Sony a6700 | How Much BETTER Is It Really? VS a6600 a6400 a6100 a6000

Summary

The video explores whether upgrading to the Sony a6700 is worth it or if it's better to save money and opt for an older a6000 model. Key points include its improvements in autofocus, AI features, color science, and user interface, making it a strong choice for both photographers and videographers. While the a6700 offers significant video upgrades, especially for 4K recording and image stabilization, it may be overkill for those primarily shooting photos. For budget-conscious users, older models like the a6600 or a6400 still provide great value, though the a6700 shines for its longevity and advanced video features.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Sony a6700 is a significant upgrade if you're looking for better autofocus and more advanced AI features.
• 😀 If you're primarily focused on photos, the a6700 might not offer a big enough improvement over the a6000 to justify upgrading.
• 😀 Better lenses can improve the performance of older cameras like the a6000, offering better results without needing an upgrade.
• 😀 The a6700 offers enhanced autofocus with 759 phase-detection points and AI-powered human, animal, and object recognition.
• 😀 The larger battery in the a6700 provides longer shooting times, but also makes the grip size bigger, which may not be ideal for all users.
• 😀 The user interface of the a6700 is significantly improved, with a cleaner design and full touchscreen support for easier operation.
• 😀 The a6700 offers excellent video features, including 4K 60p and 120p with high bit rates, making it ideal for slow-motion and professional filming.
• 😀 The camera supports 14+ stops of dynamic range, S-Log3, and the SCineTone color profile, making it a great choice for video professionals.
• 😀 For long-form 4K video, consider the FX30 instead of the a6700 due to better cooling capabilities for extended recording times.
• 😀 The flip-out screen on the a6700 is perfect for vlogging and vertical video creation, making it more versatile than earlier models like the a6600.

Q & A

Is it worth upgrading to the Sony a6700 if you're a photographer?

If photography is at least 70% of your work, you don't need to upgrade to the a6700. The photo capabilities, such as the 11 frames per second burst rate and slight megapixel bump from 24.2 to 26, are very similar to older models like the a6000. The real benefit comes from better lenses rather than upgrading the body.

How much of a difference does the new autofocus in the a6700 make?

The autofocus in the a6700 is significantly better, with 759 phase detection points compared to the 425 on older models. It tracks subjects much more accurately, even when they move toward the edge of the frame. The AI autofocus has improvements like human pose estimation and can now detect subjects such as animals, birds, cars, and more.

What is the benefit of better lenses over upgrading to a new camera?

Investing in better lenses will breathe new life into older cameras and deliver better results, often improving image quality more than a camera body upgrade. New high-quality APS-C lenses, such as f2.8 zooms and f1.4 primes, are available and can elevate your photography significantly.

What are the key improvements in the Sony a6700's user interface?

The user interface on the a6700 is much better, with a cleaner layout and touch support for all menu items. It's more accessible, especially for beginners, allowing easy control of focus, brightness, and colors with sliders in Auto mode, similar to smartphone photography.

What is the advantage of the Sony a6700 for video recording?

The a6700 offers significant video upgrades, including 4K 60p and 4K 120p recording, reduced rolling shutter, and improved in-body image stabilization. It also supports 10-bit 4:2:2 video, offering better dynamic range (14+ stops) and the ability to shoot in S-Log3 for better post-production flexibility.

How does the rolling shutter performance of the a6700 compare to older models?

The a6700 has a significantly reduced rolling shutter compared to older models like the a6600. This makes it much more stable when shooting fast motion or whipping the camera quickly, resulting in less distortion and bending in the frame.

Should I choose the a6700 for long-form video recording?

For long-form 4K 60p recording, the a6700 may not be the best option due to overheating after about 20 minutes of recording. If long-term recording is important, the FX30, with its built-in fan, would be a better choice.

Is the battery life of the a6700 better than previous models?

Yes, the a6700 uses a bigger battery, offering longer shoot times compared to the a6600. However, the larger battery also results in a bulkier grip, which may not be preferred by users who enjoy smaller mirrorless cameras.

Does the Sony a6700 support flip-out screens, and how does it benefit vloggers?

Yes, the a6700 has a flip-out screen, which is beneficial for vlogging and framing vertical videos. Although some users prefer the flip-up screen style of the a6600, the flip-out screen allows more versatile angles for content creation.

How does the a6700 perform in terms of color science and image quality?

The a6700 has improved color science, offering better skin tone accuracy and more natural colors, especially in mixed lighting conditions. Additionally, it features the S-Cinetone color profile from Sony's higher-end Venice cameras, giving it professional-grade color results straight out of the camera.