Complete guide to Sony mirrorless cameras. Sony latest camera

Complete guide to Sony mirrorless cameras

Unlike historical companies such as Nikon or Canon, Sony has quickly turned to mirrorless cameras, helped by the fact that it did not have such a large user base in DSLR and that their DSLRs were already more or less hybrids (since they used an electronic viewfinder). It was therefore logical for Sony to get rid of a mirror that had become more or less useless. Today, all the research and development of manufacturers go to mirrorless. At the end of 2013, Sony announced its Alpha A7, a new range of mirrorless camera with a large sensor, the full-frame, which changed the game! Sony then takes the lead in the market of mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses. On this subject, we wrote an article about the best choice of Sony lenses depending on what kind of photographer you are (yes!).

The boundary between the DSLR and the mirrorless’ worlds is gradually disappearing to the benefit of the latest. In this article, I will detail the different ranges of mirrorless from Sony, including the most recent cameras. Indeed, with the arrival of the latest digital cameras like the Alpha 9 II or the impressive Alpha 1, mirrorless cameras have nothing to envy to DSLRs! If you’re interested, I wrote a full article about the differences between DSLR and mirrorless cameras.

Of course, DSLRs are not (yet) dead, but… Let’s have a closer look at the different Sony mirrorless digital cameras, with APS-C sensors in a first paragraph, and full frame sensors and their uses in a second one. Wondering which Sony camera to choose? I’ll tell you everything!

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Before getting started, and especially if you are looking for a camera, I invite you to check our full guide explaining everything you need to know to choose a camera.

Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras

Let’s start this article with APS-C sensors. These sensors are, as you know, smaller than the so-called Full Frame sensors. But depending on the use and the type of pictures you want to shoot, they have the advantage of enjoying a magnification ratio and are often more compact than their full frame equivalents. I’ll present here two bodies classified as semi-pro, which are therefore in the “top of the range” of APS-C from Sony. I’ll also quickly talk about two other cameras (A6100 and A6400), both released at the same time as the current top-of-the-line APS-C camera (A6600).

If you are looking for a Sony APS-C camera, I invite you to have a look at all Sony E lenses fitting on this mount. You can also check out Canon’s RF APS-C mirrorless cameras, released in June 2022.

Sony ZV-E10

Recent and isolated camera from the more photography-oriented Alpha range, the Sony ZV-E10 is an 24MP APS-C mirrorless camera clearly designed for vloggers. It takes over from the ZV-1, a very successful expert compact, for those looking for better image quality and more creative options.

The ZV-E10’s specs are identical to the Sony A6100, from its 24MP sensor to its autofocus system, including its 24p 4K video capabilities without cropping. But more than just an A6100 without a viewfinder, the ZV-E10 aims to make video capture a simple, high-quality affair.

Let’s now take a closer look at the vlogging features this ZV-E10 offers: good quality over-sampled 24p and uncropped 4K capture, as well as high-speed shooting capabilities up to 1080/120p, headphone and microphone ports, an articulating selfie touchscreen, a high-quality built-in vlogging microphone, industry-leading video autofocus performance, hassle-free livestreaming capability, and very good battery life.

But this ZV-E10 has two drawbacks: poor rolling shutter performance in 4K and poor-quality Full HD footage.

So, you’re looking here at a small, versatile video camera with features that will appeal to content creators on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. We’re not far from the vlogger’s dream, both in terms of price and features. But for those who want to shoot something other than static images, there is no video mode on this camera that produces trouble-free footage… And we can regret the lack of stabilization.

Sony A6600

The Sony a6600 is the company’s top-of-the-line APS-C mirrorless camera, and the successor to the a6500. At first glance, it looks a lot like the other cameras in Sony’s a6000 series with 24 MP resolution, 11 fps burst and 4K video capture. However, it has the largest battery and therefore the best battery life with 810 frames. The a6600 further differs even more by offering in-body image stabilization, which is still rare among APS-C cameras. This should help when shooting in low light conditions as well as for handheld videos.

Like the a6400 and a6100 models released at the same time as this one (and which I’ll quickly mention below), the a6600 offers the latest version of Sony’s autofocus called “Real-time Tracking AF”: it is able to track non-human subjects as well as human faces, eyes and even some animals with tenacity.

Check Sony A6600 price on Amazon – BH

When it comes to video, the a6600 continues the momentum of this lineup by offering good quality, highly detailed 4K video and a fairly substantial set of capture aids. Finally, the a6600 offers weather sealing, Wi-Fi, and comes equipped with a headphone port and a microphone port.

