Sony A6000

[MysteryLemon]

I'm looking to ditch my Nikon D7000 and move to a Sony A6000. Mainly based on size and weight, but also I want something that's better and video, and Sony seem pretty good.

The A6000 seems like a really good bet on paper but does anyone here actually own one? One of my main concerns is moving subject auto focus. The Nikon does a very good job with the 3d tracking mode and just C-AF in general. It keeps up really well. I've never been keen on contrast only AF but with the A6000 having phase detection as well, in theory, it should be able to match the D7000. Anyone any comments on just how good the continuous AF system actually is?

Anything I should look out for buying one? Any common problems?

Thanks

[TheJelley]

I don't have one, but am planning on buying one next week, so am interested!!

[WWA]

I too have recently downsized from a Nikon DSLR. I was torn between the Olympus em10 II and the Sony a6000. I went to Jessops to try both and found it really hard to decided between to two. I eventually chose the Olympus because of the pancake lens and retro looks (fickle I know). I like my Olympus but also loved the Sony and I'm still in two mind which I really prefer, but made my decision now. The reason I hanker after the Sony is for its AF system, it's was unbelievably quick and accurate for such a small camera. When my baby son starts moving about under his own steam I can see me getting a Sony. Although the Olympus might be just fine, haven't played with it too much yet! Go to a shop and try it, I think you'll be impressed.

Edit to add: I did find the Sony quite cheap feeling and not very solid but in hindsight this is just compared to a DSLR and is obviously done to keep weight down.

Edited by WWA on Sunday 21st February 22:38

Edited by WWA on Sunday 21st February 22:40

[MysteryLemon]

WWA said:

I too have recently downsized from a Nikon DSLR. I was torn between the Olympus em10 II and the Sony a6000. I went to Jessops to try both and found it really hard to decided between to two. I eventually chose the Olympus because of the pancake lens and retro looks (fickle I know). I like my Olympus but also loved the Sony and I'm still in two mind which I really prefer, but made my decision now. The reason I hanker after the Sony is for its AF system, it's was unbelievably quick and accurate for such a small camera. When my baby son starts moving about under his own steam I can see me getting a Sony. Although the Olympus might be just fine, haven't played with it too much yet! Go to a shop and try it, I think you'll be impressed.

Edit to add: I did find the Sony quite cheap feeling and not very solid but in hindsight this is just compared to a DSLR and is obviously done to keep weight down.

Edited by WWA on Sunday 21st February 22:38

Edited by WWA on Sunday 21st February 22:40

Cheers for that. I've had m4/3 mirrorless cameras in the past and always disliked the AF systems. Fine for stills but as you've suggested, children and anything moving just doesn't really work. The new generation of mirrorless cameras with on-chip phase detection have made me take another look at mirrorless though. I love Olympus cameras (I've owned various E-system DSLRs over the years) but I think they are very expensive for what they are. The lens range is great though, far better than what Sony have to offer at least anyway. The promises of the AF system on the A6000 has caught my attention though, but as with most things, what marketing says and the reality is usually totally different.

[sgrimshaw]

I bought an A6000 before Christmas but really haven't had much time to get out and use it. All I've had time to do is run it through some basic operations to check it was working OK.

I rarely use Video on my cameras so can't speak of Video AF performance, but I can speak of AF performance when taking photos .... it is astoundingly quick.

With the e-mount lenses, focus is virtually instant.

With a-mount lenses mounted using an LA4 adapter it is still very, very quick.

[Equilibrium25]

MysteryLemon said:

I'm looking to ditch my Nikon D7000 and move to a Sony A6000.

I would just say be very sure of your decision before selling your DSLR and lenses.

I made a similar move a few years back, buying a Sony NEX-500N (forerunner to A6000 AFAIK) by trading in one of my L series Canon lenses. For a couple of years I stuck with the Sony and my EOS 40D stayed in the cupboard. However, ultimately I missed the bulk of the DSLR in the hand, so a couple of years ago I bought a 70D.

Once I had the 70D, I found that I no longer wanted to use the mirrorless - it wasn't the results, they were excellent from the Sony, just that I enjoy the whole experience of photography so much more with a DSLR.

If you are genuinely happy with the smaller format, though, I am sure you won't regret it - the NEX-500N was a great little camera.

[Otispunkmeyer]

I had an NEX-6 and found the tracking not too brilliant, but ok. Its not like it couldn't track but it definitely wasn't a sure thing. I think the A6000 is better at it though, have a look for digitalrev on YouTube, they did a specific test for tracking.

Coming from a 7D the only thing I really found lacking, ergonomics wise, was there wasn't quite enough buttons. I think on the A6000 they have sorted this. Equally the software UI is better on the A6000 than on the NEX 6 and the whole thing seems snappier in operation. I would have had one as an upgrade really if not for the fact having a smaller camera doesn't really cut your gear weight down.

What I am trying to say is, yeah they made the camera smaller, but the good fast lenses are still as big as they've always been. You end up carrying a lens around with you with a small postage stamp camera on the back! And if you're not doing that, you're carrying a bag of lenses round with you to cover some different bases (unless you like to whack a 35 mm on and just go out and see what you can shoot !).

Unless its a prime lens I found a lot of the more flexible zoom lenses to be a bit middling. They don't have big apertures so that they can keep the size down. I did a wedding with my NEX-6 and to get something suitable I ended up with one of the Sony lens converters with the translucent mirror in it and fitting a Carl Zeiss A-mount 24-70mm F2.8. It managed fine, though I did think I was going to bend the mount off it at one point. That lens is a proper unit!


So in short, camera = small = good. But the rest of the clobber is still there if you want to have good glass and sometimes you even have to go further than that with lens adapters and what have you so you can access lenses Sony hasn't made yet.

I've gone down to an RX100 IV now and I really quite like it. It feels liberating not having to decide over what kit to bring. Its bring the camera or don't! Granted I will lose out in some ways; IQ, noise, bokeh. But I feel I have gained in other places that are more important to me.

[sgrimshaw]

Also worth a look at some of Garry Fong's stuff on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21HxRnSlPzc

This one in particular shows how to set up the A6000 for tracking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSobrm9J0AM

There's a follow up which shows the "stills" results:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZqtd6nnluY

Edited by sgrimshaw on Monday 22 February 16:51