Sony Camera with 16-55 mm Lens Sony - Review 🏆

The Sony a6600 is a mid-range APS-C mirrorless camera that sits above the a6100 and a6400 in Sony's lineup. Released in 2019, the a6600 features a 24.2MP APS-C sensor, advanced autofocus with real-time tracking, 5-axis in-body image stabilization, and UHD 4K video recording. It's designed for enthusiasts and prosumers looking for a capable and compact camera for travel, portraits, landscapes, street photography and more.

The a6600 retains the rangefinder-style body of previous Sony APS-C cameras, with an electronic viewfinder and a 3” tilting touchscreen LCD. It uses the smaller E-mount for lenses compared to Sony's full-frame cameras. Overall, the a6600 provides excellent image quality in a lightweight, compact body with fast autofocus and strong video features.

Build Quality

The Sony a6600 has a high-quality, durable build that feels substantial in the hand. The camera body is constructed from a magnesium alloy frame and exterior panels, providing rigidity while remaining lightweight. The buttons, dials, and switches have a premium tactile feel, with positive clicks and no wobble. The camera is sealed against dust and moisture, making it suitable for use in inclement weather.

The handgrip is generous and comfortable to hold, with a textured rubber coating that provides a secure grip. The rear thumb rest is also nicely contoured. The overall size strikes a good balance between portability and comfortable ergonomics. While not overly large, the a6600 has some heft to it that gives a reassuring impression of quality.

Overall, the build quality of the a6600 is excellent. The materials used, weather sealing, and solid construction give you confidence that this is a camera built to last. It feels like a robust, premium product that can stand up to the rigors of frequent use.

Image Sensor

The Sony a6100 features a 24.2 megapixel APS-C sized image sensor, which is a standard sensor size for entry-level and mid-range mirrorless cameras. This provides enough resolution for capturing detailed images and allows for large prints.

The image sensor is paired with Sony's BIONZ X image processor, which enables fast processing speeds and overall responsive camera performance. The BIONZ X processor is optimized to work with high megapixel count sensors to maximize image quality. It provides excellent noise reduction, even when shooting at high ISO sensitivities.

Overall, the 24.2MP sensor and BIONZ X processor combination delivers excellent image quality with crisp details, vivid colors, and great high ISO performance up to ISO 32000. This makes the a6100 well-suited for both daylight and low light photography. The sensor size and resolution allow room for cropping images while retaining enough detail.

Autofocus

The Sony a6600 features a 425-point phase-detection autofocus system that covers nearly the entire frame. It utilizes both contrast and phase detection for fast and accurate focusing.

One of the standout autofocus features is Real-Time Tracking. This uses artificial intelligence to track a subject's face and eyes. It can detect and stay locked on even during fast movement. This makes it easy to maintain focus on moving subjects like kids or pets.

The hybrid AF system is quick and quiet. It can acquire focus and track subjects even in low light conditions. There are various focus modes to choose from like Wide, Zone, Center, Flexible Spot, and Expanded Flexible Spot. These allow you to tailor the autofocus to different shooting situations.

Overall, the a6600 has one of the most advanced autofocus systems in its class. The Real-Time Tracking works exceptionally well for portraiture, action shots, and video recording. It's a huge upgrade over previous Sony APS-C cameras.

Image Stabilization

The Sony a6400 features a 5-axis in-body image stabilization system. This provides stabilization for pitch, yaw, horizontal shift, vertical shift, and roll movements. The 5-axis system helps compensate for camera shake when shooting handheld, especially in low light conditions. This allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds and still obtain sharp images.

For example, Sony claims the a6400's 5-axis stabilization provides an advantage of up to 5 stops when shooting still images. This means you can shoot handheld with a shutter speed 5 stops slower than the 1/focal length rule of thumb and still get a sharp shot. So if you're using a 50mm lens, you could potentially get a sharp image at 1/5th of a second thanks to the stabilization, whereas you'd normally need 1/50th without stabilization.

The in-body stabilization provides versatile stabilization for both stills and video shooting. It works in conjunction with OSS (Optical SteadyShot) lenses for even greater stabilization. Overall, the 5-axis system is highly effective at reducing camera shake blur.

