Sony a6400 vs a6600 Comparison

The Sony a6400 vs a6600 is a tough head-to-head comparison. They’re two of Sony’s finest mid-range mirrorless cameras. And they’re both popular models with photographers of all kinds.

The Sony a6600 pips the Sony a6400 to the post. But it’s a close race. So we’ll need to take a look at the features and functions to see where the Sony a6600 beats the a6400.

Sony a6600

This great Sony camera offers 4K video with image stabilization and Real-Time AF, a fast burst rate, and a long-life battery.

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Sony a6600 Pros and Cons

Body and Handling

Both cameras have a well-designed camera body. They fit well in your hand and are easy to hold for long periods. The Sony a6400 and Sony a6600 both have a magnesium alloy body that’s durable and robust. And we’re happy to see that both cameras have weather sealing for outdoor photography.

The Sony a6600 is bigger and heavier than the Sony a6400. They aren’t big differences. The Sony a6600 is only 0.22 lb (100 g) and 0.3 inches (8 mm) larger in one dimension. You’ll notice the difference when you hold both cameras. But both remain lightweight and compact mirrorless cameras.

Sony a6400 vs a6600 Optics

Sensor and Image Quality

There’s very little to separate the Sony a6400 and Sony a6600 when it comes to optics specs. They both perform very well. But the Sony a6600 has a couple of features that put it ahead compared to the Sony a6400.

We’ll start with a sensor comparison, but there’s nothing to separate them. In terms of sensor size, they both have an APS-C sensor. And the megapixel count is 24.2 MP on both APS-C CMOS sensors. They also have an image resolution of 6000 x 4000 px.

You can expect excellent image quality from the Sony a6400 and Sony a6600. And you won’t see much difference in terms of standard image quality from either APS-C camera.

ISO Range

The Sony a6600 does take the advantage in two key areas. The first is the ISO range. Both cameras have the same normal ISO range with a top ISO level of 104,200. That’s excellent low-light sensitivity.

But while the Sony a6400 gives you a low ISO of 100, the Sony a6600 gives you an expanded low of 50 ISO. That’ll give you stunning detail and definition with incredible dynamic range. And portrait and landscape photographers will love this feature.

Image Stabilization

The other spec that gives the Sony a6600 the edge is image stabilization. The Sony a6400 has no built-in image stabilization system. It’s something we’re seeing more and more in cameras at this level, so it holds the a6400 back in the scores.

The Sony a6600 has 5-axis in-body image stabilization. It’s a fantastic feature. And photographers and videographers of all types appreciate it. It gives you 5 stops of shake reduction for sharper images. It allows you to use slower shutter speeds with a reduced risk of camera shake or motion blur. It will also improve the dynamic range at higher ISO levels.

Lens Compatibility

The optical quality of the lenses plays a large part in the final quality of your images. Thankfully, access to decent lenses isn’t a problem with the Sony a6400 and Sony a6600.

They both have a Sony E lens mount, giving you access to all the Sony E-mount lenses in their catalog. There are hundreds of lenses to choose from, with all-rounders and specialist lenses available. The standard of Sony E-mount lenses is of the highest order. But third-party lenses can vary in quality, so shop with caution.

When judging the Sony a6400 vs a6600, we’re looking at two very similar cameras when we switch to video mode. They both have 4K video recording with 2160p quality and a 30 fps frame rate. Neither camera uses pixel binning, so you get a full pixel readout when you shoot video. You can expect fantastic video quality from both cameras.

You can shoot slow-motion videos with both Sony cameras. You have to switch to Full HD rather than 4K quality. But you get a higher frame rate of 120 fps for fabulous slow-motion videos.

Both cameras feature an external microphone port for professional audio recording. And there’s a headphone jack to monitor audio recording when shooting video. That gives you excellent options for professional sound recording videographers will appreciate.

While the video specs are the same, the Sony a6600 again takes the points in this round. The image stabilization works with videos as well as still photography. That allows you more options when filming by hand, reducing the need for a tripod or gimbal.

Now we’ll compare the features of the Sony a6400 and Sony a6600. We’ll see plenty of similarities between the two cameras. But there are some important differences we need to note.

