I've owned every Sony mirrorless camera since the Nex-5N. I've also owned every Sony A7 full frame mirrorless camera except for the A9. I'm currently shooing with the Sony A7riii professionally. The Sony A6000 was my first advanced semi-professional camera in the Sony mirrorless line and it was a game changer for me. I have since upgraded to the A6500 but in 2018 this is viable camera for those wanting to get into more serious photography and those who want a small compact travel camera that can change lenses. Many professionals also keep one of these as a backup for equipment failures. The A6000 went down in history in the Sony line as a legendary camera.
Pros:
Price. When I first purchased this, this was $800 with a 16-50mm kit and $650 for just the body. The price has come down a lot now to $500 for body and kit and $450 for just the body. In the used market you can find them for just a little over $300. This is an amazing deal for a camera of this caliber. When I purchased this camera, it used to be the top of the Sony mirrorless APS-C line. It was a replacement for the NEX 6/7. Nowadays there is a an A6300 and A6500 so it's become the low tier product. But at this price it's still viable as a entry-level camera.
Size. There's very few cameras that are as compact as the A6000 that packs a punch. The A6000 with the kit 16-50mm lens is small enough to fit in purses and cargo pant pockets. It will also fit perfectly in compartments in backpacks and other bags. It is significantly smaller than most entry level DSLR cameras from Canon or Nikon.
FAST. This camera shoots continuous bursts extremely quick. I normally shoot on continuous mode (hold shutter down) so not to miss a shot and pick out the best one later. With this camera I need to be wary of how long I hold it down for because after a few seconds I have 20+ photos in my camera that are all essentially the same. I've tried and I can't shoot less than 3 shots with one push of the shutter. If you shoot moving objects you can almost make a flip-book or stop motion movie with this. Amazing speed.
Fast autofocus. The AF of this camera is PDAF and Contrast Detect. PDAF is much quicker and contrast detect is used for fine-grain adjustments. It's the same kind of AF system used in the A7 line of professional cameras. The AF is competent enough to track fast moving subjects well and should be more than capable for most people's needs.
Lens Compatibility. Even though this is an older Sony E mount camera, it is fully compatible with the entire lineup of Sony E and FE mount lenses. This means you can attach a professional fast 1.8 or 1.4 lens for great low light photos and beautiful bokeh photos. Upgrading a lens is always more bang for buck than upgrading a body.
Construction. Overall the camera seems well built and sturdy. It's not waterproof but good enough to handle everyday use. It would not handle serious drops however.
Wireless. The wireless feature is an added bonus that most entry-level DSLRs don't have. Download the Sony Playmemories App and you can use your phone to wirelessly transfer files, use your phone as a remote, and as a secondary screen. Improvements in the Sony app has seen much better features and speed over the years.
Apps. The apps on the camera are something mostly exclusive to Sony Mirrorless. They're a welcome addition. Some of the best ones are the remote shooting app, the touchless shutter, and numerous time lapse apps.
Cons.
LOW LIGHT. The main problem with this camera is the ISO quality has been superseded by its competitors due to the sensor's age. The photos become noisy at ISO 800 and above, which is a common ISO used in indoors situations. In low light you absolutely need some flash to fill in the light. Even in RAW shooting the low light, you'll deal with noisy photos. You can always correct some of it in post but the camera's age and limitations do show. The A6300 and A6500 are improvements in the ISO and image quality. The camera is still good for hobby and non-professional work but the A6000 is definitely not good enough for paid or professional work!
Battery life. The battery life on all mirrorless cameras are still abysmal, the A6000 included. Sony has upgraded the battery capacity in the newest gen 3 A7 cameras however they have not made it over to the APSC line. The problem is, without a reflex mirror, whenever the camera is on, the sensor is on. The sensor not only takes the photos, it lets you "see" through the viewfinder or LCD. The consequence is the camera is constantly sucking juice when it's on. With regular SLRs, the sensor is only on when you shoot and a SLR will last you several days without charge with normal use. I always keep a spare battery and an external charger around. If you buy this camera (or any other mirrorless camera), I suggest you do the same.
