Sony Alpha A6000 review

VIDEO AND IMAGE QUALITY

The video mode now includes the ability to stream a clean HDMI output for external monitoring or recording, plus zebra patterns to warn against highlight clipping. This builds on some impressive video-related features in the NEX-6, including 1080p recording at 25 and 50fps, manual exposure control and a peaking mode to help with manual focus adjustment. There’s still no microphone input, although the hotshoe can accommodate the Sony ECM-XYST1M external microphone, which incorporates a minijack microphone input.

Comparing the A6000’s video output with our archived files from the NEX-6, we saw a significant improvement in the fidelity of fine details. It’s not quite up to the standards of current Panasonic Lumix G cameras, but comes very close. Both noise levels and rolling shutter effect were much less pronounced than on the NEX-6. In short, this is one of the best video cameras available at this price. The lack of a touchscreen for adjusting the autofocus point while recording is the only notable drawback.

It put in a stellar performance in our photo tests too. We’ve grown accustomed to praising NEX cameras for image quality, thanks to their APS-C sensors that are larger than the sensors in most other CSCs. However, the A6000’s 24-megapixel sensor is a major improvement on previous NEX cameras, with more detail and lower noise. Colours were lifelike and details were smooth and precise. Noise was barely perceptible in JPEGs at ISO 1600, and far from invasive at ISO 6400. The Fujifilm X-E2 (and its siblings with the same sensor) currently rule the CSC roost for image quality, but the A6000 is broadly on a par with slightly more noise but also more detail.

There’s plenty of crisp definition to this shot – even when shooting with the old 18-55m kit lens

There’s no faulting the rendering of subtle textures here

Skin tones at ISO 100 are detailed and lifelike

There’s not much to criticise at ISO 1250 either – just a slight gloss from the noise reduction

Image quality is beginning to deteriorate at ISO 3200 but it’s still a perfectly respectable snapshot with plenty of detail

The A6000 can’t quite match the Fujifilm X-E2 for low light image quality, particularly with the X-E2’s brighter kit lens. However, the A6000 is smaller, lighter, faster and its video mode is far better. It also costs a whopping £500 less.

CONCLUSION

Compared to similarly priced cameras, there’s not much that can touch it. Nothing else comes close to delivering 11fps shooting with continuous autofocus. It beats all other CSCs at this price for image quality, except for the Fujifilm X-M1 but that model lacks a viewfinder. It even narrowly beats the current generation of Canon and Nikon cropped-sensor SLRs for noise levels. It’s looking more likely than ever that the game might be up for SLR technology.