Item: Sony Alpha a6000
Rating: 80

Body Elements

Not only has the a6000 received a substantial bump in resolution, it also has more phase-detect points, allowing for 92% coverage across the frame.

Sony's dust removal system includes a combination of ultrasonic vibrations as well as a 'charge protection coating'.

While still respectable, the EVF on the a6000 is a step down from the one on the NEX-6. It's both smaller and lower resolution.

The resolution of the EVF is 1.44 million dots, while the magnification is 0.70x (equivalent).

An infrared sensor activates the EVF when your eye approaches it.

The directional controller is just like it is on the NEX cameras. It has a wheel for adjusting settings, and can also set the drive mode, ISO, display mode, and exposure compensation (among other things).

The Fn button opens the customisable shortcut menu, and sends images to a smartphone in playback mode.

On the top right of the a6000 is the mode dial and the main control dial, which can adjust aperture, shutter speed or, if you wish, exposure compensation.

Above that is the power switch / shutter release combo and the Custom 1 button.

A button on the back of the camera pops up the flash. It has a guide number of 6m (ISO 100), which is quite low but fairly typical at this level.

It can be held back with your finger to provide an improvised bounce flash.

However, it can't control external flashguns. This is possible only if a compatible unit is mounted on the hotshoe.

Here you can see the movie recording button, which Sony keeps moving further away from the back panel, in order to prevent users from accidentally pressing it. The downside: now it's too hard to press.

The 'NFC' symbol is the spot where you'll tap your compatible smartphone for remote control and photo transfer.

There are two ports under a plastic door on the camera's left-hand side. On the top is the multi-interface port, which is for USB, charging, and attaching a wired remote.

Below that is a micro-HDMI port for connecting to a TV or video recorder. The a6000 can output uncompressed video over HDMI, a big improvement over its predecessor.

The Alpha 6000 uses the familiar NP-FW50 InfoLithium battery, which contains 7.7Wh of energy. This translates into 360 shots per charge, according to Sony.

As mentioned in the introduction, the default charging method is over USB, with an AC-to-USB adapter included in the box. If you want faster charging, or just want a spare on-hand, you'll want to pick up the external charger.

Comments

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Oldest first

photography33

Hi, I have been in photography since childhood and feeling good with photography lifes. But really loved Sony a6000 as compared to a6300. Here is also a great list for selecting best cameras just found during searching. http://www.rjr.photography/best-dslr-cameras-for-beginners/

1 week agopermalink

SlickNik

Hello, I'm an amateur photographer looking to expand into the world of interchangeable lenses and DSLRs. I've only ever used point and shoot cameras as it's all I can afford (currently using the Canon PowerShot SX400) and I have to save up for a new camera. I'm looking for something that can high quality, professional-looking photos. I mainly shoot nature/landscapes but am interested in learning portrait photography. Is the a6000 capable of putting out image quality like that? Can I get large prints of photos that come out at excellent quality? I understand that the a6000 is a crop sensor, and are disadvantaged when compared to full frames, which can pull in much higher quality photos and better colouring, focus, etc. I'm considering on whether I should invest in the a6000 or a full frame. Any recommendations?

3 months agopermalink

Arif Wibowo

Hello,

I am now using A6000 and I got speedlight Phottix for Canon. Can I use this Phottis for Canon to my A6000 with full functionality. Or, if not what should I add to be able to use this Phottix to to A6000. Can I use it as slave?

Thank you
Arif Wibowo

Apr 7, 2017permalink

TuanTranAnh

No, the hot shoes of Sony Flash is completely different from Canon or other brand so you must buy made-for-Sony flash or used flash for another system with an flash shoes adapter. Still not fully functionality.

2 months agopermalink

pixelsmart

16-50mm Kit lens for the A6000:

Hello,

A number of times I have heard that a prime lens will do a better job than the kit lens.

I am only interested in shooting video. HD video is 2Mpixels vs stills which are 24Mpixels. Therefore it would seem reasonable to assume that when capturing at 1/10th the native resolution, there would be no benefit in upgrading to a lens that can deliver more detail than the kit lens. To what degree might that statement represent reality ?

Thanks
Dan

Jan 16, 2017permalink

KungFuJosh

Not specifically Prime. Prime means fixed focal length (not a zoomable lens). The kit lens isn't bad, and if you think it looks good, that's all that matters. That being said, any higher quality lens could be better visually. Optical quality always matters more than resolution (pixels). Better quality glass results in better images period.

Think of it this way: if you wear foggy glasses you don't see as well as with freshly cleaned glasses. Cheaper lenses are like foggy glasses; they don't give you the clearest image you can see optically. Good lenses can give better clarity, faster focus, and better color representation.

Mar 14, 2017permalink

ZanS

Try the link in the previous post without a period at the end:
https://www.dpreview.com/galleries/2798743242

Aug 29, 2016permalink

ZanS

I've had my a6000 since March. Can only compare with previous point and shoot cameras (e.g Canon SX230HS). Decided to forego the kit zoom and invested in the Sony 35 mm F1.8 prime instead based on the reviews in order to maximize image quality. I think that the combination gives you the best quality that can be had at the price point for a mirrorless camera and on par with similarly priced DSLRs. I don't have much experience, but I am very pleased with the images that the camera has been able to capture. The level of detail in the pictures more than compensates for not having the flexibility of a zoom lens. I have posted some of the better pictures at https://www.dpreview.com/galleries/2798743242.

Aug 29, 2016permalink

rebelhawk

I'm very disappointed with my new A6000, it was a uninspired upgrade from my old Nex F3. The pictures quality is terrible bad.

Aug 23, 2016permalink

Johnny420

If this sample gallery is any indication, then your comment is patently ridiculous.