Lens compatibility. Even though this works with Sony lenses, unlike the A7 series, the A6000 is not great with many Canon to Sony mount adapters. The performance of non-Sony lenses were always a toss up even with the A7 series but as the A6000 is not a professional camera, most companies like Metabones and Sigma won't be updating their adapters to work well with this camera. If you have Canon or Sigma lenses, expect only partial support with the A6000.
Overall this is a fantastic camera. In 2018, it is a bit dated by its competitors and newer versions from Sony. However its role has changed to an entry-level camera and your expectations should match as such. For the price, it is fantastic for a beginner who wants more serious higher quality photos than cell phone cameras. Additionally, professionals regularly use this camera for personal work, or as a backup camera since it can accept professional Sony lenses. Finally, the size is perfect as a travel camera.
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This Item  Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera 24.3 MP SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD - Body Only (Black) |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $378.00 | -7% $629.00 List: $679.99 | $871.39 | -21% $379.00 List: $479.99 | $1,064.95 | -13% $1,398.00 List: $1,599.99 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 29 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 29 | Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Apr 24 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 29 | Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Apr 24 | Get it Apr 26 - May 1 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
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| Quality of material | ||||||
| Sold By | Tokyo Optic Apex | Amazon.com | 6ave | Amazon.com | 6ave | Beach Camera Same Day Shipping |
| display type | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD |
| display size | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches |
| lens type | Interchangeable | Telephoto | Interchangeable | Telephoto | Interchangeable | Zoom |
| zoom type | Optical | — | Optical Zoom | Optical Zoom | Optical Zoom | — |
| shooting modes | Bulb Mode,Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority | Automatic | Continuous Shooting | Automatic | Landscape; portrait mode; macro; night portrait; night scene; sports mode; sunset; handheld twilight; anti-motion blur | Single Shooting, Continuous shooting (Hi+/Hi/Mid/Lo selectable), Self-timer, Self-timer (Cont.), Bracket: Single, Bracket: Cont., White Balance bracket, DRO bracket |
| connectivity tech | NFC, HDMI, USB | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Micro HDMI, USB | NFC, HDMI, USB | wired, wireless | USB 2.0, HDMI, 3.5mm audio | USB |
From the manufacturer
Sony ILCE6000L/B Mirrorless DSLR Camera w/ 16-50mm lens
Test the limits of your creativity with the premium mirrorless DSLR that’s focused on speed. Every artistic shot you take—from fast-action to candid—benefits from 24.3MP detail and the world’s fastest auto focus6. For capturing crucial moments that go by in a blink, the a6000 can shoot 11 photos in one second. It’s compact and easy to use, too. Two quick-access dials let you change settings on the fly. Very intuitive.
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All the quality in half the size & weight of other DSLRsThe α6000 is a super compact Mirrorless camera that’s about half the size and weight of a typical DSLR, yet it has the same size APS-C image sensor as most DSLRs. The interchangeable lenses and E-mount system make the α6000 more versatile than almost any other camera on the market. |
World’s fastest auto focus6 with 179 AF points and 11FpsNever miss the moment - the α6000 captures 11fps frames per second in continuous shooting mode with AF (Auto Focus) tracking by making the most of the wide-area 179-point phase-detection AF sensor. Even when dealing with fast action the α6000’s superb moving-subject tracking performance ensures you get a great shot during still or video capture. |
Capture life in stunning high resolution with 24MP APS-C sensorGet incredible detail and gorgeous enlargements thanks to the newly developed 24.3 megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS image sensor. It’s higher resolution than most DSLRs and adopts the same gapless on-chip lens structure as the α7R for ultimate image quality and light sensitivity. |
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Better Images through BIONZ X processingThe new BIONZ X image processor faithfully reproduces textures and details in real time via extra high-speed processing capabilities delivering true-to-life images - as seen by the naked eye. It enables greater natural detail, richer tonal gradations, lower noise and more realistic images whether you shoot stills or video. |
