Sony A6000 Comparison Review
The Sony Alpha A6000 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was officially introduced in February 2014 and is equipped with an APS-C sensor. It offers a resolution of 24 megapixel.
Is the Sony A6000 a good camera? The A6000 has a Camera Elo of 2237. This rating puts the A6000 below average of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the A6000 ranks among the top 50 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 3-star performance rating.
| Sony A6000 |
|---|
| Mirrorless system camera |
| Sony E mount lenses |
| 24 MP, APS-C Sensor |
| 1080/60p Video |
| ISO 100 - 25 600 (100 - 51 200) |
| Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots) |
| 3.0 LCD, 922k dots |
| Tilting screen (no touchscreen) |
| 11 shutter flaps per second |
| 360 shots per battery charge |
| 120 x 67 x 45 mm, 344 g |
Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
Body comparison with a credit card
The physical dimensions of the Sony A6000 relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Sony A6000 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life 1 |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch 2 |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A6000 | 4.7 in | 2.6 in | 1.8 in | 12.1 oz | 360 | n | Feb 2014 | 599 | | |
| Sony A6300 | 4.7 in | 2.6 in | 1.9 in | 14.3 oz | 400 | Y | Feb 2016 | 999 | | |
| Sony A5000 | 4.3 in | 2.5 in | 1.4 in | 9.5 oz | 420 | n | Jan 2014 | 449 | | |
| Sony A5100 | 4.3 in | 2.5 in | 1.4 in | 10.0 oz | 400 | n | Aug 2014 | 549 | | |
| Sony A3000 | 5.0 in | 3.6 in | 3.3 in | 14.5 oz | 470 | n | Aug 2013 | 329 | | |
| Sony NEX-3N | 4.3 in | 2.4 in | 1.4 in | 9.5 oz | 480 | n | Feb 2013 | 499 | | |
| Sony NEX-6 | 4.7 in | 2.6 in | 1.7 in | 12.2 oz | 360 | n | Sep 2012 | 999 | | |
| Sony NEX-F3 | 4.6 in | 2.6 in | 1.7 in | 11.1 oz | 470 | n | May 2012 | 599 | | |
| Sony NEX-7 | 4.7 in | 2.6 in | 1.7 in | 14.1 oz | 430 | n | Aug 2011 | 1,349 | | |
| Sony NEX-3 | 4.6 in | 2.4 in | 1.3 in | 10.5 oz | 330 | n | May 2010 | 599 | | |
| Sony NEX-5 | 4.4 in | 2.3 in | 1.5 in | 10.1 oz | 330 | n | May 2010 | 699 | | |
|
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement. |
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Sony A6000 was launched in the US market at a price of $599. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Check Ebay offers
Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
The Sony A6000 features an APS-C sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Sony A6000 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.
Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.
| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A6000 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.1 | 13.1 | 1347 | 82 | |
| Sony A6300 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.4 | 13.7 | 1437 | 85 | |
| Sony A5000 | APS-C | 19.8 | 5456 | 3632 | 1080/60i | 23.8 | 13.0 | 1089 | 79 | |
| Sony A5100 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.8 | 12.7 | 1347 | 80 | |
| Sony A3000 | APS-C | 19.8 | 5456 | 3632 | 1080/60i | 23.7 | 12.8 | 1068 | 78 | |
| Sony NEX-3N | APS-C | 16.0 | 4912 | 3264 | 1080/60i | 22.8 | 12.5 | 1067 | 74 | |
| Sony NEX-6 | APS-C | 16.0 | 4912 | 3264 | 1080/60i | 23.7 | 13.1 | 1018 | 78 | |
| Sony NEX-F3 | APS-C | 16.0 | 4912 | 3264 | 1080/60i | 22.7 | 12.3 | 1114 | 73 | |
| Sony NEX-7 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 24.1 | 13.4 | 1016 | 81 | |
| Sony NEX-3 | APS-C | 14.0 | 4592 | 3056 | 720/30p | 22.1 | 12.0 | 830 | 68 | |
| Sony NEX-5 | APS-C | 14.0 | 4592 | 3056 | 1080/60i | 22.2 | 12.2 | 796 | 69 |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The A6000 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the A6000 can use is 1080/60p.