Aug 28, 2016permalink

rebelhawk

I agree with you, that was my first stupid impression on I shot some indoor sport frames without proper settings and with to high expectations. Now, I start to love my little camera.

Aug 28, 2016permalink

keejoonc

Bloody hell. So many people posting here and they have absolutely no clue about how to use a camera and they blame the camera for taking bad photos.
Perhaps, it would help to actually learn how to take photos first before buying expensive equipment and expecting great results?
No wonder some people think iPhone cameras are great *sigh*

Aug 22, 2016permalink

SRS_Photography

I cannot agree more. Most people just cannot use this camera. They expect the camera can take good picture by itself. If I give you Nikon D5 to these peopel, they will still not be able to take good pictures. I have encountered so many people like this. Even some middle age guys whom I met in front of Eiffel tower with his big camera and big lenses. He had no clue on how to use his camera. So we can imagine, people who just got into A6000. A6000 is not a point and shoot camera.

Dec 12, 2016permalink

Zeegee

Many people are so lazy that they will make no attempt to learn the basics of photography and god forbid if they then must learn how to use their camera.......they should consider taking a drawing class.

Jan 6, 2017permalink

zzzxtreme

does it work while charging? or it goes into "charging mode. please wait"

Aug 17, 2016permalink

Aviatore86

Hi!!

Between a6000 with 16-50 lens kit, and Oly Om-10 Mark II with 14-42 kit, which do you suggest? I'll use it initially just with kit lens and then i'll go probably for a Samyang 12 mm.

Jun 29, 2016permalink

sjlo

Same question here and also comp to xe2 +kit 14-55. But it depends if you prefer IQ or speed or features..

Aug 2, 2016permalink

nolamu

Thomas Gnisvard I've just updated my sony 6000 too many improvements.
https://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=ILCE6000&LOC=3#/downloadTab

Jun 2, 2016*permalink

Tomas Gnisvard

Hi!

1. I like my a6000 but still have some problems with it's startup times. What is the real key to start up with 0s delay?

2. My RX100 is a wonderful camera.
Just imagine what a marvellous machine it could be with a fix lens!!!
Do you think Sony will make a fix lens "RZ100" with a super grip and maybe
a little tweek with the small buttons, WITHOUT making the camera bigger?
Maybe the ON button could be removed too and be exchanged with an OFF
button to save battery! Just shoot to start if the lens does not need to pull out!
What a killer street camera, or what do you think?
I would love this camera instead of buying (by all means a good one, Ricoh GR)
Br
// Tomas

Apr 5, 2016permalink

replaikez

Sony A6000 16-50 kit lens vs
Olympus e-p5 panasonic 12-32 lens

Which would you pick and why?

Apr 5, 2016permalink

replaikez

Apr 6, 2016permalink

4Photo Dave

Don't forget the initial investment in the camera/lens kit to go with it, as well as the outlay of cash to obtain a book such as David Busch's to serve as a full feature manual (that Sony doesn't make available even online) being needed to fully use the equipment.

Also don't forget that places like Amazon don't have Busch's book in stock, and the only used copies are more than 500 bucks to get them. Plus your local library will probably also only be able to offer a log in, view while on-line copy of Busch's book.

A total shame, as I am already producing much improved pictures using this camera instead of my old point and shoot.

Apr 2, 2016permalink

OlegKon

Could someone suggest really good A6000 lenses, much better than one which come with it? I am thinking of maybe one small (around 16-50) and a good zoom 10-15x one. Are Tamaron 18-200 or Sigma 18-250 or 18-270 much better? I am an amateur coming from Canon G15. Need something fairly inexpensive and light.

Mar 31, 2016*permalink

Mary Mc Elhinney

Ilce 6000 I seem to have messed up the setting I'm a novice
Can some on tell me the original settings

Mar 6, 2016permalink

A6000user

After many years I finally decided to move up from my Canon point and shoot. I did all the online research I could find and eventually decided on the A6000 which was more than I could really afford. After a year of use this is the most disappointing camera purchase I have ever made. I predominantly take landscape photos, country, forest and seascapes. In all automatic modes the images are invariably blurry with inconsistent exposure in bright sunlight even when taking five photos of same subject without changing settings.I have tried manual focus using both view finder and the rear display...the focus always appears excellent but the photo is always blurry once you zoom in. The camera now remains mostly unused in a drawer and I use my iPhone 4 which produces better and more consistent photos. I have checked all the forums for suggestions and tried everything without success. Would welcome any suggestions before this expensive mistake remains in the drawer forever. Disappointed user.

Feb 19, 2016permalink

Pal2012

HAhahah LOL Yeah, peep at those Iphone 4 pixels hahah what a joker!

Mar 1, 2016permalink

A6000user

Well your response was zero help.
Update, lens had an intermittent fault and after two rebuilds was replaced under warranty. Body also was faulty and replaced, something to do with electronics. I now have a working camera but have yet to be able to reproduce the crisp images from these reviews. Will not bother providing a further update.

Jan 22, 2017permalink

Buck1934

I have purchased three A-6000 Sony cameras in the past few months. We are on a two and a half month photo and tourist trip to the western US.
I was having trouble with the on & off switch being very hard to turn off and on. Now it is locked up solid. Cannot turn it on or off.

The second A-6000 now has discontinued functioning also. So pleased with the quality of the photos we were getting before, the camera's weight and ease of using all the features. However, now every time I turn on the camera, it will do NOTHING but display the error message, "Writing to the memory card was not completed correctly. Recover data?" When I then select 'Enter' , it says " Execute? This may damage data that was added or edited on another device." Then when I select "Enter" it reads "Reinsert the memory card that you were using." I have done this twenty or more times and many times with a new Sony card and can never get past this message. Very unhappy user.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

giovanni maria piras

stesso messaggio e spegnimento fotocamera con la sony a7s.
Mandata a riparare. Tutto ok adesso.

