Pondering an a6600? Pros and Cons?

I would not expect the A6600 to have as good of AF as the A7 models. It has a much slower mechanical shutter and the sensor read is still slow too. You might try the APS-C mode on your A7RIII. That may improve its AF performance. One issue with the A7RIII is the phase-detect is limited to f/8.

Edited by QuietOC - 30 January 2022 at 00:43

QuietOC wrote: I would not expect the A6600 to have as good of AF as the A7 models. It has a much slower mechanical shutter and the sensor read is still slow too. You might try the APS-C mode on your A7RIII. That may improve its AF performance. One issue with the A7RIII is the phase-detect is limited to f/8.

You may have to elaborate there for me. The a6600 has the real-time tracking focus rated at 0.02s, more AF points than the a7Riii and can shoot at up to 11fps. While I would expect say, the a7iv to be better, on most of the specs it looks to be better than the a7Riii foe action. I also don't understand why switching the a7Riii to APS-C mode would make it faster.

Wētāpunga wrote: QuietOC wrote: I would not expect the A6600 to have as good of AF as the A7 models. It has a much slower mechanical shutter and the sensor read is still slow too. You might try the APS-C mode on your A7RIII. That may improve its AF performance. One issue with the A7RIII is the phase-detect is limited to f/8. You may have to elaborate there for me. The a6600 has the real-time tracking focus rated at 0.02s, more AF points than the a7Riii and can shoot at up to 11fps. While I would expect say, the a7iv to be better, on most of the specs it looks to be better than the a7Riii foe action. I also don't understand why switching the a7Riii to APS-C mode would make it faster.

What are "the A7 models"? The A6600 will be better then anything mark 1 or mark 2, worse then the mark 4. I also think it is better then the 3 versions because of the technology behind the real-time tracking - looking at the Dpreview review it seems they agree here. There is more to AF then the sensor.

I own the A6400 that is basically an A6600 without IBIS. The AF is really good. But the A7 iv will have better AF.

The sensor is aging, but still fine imho. If you use the full sensor of a recent full frame camera you will have better IQ - but I think the IQ is more then fine.

If bird-eye AF would've come to the A6600 it already would have been there. I do not expect it anymore.

UHS-I or UHS-II is irrelevant as long as the speed is quick enough (a.k.a. is the buffer deep enough). But like you said, the buffer size might be a thing, but then, like 2manycamera says, you should not take long bursts, only short ones.

Some things you did not mention. Being left-eye dominant, I LOVE the side EVF. But not everybody likes it. If you look over the lens before you bring it to you eye, it might take some time to get used to.
The camera is light, that is both a pro and a con. You decide.
It only has one proper control wheel and the wheel on the back - both thumb operated. Could be frustrating if you use manual settings.

I do not really do birds. I do some occasional birding with my A6400 and the 70-350G. I love to take that combination on hikes. It is small and convenient. I bring my A6400 with the 10-18/4 or the 16-70/4 for outings with family or friends. Really nice combination. I only bring my A7r4 for "serious photography".

Three other remarks:
if you can stretch it, take another look at the A7 iv - it is two years newer.
Also look at a used A9.
There is talk of a new "pro" APS-C camera next year - but there is talk about this every year.

I love my A6400, especially as a small, take everywhere, general purpose camera that can do everything. Including birding.


Edited by addy landzaat - 30 January 2022 at 08:53

addy landzaat wrote: ... Three other remarks: if you can stretch it, take another look at the A7 iv - it is two years newer. Also look at a used A9. There is talk of a new "pro" APS-C camera next year - but there is talk about this every year. I love my A6400, especially as a small, take everywhere, general purpose camera that can do everything. Including birding.

Thanks Addy, that was all very helpful. I would say that the a7iv is probably my first choice but there is a big price difference between that and the a6600, hence my pondering.

For bird-eye detection in the a9 series, I'd still have to jump to the a9ii and so far, neither used a9 or a9ii are common. Haven't seen either for sale for quite a while.

Waiting to see if 2022 brings in a new APS-C camera may not be a bad idea. The a6600 was released in 2019 and plans for the next model must have progressed far by now with Sony.

Wētāpunga wrote: For bird-eye detection in the a9 series, I'd still have to jump to the a9ii and so far, neither used a9 or a9ii are common. Haven't seen either for sale for quite a while.

Actually, so far only cameras with bird eye detection are α1 and α7 IV. The earlier models do have the animal eye detection, but I think it is more aimed at detecting dogs and cats and such. However, couple very nice features α9 series do offer and α7 and α6x00 series don't, are 1) no viewfinder blackout and 2) silent (electronic) shutter that has no rolling shutter effect.

Interesting because I only see cons if you are moving from full frame. This presumes you have much full frame equipment. If you get the 6600 I assume you will be using the full frame FE and other lenses you all ready have. Now this makes no sense having a compact light weight camera and the putting heavy, large lenses on it, most likely used w an adapter.

In my world light weight, compact cameras are best used w light weight compact lenses and no adapters necessary
One point addy brought up that has never occurred to me; is the side view finder.

"I LOVE the side EVF. But not everybody likes it. If you look over the lens before you bring it to you eye, it might take some time to get used to"
I also LOVE that. Its so natural and your nose doesn't get in the way ha ha

I still use my trusty old friend the a6000 all the time, when I go shooting I take both of my cameras, have one of my 3 lenses attached to them, depending what I'll be doing. Love my a6500, got it mostly for the IBIS, I do a lot of night shooting. Its built much more like the full frame cameras and it does 11 fps which is more than plenty for me and has a silent mode. They both have 24 mp which is also plenty and neither cost $5000

Basically what I'm saying, it makes no sense having a crop camera and using FE lenses and adapters

Wētāpunga wrote: little concerned about attaching a lens about 1.9kg to a camera as small as the a6600 for balance.

Attach the camera to the lens

Chip shortages may mean the A6600 might never be on sale again....