All in all, it’s a solid, high-performance camera with always state-of-the-art autofocus, image stabilization and unbeatable battery life. But for Sony’s top of the line model, and when you look at the competition (like Panasonic’s G9 and Fujifilm’s X-T4), it lacks a little something extra, other than good photos or videos, to stand out…

Sony A6100 and A6400

With the release of the a6400 a few months before and the announcement of the a6100 at the same time as the a6600, here is the APS-C mirrorless trio of the Sony catalog.

All these three cameras have the same sensor definition at 24MP and a burst rate of 11fps. No matter which camera, you’ll find the latest autofocus technologies with eye tracking of people and animals in the picture. The a6100 is Sony’s entry-level mirrorless camera. Without sensor stabilization, like the a6400, and with a less defined electronic viewfinder, it still has excellent image quality. The same quality is also there on the a6400, and it inherits, in addition, a higher ISO range and a high light mode to avoid overexposures. As for video, the a6400 is more efficient with a better autofocus and more capture aids.

Last but not least, the absence of USB-C on both cameras is a real shame when you see that all competitors are equipped with it…

Check Sony A6100 price on Amazon – BH

Forget the new Sony cameras, get this one instead.

Check Sony A6400 price on Amazon – BH

Sony Full frame mirrorless cameras

Let’s continue our review of Sony’s mirrorless cameras with its full-frame range. At the end of 2013, Sony launched its Alpha A7, a new range of cameras with 24×36 sensors (known as full frame) and took its place in the big league with each new release. We’ve come a long way since the first versions, and you will notice that the recent releases are now a concentrate of technologies.

If you are thinking about choosing a Sony full frame camera, you can already look at all the Sony FE lenses available for your future camera!

Sony A7C

The Sony a7C is the company’s smallest full frame mirrorless camera. As far as looks are concerned, this camera looks more like the a6600 with APS-C sensor than like its counterparts of the a7 series. In terms of specifications, the a7C has a lot in common with the existing a7 III (which I chose when I switched to mirrorless). It features a 24MP full frame sensor, a burst rate of up to 10fps, an ISO range of 100 to 51200, Wi-Fi, and a large battery allowing for 740 shots. All this in a much more compact and lighter body than the a7 III, with an image stabilization system.

The big news from the brand’s sports cameras is the latest implementation of Sony’s AF called “Real-time tracking AF”. This system tracks the subject, both in photos and videos, and automatically uses its eye, face, or head recognition function. The camera can also use subject recognition to track animals. And that’s a big step up from the a7 III.

When it comes to video, the a7C meets the a7S III by offering a fully articulated screen, 4K video with 24p footage taken across the entire sensor width, and 30p taken from a slight 1.2X crop. The camera has headphone and microphone jacks to facilitate capturing clean audio.

Performance-wise, the a7C is essentially an a7 III with better autofocus. But its major advantage is its small size, and without too many concessions! The big compromise, which is a shame, will be the tiny, compact camera-like viewfinder.

Sony A7 IV

The Sony a7 IV is the fourth generation of the company’s a7 full-frame mirrorless core model. It’s the most advanced to this day, bringing many improvements since the a7 III launched in February 2018.

At the heart of the a7 IV is a new 33MP sensor, still 10fps burst (in compressed RAW), an ISO range of 100-51200 (expandable to 102400), sensor stabilization, and battery life at 670 shots.

Check Sony A7 IV price on Amazon – BH

Autofocus is one of the big improvements over the a7 III. The a7 IV incorporates Sony’s latest AF tracking system, which means it uses pattern, color, brightness, eyes and face detection, as well as animal detection. For the first time, these animal detection capabilities also extend to the camera’s video mode. And in practice, this system is very reliable.

The other big improvement is about video capabilities. The a7 IV takes things considerably further, adding 10-bit capture and action capture, or slow-motion work with 4K 60p, still requiring cropping to APS-C/Super 35 dimensions (but no cropping to 4K 30p). You’ll also be able to stream live video via its USB connection.

Highly anticipated by photographers looking for a versatile (stills/video) 24×36 body, the a7 IV is a very capable camera, with much improved video and a more sophisticated autofocus than the a7 III. But this one still does most of the things the a7 IV can do very well in photos, despite a generation late autofocus and for a lower cost. On the other hand, the ergonomics of the body and the organization of the menus have been modified for more comfort, in particular with a switch to put the camera either in photo or in video mode, allowing the assignment of shortcuts according to the mode.

However, the A7III remains in my opinion a very good alternative, less expensive. I personally chose to “start” with the A7III when I switched to mirrorless.

Sony A7S III

The Sony alpha 7S Mark III is the third generation of the Sony a7 series of full frame cameras, the most video oriented.