Instant sharing via smartphone with Wi-Fi and NFCSharing has never been so easy. Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to control your camera with your compatible Smartphone or Tablet and the PlayMemories Camera Apps.5 Frame your image on your device’s LCD and control the camera shutter. You can even transfer the images taken directly to your mobile device for quick editing and uploading - Connectivity has been simplified to one-touch utilizing NFC (near field communication). Simply touch the camera to the compatible NFC enabled device to connect. |
Gorgeous low light photos with ISO range of 100-25600With 20% higher sensitivity than the NEX-7 due to the newly developed Exmor CMOS sensor and BIONZ X processor, you get stunning detail in in low light from ISO range 100 – 25000. And for an additional burst of light, the α6000 features a pop-up flash and a standard hot shoe for additional flash accessories. |
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Easy and intuitive controls help you shoot like a proDespite its small size, the α6000 gives you full DSLR control and immediate access to the functions you need to shoot like a pro. Two dials on top and a rear-mounted control wheel allow quick selection of shooting modes and camera settings. In addition to the Fn button, there’s seven customizable buttons, which can be assigned any of 474 functions. |
Record Full HD 1080/24/60P video3Make movie magic with Full HD 1920 x 1080 video in cinematic 24p, or capture fast action at incredible 60p and 60i frame-rates.3 Made even easier with the α6000’s 179 point AF (auto focus) system – tracking moving subjects is not a problem. Selectable in-camera – Blu-ray quality - AVCHD or simple and easier upload to the web - MP4 codecs are available. For serious videographers, uncompressed clean-screen video files to external recording devices is made possible via the HDMI connection. |
What you see is what you get with an OLED ViewfinderThere’s never been anything quite like the Tru-Finder OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF). The OLED EVF features a new optical system with four double aspherical lenses that deliver 100% frame coverage and a wide viewing angle (approx. 33°) for clear visibility from corner to corner dramatically improving visibility. View every scene in rich tonal detail and gradations on the high contrast 1.4M dot OLED EVF. The viewfinder faithfully displays what will appear in your recording, including the effects of your camera settings, so you can accurately monitor the results. There are many advantages to electronic viewfinders, including the ability to display the effects of various camera settings before you take the picture, the use of MF Assist, and Peaking function for fine-tuning focus and previewing the shot. |
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3.0" 921k dot LCD tilts for high and low angle framingThe tiltable 3.0” (921k dots) Xtra Fine LCD Display makes it easy to photograph over crowds or low to capture pets eye to eye by swinging up approx. 90° and down approx. 45°. Easily scroll through menus and preview life thanks to WhiteMagic technology that dramatically increases visibility in bright daylight. The large display delivers brilliant-quality still images and movies while enabling easy focusing operation. Trademarks: 2014 Sony Electronics Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Footnotes: 1 Among interchangeable-lens digital cameras equipped with an APS-C image sensor as of February 12, 2014. Measured using CIPA internal measurement method with E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens mounted, Pre-AF off and viewfinder in use. 2 Not supported in some regions. Features and specifications are subject to change without notice. |
Enhance your camera and creativity with Camera AppsPersonalize your camera by adding new features of your choice with PlayMemories Camera Apps. Find apps to fit your shooting style from portraits, detailed close-ups, sports, time lapse, motion shot and much more. Use apps that shoot, share and save photos using Wi-Fi Easily control your camera via smartphone. Post photos directly to Facebook or backup images to the cloud without connecting to a computer.5. Footnotes: 3 Records in up to 29 minutes segments.4 Some functions can only be assigned to certain buttons. 4 Some functions can only be assigned to certain buttons. 5 Requires an active 802.11 Wi-Fi network (802.11n recommended) or PlayMemories Mobile app installed on compatible Android or iOS device. PlayMemories camera apps require download with existing Sony Entertainment Network account. Download available in all countries/areas where Sony Entertainment Network is available. Sony is not responsible for typographical and photographic errors. |
