In My Hands: Sony A6000
Overview:
24.3 megapixels
APS-C / 23.5 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor
Max video resolution - Full HD 1920 x 1080p
Built-in WiFi / NFC
3" tiltable LCD screen
11 fps in continuous shooting mode
66.9 x 120 x 45.1 mm (H x W x D)
Weighs 285g
My Experience:
The A6000 was my first "proper" camera. I say it like this as I've owned multiple digicams in the past and have taken millions of photos on my phone but before the A6000 I'd never invested any real money into my hobby of taking photos.
I bought the camera in 2022, 8 years after it was released back in April 2014, and I guess the reason you're reading this review is to find out if an 8+ year old camera is still worth buying?
While it's true that 24 megapixels is on the lower end of the spectrum for cameras in 2023, I can tell you that this lightweight, small, mirrorless camera still packs a punch! I've used it for long exposure shots at night, landscape photos, portraits & street photography and everything I have thrown at it, it's handled and it's handled well.
It comes with a 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 lens with OSS built in. With the cropped sensor this is closer to 24-75mm and its more than enough to get your started. Wide enough for a landscape but not too bad for portraits either.
The EVF works well, it's clear and bright, and the screen is pretty good too, we'll touch on that a little more in the next section. All the dials and buttons are, in my opinion, very well placed and all within easy reach without having to shift your hand around the camera body too much.
While the menu is quite big and could be laid out a little better, it offers a lot of customization for the standard buttons as well as the 2 dedicated customizable buttons.
Finally let's not forget to mention the 11 frames per second. 11! Trust me when I say this is very useful when shooting a moving car/bike or any wildlife photos.
Thing's I'd Change:
There are a few things that just don't feel right with the camera though.
Firstly, the screen. It is clear and tiltable but in direct sunlight it can be hard to see. You can use the EVF but if you're someone that likes to use the screen to set up a shot, this is something worth noting.
Secondly, the grip is a little smaller than it should have been. This was corrected in the A6600 and the larger grip was used to house a larger battery, something that the A6000 is missing. I have a half case on mine though which does assist in bulking out the grip and making it feel a little better in hand.
The final thing for me, as partly mentioned above, is the battery. The A6000 uses Sony's NP-FW50 battery, which if you want to spend the day taking photos, you'll need a couple of. This isn't a big issue as they aren't that expensive to purchase but the larger NP-FZ100 battery would have made a world of difference in this camera.
Conclusion:
Really, what you want to know is should you buy this camera.... And I think it depends on where you are in your photography journey.
If you already have a DSLR or mirrorless camera and you're looking for an upgrade then honestly, the A6000 probably isn't for you. The A series is great but I'd recommend the A6500 for the touchscreen, 4k video and few other upgrades or the A6600 if you want all of that and a larger battery with a flip up screen.
However if you are currently shooting with your phone or a small digicam and want something that you can take out, get great photos with and enjoy using, then this camera is for you!