Photography

Sony reveals A6000 camera with super-fast autofocus

Sony reveals A6000 camera with super-fast autofocus
The Sony Alpha A6000 has the world's fastest autofocus system of any interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C image sensor
The Sony Alpha A6000 has the world's fastest autofocus system of any interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C image sensor
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The hybrid autofocus system in the Sony A6000 has 25 contrast-detection and 179 phase-detection points
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The hybrid autofocus system in the Sony A6000 has 25 contrast-detection and 179 phase-detection points
With a boasted autofocus speed of just 0.06 seconds, the Sony Alpha A6000 is the world's fastest interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C image sensor
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With a boasted autofocus speed of just 0.06 seconds, the Sony Alpha A6000 is the world's fastest interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C image sensor
The Sony A6000 features a 24.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5 X 15.6mm) paired with Sony's latest Bionz X image processor
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The Sony A6000 features a 24.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5 X 15.6mm) paired with Sony's latest Bionz X image processor
The Sony Alpha A6000 has the world's fastest autofocus system of any interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C image sensor
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The Sony Alpha A6000 has the world's fastest autofocus system of any interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C image sensor
Around the back of the Sony A6000 there's an OLED electronic viewfinder with 1,440k dots and a 3-inch tiltable LCD
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Around the back of the Sony A6000 there's an OLED electronic viewfinder with 1,440k dots and a 3-inch tiltable LCD
The Sony Alpha A6000 can be used with E-mount lenses
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The Sony Alpha A6000 can be used with E-mount lenses
Sony's multi interface shoe on the Sony Alpha A6000 can be used to attach accessories including microphones or external flashes
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Sony's multi interface shoe on the Sony Alpha A6000 can be used to attach accessories including microphones or external flashes
The Sony A6000 will be available in April in either black or silver for about US$650 body-only, or $800 bundled with a 16-50-mm kit lens
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The Sony A6000 will be available in April in either black or silver for about US$650 body-only, or $800 bundled with a 16-50-mm kit lens
The Sony Alpha A6000 can be used with E-mount lenses
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The Sony Alpha A6000 can be used with E-mount lenses
The Sony A6000 will be available in April in either black or silver
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The Sony A6000 will be available in April in either black or silver
View gallery - 10 images

Sony's latest mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the Alpha A6000, is no slouch when it comes to speed. Aimed at hobbyists and photo enthusiasts, the 24.3 megapixel shooter has a super-fast autofocus system which is said to rival all but the fastest of professional DSLRs.

While Sony has ditched the NEX branding on its latest mirrorless cameras, they still take the same E-mount lenses and retain a familiar compact design. As such, the Sony Alpha A6000 (or ILCE-6000, or even α6000 depending on your naming convention of choice) can be seen as the direct successor to the NEX-6.

The A6000 features a 24.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5 X 15.6mm) paired with Sony's latest Bionz X image processor, as seen in the Alpha A7. This allows for an ISO range of 100 to 25,600, meaning it should be capable of shooting quality images in any lighting condition, and Full HD 1080p movie recording at 60/50/24 fps.

But speed is the main attraction of the A6000, and its hybrid autofocus system is claimed to be the world's fastest of any interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C image sensor. Featuring 25 contrast-detection and 179 phase-detection points, it's capable of focus speeds of just 0.06 seconds. It can also shoot 11 frames per second, with subject tracking, in continuous shooting mode.

Around the back of the Sony A6000 there's an OLED electronic viewfinder with 1,440k dots and a 3-inch tiltable LCD
Around the back of the Sony A6000 there's an OLED electronic viewfinder with 1,440k dots and a 3-inch tiltable LCD

Measuring 120mm x 66.9mm x 45.1mm (4.7 x 2.8 x 1.8 inches) and weighing 344 g (12.1 oz) the A6000 looks a lot like its predecessor. One notable difference is on top where the A6000's control dials now sit next to each other rather than being stacked like on the NEX-6. There's also Sony's multi-interface shoe which can be used to attach accessories like a microphone or an external flash, for when the built-in pop-up flash won't do the job.

Around the back, there's an OLED electronic viewfinder with 1,440k dots which offers 100 percent frame coverage, and a three-inch LCD which can tilt up 90 degrees and down 45 degrees, with 921,600 dots. The camera also has a number of customizable buttons which can give quick access to any one of 47 assignable functions.

Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC means that pairing the A6000 with compatible smartphones or tablets is simple for either the sharing of images, or using the external devices for remote shootings with a live image preview. The camera is also compatible with downloadable Sony PlayMemories Camera Apps.

The Sony A6000 will be available in April in either black or silver for about US$650 body-only, or $800 bundled with a 16-50-mm kit lens.

Product page: Sony A6000

View gallery - 10 images
3 comments
3 comments
Nairda
Most people miss the perfect photo opportunity for one of three reasons 1. Camera doesn't turn on in time 2. It doesn't focus on the right thing in time 3. Wrong iso/shutter choice
If Sony have resolved point 2 affordable, how far along are they with the rest.
Phones have overtaken some of this market I think mainly because they are always in our pockets. But I think also because they are not ever truly off (just the screen). So recovery to the point of taking an image is quicker, which covers point 1.
For 3 I the camera/phone will need to start powering up the camera module and testing light setting well before the user presses the button. ie - accelerator settings kick camera to life so (within that second) when the user presses any button is comes on 'instantly' and has chosen the right lighting conditions.
Synchro
@Nairda I wish it were so - the vast majority of camera apps are way, way slower than even the dumbest point and shoot camera. I've had "Instagram" take over 2 minutes (yes, minutes!) to be ready to shoot. In fact I've found the performance and usability of most camera apps bad enough to pretty much make me give up taking pictures altogether.
James Emmans
Synchro, I would only ever take a photo using the camera icon on the mobile phone. Any apps should be left till you have some free time.