Feb 24, 2016permalink

PaulPhilly

a6000 Walking around settings - blurry photos.

My A6000 with stock lens often takes blurry photos; I've disabled the Long Exposure Noise Reduction feature, and steady shot is enabled; angle is Wide, Auto Focus is enabled, as is AF Illuminator, but the problem still exists. I have 2 kids that frequently spring into action, and I want to capture the scene. What's the best walking around setting to keep the camera on to capture clear stills, as well as movement when it presents itself? I'm using the a6000 with stock 16-50 lens and firmware 2.02. Thank you

Jan 17, 2016permalink

Mike FL

You need set a6000 to capture " kids that frequently spring into action":

1. Faster shutter speed
2. look the video "How To Configure Sony Autofocus (Moving Objects Or People)" below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L88uEmUp4t8

Feb 7, 2016permalink

Mike FL

There is other way by using "Sports Action" under SCN.

BTW, in any case, you need decent light for shootting "Moving Objects Or People".

Feb 7, 2016permalink

OlegKon

Maybe try to update camera firmware to the latest (3.10+)? There is a chance it will help...

Apr 2, 2016permalink

shadowz

help ..!

The noise comparison widget in the camera reviews fails to open on my p.c.....

Any one else or is it just me ..???

Jan 1, 2016permalink

Richard Butler

Hmm, there have been some structural changes going on behind the scenes - it could relate to that.

I'll bring it to the attention of the dev team. In the meantime, you're probably better off assessing noise based on the Raw images in the text scene.

Jan 4, 2016*permalink

shadowz

Thank u Mr Butler for responding ...:)

I hope the graphic widgets do come back soon....

regards

Jan 4, 2016permalink

krunal

nice post

Apr 29, 2016permalink

N13L5

I read this review and liked what I saw...
Started thinking of upgrading my Nex 5n body, since I already have three 'E' lenses, including the 50mm portrait lens, which I rather like.

But so, at the end of the review, I added the Nex5n to the comparison, and the comparison is rather mixed...

Especially the low light performance seems to have taken a hit!

Unless there's some technicality, that makes these comparisons not really work...

I really can't understand how a much further developed sensor of the same size could have significantly worse low light performance???

Anyone have an opinion on that?

Dec 17, 2015permalink

Gaston Kessler

some times performance is rated in a given time context: when rating "video mode", "features"or "Low light / high ISO performance" on a 2010 camera and it gets a 70% rating, a 2015 camera with the same performance wouldnt even get 40% as a new scale had to be adopted in order to keep the rating values on the chart.
I suggest you go to the review of the nex 5n, and compare the iso / noise performance side to side with the a6000. that will give you a better idea of the performance difference between the two models

Dec 18, 2015*permalink

vishweshji

I am confused with all the reviews out there. I am stuck between Nikon D5500 and Sony A6000. I understand that investment in lenses for Sony is costlier but can I just buy adapter and use Nikon/Canon lenses ?

I am a beginner and this would be my first DSLR. I read a lot about mirrorless is the future, how true it is ?

Dec 7, 2015permalink

J88L

D5500 & A6000
Both camera you mentioned is basically the same. Both are DSLR camera with more auto controls. If you have to choose one from them, should go for A6000 but I don't encourage using Nikon/Canon lenses with adapter.
Suggestion:
If you are a beginner and want to learn how to control a camera to shoot and get pictures in your own ideas (more creative and unique than built in auto modes offer), you should go for Nikon D7100/7200 OR 70D/7Di/7Dii in Canon. They offer full manual control and allow you to learn fully how to control camera freely. FYI, these cameras also have full auto mode if you want just easy shoot sometimes.
Mirrorless is future:
Yes, i agree on that bcos the quality of photo they produce can match with DSLR since A6000 come out. The only difference is technology and Mirrorless cameras has less weight & less manual control.

Hope it helps :)

Dec 8, 2015permalink

Masis

The a6000 has just as much (or maybe even more, due to focus peeking) manual control as my Canon 5D had. Plus, there's the option to buy adapters and use almost every lens ever created, thereby adding even further manual control, via older manual lenses. The a6000 is a brilliant device, and a beginner should have zero qualms about starting with it.

Dec 28, 2015*permalink

steveworks

I always read reviews before making a decision but sometimes, advice is needed. I am not a pro photographer (maybe semi-pro one day), but I demand high image quality. If it's not clear and sharp, no one will ever see it but me. I love Zeiss lenses. So, I am been a p&s man who just shot a wedding with the groom's EOS 10D. Don't laugh but my current cameras are Sony's DSC WX80(Zeiss lens) and WX350(Sony lens) It's time to move forward. My question is : EOS 70D or A6000? Manual Settings, I am slowly learning. I do mostly parties/events including live music in dimly lit environments. but, I take a picture or video of everything I can (I like pictures) Any advice will be appreciated and helpful. Thank you for your time.

Dec 4, 2015permalink

D Alchemist

Depends on your budget. If you have limited funds then the A6000 is going to stretch your budget further with more lenses- like a short prime for shooting groups and a 60mm prime for actions shots of people in low light. Don't worry about the name on the lens- go read tests (photozone) and user reviews (B&H). Both cameras have the speed and AF to suit you. Another difference is size: If it is your only camera being able to mount the compact kit lens on the A6000 makes for a MUCH smaller to-go camera, even in a jacket pocket. Good luck!