While the 12MP resolution hasn’t changed, the a7S III features a different sensor than the one used by its two predecessors, supposedly improving its low-light performance. Burst is at 10fps, and the default sensitivity ranges from ISO 80 to 102,400, expandable from ISO 40 to 409,600. Unlike previous “S” cameras, you can enjoy Sony’s face detection and AF eye tracking technology here. Detection that also includes animals, as on the rest of the top of the line.

Check Sony A7S III price on Amazon – BH

When the a7S III was introduced, Sony wanted to position this full frame hybrid as one of the best cameras for producing 4K. So, it’s essentially a native 4K camera with impressive video specs and a revised user interface. The a7S III can shoot 4K UHD at up to 60p from full width or 120p with 1.1x cropping. But what is most useful for videographers is that this a7S III offers a variety of 10-bit formats, allowing a great flexibility in terms of calibration and workflow.

The Sony a7S III is a powerful video tool with reliable autofocus, in-camera stabilization and good battery life. With its 12MP resolution, it’s less impressive as a camera, but it’s a great choice for videographers. Here too, Sony has changed the menu organization often criticized on previous cameras.

Sony A7R IV

We’re now on the company’s high-resolution-focused “R” line. Compared to previous generations, the a7R IV promises a more robust build quality, refined controls, the latest implementation of the company’s autofocus, and more…

We find a 24×36 sensor, but with a definition of 61 Mpx. The powerful processor is inherited from the A9. Despite its very high resolution, the a7R IV can take up to 10 frames per second. The a7R IV has a more powerful autofocus tracking system available in both stills and video, and for both humans and animals. Like its predecessor the a7R III, the a7R IV extends its sensitivity from ISO 50 to 102,400 with good and progressive electronic noise management up to ISO 12,800. The user interface and ergonomics have also been improved with SD card ports both UHS-II compatible. Sony has as well updated the camera’s waterproofing.

Check Sony A7R IV price on Amazon – BH

As for video, there are few changes. The camera shoots 4K video up to 30p across the sensor. The rolling shutter remains quite important in 4K/UHD.

The autofocus system is simpler and more powerful, and the improvements in the user interface play a role as important as the increase from 42 to 60 megapixels. The result is a mirrorless camera that lets you completely FOCUS on photography and make the most of all those megapixels. Despite still having some flaws and lagging the competition in video, this a7R IV is a powerful and complete camera that will let you print any photo at billboard size if you want to.

Sony A7R V

At the end of 2022, Sony releases the follow-up to the Sony A7R IV, logically named Sony A7R V. If it uses the A7R IV’s 61MP sensor and its ISO sensitivity range from 100 to 32000 native, it differs on many points and is a real improvement.

It comes with a dual processor bionz XR, like the A1, A7S III and A7 IV, but also an AI chip supposed to improve subject detection and predict more effectively their movements. Thus, the AF is an important point of improvement of this A7R V, which integrates subject recognition previously unseen by Sony (especially vehicles) and even unknown with insect identification, although the latter is not yet very well advanced and will probably be improved by update. Human detection, Sony’s strong point, is even more efficient. We can note however a lower electronic burst rate than the A7R IV, but the fact that it is not a stacked sensor on the one hand and that Sony has 2 high-end sport cameras to protect on the other hand (the A9 and A1) explain in part this choice. In short, it is more dedicated to a mechanical shutter use. The electronic viewfinder has also been improved, since it uses the excellent A1 viewfinder, the best currently on the market, more defined and with a 0.9x magnification. So you have a wide and comfortable EVF.

Check Sony A7R V price on Amazon – BH

Ergonomics underwent also a lot of changes. First, the rear screen that no longer chooses between tilting or swiveling but is mobile on 4-axis, ie it can do both. A system that we hope to spread, and not only from Sony. The camera body is a bit more robust, similar to the A1, A7S III and A7 IV, and it has gained a few dozen grams but benefits from a much more efficient stabilization system, a point on which Sony was often criticized by the competitors. Some buttons have changed place and the exposure compensation wheel can be assigned to another function, as with the A7 IV. The menu, criticized by many people, has also been updated to the clearer one of the last released cameras, although there are still some inconsistencies. The mechanical shutter release noise is still as quiet as with the A7R IV, one can wonder why they didn’t make as much effort on this point for the A7 IV which is much noisier.

As for video, Sony finally takes advantage of its 61MP sensor to shoot 8K at 30 fps. 4K60p is also part of the game, and in both cases with a 1.2x crop which is certainly regrettable but already much better than the 1.5x crops found on most cameras around 2500€. Non-stacked sensor, rolling shutter is still present although it is more discreet than on its predecessor.