Fast Hybrid AF (Auto Focus) with 179 phase-detection pointsEnhanced Fast Hybrid auto focus combines speedy phase-detection AF with highly accurate contrast-detection AF. Fast Hybrid AF has been accelerated through a new Spatial Object Detection algorithm, to achieve among the fastest autofocusing performance of any camera (0.06 second). First, 179 densely placed focal plane phase-detection AF points swiftly and efficiently move the lens to bring the subject into focus. Then contrast-detection AF with wide AF coverage fine-tunes the focusing in the blink of an eye. 6 Among interchangeable-lens digital cameras equipped with an APS-C image sensor as of February 12, 2014, based on Sony research. Measured using internal method with E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens mounted. CIPA guideline compliant. Sony, BIONX X, Exmor, Tru-Finder, PlayMemories Camera Apps and the Sony logo are marks of Sony CorporationHDMI is a mark of HDMI Licensing LLC. Wi-Fi is a registered mark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. |
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| SEL-P18105G | SEL-1670Z | SEL-1018 | SEL-55210 | SEL-35F18 | SEL-18200LE | |
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| Price | $648.00 | $798.00 | $898.00 | — | $473.00 | $848.00 |
| E mount Lens | E PZ 18–105 mm F4 G OSS | Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70 mm F4 ZA OSS | FE 85 mm F1.4 GM | E 55–210 mm F4.5-6.3 OSS | E 35 mm F1.8 OSS | E 18–200 mm F3.5–6.3 OSS LE |
| Body compatibility | E-mount series | E-mount series | E-mount series | E-mount series | E-mount series | E-mount series |
| Minimum focus distance | 1.24 ft | 1.15 ft (0.35 m) | AF 2.79 ft, MF 2.62 ft | 3.28 ft (1 m) | 0.73 ft (0.22 m) | 1.64 ft (0.5 m) |
| Maximum magnification ratio(x) | 0.24 x | 0.23x | 0.12 x | 0.225 x | 0.24 x | 0.27x |
| Filter diameter (mm) | 82 mm | 55 mm | 77 mm | 49 mm | 55 mm | 62 mm |
| Weight | 31.25 oz | 10.9 oz (308 g) | 28.92 oz | 12.2 oz (345 g) | 9.9 oz (280 g) | 16.3 oz (460 g) |
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| NP-FW50 | BC-TRW | ECM-XYST1M | RM-TDSLR2 | HVL-F45RM | HVL-F60RM | |
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| Price | $59.95 | $48.00 | $138.00 | $28.00 | $378.00 | $385.00 |
| Accessory Type | Battery | Battery charger | Microphone | Remote Commander | Flash | Flash |
| Product name | W-series Rechargeable Battery Pack | Travel charger for W-series battery | Stereo Mic For Multi-Interface Shoe | Wireless Remote Commander | External Flash with Wireless Radio Control | High-speed flash |
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Still a Great Camera for 2018! Great Beginners and Advanced Enthusiast!
I've owned every Sony mirrorless camera since the Nex-5N. I've also owned every Sony A7 full frame mirrorless camera except for the A9. I'm currently shooing with the Sony A7riii professionally. The Sony A6000 was my first advanced semi-professional camera in the Sony mirrorless line and it was a game changer for me. I have since upgraded to the A6500 but in 2018 this is viable camera for those wanting to get into more serious photography and those who want a small compact travel camera that can change lenses. Many professionals also keep one of these as a backup for equipment failures. The A6000 went down in history in the Sony line as a legendary camera.Pros:Price. When I first purchased this, this was $800 with a 16-50mm kit and $650 for just the body. The price has come down a lot now to $500 for body and kit and $450 for just the body. In the used market you can find them for just a little over $300. This is an amazing deal for a camera of this caliber. When I purchased this camera, it used to be the top of the Sony mirrorless APS-C line. It was a replacement for the NEX 6/7. Nowadays there is a an A6300 and A6500 so it's become the low tier product. But at this price it's still viable as a entry-level camera.Size. There's very few cameras that are as compact as the A6000 that packs a punch. The A6000 with the kit 16-50mm lens is small enough to fit in purses and cargo pant pockets. It will also fit perfectly in compartments in backpacks and other bags. It is significantly smaller than most entry level DSLR cameras from Canon or Nikon.FAST. This camera shoots continuous bursts extremely quick. I normally shoot on continuous mode (hold shutter down) so not to miss a shot and pick out the best one later. With this camera I need to be wary of how long I hold it down for because after a few seconds I have 20+ photos in my camera that are all essentially the same. I've tried and I can't shoot less than 3 shots with one push