Sony Launches 26-Megapixel A6700 as Top-of-the-Line APS-C Mirrorless Camera

Sony has recently released several full-frame cameras, but only one APS-C model, the ZV-E10, in the past four years. However, the company has now addressed this by introducing its new flagship APS-C mirrorless camera, the A6700, which boasts a 26-megapixel (MP) sensor. This camera is especially suitable for vlogging due to its impressive features such as 4K 120p video, active mode stabilization, and AI auto-framing. However, it should be noted that this camera comes with a hefty price tag.

At first glance, the A6700 looks like the other models in the Sony A6000 series, but it has some notable improvements. The grip is now larger for better handling and stability, and features a configurable front dial for easier manual shooting. It has a variable-angle LCD screen (rather than a pop-up screen) and a low-resolution (2.36 million dots) but fast (120 fps) electronic viewfinder. It’s quite compact, 35 percent smaller and 21 percent lighter than Canon’s $1,500 R7.

Sony has also introduced a still/movie/S&Q selector with its own settings for each, as well as a new and much more intuitive main menu and menu structure. It has microphone and headphone ports (plus digital audio via hotshoe), USB-C 3.2 Gen1, a micro HDMI port (sadly not full size) and a single SD UHS-II card slot on the side, rather than at the bottom of the battery compartment like before. It’s dust and moisture resistant if you’re shooting in bad weather, and it supports 4K30p webcam recording.

The A6700 doesn’t improve on the shooting speeds of the A6600, instead shooting bursts at the same 11 fps (in both mechanical and electronic shutter modes) with autofocus and automatic exposure tracking. However, it can take a lot more photos at once, with the new larger buffer allowing you to record 59 compressed RAW images and over 1,000 JPEG images before it stops.

Autofocus has also been improved thanks to a faster back-illuminated (BSI) sensor and a processor eight times faster than previous models. Sony promises “reliable real-time tracking” of people, animals and birds, insects and vehicles (cars, trains and planes). The focusing power of the human eye is 60 percent better than previous models, while animal/bird eye focusing speeds increased by 40 percent.

It should also take better low-light photos, again thanks to the BSI sensor and improved processor. Finally, on the photo side, it now offers selectable RAW settings such as lossless and compressed, as well as JPEG, HEIF and HLG stills.

While Sony already has a camera aimed at vlogging in the ZV-E10, the A6700 is even stronger in this regard. You can shoot 4K video at up to 120fps in 10-bit 4:2:2 quality (FHD 240p) all with AF/AE, which beats all APS-C competitors except Fujifilm’s $2,000 X-H2S. Best of all, it’s super-sampled from 6K, “resulting in high-resolution 4K with minimal moiré and jaggedness,” says Sony.

You can record in Sony’s XAVC format at up to 600Mbps with I-frame codecs, which are easier to edit. It supports S-Cinetone and Sony S-Log3 mode to improve dynamic accuracy by up to 14 points (equivalent to its Cinema line cameras), as well as user-definable LUT ranges to give you a better understanding of what you’re shooting.

For those who shoot a lot of tracking shots or walk-and-talk vlogs, the A6700 has “active mode stabilization,” which uses both software and optical tricks to reduce camera shake. Video autofocus mode supports the same subject area (people, animals, vehicles) as photo focus, and Sony promises real-time detection in all cases. Another nice feature borrowed from the ZV-E1 full-frame camera is AI-based auto-framing, which lets your subject move while staying centered in the frame – with variable cropping and tracking speeds. And like other recent Sony models, it supports digital focus breathing compensation with select lenses.

We had the camera with us for a short time and found it to perform much better than any previous Sony A6000 series camera. At the same time, it is compact and light enough to take with you on trips. However, it’s definitely not an impulse buy. The A6700 starts at $1,399 (body only), or $1,499 with the 16-50mm lens and $1,699 with the 18-135mm lens. Pre-orders are now open and it will start shipping in early August.