,399ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A6300 120 mm 67 mm 49 mm 404 g 400 Y Feb 2016 999ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2 141 mm 83 mm 46 mm 495 g 350 Y Jan 2016 1,699ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D5500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 470 g 820 n Jan 2015 899ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D7200 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 1110 Y Mar 2015 1,199ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus PEN-F 125 mm 72 mm 37 mm 427 g 330 n Jan 2016 1,199ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GX8 133 mm 78 mm 63 mm 487 g 330 Y Jul 2015 1,199ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A6700 122 mm 69 mm 64 mm 493 g 570 Y Jul 2023 1,399 amazon.com
9.
 
Sony A6400 120 mm 67 mm 50 mm 403 g 410 Y Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
10.
 
Sony A6600 120 mm 67 mm 69 mm 503 g 810 Y Aug 2019 1,399 amazon.com
11.
 
Sony A77 II 143 mm 104 mm 81 mm 647 g 480 Y May 2014 1,199ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A6000 120 mm 67 mm 45 mm 344 g 360 n Feb 2014 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A3000 128 mm 91 mm 85 mm 411 g 470 n Aug 2013 329ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A77 143 mm 104 mm 81 mm 732 g 470 Y Aug 2011 1,399ebay.com
15.
 
Sony NEX-7 120 mm 67 mm 43 mm 400 g 430 n Aug 2011 1,349ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The A6300 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 29 percent) than the A6500, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Sony A6500 and Sony A6300 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 24 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the A6500 and the A6300 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the A6500 is a somewhat more recent model (by 8 months) than the A6300, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Sony Alpha A6500 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The Sony Alpha A6300 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

A6500 versus A6300 MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony A6500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.513.7140585
2.
 
Sony A6300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.413.7143785
3.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.713.0160880
4.
 
Nikon D5500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0143884
5.
 
Nikon D7200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.514.6133387
6.
 
Olympus PEN-F Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38881080/60p23.112.489474
7.
 
Panasonic GX8 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.512.680675
8.
 
Sony A6700 APS-C 25.6 6192 41284K/120p24.314.0232986
9.
 
Sony A6400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.013.6143183
10.
 
Sony A6600 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p23.813.4149782
11.
 
Sony A77 II APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.413.4101382
12.
 
Sony A6000 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.113.1134782
13.
 
Sony A3000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.712.8106878
14.
 
Sony A77 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.280178
15.
 
Sony NEX-7 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i24.113.4101681
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The A6500 and the A6300 are similar in the sense that both feature an electronic viewfinder, which is helpful when framing images in bright sunlight. Moreover, their viewfinders offer an identical resolution of 2359k dots. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Sony A6500 and Sony A6300 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Sony A65002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Sony A63002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
3.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro22360 n3.0 / 1620 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s n n
4.
 
Nikon D5500optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
5.
 
Nikon D7200optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
6.
 
Olympus PEN-F2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
7.
 
Panasonic GX82360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
8.
 
Sony A67002360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 11.0/s n Y
9.
 
Sony A64002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
10.
 
Sony A66002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s n Y
11.
 
Sony A77 II2359 Y3.0 / 1229 full-flex n 1/8000s 12.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Sony A60001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
13.
 
Sony A3000202 n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
14.
 
Sony A772359 Y3.0 / 921 full-flex n 1/8000s 12.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Sony NEX-72359 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One feature that differentiates the A6500 and the A6300 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The A6500 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the A6300 offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the A6500 and the A6300 write their files to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha A6500 and Sony Alpha A6300 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony A6500Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
2.
 
Sony A6300Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
4.
 
Nikon D5500Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
5.
 
Nikon D7200Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
6.
 
Olympus PEN-FYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
7.
 
Panasonic GX8Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
8.
 
Sony A6700Ystereo / monoYYYES3.2YYY
9.
 
Sony A6400Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YYY
10.
 
Sony A6600Ystereo / monoYYYES2.0YYY
11.
 
Sony A77 IIYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
12.
 
Sony A6000Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
13.
 
Sony A3000Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
14.
 
Sony A77Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
15.
 
Sony NEX-7Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
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Both the A6500 and the A6300 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The A6300 was replaced by the Sony A6500, while the A6500 was followed by the Sony A6600. Further information on the features and operation of the A6500 and A6300 can be found, respectively, in the Sony A6500 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A6300 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Sony A6500 better than the Sony A6300 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.


Advantages of the Sony Alpha A6500:

  • Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
  • Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 8 months after the A6300).


Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A6300:

  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 49g or 11 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (400 versus 350) out of a single battery charge.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (29 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2016).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A6300 comes out slightly ahead of the A6500 (4 : 3 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

A6500 03:04 A6300

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony A6500 and the Sony A6300 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the A6500 or the A6300 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A65005/5+ +3.5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2016 1,399ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A63004.5/5+..85/1005/55/5 Feb 2016 999ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2..+..83/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2016 1,699ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D55005/5+..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 899ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D72004/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2015 1,199ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus PEN-F....4/582/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 1,199ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GX85/5+..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2015 1,199ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A6700......88/100.... Jul 2023 1,399 amazon.com
9.
 
Sony A64004/5+4/585/1004.5/54/5 Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
10.
 
Sony A66004/5+4/583/1004.5/54/5 Aug 2019 1,399 amazon.com
11.
 
Sony A77 II4/5....80/1004.5/55/5 May 2014 1,199ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A60005/5+4.5/580/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2014 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A30003/5+....4/54/5 Aug 2013 329ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A775/591/100..81/100..5/5 Aug 2011 1,399ebay.com
15.
 
Sony NEX-75/5+ +..81/1004.5/55/5 Aug 2011 1,349ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Sony A6500 vs Sony A6300

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Sony A6500 Sony A6300
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date October 2016 February 2016
    Launch Price USD 1,399 USD 999
    Sensor Specs Sony A6500 Sony A6300
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.5 x 15.6 mm 23.5 x 15.6 mm
    Sensor Area 366.6 mm2 366.6 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.2 mm 28.2 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.91 μm 3.91 μm
    Pixel Density 6.55 MP/cm2 6.55 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 51,200 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ X BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 85 85
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 24.5 24.4
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.7 13.7
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1405 1437
    Screen Specs Sony A6500 Sony A6300
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2359k dots 2359k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 922k dots 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen no Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Sony A6500 Sony A6300
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 11 shutter flaps/s 11 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy200 000 actuations100 000 actuations
    Electronic ShutterYESYES
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationLens stabilization only
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Sony A6500 Sony A6300
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Body Specs Sony A6500 Sony A6300
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type NP-FW50 NP-FW50
    Battery Life (CIPA)350 shots per charge400 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 120 x 67 x 53 mm
    (4.7 x 2.6 x 2.1 in)
    120 x 67 x 49 mm
    (4.7 x 2.6 x 1.9 in)
    Camera Weight 453 g (16.0 oz) 404 g (14.3 oz)
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