Sony has announced the Alpha a6700, a next-generation APS-C camera with advanced subject detection and robust photo and video capabilities. The α6700 is the first camera in the α6000 series since the α6600 launched in 2019. Let’s see what this camera can do.
With 1.5x more crop sensor than full-frame cameras, the a6700 is more compact and lighter than full-frame cameras. Thanks to the Sony E-mount, you can use a wide range of lenses, including 21 dedicated APS-C lenses and of course all of Sony’s full-frame lenses. There are also many third-party lenses that can be used with this camera, as well as many adapters.
power and speed
The a6700 features a 26 megapixel BSI (backside illuminated) Exmor R CMOS sensor paired with the BIONZ XR processor also used in the Sony a7R V (article here). This combination enables robust video and still photography capabilities, as well as AI processing power for object detection and autofocus performance.
The camera is equipped with IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization), and Sony has also improved the buffer size, allowing 11 frames per second continuous shooting in RAW+JPEG and 59 RAW photo continuous shooting. bottom.
Video recording function
Record oversampled 4K video from 6K full-frame readout without pixel binning. His 1.6x crop of the sensor is used when recording 100fps or 120fps in 4K. You can also set the camera to record HD at up to 240fps with 1.5x sensor crop. This is all in addition to APS-C cropping.
Sony included S-Log 3 gamma with custom LUT support, S-Cinetone, and HLG color modes. The a6700’s video codecs include XAVC SI and XAVC HS in addition to his usual XAVC S. All files are stored on one SD card.
The camera also features a 3.5mm microphone and headphone jack, and a USB-C port for charging and data transfer. Power is supplied by an NP-FZ100 battery.
AI function
Thanks to the a6700’s AI processing unit, features such as auto-framing (also found on the ZV-E1) and eye-detection AF during sharp image zoom can be achieved. Speaking of autofocus, the a6700 features 759 phase detection points, supporting subject recognition for humans, animals/birds, insects, cars/trains and airplanes.
The alpha 6700 takes subject recognition one step further, offering human eye and face detection, as well as human pose estimation. It can not only detect planes, cars/trains, and insects, but also detect the eyes, heads, and bodies of animals. This feature set puts the a6700 on par with the high-end full-frame Sony a7R V.
Autofocus works accurately even in low light conditions up to -3.0 EV. You can also override autofocus in AF-C and AF-S modes and switch to manual focus at any time.
viewfinder and monitor
Sony, like most other modern Sony cameras, has added a 1.03 million-dot vari-angle LCD touchscreen that can be flipped and rotated. All camera menus have the same modern, touch-friendly layout and design as other high-end Alpha cameras. You can also navigate the menu using touch or buttons and dials.
The OLED viewfinder is about as bright as the high-end Sony A7R V, with 2.36 million dots and 1.07x magnification. There is also an option to set the EVF refresh rate to 60 or 120fps.
other nImportant features
A focus map feature is also available with this camera. This feature lets you see how close or far an object is to the camera using a color overlay, similar to the pseudocolor exposure tool.
There’s also an option to enable focus peaking when AF is active, as well as other AF assist improvements.
The camera, like other cameras released recently, features a redesigned grip for improved ergonomics and dedicated still/video/S&Q dials. Many of the buttons and dials can also be customized to perform custom assigned functions.
price and availability
The Sony α6700 will be available from the end of July 2023 for $1,398 (body only).
The camera is also available as a kit with a 16-50mm lens for $1,498, and a separate kit with an 18-135mm lens for $1,798.
For more information on the camera, please visit Sony’s website.
Have you been waiting for this camera as successor to the a6600? Does this camera tick all the new APS-C cameras or do you prefer the FX30? Share what excited you about this camera in the comments below. Do you have any negative feelings towards the α6700? Please share in the comments section.
