Index
The Sony A6100 is a digital camera in the Alpha series from Sony. It is a mirrorless camera that features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor, 4K video recording, a BIONZ X image processor, and a 179-point hybrid autofocus system. It also has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing for easy sharing and remote control. The A6100 is designed for both amateur and professional photographers, offering advanced features and performance in a compact and lightweight body.
- 24.2-megapixel APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor
- BIONZ X image processor
- ISO range of 100-32000 (expandable to 51200)
- 4K video recording at 30p and Full HD 1080p at 120p
- 11 fps continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking
- Hybrid autofocus system with 179-point phase-detection and 425-point contrast-detection points
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
- 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD
- 425-point contrast-detection autofocus
- XAVC S format with S-Log3 and S-Gamut3
- 4k HDR video recording
- 11fps continuous shooting
- Battery life: 410 shots
- Weight: 396g
- Dimensions: 120 x 67 x 59 mm
Key Features
- 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
- BIONZ X image processing engine
- Fast autofocus with 425 phase-detection points
- 4K video recording and full HD at 120fps
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
- 180-degree tilting touchscreen LCD
- Built-in flash and hot shoe for external flash
- Continuous shooting at up to 11 fps
- Eye AF and real-time tracking for accurate subject tracking.
- High resolution 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor for great image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus system with 425 phase-detection points
- 4K video recording capability and full HD at 120fps
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for easy sharing and remote control
- 180-degree tilting touchscreen LCD for versatile shooting angles
- Built-in flash and hot shoe for external flash
- Continuous shooting at up to 11 fps
- Eye AF and real-time tracking for accurate subject tracking.
- Battery life could be better
- Limited lens options compared to other systems
- No in-body image stabilization
- No weather sealing
- Limited exposure compensation range -5 EV to +5 EV in 1/3 EV or 1/2 EV steps
- Limited in terms of customization and control compared to higher end models
Build and Handling
It is a compact and lightweight mirrorless camera that is easy to handle and operate. The camera body is made of plastic, which makes it lightweight and easy to carry around, but also less durable compared to cameras made of more premium materials. The camera features a textured grip on the front and a thumb rest on the back, which provides a comfortable and secure grip while shooting. The buttons and controls on the camera are well-placed and easy to access, making it easy to adjust settings while shooting.
The camera has a built-in flash and a hot shoe for connecting an external flash, making it a versatile camera for low light shooting. The camera also has a tilting touchscreen LCD which can be tilted 180 degrees, allowing you to shoot at high and low angles, making it easy to compose shots from different angles, and also helpful for vlogging. The camera also has a customizable function button, which you can assign to any setting you frequently use, making the camera even more user-friendly.
In terms of handling, It is a camera that is easy to operate, even for beginners. The camera’s menu system is intuitive and well-organized, making it easy to navigate and find the settings you need. The camera also has an automatic mode, which makes it easy for beginners to take great photos without having to understand the technical aspects of photography.
Performance
It is a high-performing camera that delivers great image and video quality. The camera is equipped with a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, which captures a high level of detail and produces sharp and clear images. The camera also has a BIONZ X image processing engine, which helps to reduce noise and produce accurate colors and tones.
The camera’s autofocus system is fast and accurate, thanks to its 425 phase-detection points. The camera also features real-time tracking and Eye AF, which are especially useful for capturing fast-moving subjects and ensuring accurate focus on the subject’s eyes. The camera also has a continuous shooting mode, which can shoot up to 11 fps, making it easy to capture fast-moving action.
In terms of video capabilities, the A6100 can record in 4K resolution and full HD at 120fps. The camera also offers advanced video features like S-Log2 and S-Gamut, which provide greater flexibility in post-processing and color grading. The camera also has built-in stereo mic and a 3.5mm mic jack, enabling you to capture high-quality audio.
Auto-Focus
It has an advanced autofocus system that is fast, accurate, and versatile. It features 425 phase-detection points that cover 84% of the image area, which allows for quick and precise focusing across a wide area of the frame. The camera also has a contrast-detection autofocus system, which further improves focusing accuracy.
One of the key features of the A6100’s autofocus system is its Real-time Tracking and Eye AF capabilities. Real-time Tracking uses advanced algorithms to recognize and follow a subject even as it moves around the frame, making it easy to capture fast-moving action. Eye AF is a feature that automatically detects and focuses on the eyes of a subject, which is particularly useful for portrait photography. This feature can be set to priority on the left or right eye, and can be used in both still and video mode.
The camera also has a wide range of autofocus modes that cater to different shooting scenarios. The camera has Single-shot AF (AF-S), Continuous AF (AF-C), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), and Manual Focus (MF) mode. These modes allow you to fine-tune the focus to your liking and make sure you get the shot you want.
Image Stabilization
The Sony A6100 does not have built-in image stabilization. Image stabilization is a feature that helps to reduce blur caused by camera shake, allowing for sharper and clearer images. Some cameras have this feature built into the camera body, while others rely on image stabilization technology built into the lens.
