The Sony A6000 was released in February 2014 and until 2022, it remains the best-selling entry-level mirrorless camera ever.
This is a long time in a technology world where things change really fast.
What is so catchy about this beginner’s camera that has kept it relevant to both professional and amateur photographers all this time?
Sony A6000 Specs Overview
Being its 8th anniversary, Sony A6000 may not be the most technically advanced camera today. The above statement should however not make you underestimate this gadget.
The interchangeable lens mirrorless camera comes with a 24.3-megapixel APS-C sensor with a Bionz X processor. This makes JPEG format images vivid, shard, and contrast at ideal levels. The camera can take up to 11 fps continuous shots with subject tracking.
Sony A6000 is capable of recording 1080/60 & 24p Full HD videos which is the minimum quality accepted today. The 3-inch tilting LCD screen helps in viewing what you are recording.
The camera also has WIFI and NFC connectivity capabilities which can make it easier to transfer the footage to your preferred device.
Why is the Sony a6000 so popular?
There are many factors that led to Sony A6000 being so popular among photographers.
The Sony a6000 was released at a time when mirrorless cameras were becoming popular as a replacement for their NEX cameras line-up.
This was six years after the first mirrorless camera, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 was commercially released in Japan, in October 2008.
This camera was highly advertised as featuring “the world’s fastest autofocus” and true to Sony’s words, the A6000 was faster than most DSLR cameras at the time.
The hybrid auto-focus system by Sony became the ultimate selling point of the a6000. The auto-focus speed was increased from 99 phase points to 179 across the frame and 25 contrast detection points were introduced.
Enthusiast photographers as well as professionals were easily hooked to these advancements in a very compact camera.
However, the starting price of this mirrorless camera is what made it irresistible. At a price of $800, you get this lightweight camera with a full kit to get you started in photography.
Why Sony A6000 is the best camera for beginners
With not so much money to invest, the price of the Sony A6000 is encouraging for photography beginners.
However, there are more factors other than the price that make this interchangeable lens mirrorless camera the best camera for photography beginners.
With a body weight inclusive of a battery and memory card being 344g, this compact camera gives the operator an easy time on the hand.
The rubber grip protrudes enough to fit my hand and I can easily access the dials on the camera.
From the moment you switch on the SonyA6000, you can not tell the difference in start-up time to the professional DSLRs.
While most cheap entry-level cameras take ages to start, the Sony A6000 takes equal time to cameras worth 10x more.
The buttons on Sony A6000 are well-spaced and dedicated to specific functions which you can customize to your liking.
You can easily change settings by clicking DISP going to the Quick Navi screen and making your shooting options.
The electronic viewfinder fitted in this camera displays what the camera sensor will record when you take the photo. In that case, you can play around with exposure settings until you acquire the desired image.
I must admit the LCD screen display on the A6000 is not the best in 2022. The resolution is 921,600 dots which some years back could be great.
For you to know the real quality of the images taken, you have to transfer them to a laptop or your phone.
With the help of Sony’s Dynamic Range Optimization Feature, this cheap camera can produce well-balanced images which do not need further editing.
Compact mirrorless cameras usually fail on the battery and Sony A6000 is no exception.
The Sony A6000 uses a custom NP-WF50 rechargeable lithium-ion battery which takes only 310-360 shots per full charge.
You can however purchase a third-party battery or a battery grip so that you can recharge and continuously take more photos outdoors.
Do professional photographers use Sony A6000?
Absolutely yes! Despite the technology having advanced for years, Sony A6000 consumers who by now are professionals still use the gadget.
With different types of camera lenses, you can really push the limits of the Sony A6000 considering its already incredible image processor.
Sony A6000 vs A6400
Having been released in 2019, Sony A6400 is technically more advanced than the A6000.
The table below should summarize the major differences between the two mirrorless cameras;
Should you still buy Sony A6000 in 2023?
I highly recommend the Sony A6000 mirrorless camera if you are on a budget and you are buying a professional camera for long-term use.
You can get the body only at almost half the price of 2014 and invest the extra bucks in better lenses.
The Sony A6000 may not have all the high-end features but the image quality is not compromised.
Tom Jerks explains why he thinks Sony A6000 is still the best camera for beginners;
