I have passed on the A6000 more times than I can count. As my first large sensor camera, as my large sensor compact camera, as my experimental camera, and anything inbetween.
Last winter I found someone selling their A6000 w/ 18-55 & 55-210 for $300 CAD, and the temptation was strong. If not now, when? I've heard so many good things about the Sony E mount system and this was a great entry.
My review is biased and my experiences are around the two kit lens.
Handling and Feel
+ (1/2)/5
There's no way getting around this, the experience is terrible. It really feels like handling an overgrown point and shoot. For some background I use(d) the Nikon D200, D800, D5300, D7100, Pentax K50, K5, Olympus EM5, Panasonic G85, and G9.
I like using the default sling style for having the camera on my body, but am sure people who use the hand strap style do not mind it. I prefer the sling setup for both stills and movie stabilization that you can do with the large strap.
It would not have hurt if they increased the rear thumb grip and a better contoured one for the front. I find my Olympus EM5 more secure because of the large rear thumb grip- although I will admit their design pushes more stress on the thumb as the front "grip" is a very simple contour. Just saw off the grip from their A mount line and transplant it- that's what Nikon did for the Z system.
My other criticism is the placement of the movie record button. No one can defend this, there is plenty of space on the top plate. It feels very awkward when trying to start and stop a recording.
Moving onto buttons, I can describe them as just being OK. The tactility could be a step better. Turning the rear wheel dial is more satisfying on my RX100iii. The assigned functions are logical along with the printed symbols and icons showing what they do.
Although I highly appreciate the low weight, I kind of wish the feel and quality of the body in general was more nice. It does not inspire confidence at all.
Image Quality+(1/2)/5
Go see DPreview's more objective reasoning and scientific tests. To me though? It's pretty good. My father uses a D5300 (similar sensor?) and the image quality looks quite comparable. RAWs are painless, a delight to edit- again reminds me of the D5300.
I would have given it a full 5 stars but the JPEGs I found were temperamental on colours. For reference, I stay mostly on neutral profile with the DRO Level 3. It helps make JPEGs that require little PP on shadows or highlights. Just today I wanted to shoot a flower that dried up which looked like an oversized dandelion. I shot semi macro and I got a nice autobalance on the yellowish side. I stepped in a little more closer and zoomed in, the next set of pictures did a complete turn and were on the cold side. Sony what.
Furthermore, I also found the skin tones struggling at times. I don't shoot skin tones on the light side, mostly light brown to brown. When the camera gets the right yellow hue, it is beautiful. I don't want to touch the JPEG at all. When is goes into the red hue, it is very annoying- especially if you're enjoying a day out shooting and it flip flops back.
One example, accidental underexposure on my part, but it was so CLOSE to looking great if it did not decide to cast a red hue. I had to edit this to get it closer to how it was.
Camera Performance+ (0.9)/5
I can't imagine how it was in 2014, but in 2021 it is still sublime. I only have "slow" lenses, but I've been able to shoot action scenes and birds (first time!) with a nice hit rate. I do wish the buffer could be a little larger and I could use other functions while the buffer was clearing up. On rare occasion I had to revert to single point AF to the picture. An example that I remember is shooting a person inside a field with just their upper body and face showing up.
Other than that, I honestly don't have much to comment on. It works very well and rarely did the performance lack. I've used the flash for bounce lighting so many times like my RX100ii- just love it. Built-in flashes matter, and having the ability to bounce is excellent. Don't tell me you can achieve the same thing. Your flash is way bigger and sticks out like a sore thumb- good luck being discrete.
Conclusion
I badly want to love the A6XXX series, I really do. But am always stuck at the crossroads with this camera. I can't remember struggling liking an electronic device like the A6000. The ergonomics is honestly revolting, but the performance makes you fall in love with it. The worse part is that I do recommend to camera buyers just as equally check cameras with better ergonomics and the A6000 (and the other series in the line up) as well. You would have to be a very arrogant person to ignore this. It's a very nice hybrid camera and I think Sony met their set objectives.