Dec 9, 2015*permalink

LewToo

Greetings and salutations,

I have just ordered a A6000, 18-55 SAM DT lens and PK to NEX adapter. That lens is just so I would have at least one native lens (and it was dirt cheap). The real reason I ordered this body was because I have some archaic glass in the form of old school Pentax K mount manual prime lenses:

0) pentax PK bellows unit
1) pentax 50mm f1.4
2) pentax 50mm f1.7 (several copies)
3) original vivitar series 1 100mm f2.8 macro
4) asahi optical co. takumar 135mm f2.5
5) original vivitar series 1 200mm f3
6) asahi optical co. takumar 500mm f4.5
7) original vivitar series 1 600mm f8 solid cat (perk & elmer)
8) russian MC MTO-11CA 1000mm F10 maksutov-cassegrain

There are some of 0.72x Focal Reducers on ebay for $75 to $175. One review stated that all use the same glass from a german manufacturer. The primary difference being the manufacturing of the mount.

Question:
Would anyone care to share their experience with these focal reducers?

Nov 26, 2015*permalink

LewToo

I will answer my own question:
http://www.verybiglobo.com/metabones-speed-bosster-ultra-review-part-i/

Best review/comparison that I have been able to find.

Nov 27, 2015permalink

doclannybay

Hi! everyone.

I'm a zero knowledge about camera ( Please i mean ZERO). I want to buy a camera for my lovely daughter for Christmas gift. I read the review (Sony A 6000, it fit my budget to compare with Cannon D-70 too expensive, still
don't have the right answer for my question which i have in mind. I would like to post my questions here , please somebody help:
* If the camera has feature as video , could it video long 1 hour for wedding ?
*What should i have the lens for the camera, which could do the job such as:
- Wide angle - Portrait - video filming - sports
They all fours in one or do i have to buy 02 difference lenses
Thank you so much for helping me

Nov 15, 2015permalink

notabewbie

I don't shoot video much so I don't know, but it should be able to take a long video with a class 10, 64 GB card. You should update the firmware to the lastest one to unlock super high bit rate video recording XAVSC.

About the lens, should get the SEL 35f1.8 for general purpose event and indoor shooting. It is an excellent lens. Please see YouTube review about this lens.

For sport, you can get the SEL 70-200 F4. Very expensive, but will get the job done.

Wide angle, short zoom range, and walk around lens, get the SEL 1670z. Can't beat the Zeiss optics. Please buy directly from Sony to avoid bad copies of these lens. An alternative to this is the SELP 18-105G lens. It is cheaper.

The kit lens is good if you want to put the camera into your jacket pocket.

There are manuals about the sony a6000 system on amazon. Should take a look at that if you intend to but the camera.

Nov 19, 2015permalink

jwkphoto

No, you can not do a 1 hour video with a still camera. the law will only allow 29 mins. at most. With the a6000, the longest I've gotten has been about 23 min. or so before it heats up and shuts down. After about 15 min. of cooling off, I can get another 18 min. before it shuts down again. You would be better off getting a video camera to do 1 hour.

Dec 1, 2015permalink

Stvsanders

I have a Canon M. I shoot HDR but needed a lighter camera to take when doing wilderness photography to reduce weight. I purchased the Canon M but cannot find out a way to shoot RAW files in auto bracketed series. It seems the function for HDR will work only for JPEGs. The bracketing function works but I have to take each shot individually. Can anyone tell me if the Sony a6000 can auto bracket when shooting raw files so just one click will take all of the exposures? Second can you choose how many exposures to take in auto bracketing, i.e. 3 vs 5? Thank you in advance.

Oct 26, 2015permalink

mlapaglia

No it can't, only in JPEG.

Nov 4, 2015permalink

Craig NC

Yes, it can. You can bracket 3-5 images with a single push of the button. JPEG or Raw.

Nov 23, 2015permalink

jcmrs

which is it by miapaglia or by craig NC?

Mar 14, 2016permalink

igorvil

Both of them are true, camera can save bracketed images either in JPEG or in RAW format, HDR picture is a elaboration of those pictures, and is not RAW. If HDR picture is done in camera is JPEG, if done by computer can be any raster image (JPEG, TIFF, etc.).

Sep 13, 2016permalink

peretzel

hi,I'm a relative newbie.have used compact cameras,and lately borrowed a rebel 3 which I've just returned..now thinking of buying.need non professional use,just want good pictures of grandchildren.sometimes you have a potential picture of say 6 grandkids,but the chance of them all looking at camera smiling etc is very low,and can happen one in five times,so you need a really quick camera for that,ino rder to take five images one after the other.the Rebel 3 did it.compacts just dont.now to the question:should I go for a sony a600 (mirrorless) or the old technology, like a rebel t5, or t5i, or canon sl1.cost does play a part,the a600 seems to be more expensive.thanks

Oct 16, 2015permalink

paquito131

when shooting in A mode not in bright light, a disturbing hand with ! appears on the screen and viewfinder, How can I make it disappear? thanks

Oct 4, 2015permalink

Dmarque1

This indicates "Steady/Shake" ......that your likely to have a blurred image as the lens is not providing sufficient light for a good photo. The icon means that it is advisable that you do not "hand-hold" the shot with the settings you currently are using. A tri-pod is suggested, increasing your ISO to a higher setting or opening your lens wider. The camera shake warning indicator does not appear in the following situations:
– The exposure mode is set to M/S, or during movie recording.
– When the viewing mode is set to [No Disp. Info.], [Level], or [Histogram].

However this is a valuable warning and you should not disable it until you know the limits of your camera much more thoroughly.

Nov 13, 2015*permalink

wallbreaker

not much lens selection. You have to get an adaptor to use other lens

Sep 25, 2015permalink

PaulPhilly

Help - advice needed. Using my new a6000 tonight at a wedding; indoors, dim lights. The continuous shoots were SO SLOW, waiting for the flash to engage. How do I shoot continuous photos in areas that require flash? Thank you

Sep 13, 2015permalink

PLC1

You need to get an external flash. Flash speed is all about the specs on the external flash.

