The Sony A6600 is positioned at the very pinnacle of Sony’s APS-C portfolio for enthusiast photographers. It is designed for individuals who want a top-spec camera but do not have the financial means to purchase full-frame choices such as the Sony A7 III.
The A6600 comes not long after the Sony A6400 and features the same 24.2 MP APS-C sensor, along with the Bionz X CPU featured in the top A9 II. This is typical behavior for Sony, which is notorious for introducing identical cameras quickly.
In addition to inheriting quite a few capabilities from its predecessor, the A6400, the A6600 also introduces some new functionality, like an in-body image stabilization system and a larger battery. More on this will be covered in the next section.
Sony a6600 Features
The Sony A6600 is driven by a sensor that has a resolution of 24.2 megapixels. It is the same sensor that can be found in the Sony A6400 and the Sony A6100, which was the entry-level model launched at the same time as this camera.
The A6400 also has the same Bionz X processor found in the full-frame A9 II; this helps achieve the camera’s outstanding burst speed of 11 frames per second (fps), which is also found in the A6400.
And this is only the beginning of the parallels. Another feature that is the same across the two models is the viewfinder, which is 0.39 inches and has 2.36 million dots. This viewfinder is joined by a touchscreen measuring 3 inches and can tilt.
Another similar feature is a hybrid autofocus system that has 425 phase- and contrast-detection points and can cover 84% of the scene. This is a standard specification. The A6400, A6600, and A6100 all can record 4K video at frame rates of up to 30 fps, with full pixel readout and no pixel binning. The A6100 also has this capability.
Sony a6600 Build Quality
Over the past ten years, Sony has been an industry leader in camera technology, ushering in significant advancements. Unfortunately, Sony has decided to continue hiding that technology in a body that is starting to seem more and more out of date as the years roll by, in the case of the A6000 series of cameras. This is a frustrating decision.
The A6600 utilizes a flat design, much as we’ve seen with all of the previous cameras in the range, and the viewfinder is located on the camera’s left side. It is quite a significant differentiator compared to other APS-C models, such as the Fujifilm X-T3, the Nikon Z50, and the Canon EOS M50. In our opinion, the change is not for the better. One of the advantages of this model is that it has a more substantial grip than the A6400, which allows it to accommodate a more powerful battery and provide more extended playtime.
Sony a6600 Performance
The photography of sports and action is one of Sony’s strong suits; in particular, the company’s A9 II full-frame camera, which is the best in its class, has garnered praise.
Naturally, what is provided here isn’t nearly as spectacular as what is offered elsewhere. Still, the A6600 gives a lot to enthusiasts or amateur photographers passionate about capturing moving subjects in their photographs. The camera can have 11 frames per second, but you’ll only get eight fps if you want to keep things quiet.
There is a buffer capacity of 116 photos in JPEG or 46 shots in raw; thus, you should discover that it is not difficult to achieve short bursts to record fast-moving action.
It’s disappointing that there isn’t UHS-II card compatibility here to speed up the processing of the images, as it can take a while if you hold down the shutter for a few seconds after taking a burst of pictures. After taking a shot of photos, you will see a screen display indicating that the images are being processed.
Sony a6600 Image Quality
Compared to how far Sony has advanced sensor technology in its other camera models, the company’s decision to maintain a 24-megapixel sensor in the A6600 seems slightly unexpected. Since the release of the NEX-7 in 2011, an APS-C camera, the company has been employing 24MP sensors in all of its APS-C cameras.
Sony likely considers that the ordinary photographer does not require a higher resolution; to be fair, 24MP is generally in line with the resolution of competing models, except the Fujifilm X-T3, which has a sensor that is a little higher at 26.1MP.
In addition, the sensor of the A6600 delivers an outstanding performance when it is put to use. The levels of detail are superb overall, and the colors are pleasantly saturated without appearing overly artificial.
Thanks to the versatility afforded by the 18-135mm lens that comes included in the box, you have a decent deal of leeway to photograph a wide variety of things. Its comparable focal length of 27-202mm makes it ideally suited for capturing anything from landscapes at its widest angle to nature and wildlife when used at its most extended focal length.
Sony a6600 Specs
| Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 6000 x 4000 |
| Image ratio w:h | 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 24 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 25 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Bionz X |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 100-32000 (expandable to 102400) |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 102400 |
| White balance presets | 8 |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| Image stabilization notes | 5-axis |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Extra fine, fine, standard |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.3)Raw (14-bit Sony ARW) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 425 |
| Lens mount | Sony E |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.5× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Tilting |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 921,600 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 1.07× (0.71× 35mm equiv.) |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,359,296 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Exposure modes | iAutoProgramAperture priorityShutter priorityManual |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (via hot shoe) |
| Flash modes | Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/160 sec |
| Drive modes | SingleContinuous (Hi+/Hi/Mid/Lo)Self-timerBracketing |
| Continuous drive | 11.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedHighlight-weightedSpot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±5 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes (3 frames, H/L selectable) |
| Videography features | |
| Format | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S |
| Modes | 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| USB charging | Yes |
| HDMI | Yes (micro-HDMI) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n + NFC |
| Remote control | Yes (via smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | NP-FZ100 |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 810 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 503 g (1.11 lb / 17.74 oz) |
| Dimensions | 120 x 67 x 69 mm (4.72 x 2.64 x 2.72″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Sony a6600 Verdict
In theory, the a6600 should be the APS-C camera to beat since it has a top-performing sensor and a range of capabilities that appeal to a broad spectrum of photographers. However, the a6600 is not as good as it sounds in practice. However, Sony has unwaveringly remained with a design factor that is not as pleasant as competing cameras, with a confusing menu structure and settings that don’t always perform as you would want them to in some cases.