Last winter I found someone selling their A6000 w/ 18-55 & 55-210 for $300 CAD, and the temptation was strong. If not now, when? I've heard so many good things about the Sony E mount system and this was a great entry.
My review is biased and my experiences are around the two kit lens.
Handling and Feel
+ (1/2)/5There's no way getting around this, the experience is terrible. It really feels like handling an overgrown point and shoot. For some background I use(d) the Nikon D200, D800, D5300, D7100, Pentax K50, K5, Olympus EM5, Panasonic G85, and G9.
I like using the default sling style for having the camera on my body, but am sure people who use the hand strap style do not mind it. I prefer the sling setup for both stills and movie stabilization that you can do with the large strap.
It would not have hurt if they increased the rear thumb grip and a better contoured one for the front. I find my Olympus EM5 more secure because of the large rear thumb grip- although I will admit their design pushes more stress on the thumb as the front "grip" is a very simple contour. Just saw off the grip from their A mount line and transplant it- that's what Nikon did for the Z system.
My other criticism is the placement of the movie record button. No one can defend this, there is plenty of space on the top plate. It feels very awkward when trying to start and stop a recording.
Moving onto buttons, I can describe them as just being OK. The tactility could be a step better. Turning the rear wheel dial is more satisfying on my RX100iii. The assigned functions are logical along with the printed symbols and icons showing what they do.
Although I highly appreciate the low weight, I kind of wish the feel and quality of the body in general was more nice. It does not inspire confidence at all.
Image Quality
+(1/2)/5Go see DPreview's more objective reasoning and scientific tests. To me though? It's pretty good. My father uses a D5300 (similar sensor?) and the image quality looks quite comparable. RAWs are painless, a delight to edit- again reminds me of the D5300.
I would have given it a full 5 stars but the JPEGs I found were temperamental on colours. For reference, I stay mostly on neutral profile with the DRO Level 3. It helps make JPEGs that require little PP on shadows or highlights. Just today I wanted to shoot a flower that dried up which looked like an oversized dandelion. I shot semi macro and I got a nice autobalance on the yellowish side. I stepped in a little more closer and zoomed in, the next set of pictures did a complete turn and were on the cold side. Sony what.
Furthermore, I also found the skin tones struggling at times. I don't shoot skin tones on the light side, mostly light brown to brown. When the camera gets the right yellow hue, it is beautiful. I don't want to touch the JPEG at all. When is goes into the red hue, it is very annoying- especially if you're enjoying a day out shooting and it flip flops back.
One example, accidental underexposure on my part, but it was so CLOSE to looking great if it did not decide to cast a red hue. I had to edit this to get it closer to how it was.
Camera Performance
+ (0.9)/5I can't imagine how it was in 2014, but in 2021 it is still sublime. I only have "slow" lenses, but I've been able to shoot action scenes and birds (first time!) with a nice hit rate. I do wish the buffer could be a little larger and I could use other functions while the buffer was clearing up. On rare occasion I had to revert to single point AF to the picture. An example that I remember is shooting a person inside a field with just their upper body and face showing up.
Other than that, I honestly don't have much to comment on. It works very well and rarely did the performance lack. I've used the flash for bounce lighting so many times like my RX100ii- just love it. Built-in flashes matter, and having the ability to bounce is excellent. Don't tell me you can achieve the same thing. Your flash is way bigger and sticks out like a sore thumb- good luck being discrete.
Conclusion
I badly want to love the A6XXX series, I really do. But am always stuck at the crossroads with this camera. I can't remember struggling liking an electronic device like the A6000. The ergonomics is honestly revolting, but the performance makes you fall in love with it. The worse part is that I do recommend to camera buyers just as equally check cameras with better ergonomics and the A6000 (and the other series in the line up) as well. You would have to be a very arrogant person to ignore this. It's a very nice hybrid camera and I think Sony met their set objectives.
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I agree about the handling, but the A6000 has the best price/IQ ratio IMO because you get a lot of IQ and features for little money, especially today when you buy a used one. I recommend to take RAW pictures, then you can use all the dynamic range etc. that you get out of the sensor and can easily correct wrong exposures.