The A7R V is therefore on many elements the best Sony can offer today, which makes it a very multipurpose camera that can deal with all situations. The last main weak point is that it does not have a stacked sensor which would reduce the defects it has in electronic shutter, a relatively slow burst rate compared to the market and defects such as rolling shutter or banding, and would make the use of 100% silent shutter more pleasant.

Sony A9 II

The Alpha 9 II is the latest high-end sports camera from Sony. This new version brings some improvements that make it a very good compact option for professional sports and action photographers.

Like its predecessor the a9, the Alpha 9 II carries over a 24.2MP sensor. Its default sensitivity ranges from ISO 100 to 51,200 and can go up to ISO 204,800. The electronic noise management is very good. It has continuous shooting at 20fps with electronic shutter full AF. But the big difference with its predecessor is the new mechanical shutter allowing 10fps bursts with full AF; which is very important for indoor sports photographers. Connectivity has also been revised with a USB-C 3.2 socket and, for easier image transfer, a Gigabit Ethernet port as well as 5GHz Wi-Fi.

Check Sony A9 II price on Amazon – BH

Among the improvements, the a9 II gets the same ergonomic updates as the a7R IV with a better grip and two UHS-II SD card slots. It has better waterproofing too. The a9 II also features a new, faster processor which, along with updated AF algorithms, gives an improvement in autofocus speed (which was already very good on the a9). Finally, the stabilization system of the body has been improved.

As for video, Sony has a motto: 4K UHD for everyone, but the top of the top is reserved for the a7S series. Here, we find ourselves with a camera that can record footage up to 4K UHD at 24 fps without cropping, and 30 fps with a crop of 1.24x.

This is definitely a sports and action camera. With flawless autofocus, good grip, excellent RAW and JPEG files, good battery life, and solid video capture, it’s a great value for anyone looking to capture fast-moving subjects. But of course, all this performance and speed comes at a cost! Admittedly, still less than a Canon 1DX III or Nikon D6…

Sony A1

Sony presents the Alpha 1 as the camera that can do just about anything you need, whether it’s fast action, landscapes, or high-end video. It’s the full-frame camera of all superlatives!

It has a 50MP full-frame CMOS sensor, 30fps continuous shooting with electronic viewfinder, a state-of-the-art autofocus, a tilting touchscreen… All this in a waterproof body, of reasonable size and with the most complete connectivity. Sony has taken two major developments from the mirrorless dedicated to video, the a7S III: the clearer and more readable menus, and the electronic viewfinder considered the best on the market.

When it comes to video, the a1 has most of the features of the a7S III, but its higher resolution sensor allows it to capture 8K footage using the full width of the sensor. It can also shoot 4K 120p with 1.13x cropping.

It really seems like Sony has put everything possible into the a1, resulting in an extremely impressive camera for all types of use. There is so much more to say as this a1 dominates the hybrid empire in all categories. Sony has just introduced a unique camera that could meet the needs of almost any professional photographer. But this technology monster is out of reach for many of us!

Also note that its 30-fps burst is not allowed with all lenses, those of third-party brands such as Sigma and Tamron for example will be limited to around 15 fps.

Specifications table

Sony ZV-E10	100. 25600	343 g	115 x 64 x 45mm	Semi-pro	425	11.0 fps	440	yes (yes)	4K 30p	24.2 MP
Sony α6600	100-32000 (102400)	503 g	120 x 67 x 69 mm	Semi-Pro	425	11.0 fps	810	yes (yes)	4K 30p	24.2 MP
Sony α6400	100-32000 (102800)	403 g	120 x 67 x 60 mm	Expert	425	11.0 fps	410	yes (yes)	4K 30p	24.2 MP
Sony α6100	100-32000 (102800)	396 g	120 x 67 x 59 mm	Expert	425	11.0 fps	420	yes (no)	4K 25p	24.2 MP
Sony α7C	100-51200 (204800)	509 g	124 x 71 x 60 mm	Expert	693	10.0 fps	440	yes (yes)	4K 30p	24.2 MP
Sony α7 IV	100. 51200 (102400)	658 g	131 x 96 x 79.8 mm	Expert	759	10.0 fps	670	yes (no)	4K 30p	33 MP
Sony α7S III	80-102400 (409600)	699 g	129 x 97 x 81 mm	Semi-Pro	759	10.0 fps	600	yes (yes)	4K 120p	12 MP
Sony α7R IV	100-32000 (102800)	665 g	129 x 96 x 78 mm	Semi-Pro	567	10.0 fps	670	yes (yes)	4K 30p	61 MP
Sony α7R V	100-32000 (102800)	665 g	131.3 x 96.9 x 82.4 mm	Pro	693	10.0 fps	530	yes (yes)	8K30p	61 MP
Sony α9 II	100-32000 (102800)	678 g	129 x 96 x 76 mm	Pro	693	20.0 fps	690	yes (yes)	4K 30p	24 MP
Sony A1	50. 32000 (102400)	737 g	129 x 96 x 81 mm	Pro	759	30.0 fps	530	yes (yes)	8K 30p	50 MP

Which Sony mirrorless camera to choose?