Sep 30, 2015permalink

Karateka

you can use shutter mode with flash, setting up to 1/160. I think you have to set flash mode to ,,rear'' then. The downside is that there is no red-eye reduction anymore. I had a canon 1100 for try and the flash was much faster in auto-mode, maybe more red eyes, but still the slow auto flash from the a6000 is a bit annoying sometimes....

Nov 14, 2015permalink

mazenk

does it have any problem with shooting long video ??? more than 20 m ?

Jul 29, 2015permalink

Petr789

Just decided to post my opinion even I am starting amateur in photography. Bought A6000 body and kept the 1855 lens from my previous camera Sony NEX5R. I found the A6000 1650 kit lens too plastic. The 1855 obviously more durable. Amd I am postively surprised with images, sharp , true colores. However as I mentioned can not compare pictures from 1650 with the ones from 1855.

Jul 28, 2015permalink

65 and counting

Was thinking about purchasing the Sony A600. Not sure now after reading reviews. I am wanting to shoot my children's sports pictures, basketball, soccer, and tennis. Can anyone recommend a good camera and lens for action photos.

Jul 17, 2015permalink

inso

i bought the a6000 despite not needing an action cam at all.
if thats your aim what are you waiting for? get an a6000, i dont see too many interesting alternatives as its quite perfect for shooting action and sports.

Aug 12, 2015permalink

artc1209

I liked everything I read about the a6000, and was looking for a lighter carry camera than my Nikon kit, but on my second day trying it out, I was shooting a charity walk, and the lag between shutter press and snap was averaging about 3 seconds with the kit lens and the tele zoom. Just couldn't work with it for anything moving. Could have been me not having the settings right, but based on my experience it didn't work well for action.

Sep 20, 2015permalink

mr.izo

what, 3 seconds?? isn't a 6000 should be super fast camera (in mirrorles world that is). not godd, not good at all. even 0,3 second is not that short lag if you ask me..

Oct 2, 2015permalink

Fritzo

3 seconds? Either there is something wrong with your camera or you have pressed the self timer button or have long exposure settings in the camera... A6000 is extremely snappy and fast.

Oct 7, 2015permalink

artc1209

Quick follow up to this -- it was operator error, aided and abetted a little bit by the factory. I took it out of the box, started shooting (without reading the manual) and hit this problem.

I worked through the menus and settings, but didn't see any obvious weirdnesses.

Doing some more research, I found this web page of recommended settings, and spotted the self-timer delay from the list: https://photographylife.com/recommended-sony-a6000-settings . Turned out the body was delivered with the self-timer ON and set to those couple seconds delay.

Self timer is OFF, all is good, and the focus is quick. Happy a6000 user.

;-)

Oct 7, 2015permalink

Dmarque1

Before you get too negative about the A-6000 from reading non-credited comments you should do yourself a service and view the Gary Fong You Tube Video on the A-6000. I think this will give you a good understanding of the merits of the A-6000. I have a friend who has been shooting high end Nikon equipment for decades. He was entralled with the A-6000 and added it to his bag for the expressed purpose of action shots. The speed at 11-FPS is remarkable and the lightness permits it to be a great all purpose camera.

Nov 13, 2015permalink

Masis

Yeah, in just over 2 seconds, I can get 23 raw shots off (which basically looks like a movie, when scrolling through them quickly) before the buffer is full.

Dec 28, 2015permalink

tomtriad

Or should I get the NEX 6 (see below) to replace the older NEX 7 ?

Jun 10, 2015permalink

tomtriad

I accidentally trashed my NEX 7 and have a suite of lenses for it, including the Zeiss 24 mm 1.8. Am I better off buying another NEX 7 body, or the newer A6000?

Jun 10, 2015permalink

Thermidor

Depends on how much you value the triple dial system of the NEX-7. As a manual shooter, I found it quite invaluable, and the a6000 is a tiny bit slower since you need to press a button to dial the ISO. If you're using mostly Sony lenses, definitely go for the a6000 as its phase detection AF will help a lot (though I have found the accuracy to be hit or miss). I use my Sigma trio of lenses, which are contrast-detect only, so I don't benefit as much.

Like the NEX-7, the a6000 viewfinder lags somewhat in low light (especially when compared to recent Micro 4/3rds systems). The RAW files are slightly less noisy than the NEX-7 at ISO 1600 to 6400. However, keep in mind the colours start losing accuracy faster at ISO 3200, as compared to ISO 6400 on my Canon 650D.

If you're in a hurry, get the a6000. If not, wait around and see if a true successor to the NEX-7 will come out.

Aug 23, 2015permalink

lemonadedrinker

I have a 6 and 7 and think them both wonderful cameras; my skill levels will never overtake their abilities, but that goes with all digital cameras, so it's just what you think might suit you.

Sep 26, 2015permalink

Keeper78

Go with Oly. I have the A6000 and I am disappointed. Battery life is misserable, I hunt for a good lens for two months an picture quality is average. Just not worthy. It is an annoying camera.

May 3, 2015permalink

piepie22

totally agree with you, i've been using it for 3 months. IQ is really just average, with the huge raw file, i can't believe how bad it is, you just can't get more from the file. Kit Len 16-50 isn't too bad, very easy to use, but focusing on the long zoom kit len is slow and painful. reminds me of something from 2008...

Jun 4, 2015permalink

TO11MTM

piepie22, have you checked the firmware on the Long zoom? I had to update the firmware on mine in order to get it to focus well on the a6000. Still not as fast as the 16-50 or 18-105, but it seemed pretty fast at that point.