of the shutter. If you shoot moving objects you can almost make a flip-book or stop motion movie with this. Amazing speed.Fast autofocus. The AF of this camera is PDAF and Contrast Detect. PDAF is much quicker and contrast detect is used for fine-grain adjustments. It's the same kind of AF system used in the A7 line of professional cameras. The AF is competent enough to track fast moving subjects well and should be more than capable for most people's needs.Lens Compatibility. Even though this is an older Sony E mount camera, it is fully compatible with the entire lineup of Sony E and FE mount lenses. This means you can attach a professional fast 1.8 or 1.4 lens for great low light photos and beautiful bokeh photos. Upgrading a lens is always more bang for buck than upgrading a body.Construction. Overall the camera seems well built and sturdy. It's not waterproof but good enough to handle everyday use. It would not handle serious drops however.Wireless. The wireless feature is an added bonus that most entry-level DSLRs don't have. Download the Sony Playmemories App and you can use your phone to wirelessly transfer files, use your phone as a remote, and as a secondary screen. Improvements in the Sony app has seen much better features and speed over the years.Apps. The apps on the camera are something mostly exclusive to Sony Mirrorless. They're a welcome addition. Some of the best ones are the remote shooting app, the touchless shutter, and numerous time lapse apps.Cons.LOW LIGHT. The main problem with this camera is the ISO quality has been superseded by its competitors due to the sensor's age. The photos become noisy at ISO 800 and above, which is a common ISO used in indoors situations. In low light you absolutely need some flash to fill in the light. Even in RAW shooting the low light, you'll deal with noisy photos. You can always correct some of it in post but the camera's age and limitations do show. The A6300 and A6500 are improvements in the ISO and image quality. The camera is still good for hobby and non-professional work but the A6000 is definitely not good enough for paid or professional work!Battery life. The battery life on all mirrorless cameras are still abysmal, the A6000 included. Sony has upgraded the battery capacity in the newest gen 3 A7 cameras however they have not made it over to the APSC line. The problem is, without a reflex mirror, whenever the camera is on, the sensor is on. The sensor not only takes the photos, it lets you "see" through the viewfinder or LCD. The consequence is the camera is constantly sucking juice when it's on. With regular SLRs, the sensor is only on when you shoot and a SLR will last you several days without charge with normal use. I always keep a spare battery and an external charger around. If you buy this camera (or any other mirrorless camera), I suggest you do the same.Lens compatibility. Even though this works with Sony lenses, unlike the A7 series, the A6000 is not great with many Canon to Sony mount adapters. The performance of non-Sony lenses were always a toss up even with the A7 series but as the A6000 is not a professional camera, most companies like Metabones and Sigma won't be updating their adapters to work well with this camera. If you have Canon or Sigma lenses, expect only partial support with the A6000.Overall this is a fantastic camera. In 2018, it is a bit dated by its competitors and newer versions from Sony. However its role has changed to an entry-level camera and your expectations should match as such. For the price, it is fantastic for a beginner who wants more serious higher quality photos than cell phone cameras. Additionally, professionals regularly use this camera for personal work, or as a backup camera since it can accept professional Sony lenses. Finally, the size is perfect as a travel camera.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2014
Pros:
Price. When I first purchased this, this was $800 with a 16-50mm kit and $650 for just the body. The price has come down a lot now to $500 for body and kit and $450 for just the body. In the used market you can find them for just a little over $300. This is an amazing deal for a camera of this caliber. When I purchased this camera, it used to be the top of the Sony mirrorless APS-C line. It was a replacement for the NEX 6/7. Nowadays there is a an A6300 and A6500 so it's become the low tier product. But at this price it's still viable as a entry-level camera.
Size. There's very few cameras that are as compact as the A6000 that packs a punch. The A6000 with the kit 16-50mm lens is small enough to fit in purses and cargo pant pockets. It will also fit perfectly in compartments in backpacks and other bags. It is significantly smaller than most entry level DSLR cameras from Canon or Nikon.