Sony’s mirrorless range is divided into two. On one side, there are the cameras equipped with an APS-C sensor, quite compact and affordable. The ZV-E10 is clearly intended for a young audience of videographers, and more particularly for vloggers and other social networks enthusiasts. The functions facilitating shooting are very practical and the autofocus modes are formidable, all for a very competitive price/quality ratio.

The a6600 is the best APS-C camera that Sony has ever released. It’s a very capable camera with always state-of-the-art autofocus, better battery life and body stabilization, which makes a real difference. It will be a good option for all photos and videos enthusiasts.

On the other side, you have the larger and more expensive full-frame 24×36 mirrorless with its Alpha 7 range. If you want a full frame camera that is practical to carry around with you on travel, daily life or vlogging, and will be very good in almost any situation, then the a7C is perfect for you.

For photographers looking for a versatile full-frame photo/video camera, the a7 IV is finally here! It’s a very powerful camera with state-of-the-art autofocus. But the high bar set by the a7 III and the existence of a series of credible rivals may complicate the choice…’We’re waiting to see the beast in the field, in real conditions. In the meantime, you can do as I did to reduce the budget and turn to an A7 III.

For all videographers, the latest in the a7S series is a powerful video tool and certainly the best for producing 4K. On the a7S III, the options are numerous, and the improvements allow impressive speeds. Ideal to make slow motion.

For high definition, I call the a7R V! For professional wedding, landscape and studio photographers, the Sony a7R IV is frankly the unbeatable camera. Gone are the days where you had to choose between speed-based and resolution-based cameras. While not our first choice for sports and action purists, for users who regularly need very high resolution and want to be able to shoot fast moving subjects when needed, the Sony a7R IV is the best option on the market today.

We are now entering the very top end of Sony’s full-frame range, reserved for the elite. The a9 II is for sports, action and event photographers, or videographers who need solid off-camera footage, as well as general photographers who want the best possible autofocus performance. The a1, on the other hand, aims for excellence and is specifically targeted at sports photographers, usually equipped with an SLR such as the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III or the Nikon D6. You have here the combination of high resolution and high speed in one body, without any compromise!

Here we are, at the end of this article detailing the latest hybrid cameras from Sony. This one will obviously evolve with every new release. You have just seen that the range of hybrids is getting bigger and bigger, and there is really something for every user and every budget. If you are curious to see what other brands can propose, you can look at our Canon APS-C mirrorless or the Canon full frame mirrorless posts.

Sony Vlogging Cameras

Sony has built an incredible camera lineup for creators that starts with simple vlogging cameras and builds up to full-frame cinema cameras that are used in Hollywood studios. From an entry-level perspective, creators can stay with the Sony brand for years as their careers evolve from content creation to more professional use of cinematography cameras. The entry-level vlogging camera lineup starts with the Sony ZV1 which is now offered with two main lens options.

The ZV1 includes a built-in optical zoom which is ideal for capturing closeup footage from a distance. The ZV1F is essentially the same camera with a built-in wide-angle 20mm lens. The ZV1F appears to have allowed Sony to reduce the cost of their entry-level point and shoots cameras to just 499. The ZV1 series offers options for creators who want to get into video and photo production with a high-quality mirrorless camera that includes all the must-have options such as a swing-out LCD confidence monitor to use while filming in front of the camera.

New Sony Vlogging Cameras

Sony Cinema Cameras

One of the main new cameras of interest at the Sony booth this year was the FR7. The Sony FR7 is a full frame pan, tilt, and zoom camera. The Sony FR7 is the first of its kind in the PTZ camera market offering the highest-end productions a robotically controllable camera for unique perspectives during recordings. The Sony FR7 is the first Netflix-approved PTZ camera available today. The FR7 can be remotely controlled with the Sony pan tilt and zoom camera controllers. It also supports multiple cinema-quality lenses that can be used with the full-frame sensor.