Jul 19, 2015permalink

Pitchertaker

Sony A6000 w/Zeiss 16-70mm F/4 vs
Olympus OMD EM-1 w/M Zuiko ED 12-40mm F/2.8 Pro

Which would you pick and why?

May 1, 2015*permalink

FeDost

Fujifilm X-E2 w/Fujinon 18-55mm f2/8 - 4.

May 22, 2015permalink

Dellis12

Olympus, no contest. Had Nex-6 and the Zeiss zoom and rented the A6000 to see if I could stay in the system and protect my lens investment. But I ended up taking a bit of a loss and bought the Oly combination you're asking about. Haven't regretted it for a second. The 6000 is easier than the Nex 6, but it's still one of the least intuitive cameras I've ever shot with. Sony IQ is great and the camera is nearly half the price, but I really hated shooting with it. Not inspiring at all. Oly user experience is familiar-once you've set the camera up for yourself (took me about 15 minutes), it's seamless. Oly IQ is terrific and unless you're blowing images up to billboard size, don't believe all the punters and pixel peepers who are dissing Micro 4/3. I make high quality 16x20 prints all the time--it's all you need.

Jun 3, 2015permalink

Pitchertaker

Thank you so much for your kind, detailed reply. Olympus it is!

Jun 4, 2015permalink

FeDost

Why wasting money with micro 4/3? Did you ever tried Fujifilm X System cameras? Fantastic IQ, very intuitive controls (old school), the x-trans sensor (APS-C) is great especially in low light and is fully compatible with legacy lenses!

Jun 8, 2015permalink

Pitchertaker

Great question. Brand loyalty and familiarity, maybe? Fujifilm invokes images of the emulsion they sold back in the day and I simply never gave the company much consideration as a result.

Had and enjoyed using my old OM-1. Fit my hands better than the bigger, bulkier "Canikon" models and looked cooler than Pentax or Minolta's offerings to my subjective aesthetics, plus their glass has always produced nice images.

Where's a Kodachrome camera?

Jun 8, 2015permalink

FeDost

I didn't consider Fujifilm X-Series camera until I tried one then I understood that it is the camera for me so my advice is to take one in your hands and take some shoots!

Cheers :)

Jun 9, 2015permalink

Pitchertaker

Sounds like a worthwhile experiment/experience. Already acquired an EM-1 and will be taking myself through the challenging and enjoyable process of learning the ropes of it, albeit with some help from my new camera-buddies here. Can't express enough how much I appreciate the help I've been receiving from people here. You guys are awesome.

Jun 9, 2015permalink

Dellis12

Looked seriously at Fuji as well. Liked it for all the reasons you state, but there's limited lens selection and they're much more expensive. Bodies have a plasticky, hollow feeling build quality. Not sure why you think 4/3 is a "waste of money?" Oly is more like a Leica like than any camera I've ever shot with at about 25% of the cost. Less bulky than Fuji, and for my eye, better IQ. Not a zealot or a pixel peeper--am a working pro, have owned Nikon, Canon, Leica, Sony systems and use Canon for hardcore pro work. Oly is my personal favorite and the one that I want to pick up and shoot with all the time (and have used it for assignments, as well.)

Jun 15, 2015permalink

FeDost

It depends how you use it, I have a Fuji X-E2 and it doesn't feel plasticky at all but a good and solid body, there are plently of good lenses and not that much expensive for the quality they are, the zoom kit lens 18-55 f2.8-4 for example is much better than any other 18-55 f3.6-5.4, then there are the 18mm f2 abd 35mm f1.4 both are great lens.
If you want spend less you can adapt many legacy lenses and the feeling with the fuji controls is awesome, I personally own a Nikkor 50mm f1.4D which is full manual and I love it! Of course it also depends of what kind of shots you like to take but if we are talking about Sony lenses Vs fuji lenses then I think fuji beat Sony.
I think APS sernsors are better than 4/3 for many reason which you probably know already for example ISO noise and lens crop factor. The same reason why a full frame sensor is better than ASP.
Please forgive me if you think I've wrote many stupid things, Im not a professional photographer but just amateur :)

Cheers

Jun 15, 2015permalink

Dellis12

FeDost: Nothing stupid about what you write--I'm not a zealot in any way, unlike some others who seem to deal with brand and/or technical absolutes. Different opinions are healthy. If you feel you take great pictures with a smartphone, that's fine with me. It's just that there are so many great options, that for me, resolution, pixel count are pretty much secondary to a camera that inspires you. The X-E2, X-T1 are great cameras, so are Fuji lenses--just not as intuitive or comfortable as the Oly, and certainly not the only great photo tool out there.

Jun 16, 2015permalink

EA3EZD

hELLO, THIS FOCUS NOT CORRET, PLEASE CORRET THIS FOCUS IN THE POINT FOCUS IN THE FOTOS , THAK'S jOSEP

Apr 18, 2015permalink

David Smith - Photographer

Huh, are you for real?

May 27, 2015permalink

niciyou

Hi, All,

I am not sure if it still right time to buy a6000 because of fast release cycle so far. I don't what buy a dated camera. I heard about the rumor new "A7000" months ago. But it seems no new ILCE release in NAB 2015 :(
Appreciate any updates or "rumors":)

Apr 14, 2015permalink

Stonefree

I have the A6000 and I generally like it but it is not a good camera for bird photography because it's complicated to activate the internal zoom: you have to go into the menu and/or assign a button on the camera to use the internal zoom. This is way too time-consuming for bird photography and a huge design mistake.

The a5000 has that zoom lever and is much better to use, albeit a less developed camera than the a6000.

Overall, Sony doesn't have much to offer for bird photography but I hope they will come up with better lenses and cameras for that purpose.

