We've said it more than once: getting the latest model of something is not always the best or the most efficient. Camera manufacturers do everything they can to shorten upgrade cycles, but they know it would be a huge mistake to abandon previous products that were well received by the public. That's the case with the Sony Alpha A6000. It's about to turn six years old, yet the Japanese giant keeps producing it thanks to sustained demand, a good balance of specifications, and a wide variety of accessories.
With the launch of a new camera, there is almost always a price movement among its direct competitors, and it also affects the models it seeks to replace. On certain occasions, that downward trend is delayed for several months, but we've seen some cameras drop like bricks. Entering the world of photography doesn't have to cost a fortune, and those moments of offers and discounts are ideal to do so.
With that in mind, we arrive at the Sony Alpha A6000. After the appearance of its older sisters (among which the Sony Alpha A6100 stands out), many thought Sony would finally declare its retirement, but its availability remains firm. In fact, it is now more competitive with its “new” price, and those interested in exploring channels like Amazon Warehouse or similar will be able to get it at an even more attractive value.
Six Years Are Nothing
Announced originally in February 2014, the Sony Alpha A6000 features an APS-C CMOS sensor with 24.3 effective megapixels, accompanied by the Bionz X image processor. Its ISO sensitivity ranges from 100 to 25,600 with a boost to 51,200, while shutter speed ranges from 1/4,000 to 30 seconds. Its three-inch screen is not touch-sensitive but does tilt (90 degrees up, 45 degrees down), with a resolution of 921,600 dots. Its viewfinder is a 0.39-inch OLED module with 1.44 million dots and 100 percent coverage.
Autofocus and Burst
The autofocus of the Sony Alpha A6000 isn't revolutionary compared to modern cameras, but at the time it was basically an example to follow, and it still has remarkable performance today. Its hybrid configuration with 179 phase-detection points (and 25 with contrast detection) left the autofocus of the old NEX series in the dust, and also raised sensor coverage to more than 90 percent. As if that weren't enough, the latest firmware update for the A6000 was published in March of this year, and includes additional autofocus optimizations.
Sony didn't make any major attempt to present the Alpha A6000 as a sports camera, but its burst has proven to be a real monster. Its three levels are 2.5, 6, and 11 fps, all with continuous autofocus. The definitive buffer size ranges between 48 and 50 shots for JPEG, and about 21-22 in RAW, using high-speed cards. The only weak point is the wait. The Sony Alpha A6000 enters a temporary “lock” until it finishes processing the buffer content. Nothing terrible, but it could become a problem if the action scenes to capture are very frequent.
Controls and Interface
The interface of the Sony Alpha A6000 concentrates most of its functions on the back (favoring right-handed use), which clears the top area for the pop-up flash, shutter release, mode dial, control dial, and one of the customization buttons (C1). The other C2 button is located at the lower right corner of the back, near the control wheel and the Fn button, where we can register twelve different functions.
The mode dial is small, but it manages to hold a total of ten options: Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto, Program Auto “P”, Aperture Priority “A”, Shutter Priority “S”, Manual “M”, Memory Recall “MR”, Movie, Panorama, and Scene Selection “SCN”. The complete help guide was published on the web, and extends over more than 200 pages.
Video
The video modes on the Sony Alpha A6000 show to a certain extent that it's a camera from 2014, but that doesn't mean its final quality is deficient. Quite the opposite: its 1080p60 at 28 megabits per second performs quite well, and compensates for its main limitations with a high degree of control. Granted, Sony has modern cameras with superior 1080p, however, it's not bad at all for the A6000.
Accessories for the Sony Alpha A6000
The best part, without a doubt. When we buy a camera with a few years on its back, and especially if it's a very popular option like the Sony Alpha A6000, we have the advantage of a mature market with plenty of accessories. Batteries, cases, supports, and other secondary resources are within reach for a more than reasonable investment.
Batteries and Power
With 360 shots per full charge, the Sony Alpha A6000's battery doesn't rewrite any rules, which is logical given that it's the classic NP-FW50 module. The good news is that today there are no difficulties accessing alternatives like a compatible Gloxy NP-FW50 battery, which delivers the same performance as the original at a fraction of the cost. And for on-the-go recharging, nothing better than the Gloxy 2-in-1 car and home charger. For under 50 euros, the energy equation of the Sony Alpha A6000 is solved. The recommended kit is identified by the code "DI884,VDTS-4604-CH-VDTS-145".
Tripods and Supports
The solid work of its autofocus system reduces the dependency on a support for most shots, but if the plan is to work with very low light or higher ISO values than normal, the search for a tripod for Sony Alpha A6000 becomes a priority. Having said that, two options: First, the Manfrotto Pixi mini tripod, ideal for use in small spaces, resistant and easy to carry everywhere. Second, the Clampod Takeway T2, with a maximum load of 40 kilograms, impressive grip, and an excellent cost-benefit ratio.
Bags and Covers
As expected, the Sony Alpha A6000 does not include weather sealing, and beyond its extreme portability (barely 344 grams with batteries installed), it will need a good means of transport and additional protection. The Genesis Gear Orion camera bag is an excellent candidate, with a modifiable padded interior and extra space for accessories like tablets. When it comes to protecting the A6000, the official Sony LCS-EBE cover will be more than enough. It keeps dust at bay, and I admit it looks great once installed.
Memory Cards
We need to take advantage of that burst on the Sony Alpha A6000, and the first step is to get a fast memory card, both in reading and writing. After studying several options, the best price-performance balance is the SanDisk Extreme Pro V30 64 GB. 170 MB/s read, 90 MB/s write, 30 euros. We can't complain.
Special Kits
Our last section is dedicated to miscellaneous items for the Sony Alpha A6000, and today we'll repeat two classics. No matter how small your investment, the idea is to protect it as best as possible, and when it comes to this mirrorless, we'll find a great ally in the Gloxy 6-in-1 cleaning kit. It brings everything needed to remove grease and dust, thus extending the life of our camera. Finally, I think no one will waste the opportunity to put the A6000 to work a bit, and for that, we have a portable mini studio of 40 x 40 x 40 centimeters. With that kit, product photography is waiting for us.
The Sony Alpha A6000 is below 500 euros with the 16-50 kit, and it's likely some of our readers will opt for a refurbished unit via Amazon Warehouse, saving 100 euros in the process. Either way, this Sony mirrorless is shaping up to be a solid purchase in 2019, with good support and plenty of quality. Good luck!