Sony Full Frame PTZ Camera FR7

One of the interesting aspects of the camera line-up Sony had on display at CES this year is the progression from casual/lifestyle users and cinema production. At CES, the showroom floor for cameras was laid-out to display cameras starting at just 499 for entry-level consumers and it progressed all the way up to ten thousand dollar cameras used for Hollywood movies. This approach is interesting because it allows the entry-level Sony audience to use the same types of E-mount lenses as they upgrade their cameras for newer users. In-fact, Sony now has a new entry-level cinema camera called the Sony FX30. This is a Super-35mm sensor camera that has an entry-level price point of just 3,000. In this way, Sony is able to accommodate creators at a low price-point, mid-level creators who require more advanced features and even top-tier video production professionals working on the world’s most technical cinema projects.

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Does Sony’s latest APS-C camera live up to the high standard set by its predecessor?

Space Verdict

This lightweight camera punches well above its weight — exhibiting incredible image quality for still images and video. The A6600 would be ideal for almost any photographer, although you can get the same specs for a more competitive price from other manufacturers.

Pros

• In-body image stabilization
• Sony Z-series battery
• Sony’s class-leading real-time tracking

Testing the NEW AI Powered Full Frame Sony Camera! Sony ZV-E1

Cons

• – Nothing revolutionary
• – Similarly priced to full frame cameras
• – Same sensor as its predecessor

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The latest release in Sony’s Alpha range of APS-C cameras is the A6600. Released just months after its predecessor, the A6500 (a revolutionary camera), you must wonder why they released two cameras in the same range so close together. You would expect the A6600 to have some fantastic new features that Sony just couldn’t wait to share.

The Sony A6600 utilizes professional features in an APS-C body. It has the same class-leading features we’ve come to expect from Sony. It’s robust, solidly built and has a full frame feel.

Does the A6600 live up to the high standard set by its predecessor? How does it stack up against other best cameras for low light photography? We put it to the test to find out.

Sony A6600: Design

The Sony A6600 is powered by the high-performance Z battery, a first for APS-C cameras. The upgraded battery has over twice the capacity of the previous FW50 battery. To accommodate the larger Z battery, Sony has made the grip on the A6600 much bigger than any of their previous models — holding this camera in your hands an absolute joy. The biggest improvement in design is the bigger grip allowing comfortable handling and greater stability.

The design looks the same overall until you get it in your hands. We compared it directly to the A6300; the difference is night and day. Alongside being easier to grip, it feels more robust and rugged than many of their previous models in this range.

System: Mirrorless

Sensor: APS-C

ISO range: ISO100-3200

Burst shooting:- 11 fps

AF: 425 phase-detect autofocus points

Video: 4K/30p video recording

Storage: UHS-I SD (1 slot)

Screen: Tilting 3″ touchscreen

Dimensions: 4.72 x 2.63 x 2.73″ / 120 x 66.9 x 69.3 mm

Weight: 1.11 lbs / 503g

There are three custom buttons, and each button on the back is more pronounced, making them easier to find (especially in the dark) and press. The tilting screen is excellent for vlogging or taking selfies.

There’s no denying this is a great camera, but there are a few design niggles that Sony could’ve easily solved — particularly given how expensive this camera is. In our opinion, the video record button is still in a strange place. The front grip is just begging for a dial to make changing settings on the go that much easier, and we would have loved a joystick on the back.

The increase in grip size would have allowed the addition of a second card slot, or alternatively, an upgrade to the existing card slot, making it compatible with faster cards would have been advantageous. There is no USB-C port, but it does have a headphone jack allowing you to listen to audio during recording — a valuable feature for video. Sony also could have included a higher-resolution viewfinder. One strange design decision is the removal of the pop-up flash that they replaced with…literally nothing. We can’t fathom why they removed it. There is a hot shoe to attach an external flash, but even the cheapest one will add cost.

Sony A6600: Performance

While this camera isn’t revolutionary, there are still areas where it outclasses the competition — the autofocus and tracking, where Sony is lightyears ahead. Sony’s real-time tracking is lightning fast and highly accurate. It identifies the focal point and seamlessly switches between subjects.

To put the eye tracking and autofocus through its paces, we used ‘The Black Cat Test.’ Black cats are notoriously difficult to photograph as most cameras don’t pick up the cat’s face in the frame. Overall, the autofocus feature of the A6600 did a good job of tracking the eyes, provided the lighting was good and the subject was looking at or facing the camera. Once the subject looked away, it didn’t switch to face tracking; this is a feature we’d love to see on this camera. Once the subject looked back towards the camera, it quickly recognized and started tracking the eyes again. There were instances when it struggled to detect the eyes, though we were shooting in unfavorable conditions — inside on a dull day.