FAST. This camera shoots continuous bursts extremely quick. I normally shoot on continuous mode (hold shutter down) so not to miss a shot and pick out the best one later. With this camera I need to be wary of how long I hold it down for because after a few seconds I have 20+ photos in my camera that are all essentially the same. I've tried and I can't shoot less than 3 shots with one push of the shutter. If you shoot moving objects you can almost make a flip-book or stop motion movie with this. Amazing speed.
Fast autofocus. The AF of this camera is PDAF and Contrast Detect. PDAF is much quicker and contrast detect is used for fine-grain adjustments. It's the same kind of AF system used in the A7 line of professional cameras. The AF is competent enough to track fast moving subjects well and should be more than capable for most people's needs.
Lens Compatibility. Even though this is an older Sony E mount camera, it is fully compatible with the entire lineup of Sony E and FE mount lenses. This means you can attach a professional fast 1.8 or 1.4 lens for great low light photos and beautiful bokeh photos. Upgrading a lens is always more bang for buck than upgrading a body.
Construction. Overall the camera seems well built and sturdy. It's not waterproof but good enough to handle everyday use. It would not handle serious drops however.
Wireless. The wireless feature is an added bonus that most entry-level DSLRs don't have. Download the Sony Playmemories App and you can use your phone to wirelessly transfer files, use your phone as a remote, and as a secondary screen. Improvements in the Sony app has seen much better features and speed over the years.
Apps. The apps on the camera are something mostly exclusive to Sony Mirrorless. They're a welcome addition. Some of the best ones are the remote shooting app, the touchless shutter, and numerous time lapse apps.
Cons.
LOW LIGHT. The main problem with this camera is the ISO quality has been superseded by its competitors due to the sensor's age. The photos become noisy at ISO 800 and above, which is a common ISO used in indoors situations. In low light you absolutely need some flash to fill in the light. Even in RAW shooting the low light, you'll deal with noisy photos. You can always correct some of it in post but the camera's age and limitations do show. The A6300 and A6500 are improvements in the ISO and image quality. The camera is still good for hobby and non-professional work but the A6000 is definitely not good enough for paid or professional work!
Battery life. The battery life on all mirrorless cameras are still abysmal, the A6000 included. Sony has upgraded the battery capacity in the newest gen 3 A7 cameras however they have not made it over to the APSC line. The problem is, without a reflex mirror, whenever the camera is on, the sensor is on. The sensor not only takes the photos, it lets you "see" through the viewfinder or LCD. The consequence is the camera is constantly sucking juice when it's on. With regular SLRs, the sensor is only on when you shoot and a SLR will last you several days without charge with normal use. I always keep a spare battery and an external charger around. If you buy this camera (or any other mirrorless camera), I suggest you do the same.
Lens compatibility. Even though this works with Sony lenses, unlike the A7 series, the A6000 is not great with many Canon to Sony mount adapters. The performance of non-Sony lenses were always a toss up even with the A7 series but as the A6000 is not a professional camera, most companies like Metabones and Sigma won't be updating their adapters to work well with this camera. If you have Canon or Sigma lenses, expect only partial support with the A6000.
Overall this is a fantastic camera. In 2018, it is a bit dated by its competitors and newer versions from Sony. However its role has changed to an entry-level camera and your expectations should match as such. For the price, it is fantastic for a beginner who wants more serious higher quality photos than cell phone cameras. Additionally, professionals regularly use this camera for personal work, or as a backup camera since it can accept professional Sony lenses. Finally, the size is perfect as a travel camera.
Color: BlackStyle: BaseSet: BaseVerified Purchase
Still a Great Camera for 2018! Great Beginners and Advanced Enthusiast!
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2014
I've owned every Sony mirrorless camera since the Nex-5N. I've also owned every Sony A7 full frame mirrorless camera except for the A9. I'm currently shooing with the Sony A7riii professionally. The Sony A6000 was my first advanced semi-professional camera in the Sony mirrorless line and it was a game changer for me. I have since upgraded to the A6500 but in 2018 this is viable camera for those wanting to get into more serious photography and those who want a small compact travel camera that can change lenses. Many professionals also keep one of these as a backup for equipment failures. The A6000 went down in history in the Sony line as a legendary camera.Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2014
Pros:
Price. When I first purchased this, this was $800 with a 16-50mm kit and $650 for just the body. The price has come down a lot now to $500 for body and kit and $450 for just the body. In the used market you can find them for just a little over $300. This is an amazing deal for a camera of this caliber. When I purchased this camera, it used to be the top of the Sony mirrorless APS-C line. It was a replacement for the NEX 6/7. Nowadays there is a an A6300 and A6500 so it's become the low tier product. But at this price it's still viable as a entry-level camera.