May 25, 2015permalink

Dmarque1

You can make the Internal Zoom a priority feature in one of the custom "C" buttons. In that way it is always a click away when you need it.

Nov 13, 2015permalink

Karateka

Hi,
im still not sure if buying the a6000 or panasonic gx7. I need it for vacation, children, it should be good in low-light and at least fit in a jacket.

I actually prefer the a6000 so far cause better grip, larger sensor and the gx7 is supposed to use too low shutter speed at Aperture mode.
However, i realised on ,,new comparison tool'' that the red/blue colour-stripes from the puppets at iso 3200/low-light still have full contrast with gx7, the sony is like mud....
Also the autofocus is said to be better on the gx7. There is also a touchscreen (really big advantage?) and it has an electronic noiseless shutter.

In terms of lenses the mft may be a bit smaller but i dont think its a big deal, price is almost the same i think. I wont buy huge bunch of lenses anyway, probably the sel 20 2.8 and the sel 35 1.8 for the sony.

Can anybody give me a hint or has anybod used both cameras?

I really would appreciate that, thanks.

Mar 26, 2015*permalink

kreislauf

same situation here. the a6000 is really a steal for €500.
the lenses though... other than 1.8/35 and 1.8/24 (price: ouch!) i did not find a lens i fell in love. the 2.8/20 you mentioned seems like a better option (or 2.8/19 Sigma).

pro-GX7 for me would be in camera stabilizer and the silent shutter. plus if i would buy into m43s, i would not sell lenses anytime soon.

Mar 29, 2015*permalink

juked

@Karateka
Were you able to decide between the two? Am also stuck on the same decision. In-built OIS of GX7 seems to be impressive in tests. On almost all other parameters A6000 scores higher.

May 8, 2015permalink

Karateka

I tried the a6000 at a store again and i liked it very much (evf, grip), the panasonic wasnt there anymore unfortunately, but the decision is made....I will go with the a6000, just waiting for the a7000 coming out for price dropping....concerning lenses i hope the kit zoom and the sigma 19,30,60 is enough for me...

May 17, 2015*permalink

danchiken

This camera is great! I really like that you can move/bend the flash and it will flash on ceiling instead of flashing right at faces!!! I just got the camera and noticed that the 16-55mm lens seems like not enough to zoom in. Should I get the 55-210mm lens? Or I should get some other lens? Maybe the 55-210mm doesn't do anything BUT zoom? How does the 55-210mm lens behave at dark, sport ect? I got this camera to shoot some pics at a wedding.

Mar 25, 2015permalink

Stonefree

The 55-210mm lens doesn't cost much and does relatively much for the price ($200) It's quiet, relatively fast, but doesn't works better with the a5000 than with the a6000 because the a6000 doesn't have a lever for the internal zoom.

All better lenses are either relatively heavy or cost considerably more than the 55-210.

May 25, 2015permalink

Vladik

"The a6000 produces some very impressive image quality - at base ISO it matches the Nikon D5300 for resolution. This puts it quite some way ahead of the Fujifilm X-M1, the Canon EOS 700D/ Rebel T5i and the Olympus OM-D E-M10. "

Sony's resolution appears to be ahead of D5300 in my opinion, not a huge leap, but surely visible.

Mar 24, 2015permalink

Eric Hensel

Definitely visible. The Nikon has sightly less noise (raw at any ISO) so choose your weapon :)

Apr 3, 2015permalink

Prep2

Does any one know what the best lens to take video is for this camera is (Sony A6000)?

Mar 10, 2015permalink

Vladik

Ideally, you want a lens with electronic zoom option:

like this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1001011-REG/sony_selp18105g_18_105mm_f_4_g_lens.html

Mar 24, 2015permalink

jmatacola

where does the cost of sony's lenses fall compared with the canon and the Nikon cameras?

Apr 14, 2015permalink

Pitchertaker

Comparing the Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Nikon D7200. Both have very similar features when compared side by side.

Would appreciate takes on which one you'd prefer, why, and for what kinds of applications you think each product would best serve.

Mar 10, 2015*permalink

Mema Penguin

Amazon now carries a white base (body) of the Sony A6000. Does anyone know if the area where you hold on the camera will discolor over time? I'm considering in upgrading my Sony A100 (I know it's a dinosaur!) to the A6000 series.
Please advice.
Aloha!

Feb 19, 2015permalink

Rolfens

what's a 'phone ?

Feb 15, 2015permalink

Rspivack

Just bought the A6000 and want to try shooting some video in addition to stills.

I have never shot video before on a real camera (only camera phones), so I 'm wondering which video mode is the "best"?

For maximum quality, is there any reason not to simply choose the 60p "highest quality" mode?

Why would one choose a 24p mode? I read somewhere that 24p is the same as traditional film frame rates, but does that matter?

Feb 2, 2015permalink

Richard Butler

Footage shot at 24p (and around 1/50th of a second shutter speed) has a distinctive appearance in terms of how motion is conveyed. It's surprising how many people recognise it as being 'cinematic' even if they can't tell you why. Conversely, faster frame rates can look more soap opera-esque.

60p, although it sounds like it's higher quality setting, may not yield the results you want. It's better at accurately representing motion, but that's not always what you want.

Equally, many cameras shoot the same bitrate, regardless of how many frames per second you shoot (which means a lower frame rate will have more data representing each individual frame), so the 24p setting may appear less compressed, too.

Feb 3, 2015permalink

Rolfens

I'd recommend you experience with various modes. See how rolling shutter is in various modes. Rolling shutter an make a shaky video uncomfortable to watch. Usually there is less rolling shutter at higher framerates.

Mar 3, 2015permalink

steveworks

If you like to capture still shots from video, maybe lower frame rate is better. I have bad luck trying to capture stills from 60p video. Also, consider editing. Do you have software that edits 60 frames per second?