The camera auto-selected an ISO of 6400 in this indoor setup, giving some minor noise in the images, but nothing that can’t be fixed in post-processing. The images were incredibly sharp, and when it did get the autofocus correct — it was spot on.

This camera is terrific for astrophotography using longer shutter speeds on a tripod. You can afford to ramp the ISO right up before you start to see any noise. Sony cameras are so good in low light; you can get away with lower ISO levels when paired with one of the best lenses for astrophotography and still get incredible detail.

In terms of video, this camera is good, but it’s not a camera that’s designed with videographers in mind. That said, it performs well enough for decent vlogging and as a general video camera for documentary or casual travel videos. Although it has built-in cinematic modes, it doesn’t have the fastest video rates.

Sony A6600: Functionality

The A6600 is one of the few crop sensor cameras with in-body stabilization (the other being the A6500). This is a great feature for an APS-C camera, but there haven’t been any improvements to the stabilization since the previous model, and it isn’t anything revolutionary. That said, the A6600 is still king when it comes to in-body stabilization and autofocus, making it better than most crop sensor options from many other brands.

We’d have loved for Sony to improve the sensor in this camera. The A6600 isn’t an inexpensive camera, so why does it still have the same sensor as its predecessor? There’s nothing necessarily wrong with the sensor; it delivers rich colors, natural skin tones and crisp details. A new processor helps the camera deliver better-quality images, but in our opinion, Sony should have upgraded the sensor in this model to 26MP. If they do bring out another camera in this range, this would be a welcome addition, especially if it’s going to have a similar price point.

Even with its drawbacks, the tracking and autofocus on this camera are untouchable. That said, this is becoming the norm with Sony cameras. Aside from that, not many features differ between all Sony camera models. You could argue that once you’ve used one Sony camera, you’ve used them all.

Should you buy the Sony A6600?

Upon its release, there was a lot of negativity surrounding this camera. Everyone loved the A6500 as there was nothing else like it at the time, the only major improvements are the real-time tracking autofocus, in-body stabilization and a bigger battery. Sadly, due to the lack of innovation, the A6600 didn’t come with as much of a wow factor as Sony would have liked.

One big issue with this camera is the price. As the camera is nothing ground-breaking, you must wonder whether it’s worth the huge price tag for just the body alone. Would you be better off just paying a little bit more and purchasing an older full frame camera? It may not be worth upgrading from your current camera, but with that said, if you are looking for a fantastic APS-C camera with in-body stabilization, flawless tracking and have the budget for it, the A6600 is a great option. However — you could get the same specs for much cheaper — consider the A6400 or the A6100 for a better bang for your buck.

If the Sony A6600 isn’t for you

If the Sony A6600 doesn’t seem like the right camera for you, check out these worthy alternatives.

First there’s the Fujifilm X-T3. It’s the main rival of the Sony A6600. Sony’s only advantage over the X-T3 is real-time tracking and in-body stabilization. Otherwise, the X-T3 is a better all-round camera in this same APS-C class for the same price. For a few extra hundred dollars, you could also consider the X-T4.

Next we have the high-resolution Canon EOS M6 Mark II. A great APS-C option, with a 32.5MP sensor and a capability of 14fps continuous shooting. This camera has face and eye tracking, making it great for shooting portraits and it even works when recording 4K video. This is a great, lightweight, and portable camera that’s a whole lot cheaper than the Sony.

Finally, an alternative for professional photographers would be the full frame Sony A7C. It’s not much more expensive than the Sony A6600 (a few hundred dollars) and the specs are about the same. It’s incredibly light and compact — it’s currently the world’s smallest and lightest full frame camera. If you are considering professional photography, this could be a better long-term investment.

Will Sony finally start taking APS-C cameras seriously now?

Sony has lost its way in the APS-C market, and now, with Canon and Fujifilm bringing their APS-C A-game, it’s time for Sony to fight back.

Sony is no stranger to mirrorless APS-C cameras. The company started something of a revolution when the a6000 hit the streets back in 2014. Thanks to its small size and robust feature set, the camera quickly became a hit with consumers. New models like the a6300 and the a6500 followed. This led us to believe that Sony wanted to attract prosumers and professionals to their APS-C cameras, which indeed, they did. But then Sony dropped the ball.

Sony forgot about APS-C cameras

Somewhere along the line, Sony derailed when it came to APS-C cameras. After having initial success with the a6XXX line, Sony released updated APS-C cameras like Sony 6100 (which has been discontinued), the a6400 and the IBIS packing Sony a6600. However, you could tell that Sony’s FOCUS was on full-frame, and their APS-C cameras were just an afterthought.

