Sony a6600

QUICKFACT SHEET

The Sony a6600 (aka α6600, A6600, Alpha 6600) is an advanced-level APS-C compact mirrorless camera for those who are serious about photography. It improves on the a6500 with a beefier grip (which houses a more powerful battery). It offers in-body image stabilization (IBIS).

The a6600 allows you to compose your shots using the high resolution 2.36M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF). An Anti-flicker shooting mode reduces the effect of flickering that tends to occur under artificial lighting.

Or, you can use the 2.95-inch 921.6K-dot Tilt Touchscreen LCD on the back of the camera. The LCD flips up about 180° to face forward and tilts down about 74°. The LCD is also touch-screen so you can tap a point on the screen to lock focus, and use touch gestures to zoom or swipe right and left when reviewing images.

The Hybrid Real-time AF (Auto Focus) system uses a total of 425 phase detection AF points and 425 Contrast-Detection AF points to quickly and precisely lock focus on your subject. Real-time Tracking AF performance has been improved. For sharp portraits, Real-time Eye AF reliably locks focus on your subject’s eye (Left, Right), even when shooting movies. For those who love to shoot pets, Eye AF for Animals automatically detects and tracks the eyes of animals. The AF range is EV -2-20. Other useful focus features include Focus Magnifier, Zebra, and Focus Peaking.

It shoots stills at 24.2MP and Ultra High Definition (UHD) videos at 4K/30p (no crop) with stereo sound. You can also shoot slow motion video in HD at 120fps. Other video features include with clean HDMI output and REC control, timecode (TC/UB), variable framerates, and proxy recording. An external microphone can be attached via the microphone jack, or use line input via XLR connectors with the separately available XLR adaptor kit. This enables connection with various high-end microphones for professional-level audio. In addition, a headphone jack is available so you can monitor the audio on movies as you record them. S-Log shooting gives you the flexibility to make more expressive movies by performing color grading in post-production. The S-Log3 gamma setting also provides an impressive 14 stops of dynamic range.

Other features include Continuous Shooting at 11fps, a hot shoe to accept an external speedlite (unfortunately losing the pop-up flash of the a6500), Wireless Flash Control, RAW, PASM Shooting Modes, ±5 stops Exposure Compensation, Shutter Speed from 1/4000 sec. to 30 sec. (flash-sync shutter speed of 1/160 sec.), Picture Effect, Creative Style, Scene Modes, the new more powerful NP-FZ100 battery (approx. 720 shots using the EVF / approx. 810 shots using the LCD), Interval Shooting, and Silent Mode.

Though the a6600 has major buttons and dials sealed, and casing components have an interlocked double-layer structure to minimize dust and moisture (therefore can be considered to be weather resistant), it does not sport an industry rating, nor is it rated freeze-proof. In fact, Sony is careful to post a disclaimer that the a6600 is “Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture-proof.”

There are a number of connectivity features that make the a6600 practical for those who post to social media sites. NFC, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mean that you can store GPS information (using your mobile phone’s location data), do remote Live View shooting and easily transfer images to your smart phone or tablet.

Of course, the Sony a6600 is supported by a system of high quality lenses, vertical grip, external flashes, microphones, shooting grip with wireless remote commander, and software that further expand the shooting system.

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The Sony a6600 (2019, US $1,199.99), with creative movie-making options, a microphone jack, a headphone jack, S-Log shooting, and an LCD that flips to face forward, may be the ideal compact mirrorless vlogging camera.

If you are looking for a cheaper vlogging alternative and do not need all the extra power of the a6600, then check out the cheaper, but as capable, Sony a6100 (2019, US $599.99).

The a6100 differs from the a6600 in the following ways:
– Plastic body vs. magnesium alloy
– No In-body image stabilization (except if an OIS lens attached)
– 1.44M-dot EVFvs. OLED 2.36M-dot EVF
– Built-in pop-up flash
– No Anti-flicker shooting mode
– No weather resistance
– No headphone jack
– Battery is about twice less powerful

If the Sony a6600 is the camera that is best for you, please support this site by ordering it as well as accessories from our Trusted Sponsor B&H Photo-Video, the Professional’s Source, satisfying millions of customers for over 35 years (prices are in USD):

• Sony a6600

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Related Links:

• Sony a6600 Press Release
• Sony a6600 Technical Specs
• Sony a6600 Instruction Manual
• Sony a6600 Software & App Download
• Sony a6600 Firmware Update