Autofocus

The autofocus system of the Sony a6600 looks very similar to that of the Sony a6400. They both have a hybrid AF system with 425 points of phase detection and contrast detection. It’s a sophisticated system with excellent AF tracking for moving subjects.

Both cameras have eye AF tracking. But the Sony a6600 has more AF modes, including human eye AF and animal eye AF. That’ll please portrait, street, and wildlife photographers. And the AF system is also good enough for sports photography, especially the advanced AF modes of the a6600.

Flash

The Sony a6400 and Sony a6600 both have hot shoe connectors for external flashes. That’s good news for studio and fashion photographers. But only the a6400 has a built-in flash. While this might not be a deciding factor for many, a built-in flash is a handy feature many photographers will appreciate. It’s a shame they removed it from the a6600.

Burst Mode

These Sony Alpha cameras have an electronic shutter rather than a mechanical shutter. Electronic shutters often allow cameras a faster max continuous shooting speed. But while the burst modes aren’t slow, we are seeing faster speeds in modern cameras.

The Sony a6400 has a maximum continuous shooting speed of 11 fps. And we’re disappointed to see there’s no upgrade in the Sony a6600, which also has an 11 fps burst mode. That’s quick enough for a mid-range model like the a6400 or a6600. But professional action photographers will want something quicker.

Electronic Viewfinder and LCD Screen

Both Sony Alpha cameras have the same hardware for the electronic viewfinder and LCD screen. The electronic viewfinders have 2.36 M dots, giving you a bright and vibrant view of your shots. It’s not outstanding, but the image rendering is accurate.

The LCD screen has 921k dots on both cameras, which is a high resolution for a screen of this size. The screen is bright and responds well in live view. There’s excellent color depth and detail on the screen when viewing your shots back. The touch screen functionality is also handy. It’s a solid piece of hardware. But it’s disappointing not to see an upgrade on the newer a6600.

The LCD touch screen can tilt and rotate on both Sony Alpha cameras. That’s ideal for taking tricky shots, selfies, and creating vlogs.

Wireless Connectivity

The Sony a6400 and a6600 both have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. We’d be disappointed if they didn’t have both. A Wi-Fi direct connection allows for easy transfer and sharing of images with other devices.

Storage

The storage capabilities are good for both Sony Alpha cameras. They both have dual SD card slots, allowing you to take more photos without needing to change the memory cards. That’s a handy feature for busy photographers.

They also have a wide SD card compatibility. You can use SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards. The Sony a6400 is compatible with the Memory Stick Duo. And the Sony a6600 is compatible with the Memory Stick Pro Duo.

Battery Life

The Sony a6600 is the clear winner in the battle of battery life. The Sony a6400 gives you 410 shots from a fully charged battery. That’s a good battery life for an APS-C mirrorless camera.

The Sony a6600 has a larger battery that gives you a longer battery life. And it’s not an insignificant increase. You’re getting 810 shots from a full battery, nearly double that of the a6400. That’s an increase in battery life you can feel when shooting.

We’re happy to see both cameras also have USB charging. That’s a handy feature for photographers on the go. You don’t need to carry battery chargers and a pack full of spares when you’re traveling. It’s a quick and easy way to power up.

Our Verdict

The battle of the Sony a6400 vs a6600 is a close one. They are two excellent cameras from Sony’s APS-C lineup. They were both released in 2019. And they have much of the same hardware and features. But some key differences mean the Sony a6600 comes out victorious.

There wasn’t much separating the two when comparing sensors. But the 50 ISO and image stabilization of the a6600 gives it the edge. You also have improved battery life and more AF modes. The camera is slightly bigger and heavier. But not so much it becomes a problem.

Sony a6600

This great Sony camera offers 4K video with image stabilization and Real-Time AF, a fast burst rate, and a long-life battery.

See Full Specs >

The Sony a6600 is today’s winner. But don’t disregard the Sony a6400 completely. It’s still a fantastic APS-C mirrorless camera. And as it’s an older model, it’s also cheaper. Unless you need the extra features of the a6600, the Sony a6400 offers better value for money.

Sony a6400 Pros and Cons

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