The A6100 doesn’t have an in-body image stabilization. However, some of the Sony E-mount lenses have optical image stabilization which will help to reduce blur caused by camera shake, especially when shooting in low light or at slow shutter speeds.
When using a lens without image stabilization, it is recommended to use a tripod or a shutter release to minimize camera shake and achieve sharper images. Alternatively, you can increase the ISO setting or use a faster shutter speed to reduce motion blur.
It’s worth noting that a lack of in-body image stabilization can be a drawback for those who frequently shoot in low light or in other conditions that require longer exposures. However, the A6100 is a great camera for those who are looking for a compact and lightweight camera that can deliver great image quality, and with the option of using image stabilized lens.
Image Quality
The Sony A6100 produces high-quality images thanks to its 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processing engine. The sensor captures a high level of detail, producing sharp and clear images with accurate colors and tones. The BIONZ X image processing engine helps to reduce noise, producing clean and noise-free images even at high ISO settings.
The camera has a wide sensitivity range of ISO 100-32000 (expandable to ISO 51200) which means that it can produce good results in low light situations. However, as with most cameras, as you increase the ISO setting, you’ll start to see more noise in your images.
The camera also has a wide dynamic range, which allows it to capture a wide range of tonal values, from deep blacks to bright whites, in a single image. This feature is particularly useful for landscape and cityscape photography, where you want to capture a wide range of tones in a single image.
The camera produces great results in terms of color reproduction and offers a variety of color profiles, such as Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, and more. The camera also offers advanced color controls such as S-Log2 and S-Gamut, which allow you to fine-tune the color of your images in post-processing.
Low Light Performance
It has good low-light performance, thanks to its high resolution 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and wide sensitivity range of ISO 100-32000 (expandable to ISO 51200). The camera’s BIONZ X image processing engine also helps to reduce noise, producing clean and noise-free images even at high ISO settings.
In low-light conditions, the camera’s fast and accurate autofocus system, with 425 phase-detection points, can help to ensure sharp and in-focus images, even when shooting at slow shutter speeds. The camera’s real-time tracking and Eye AF capabilities also make it easy to capture sharp and well-focused images of fast-moving subjects.
However, the A6100 doesn’t have built-in image stabilization, which can make it harder to achieve sharp images when shooting at slow shutter speeds without a tripod or other stabilizing device. Additionally, as with most cameras, as you increase the ISO setting, you’ll start to see more noise in your images.
It’s worth noting that while the A6100 performs well in low light, it’s not a specialized low light camera, and if you’re looking to capture a lot of low light scenes, you might want to consider other options with better low light performance such as full-frame cameras or ones with built-in image stabilization.
Value for Money
It is a great camera that offers a lot of value for the money. It offers a high resolution 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, fast and accurate autofocus system with 425 phase-detection points, 4K video recording capabilities, and real-time tracking and Eye AF. All these features make it a versatile camera that can handle a wide range of shooting situations.
In terms of build and handling, the camera is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around, and the buttons and controls are well-placed and easy to access. The camera also has a tilting touchscreen LCD which can be tilted 180 degrees, allowing you to shoot at high and low angles, making it easy to compose shots from different angles, and also helpful for vlogging.
In terms of value for money, the A6100 is a great option for those who want a high-performing camera that can deliver great image and video quality, without breaking the bank. It’s a great camera for those who are looking to get into photography and videography, and also for more advanced photographers who are looking for a lightweight, compact and versatile camera.
It’s worth noting that while the A6100 offers a lot of value for the money, it doesn’t have some of the advanced features and capabilities of more expensive cameras, such as weather sealing, in-body image stabilization and a larger lens selection. Additionally, its battery life could be better. However, for the price point, the A6100 offers a great balance of features and performance, making it a great value for the money.
FAQs
Verdict
It is a great camera that offers a lot of value for the money. It’s a high-performing camera that delivers great image and video quality, thanks to its 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, fast and accurate autofocus system, 4K video recording capabilities, and real-time tracking and Eye AF. The camera is also compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around, and the buttons and controls are well-placed and easy to access.
The camera’s build and handling are very good, it has a tilting touchscreen LCD which can be tilted 180 degrees, allowing you to shoot at high and low angles, making it easy to compose shots from different angles, and also helpful for vlogging. The camera also has a built-in flash and a hot shoe for connecting an external flash, making it a versatile camera for low light shooting.
In terms of value for money, the A6100 is a great option for those who want a high-performing camera that can deliver great image and video quality, without breaking the bank. It’s a great camera for those who are looking to get into photography and videography, and also for more advanced photographers who are looking for a lightweight, compact and versatile camera.
However, it’s worth noting that the A6100 doesn’t have built-in image stabilization and weather sealing, which can make it a bit more challenging to achieve sharp images in low light or tough weather conditions. Additionally, its battery life could be better.