Sony A6700 system camera (Demo)

Sony A6700 DSLR camera body

Used as a demo unit in our store display. The retail packaging has minor cosmetic damage. Shutter count: 3,800 exposures. Sold with the full manufacturer’s warranty.

The Sony A6700 is the manufacturer's new flagship APS-C sensor camera. Sony has a good habit of taking features from professional bodies to cameras in other model series with little delay.

The Sony A6700 looks a bit like a new superhero movie, with all the characters from Batman to Superman in it , so now they're borrowing features like crazy . It includes the Bionz XR processor and a new AI chip for the first time in cameras of this sensor size. Video shooting borrows a lot from the FX30 cinema camera and the ZV-E1 vlogging camera, the improved skin tones and color scheme are from the A7R V, as is the more powerful stabilizer. Continuous shooting is fast and the autofocus is the latest version and is assisted by the previously mentioned AI processor.

Sony has clearly had in mind to make the Canon EOS R7 camera as tough a competitor as possible and based on preliminary information, they have succeeded quite well in this. So the A6700 meets the needs of many active photographers, whether their main focus is animals such as birds, sports photography and as an added bonus are the highly advanced video recording features. This is suitable for an active photographer as a first camera or a professional's second body.

• 26 megapixel APS-C size sensor
• Focus recognizes people, animals, vehicles and even insects
• A7R V top-of-the-line Bionz XR processor and new AI chip
• 11FSP continuous shooting with intermediate focus
• 4K video recording, oversampled from 6K image
  
• 4K 60P video recording
• Streaming in 4K 30P quality directly from the camera via USB-C cable
• Powerful internal image stabilization + Active Mode for video recording
  
• 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder, 120FPS refresh rate
• Forward-facing flip screen
• Photo, video and S&Q shooting selection directly from the switch
• New touchscreen menu system familiar from the Sony A7S III

New processors and AI-tuned autofocus

Sony's marketing materials often repeat the names of different processors and reference models. Fortunately, these innovations have a clear impact on the features and, consequently, the quality of the images. For example, the new main processor practically enables the new and praised color tones of the Sony A7R V model.

In particular, skin tones are now reproduced more neutrally and in addition, automatic exposure is more accurate, especially in difficult conditions such as when shooting against backlight. Automatic white balance is also more consistent in difficult subjects, for example when the image has a lot of dark shadow tones and leafy green, which should work in Finland! Other features have also been brought to the A6XX series:

• Losslessly compressed RAW files and the new HEIF image format
• 10 presets for color tones in still images and videos
• 11FPS continuous shooting with continuous focus (electronic or mechanical shutter)
• 1000 JPG, 59 RAW or 44 RAW + JPG image cache in continuous burst shooting
• Flicker Free shooting setting especially for shooting in artificial light

The autofocus is assisted by the previously mentioned AI co-processor, which enables completely new types of focus features. The camera has been deeply trained on various common forms of movement, from eye and face recognition to rapid combination, and the body is also taken into account . The chip also allows the camera to recognize and predict the movements of the person in the picture using Pose estimation technology, which means the focus system is ready to focus quickly, as if anticipating where the focus should be.

This enhances the reliability and speed of focusing, especially in demanding situations, such as when the subject is in a dense forest, when shooting against backlight, or when other subjects are moving in the frame.

• Ai Processing unit - separate processor for autofocus
• Same performance as the A7R V camera
• Identify and track with precision: birds, animals, vehicles and now insects and airplanes
• Same focusing capabilities for stills and video without limitations
• 759 phase-detection AF points spread over a wide area, covering 93% of the frame
• Focus works in -3EV low light
• Focus works well even for small objects or objects with their back to the camera thanks to detection
  

Combined with the higher 26MP resolution, 11FPS burst shooting, and these autofocus capabilities, it is sure to appeal to a wide range of photographers.

Video recording power pack:

As you can see from the following feature list, the A6700 is not only a photographer, but also a bit more demanding in video shooting. Basically, it is an FX30 with the features of a still camera added.

