After weeks of rumors and speculation and leaked specs, Sony has finally unveiled the two APS-C mirrorless cameras we’ve been expecting: the flagship Sony a6600 with IBIS and a bigger battery, and the entry-level Sony a6100 for photographers and vloggers on a budget.
Sony a6600
The hero product from today’s announcement was, no doubt, the long-awaited Sony a6600. The flagship APS-C mirrorless camera officially replaces the Sony a6500, and boasts all of the latest autofocus technology that was missing from its precursor.
Inside, you’ll find the same 24MP APS-C sensor, BIONZ X image processor, 425-point hybrid autofocus system with 84% frame coverage, and flip-up 3-inch 921k-dot touchscreen LCD that you’ll find in the a6400 and the a6100. That means the same 11fps burst shooting with autofocus and auto exposure, the latest real-time tracking AF, and the ability to record oversampled 4K/30p video with full-pixel readout in Super 35mm format.
What sets the a6600 apart from the rest of the lineup is its magnesium-alloy body, 5-axis in-body image stabilization, the ability to use Real-Time Eye AF during video shooting, the inclusion of mic and headphone jacks, and a larger grip that houses Sony’s much-improved Z battery.
Here’s a quick feature breakdown from Sony:
The Sony a6600 will begin shipping in November, but you can already pre-order it for $1,400 body-only or $1,800 in a kit with the Sony 18-135mm lens. For some sample photos and hands-on first impressions from Sony Alpha ambassadors, check out this post on Alpha Universe.
Sony a6100
By comparison, the Sony a6100 doesn’t offer as many “professional-grade” features, but the internals of this entry-level APS-C mirrorless camera are still quite powerful.
Like the a6400 and a6600, the Sony a6100 boasts a 24MP APS-C sensor, BIONZ X image processor, and 425-point hybrid autofocus system with 84% frame coverage. It, too, can shoot at up to 11fps with focus tracking, features a 3-inch flip-up touchscreen LCD, oversampled 4K video recording with full-pixel readout, and Sony’s Real-Time Tracking autofocus system is included as well. Where it falls short of its more expensive siblings is the 1.44M-dot EVF (down from 2.36M in the a6400 and a6600) and a slightly lower ISO range that maxes out at 51200 instead of 102,400.
Like the a6400, you’ll get a mic jack, but no headphone jack. And since this isn’t “flagship” level, you can’t use Eye AF during video recording and there’s no in-body image stabilization.
Here’s Sony’s feature breakdown of the a6100:
There’s not a ton separating the $750 Sony a6100 from the $900 Sony a6400, making it a good option for budget-friendly amateurs and vloggers who don’t mind Sony cutting a few corners as long as the photos and footage aren’t affected.
To that end, if you’re interested in the Sony a6100, you can pre-order yours today for $750 body-only, $850 in a kit with Sony’s 16-50mm Lens, and $1,100 in a two-lens kit with the Sony 16-50mm and 55-210mm lenses. The a6100 will begin shipping in October.