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A6000 has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 1440k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.70x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Sony A6000 and comparable cameras.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Mech Shutter Speed |
Shutter Flaps (1/sec) | Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A6000 | 1440 | n | 3.0 | 922 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 11.0 | Y | n | |
| Sony A6300 | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 922 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 11.0 | Y | n | |
| Sony A5000 | none | n | 3.0 | 461 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 3.5 | Y | n | |
| Sony A5100 | none | n | 3.0 | 922 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 6.0 | Y | n | |
| Sony A3000 | 202 | n | 3.0 | 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.5 | Y | n | |
| Sony NEX-3N | optional | n | 3.0 | 460 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 4.0 | Y | n | |
| Sony NEX-6 | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 921 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 10.0 | Y | n | |
| Sony NEX-F3 | optional | n | 3.0 | 920 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 5.5 | Y | n | |
| Sony NEX-7 | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 921 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 10.0 | Y | n | |
| Sony NEX-3 | optional | n | 3.0 | 920 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 7.0 | n | n | |
| Sony NEX-5 | optional | n | 3.0 | 920 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 7.0 | n | n |
One convenient feature of the A6000 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.
Connection comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha A6000 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A6000 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Sony A6300 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Sony A5000 | - | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Sony A5100 | - | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Sony A3000 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Sony NEX-3N | - | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Sony NEX-6 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Sony NEX-F3 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Sony NEX-7 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Sony NEX-3 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Sony NEX-5 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - |
It is notable that the A6000 offers wifi support. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.
Expert reviews
While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the A6000 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog).
| Camera Model |
camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A6000 | + | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2014 | 599 | |
|
| Sony A6300 | + | 85/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2016 | 999 | |
|
| Sony A5000 | + | .. | 4.5/5 | o | 4.5/5 | Jan 2014 | 449 | |
|
| Sony A5100 | + | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Aug 2014 | 549 | |
|
| Sony A3000 | + | .. | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Aug 2013 | 329 | |
|
| Sony NEX-3N | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2013 | 499 | |
|
| Sony NEX-6 | + + | 78/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2012 | 999 | |
|
| Sony NEX-F3 | .. | 74/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | May 2012 | 599 | |
|
| Sony NEX-7 | + + | 81/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Aug 2011 | 1,349 | |
|
| Sony NEX-3 | .. | 70/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | May 2010 | 599 | |
|
| Sony NEX-5 | + + | 71/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | May 2010 | 699 | |
|
| Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||
Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.
Sony A6000 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the A6000.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the A6000?
The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Sony equipped the A6000 with the BIONZ X image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the A6000?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Sony Alpha A6000?
Sony mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the A6000. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the A6000 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Sony A6000?
Sony embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your A6000 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the online shutter count app.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Sony A6000?
The A6000 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Sony A6000 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with flash?
The A6000's flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.
Does the Sony A6000 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the A6000 use?
The camera gets its power from the NP-FW50 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the A6000?
Sony does not offer an optional battery grip, but third party suppliers do (see here on eBay).
Where can I find the best deals for the A6000?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on eBay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Sony.
Camera to camera comparisons
If you would like to see a side-by-side review of this and another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon 1D C vs Sony A6000
- Canon G3 X vs Sony A6000
- Fujifilm GFX 50R vs Sony A6000
- Fujifilm XF10 vs Sony A6000
- Nikon D70s vs Sony A6000
- Nikon W300 vs Sony A6000
- Olympus TG-5 vs Sony A6000
- Panasonic FZ330 vs Sony A6000
- Panasonic GX7 vs Sony A6000
- Panasonic LX7 vs Sony A6000
- Pentax MX-1 vs Sony A6000
- Sony A6000 vs Sony A900
| Camera Model | Sony A6000 | |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
| Camera Lens | Sony E mount lenses | |
| Launch Date | February 2014 | |
| Launch Price | USD 599 | |
| Sensor Specs | ||
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
| Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | |
| Sensor Size | 23.5 x 15.6 mm | |
| Sensor Area | 367 mm2 | |
| Sensor Diagonal | 28.2 mm | |
| Crop Factor | 1.5x | |
| Sensor Resolution | 24 Megapixels | |
| Image Resolution | 6 000 x 4 000 pixels | |
| Pixel Pitch | 3.91 μm | |
| Pixel Density | 6.55 MP/cm2 | |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
| Movie Capability | 1080/60p Video | |
| ISO Setting | 100 - 25 600 ISO | |
| ISO Boost | 100 - 51 200 ISO | |
| Image Processor | BIONZ X | |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 82 | |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 24.1 | |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 13.1 | |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 1347 | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.70x | |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 1440k dots | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 922k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 11 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
| Fill Flash | Build-in Flash | |
| Storage Medium | MS or SDXC cards | |
| Second Storage Option | Single card slot | |
| UHS card support | UHS-I | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | Hotshoe | |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
| HDMI Port | micro HDMI | |
| Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
| Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
| Body Specs | ||
| Battery Type | NP-FW50 power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 360 shots per charge | |
| In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
| Body Dimensions |
120 x 67 x 45 mm (4.7 x 2.6 x 1.8 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 344 g (12.1 oz) |
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