• 4K 60P video recording (oversampling from 6K footage!
• Maximum bit rate 600Mbps
• Unlimited duration for video recording
• Support for LUT files
• Fast sensor readout time, i.e. rolling shutter effect is quite small
• USB-C streaming directly through your computer's USB port in 4K 30P or FullHD 60P quality
• 4K 120P recording with 1.6X cropping (but 1:1 pixel data, i.e. no pixel skipping or merging
• 10X slow motion videos in FullHD resolution
• Focus map and focus peaking focusing aids
• S-Cinetone color scheme
  
• 10-bit 4:2:2 HLG wide gamut
• S-Log 3 recording
• Vlog-assisting features like Auto Framing
• EyeAF also with Clear image zoom
• Focus Breathing Correction
• Storing gyro data for digital stabilization
  
• Digital audio connection and HDMI connection
  
  

High-quality 4K video is created using oversampling technology from a larger amount of data, meaning a 6K image is converted to 4K material, so the resolution is even better and when the sensitivity is increased, noise is better controlled.  

As mentioned, 10bit S-log2 and 3 recording and HLG are now included. S-Cinetone color technology has been borrowed from Sony film cameras, meaning the material is compatible with Sony's production cameras in terms of color for editing. S-Log3 format records a dynamic range of up to 14 stops. The camera uses 10bit recording (compare 8bit of the previous model), meaning this is suitable for those who enjoy editing and you can carefully adjust the color settings until the end.

The Sony A6700 includes an effective internal image stabilizer and in addition, the more effective Active mode helps with video recording. This provides really stable video when shooting handheld. This stabilization is implemented really nicely, the gyro digital stabilization data is stored in the video file metadata, so digital stabilization can only be done afterwards during the editing phase if desired. So it is worth saving the stabilization data and using it as needed without loss of quality.

Streaming is more and more popular these days, and the Sony A6700 can stream to streaming services without the need for separate encoders or capture devices! Simply connect the USB-C cable to your computer and the video and image will be transferred directly to your desired software. The video file can also be saved to a memory card while using the webcam.

The previous comparison to the Sony FX30 model is therefore quite accurate, but there are differences in terms of thermal management, for example, and the camera has one memory card slot and a smaller HDMI connection. However, according to initial tests, the thermal management is very good, at a Finnish-friendly 24c temperature and with the 4K 60P setting, the battery runs out before overheating if the screen is kept open and the warning limit is set high.

Usability and new frame

• Sony A1-style forward-facing flip touchscreen
• Bright 2.36 million-dot electronic viewfinder, 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rate
• Still/Movie/S&Q photo and video mode selection via separate switch
• Deeper grip and improved ergonomics, works well even with heavy telephoto zooms
• Front and rear rollers and AF On button
• Sony's latest menu system with touch support and swipe capabilities
• New
• USB-C additional power even during shooting
• 570 photos or 120 minutes of video on a single charge

The camera's touchscreen is now a rotating model, and the flip screen allows you to position the camera in a variety of positions and is better suited for vlogging. The menu system is the latest possible, meaning navigation is more pleasant, faster, and settings can be adjusted directly with a finger touch. Hidden additional settings can be displayed by swiping the screen in a mobile-style manner.

The A6700 also includes Sony's latest features, such as the Accessibility menu for activating accessibility features. The highlight of these is the Screen Reader feature, which speaks out information about the camera's menus and settings if it's difficult to understand on a small screen.

The selection of photo mode, video recording and S&Q slow motion videos is now done with a dedicated switch. This means you can quickly switch to each mode and there is no need to adjust the automatic exposure separately in the menus!

The battery used is the proven NP-FZ100, which is used in Sony's entire line of better cameras. According to CIPA measurements, 610 photos can be taken with a full battery, which is a clear improvement from the 400 photos of the third version. But as always, this measurement method is quite unforgiving, so in normal use, even higher numbers of photos can be taken.

Specifications:

• Compatibility: Sony E and FE mount
• 26 megapixel APS-C size sensor, Bionz XR processor
• Sensitivity ISO 100-51200 (expanded to 50-102400), up to 14 stops of dynamic range
• Internal image stabilization
• Eye AF for people and animals, also in video mode
• 759 phase-detection AF points
• 5Ghz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth LE
• MicroHDMI
• USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) USB port
• accessory socket on the hot shoe
• 3.5mm jack for microphone and headphones
• Continuous shooting 11fps
• 4K 60P video recording, max. H.265/XAVC HS / SI 4:2:2 10-bit, bit rate 50-600Mbps
• Flip-out touchscreen
  
• Electronic viewfinder: 2.39m dots, 120fps, 0.7x magnification
• 1pc UHS-II SDXC memory card slot
• NP-FZ100 battery, approximately 570 shots or just over 2 hours of 4K video recording
• Size: 122 x 69 x 63.6mm
• Weight: 409g (493g with battery and memory card)