When the Sony a6100, a 6400 and a6600 launched, many expected considerable changes to the platform. Sure, Sony enhanced the autofocus algorithms in these cameras, which was a welcome upgrade, the screen tilted in different directions and a few more video modes were added. The a6600 started using a new high-capacity battery too. But, it wasn’t enough.

The cameras used the same tired 24-megapixel APS-C sensor that the original a6000 used. In addition, the cameras only accepted one UHS-I card, and the rear LCD was still terrible. Sony also opted to use micro USB instead of USB-C, which is something every other manufacturer had switched to by 2019. In addition, the small bodies remained essentially unchanged.

Sony thought that by giving their APS-C cameras minor incremental updates, they would sell like hot cakes. Instead, the media reception was lukewarm at best. Consumers, prosumers and professionals began moving on to the more luxurious APS-C offerings from Fujifilm. Another sign that APS-C offerings from Sony were a bit part was the lack of APS-C-specific lenses being released.

Lens support

A few first-party APS-C lenses have been released here and there since 2014. Some of the lenses were actually very good. However, lens releases for the platform from Sony have been few and far between overall. The last significant APS-C showing from Sony (until June 2022) was in 2019, when we saw the excellent Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS and the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G. Then, all went quiet again.

Fortunately, Tamron and Sigma filled the E mount APS-C lens lineup gaps Sony left behind. Honestly, Tamron and Sigma should probably be credited with keeping Sony APS-C cameras relevant. Excellent lenses like the Sigma 16mm f/1.4, 30mm f/1.4, and 56mm f/1.4, and the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 (read our review), the 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 (read our review), and the 17-70mm f/2.8 (read our review) continued to make the tired, old Sony APS-C cameras shine.

Fujifilm and Canon are upping the APS-C ante

In general, Sony has been quiet in regards to APS-C since 2019. We’ve seen the ZV-E10 (read our review), which was aimed at bloggers and YouTubers, but that’s about it. Sony has been entirely focused on just full-frame cameras. However, we finally saw some new APS-C prime lenses and a new power zoom launch on June 1, 2022.

The Sony 11mm f/1.8 (here’s our review), the Sony 15mm f/1.4 G (here’s our review), and the Sony 10-20mm f/4 PZ G (read our review) bring back some hope that Sony might finally be turning more of its attention back to its faltering APS-C platform.

Believe it or not, there’s a huge calling for APS-C cameras. As I discussed here, every camera platform has its pros, cons and ideal use cases. APS-C cameras more than have their place in both hobbyist and professional photography and videography worlds. Now, with Fujifilm and Canon upping the APS-C ante, Sony needs to pay attention. They need to listen to what their customers want instead of telling us what they think we need. So, what does Sony need to do to right their APS-C wrongs?

What we want to see from Sony

Sony needs to retire most of the a6XXX line. It has been tough to find them anyway due to supply chain issues, The a6100 has been discontinued, and the a6600 is unavailable. However, Sony has just announced that they will start making the a6400 again after a long nap. So, maybe Sony should keep the a6400 as their consumer APS-C camera and then introduce a new a7000 line that caters to prosumers and professionals.

A new sensor and design language need to be introduced into any new APS-C line they create. Matching or eclipsing the 32.5-megapixel sensor Canon will use in the R7 would be a good start. I doubt the sensor would be stacked, but a new BSI sensor would be superb.

In addition, I’d love for a new, slightly larger APS-C camera body that can handle the larger APS-C lenses. Unfortunately, many larger APS-C lenses don’t balance on the smaller a6XXX bodies, which leads to a disappointing user experience.

Ditch the rangefinder-design

A fully articulating screen and better video codecs (current Sony 1080p is terrible) would go a long way in helping new APS-C cameras find favor with videographers. Sony should not hold back when it comes to autofocus. Make it best in class, and include AI and deep-learning solutions. Improved EVF and LCDs, dual UHS-II card slots, improved IBIS, and better weather sealing are a must. Sony needs to ditch the rangefinder-style design too. Just make the Sony a7C II and let that be a hipster camera.

Here’s the deal. Fujifilm and Canon have cranked the APS-C dial up to 11, so Sony cannot afford to hold back. Sony will be on to something if a new Sony APS-C camera could fall somewhere between the Canon EOS R7 and the Fujifilm X-H2S. Price it between these two offerings, and it would do well.

The time has come for Sony to stop treating APS-C cameras like a red-headed stepchild. Fortunately, the signs show us that they might have finally got the memo. The release of the new APS-C lenses at the start of June was an excellent start. Now, let’s hope Sony builds on it. What would you like to see from Sony when it comes to APS-C cameras and lenses? Sound off in the comment section below.