Video Capabilities

The Sony a6100 has excellent video capabilities for an entry-level mirrorless camera. It can shoot ultra high definition 4K video at up to 30 frames per second. 4K video provides incredibly sharp and detailed footage that goes beyond full HD resolution. The 4K video looks great whether you're viewing it on a 4K TV or downsampling it to 1080p.

The a6100 offers advanced video profiles like S-Log2 and S-Log3. These S-Log profiles capture a wide dynamic range, allowing more flexibility for color grading in post production. S-Log profiles create images with subdued contrast and saturation, which helps avoid clipping highlights or shadows when shooting in high contrast scenes. The neutral S-Log footage preserves maximum information to work with in editing.

Overall, the a6100 shoots impressive 4K video and offers pro-level tools like S-Log for users who want high quality footage and advanced video controls in a compact mirrorless camera. The video capabilities make it a versatile hybrid camera for both stills and video.

Connectivity

The Sony a6100 has robust connectivity options for sharing photos and videos on the go. It has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities for wireless image transfers and remote camera control.

Wi-Fi

The a6100 has Wi-Fi connectivity to allow wireless transfer of photos and videos to your smartphone or tablet using the Sony Imaging Edge app. This makes it easy to share your shots on social media straight from your mobile device. The Wi-Fi works reliably within an approximate range of 10 meters.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 4.1 is built into the a6100 for an always-on low-power connection between the camera and compatible mobile devices. This continuous pairing allows quick remote camera control and image previews on your phone. The Bluetooth drains minimal battery even when active.

NFC

The camera has NFC (near field communication) one-touch connectivity with compatible Android devices. By tapping the camera and mobile device together, you can instantly connect them via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for quick sharing. This makes the initial wireless pairing process seamless.

Battery Life

The Sony a6100 is rated for approximately 800 shots per charge, which is very good for a mirrorless camera. The NP-FW50 battery is the same battery used across Sony's APS-C mirrorless lineup.

Real-world battery performance will vary depending on usage, but generally the a6100 should last all day long on a single charge. Photographers shooting stills should be able to achieve the rated 800 shots without issue. Videographers will see less shots per charge when recording video.

The a6100 does use some battery even when turned off, so it's ideal to charge the battery before each shooting day. Overall the battery life is a strength of this camera, providing enough juice for a full day of casual or intensive shooting. The battery can be charged in-camera via USB or with an optional external charger. Having a spare battery is recommended for photographers who plan to shoot all day.

Ergonomics

The α6400 has a compact and lightweight body that is easy to handle. The design incorporates an advanced heat dissipating structure to maintain stability even during long continuous shooting sessions.

The body has a rangefinder style design with an EVF positioned centrally on the rear. This allows for a good holding position and balance. The grip is deep enough to allow a firm grasp, while still being comfortable.

The buttons and dials are sensibly laid out, allowing quick access to key settings while shooting. There is a multi-selector joystick on the rear for fast focus point control. The camera has a high degree of customizability through the function menu, allowing you to customize button functions and access your most used settings quickly.

The touch sensitive tilting screen allows you to shoot from high and low angles with ease. You can also use touch focus and tracking when shooting through the EVF. Overall, the ergonomics and handling allow for an intuitive and seamless shooting experience.

Pros & Cons

The Sony a6100 mirrorless camera has many strengths but also a few weaknesses that are worth considering.

Pros

• Excellent image quality and low light performance thanks to the 24MP APS-C sensor
• Fast and accurate autofocus with 425 phase/contrast detection points
• Good 4K video quality with full pixel readout and no crop
• Tilting touchscreen LCD for easier composition
• 11fps continuous shooting with AE/AF tracking
• Compact, lightweight body that's easy to carry around
• Good battery life of up to 420 shots per charge

Cons

• No in-body image stabilization
• Single UHS-I SD card slot
• No headphone jack for audio monitoring
• No weather sealing on the body
• Menu system can be confusing and poorly organized
• Rolling shutter effect in 4K video

Overall, the a6100 produces great stills and video for its class. It's a good choice for travel, street, and everyday photography. The lack of stabilization means lenses with OSS are recommended. The camera hits a sweet spot of performance, features and price.