Dec 4, 2015permalink

jwkphoto

I'm a professional real estate photographer and I have the A6000 with the 16-50 kit lens. This camera replaces a Sony A65 with a Sigma F4-5.6 10-20 lens. I find the 6000 to be superior to the 65 in nearly every way. For my photos I find the 16-50 to be optically better than the Sigma. the 6000 does in camera lens corrections for lens distortion and color correction which greatly reduces my photography and post processing time by 30%. I know there has been lots of discussion about how bad the quality of the kit lens is but I've made very sharp 16x20 prints from it and it can go even larger.

I love my little A6000 and everything about it!

Jan 21, 2015permalink

bogorad

Why didn't you buy a 10-18 lens?

Jun 16, 2015permalink

jwkphoto

I don't need one, I already have the sigma 10-20 and a Sony lens adapter. I only use it when I need a wider angle. I find the 16mm setting on the 16-50 to be perfect for 99% of the photos I make, there's too much perspective distortion when used any wider which most RE snappers use.

Jun 19, 2015permalink

forggie5

I bought the a6000 camera body last month and have been so frustrated finding a good standard zoom lens for this e-mount camera. The 16-70mm seems like the one to go but I was hoping to get one with a 2.8 aperature. Is there a sigma or tamaron lens that would work better or some other lens that isn't over $2000? I don't want to regret moving from the canons but this hunt seems so much more difficult than anticipated, and I don't necessarily want to put an adapter on which would defeat the purpose of getting this lighter weighted camera as well. Any thoughts?

Jan 19, 2015permalink

TomHudsonVisual

You are SOL. Sorry. There are no good native options faster than 4.0. You can stick a prime on it and use it like a toy camera, and/or jump ship for another brand. Unfortunately, Sony do not support these bodies with enough good lenses to make them a primary platform for shooting. It's a huge disappointment. My girlfriend is inheriting my a6000 and I moved on to Nikon. I might have considered the Sony A7 series but their autofocus performance is not acceptable for my use.

Jan 25, 2015*permalink

kape06111

Try to use primes, better Image quality and less weight. Sony and Zeiss have nice and High quality primes for this system.

Jan 29, 2015permalink

TomHudsonVisual

Primes are not suitable for several situations, and they do not necessarily mean less weight. Example: if you are shooting in conditions that do not allow changing lenses on a body, shooting primes mandates carrying multiple bodies.

If you are shooting in dusty or moist environments, or one that requires you to constantly be moving, such as covering a protest, you don't want to change lenses on a body. I tried to shoot a recent night-time protest with a single a6000 body and a prime lens and missed a lot of shots I could have had with a 2.8 zoom (that focuses before water boils).

Jan 31, 2015*permalink

jazzii

get a manual zoom with an adapter. i have a canon fdn 35-105 f 3.5 at all focal lengths. this is same hi optical quality as a prime or l glass for under 100, but it does weigh a ton. if autofocus not an issue lots of options in legacy glass.

i would use my sony 50 f18 or sigma 30f28 alternatively if the 50 is too tight. the 30 gives you 60mm at 2x zoom equiv 90mm. 2x zoom (sensor crop) is decent iq.

the 16-50mm can produce good iq. some people say its bad but it has advantages, ie one of the few wide angle autofocus options available and not so bad iq equal to any kit zoom or better. if you got it with your camera its cheap, but i would not pay 400 for it. i bought the nex 3n kit with 16-50 and 55-210 for 400 new, sold the nex 3n for 200, so i have the 2 new zooms for 100 each with my body.

Apr 1, 2015permalink

Maxzoom

A6000 dynamic range in VIDEO
Could some kind person advise please?
I want to maximise dynamic range during video capture with a view to 'grading' in post. How much range of adjustment does the 'contrast' setting on the A6000 offer? Does it actually include more of the dynamic range of the sensor if the contrast setting is reduced? Other cameras have features like S-LOG2 but I dont want the bulk and cost of those cameras e.g. GH4 and A7S.
Thanks in advance for any responses.

Jan 18, 2015permalink

Sony firmware update 3.10 for a7 cameras, a6000, a5100 now available

Sony has released firmware update 3.10 for the a7R II, a7R, a7S, a7 II, a7, a6000 and a5100 camera models. The update primarily brings new lens support and is available to download now from Sony's support website. Read more

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Sony adds XAVC S and high bitrate video to a6000

Sony continues to embrace the feature-adding firmware trend by adding high bitrate video recording to its a6000 mirrorless camera. Firmware v2.0 adds the ability to record in the XAVC S format to the 16-month-old camera, offering 50Mbps shooting at 24, 30, or 60p (and PAL equivalents). Aside from the updated firmware, a Class 10 SDXC card is the only other thing you'll need to get started. Read more

Real-world test: the Sony a6000 goes surfing with Chris Burkard

Chris Burkard is a well-established adventure and surf photographer. His landscapes and cold weather surf photos have earned worldwide attention and plenty of high-profile clients. Chris joined us recently in California to take Sony's a6000 for a spin to try out its hybrid AF system on - what else? - sun, sand and surf. See how the a6000 keeps up in our latest real-world test. See video

Base, Black, Base In stock Usually ships in 24 hours	From $548.00 »
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w/ 16-50mm & 55-210mm, Black Camera + Black Lens, Base In stock Usually ships in 24 hours	From $798.00 »
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Sony Alpha a6000 Silver Interchangeable Lens Camera (Body) with Silver 55-210mm Sony E-Mount Lens	$896.00 »
Sony Alpha a6000 Interchangeable Lens Camera with 50mm Lens (Silver)	$846.00 »


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Sony a6000 Review

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