If you’ve been holding out all summer for a travel-friendly Sony mirrorless camera that sits between its premium compacts and full-frame powerhouses, we have good news – there are now two new Alpha E-Mount models, called the Sony A6100 and Sony A6600.
The Sony A6100 is the beginner-friendly model and takes the baton from the popular but ageing Sony A6000 from 2014, which will remain on sale for those who need a cheaper option.
But the more interesting camera, particularly for ambitious hobbyists, is the much-anticipated Sony A6600, a premium model that replaces the Sony A6500 and brings features like in-built image stabilisation and video shooting powers that include 4K HDR movie recording.
Both cameras have a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, 11fps continuous shooting and hybrid autofocus with real-time tracking. But the A6600 justifies its premium price tag with a few extra features including Real-time Eye AF for movies, a headphone jack and a Z battery, which apparently lasts 2.2x longer than the Sony A6500’s battery (for an impressive 810 shots, according to its industry standard CIPA rating).
It is a little heavier and bigger than the A6100, weighing in at 501g compared to the 396g for the latter, but remains lighter than rivals like the 539g Fujifilm X-T3.
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The two new Alpha cameras are designed for different types of photographers. While the Sony A6100 is a more affordable model for those looking to take a step up from their smartphone cameras, the Sony A6600 is like a mini version of Sony’s A7 series, which have larger full-frame sensors. Sitting in between the two is the Sony A6400, which came out in February 2019.
On paper, the Sony A6600 isn’t a huge upgrade on the latter, with in-body image stabilisation, real time Eye AF in movies, and the headphone jack being the main differences, which should all make it the superior video camera. It’s a slight surprise to find that it doesn’t shoot 4K video at 60fps (topping out at 4K/30fps), and still has the same viewfinder as its predecessor (a 2.4m-dot affair), but Sony claims there are over 40 improvements from the Sony A6500.
That viewfinder is higher-res than the A6100’s 1.4m-dot EVF, while the latter also lacks the A6600’s advanced video profiles like S-Log and, of course, in-built image stabilisation, which is handy for both video and shooting stills in low light.
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Sony also announced two new E-mount lenses with its new cameras, which include G Master tech for the first time in its APS-C lenses. Its new flagship 16-55mm f/2.8 standard zoom lens is an all-rounder for portraits, landscapes and travel shooting, while the 70-350mm f/4.6-f/6.3 G OSS is a super-telephoto zoom.
So when can you buy all these new Alpha-flavoured treats? Both cameras will be available from October 2019. The Sony A6600 will cost £1,450 (body only), or £1,800 for the ‘M’ kit which includes an 18-135mm lens. The Sony A6100, meanwhile, will be available for £830 (body only) or as part of an £900 ‘L’ kit (which includes the 16-50mm lens) or a ‘Y’ kit, which includes a 55-210mm lens.
The lenses, meanwhile, will be on sale at £1,200 (for the 16-55mm f/2.8) and £830 for the 70-350mm f/4.6-f/6.3 G OSS in October 2019 too. We’ll bring you our first impressions of both cameras very soon.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.