Size. There's very few cameras that are as compact as the A6000 that packs a punch. The A6000 with the kit 16-50mm lens is small enough to fit in purses and cargo pant pockets. It will also fit perfectly in compartments in backpacks and other bags. It is significantly smaller than most entry level DSLR cameras from Canon or Nikon.
FAST. This camera shoots continuous bursts extremely quick. I normally shoot on continuous mode (hold shutter down) so not to miss a shot and pick out the best one later. With this camera I need to be wary of how long I hold it down for because after a few seconds I have 20+ photos in my camera that are all essentially the same. I've tried and I can't shoot less than 3 shots with one push of the shutter. If you shoot moving objects you can almost make a flip-book or stop motion movie with this. Amazing speed.
Fast autofocus. The AF of this camera is PDAF and Contrast Detect. PDAF is much quicker and contrast detect is used for fine-grain adjustments. It's the same kind of AF system used in the A7 line of professional cameras. The AF is competent enough to track fast moving subjects well and should be more than capable for most people's needs.
Lens Compatibility. Even though this is an older Sony E mount camera, it is fully compatible with the entire lineup of Sony E and FE mount lenses. This means you can attach a professional fast 1.8 or 1.4 lens for great low light photos and beautiful bokeh photos. Upgrading a lens is always more bang for buck than upgrading a body.
Construction. Overall the camera seems well built and sturdy. It's not waterproof but good enough to handle everyday use. It would not handle serious drops however.
Wireless. The wireless feature is an added bonus that most entry-level DSLRs don't have. Download the Sony Playmemories App and you can use your phone to wirelessly transfer files, use your phone as a remote, and as a secondary screen. Improvements in the Sony app has seen much better features and speed over the years.
Apps. The apps on the camera are something mostly exclusive to Sony Mirrorless. They're a welcome addition. Some of the best ones are the remote shooting app, the touchless shutter, and numerous time lapse apps.
Cons.
LOW LIGHT. The main problem with this camera is the ISO quality has been superseded by its competitors due to the sensor's age. The photos become noisy at ISO 800 and above, which is a common ISO used in indoors situations. In low light you absolutely need some flash to fill in the light. Even in RAW shooting the low light, you'll deal with noisy photos. You can always correct some of it in post but the camera's age and limitations do show. The A6300 and A6500 are improvements in the ISO and image quality. The camera is still good for hobby and non-professional work but the A6000 is definitely not good enough for paid or professional work!
Battery life. The battery life on all mirrorless cameras are still abysmal, the A6000 included. Sony has upgraded the battery capacity in the newest gen 3 A7 cameras however they have not made it over to the APSC line. The problem is, without a reflex mirror, whenever the camera is on, the sensor is on. The sensor not only takes the photos, it lets you "see" through the viewfinder or LCD. The consequence is the camera is constantly sucking juice when it's on. With regular SLRs, the sensor is only on when you shoot and a SLR will last you several days without charge with normal use. I always keep a spare battery and an external charger around. If you buy this camera (or any other mirrorless camera), I suggest you do the same.
Lens compatibility. Even though this works with Sony lenses, unlike the A7 series, the A6000 is not great with many Canon to Sony mount adapters. The performance of non-Sony lenses were always a toss up even with the A7 series but as the A6000 is not a professional camera, most companies like Metabones and Sigma won't be updating their adapters to work well with this camera. If you have Canon or Sigma lenses, expect only partial support with the A6000.
Overall this is a fantastic camera. In 2018, it is a bit dated by its competitors and newer versions from Sony. However its role has changed to an entry-level camera and your expectations should match as such. For the price, it is fantastic for a beginner who wants more serious higher quality photos than cell phone cameras. Additionally, professionals regularly use this camera for personal work, or as a backup camera since it can accept professional Sony lenses. Finally, the size is perfect as a travel camera.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2015
Color: BlackStyle: BaseSet: BaseVerified Purchase
Aloha first off a little about myself for reference, I'm an enthusiast shooter that loves landscapes, cityscapes, and surfphotography. I also do model and animal photos too occasionally. I've shot with canon xt/xsi, 7D, 5D, and 5D mrk iii, and now the a6000. I primarily bought the a6000 for it's very small size and great image quality for quick short trips. I have it in my backpack all the time and don't even notice it's there. Being a dslr shooter that loves to control all aspects of the camera, I was worried that I'd be limited to what I'd be able to control. But the a6000 offers me even more control of the camera than my 5d mrk iii! I was also worried about getting used to the button layout but it actually is very intuitive, my time spent learning where everything was was very short. Also the different types of information that you can customize your rear screen with and the evf are incredible!
Pros:
- Very compact body
- Excellent image quality(using the 18-105 f4 G OSS lens), even in handheld lowlight panorama shot jpegs are quite stunning.
- Build quality is top notch, doesn't feel cheap at all
- Amount of manual control allowed.
- control layout is intuitive.
- the customizable screen information is ridiculously good!
- the Sony app is pretty cool along with the nfc for transferring images to your phone/tablet.
-11 frames per second! Oh my goodness! With continously autofocus.
- quick and solid focus
Cons:
- loving the small camera size and all the controls they give you, that being said I have big hands and some buttons are cramped together. So my thumb gets sore from trying to tightly maneuver the buttons.
- the evf/rear screen both seem a little flat when displaying images while shooting. (Looks different from reviewing the image after shot) But that might just be me being used to dslr penta prism view finder.
- if you use the rear screen a lot for composing like lanscapes and it being on for say 35 minutes while you shoot, you may only get like 50 shots before the battery goes, so pack extra!
***Update 12/24/15 I believe that one of my batteries from Wasabi is not holding its charge very well and gave me very little shooting time. The OEM cannon battery and other Wasabi battery last much longer I'd say 3 to 4 times as long. :D ***
So overall I love it, jpeg images have great color and saturation, RAW files have dynamic depth to them, metering and focusing are very good. I'm very happy with this camera. I've attached a few sunrise/sunset images. The panos are handheld, one is in camera processed, the other raw images stitched in LR, the third is a single raw image processed in LR.
Mahalo,
Mike
Flickr : MICHAEL A SANTOS
Pros:
- Very compact body
- Excellent image quality(using the 18-105 f4 G OSS lens), even in handheld lowlight panorama shot jpegs are quite stunning.
- Build quality is top notch, doesn't feel cheap at all
- Amount of manual control allowed.
- control layout is intuitive.
- the customizable screen information is ridiculously good!
- the Sony app is pretty cool along with the nfc for transferring images to your phone/tablet.
-11 frames per second! Oh my goodness! With continously autofocus.
- quick and solid focus
Cons:
- loving the small camera size and all the controls they give you, that being said I have big hands and some buttons are cramped together. So my thumb gets sore from trying to tightly maneuver the buttons.
- the evf/rear screen both seem a little flat when displaying images while shooting. (Looks different from reviewing the image after shot) But that might just be me being used to dslr penta prism view finder.
- if you use the rear screen a lot for composing like lanscapes and it being on for say 35 minutes while you shoot, you may only get like 50 shots before the battery goes, so pack extra!
***Update 12/24/15 I believe that one of my batteries from Wasabi is not holding its charge very well and gave me very little shooting time. The OEM cannon battery and other Wasabi battery last much longer I'd say 3 to 4 times as long. :D ***
So overall I love it, jpeg images have great color and saturation, RAW files have dynamic depth to them, metering and focusing are very good. I'm very happy with this camera. I've attached a few sunrise/sunset images. The panos are handheld, one is in camera processed, the other raw images stitched in LR, the third is a single raw image processed in LR.
Mahalo,
Mike
Flickr : MICHAEL A SANTOS
Images in this review
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