Sony’s Alpha 6400 is a fantastic mirrorless camera for vloggers and photo enthusiasts on the go! This little powerhouse packs a 24-megapixel sensor for amazing image quality, super-fast autofocus that locks onto your subject with lightning speed, and a 180-degree tilting touchscreen that’s perfect for vlog selfies and creative shot angles. Plus, it’s surprisingly lightweight, making it a great companion for your adventures!
Key Features
Model No: ILCE-6400/B
- BIONZ X Image Processor
- 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor
- XGA Tru-Finder 2.36m-Dot OLED EVF
- Real-Time Eye AF & Real-Time Tracking
- S&Q Motion in Full HD from 1-120 fps
- 3.0″ 921.6k-Dot 180 Tilting Touchscreen
- Internal UHD 4K Video, S-Log3, and HLG
- 425 Phase- & Contrast-Detect AF Points
- Up to 11 fps Shooting and ISO 102400
- Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC
- REVIEW
- SPECS
Sony Alpha 6400: A Feature-Packed Mirrorless Camera for Aspiring Photo and Video Enthusiasts
The Sony Alpha 6400 builds upon the strengths of the popular Sony Alpha a6100, offering a compelling feature set for aspiring photographers and videographers who crave excellent image quality, advanced performance, and user-friendly operation. In this review, we’ll delve into what the Alpha 6400 brings to the table in 2024.
Image Quality and Processing
The Alpha 6400 features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor that delivers sharp and detailed images, particularly in good lighting conditions. The sensor size balances portability with good image quality, making it ideal for various shooting scenarios. The BIONZ X image processor ensures improved image processing speeds compared to previous models, resulting in a more responsive shooting experience.
Superior Autofocus System and Continuous Shooting
The Alpha 6400 boasts a highly-advanced autofocus system with 425 phase-detection points covering a wide area of the frame. This system offers exceptional focus speed and accuracy, even when tracking fast-moving subjects or capturing unpredictable action. The camera also offers an impressive continuous shooting speed of up to 11 frames per second for bursts of action photography.
Compact and Travel-Friendly Design
Similar to its predecessors, the Alpha 6400 maintains a compact and lightweight design, making it ideal for travel, everyday carry, or situations where bulky equipment is undesirable.
Fully-Articulating Touchscreen LCD and Built-in Flash
The Alpha 6400 features a fully-articulating 3-inch touchscreen LCD monitor that allows for comfortable framing from various angles and intuitive touch controls for navigating menus and selecting focus points. The camera also includes a built-in flash for adding extra lighting when needed.
Enhanced Video Capabilities with 4K HDR
The Alpha 6400 offers significant improvements in video capabilities compared to previous models. It allows for internal 4K HDR (HLG) recording at up to 30 frames per second, creating high-quality and cinematic footage suitable for social media or personal projects. Additionally, the camera offers features like S-Log profiles for greater color grading flexibility in post-production.
Is the Sony Alpha 6400 Right for You?
The Sony Alpha 6400 is an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate photographers and videographers seeking a feature-rich camera that excels in both stills and video. The advanced autofocus system, faster image processing, 4K HDR video capabilities, and fully-articulating touchscreen make it a compelling upgrade over previous models. However, professional photographers or those seeking the absolute best image quality might consider higher-end Sony mirrorless cameras.
Summary
The price of the Alpha 6400 has become more competitive since its release. This, along with the feature upgrades over the a6100, makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious photographers and videographers. Newer Sony models exist, but the Alpha 6400 remains a capable and well-rounded option for its target audience.
Specifications
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Sensor Type | 23.5 x 15.6 mm (APS-C) CMOS |
| Sensor Resolution | Actual: 25 Megapixel Effective: 24.2 Megapixel (6000 x 4000) |
| Crop Factor | 1.5x |
| Aspect Ratio | 3:2, 16:9 |
| Image File Format | JPEG, Raw |
| Bit Depth | 14-Bit |
| ISO Sensitivity | 100 to 32000 (Extended: 100 to 102400) |
| Shutter Speed | Electronic Front Curtain Shutter 1/4000 to 30 Seconds Bulb Mode |
| Metering Method | Average, Center-Weighted Average, Highlight Weighted, Multi-Zone, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority |
| Exposure Compensation | -5 to +5 EV (1/3, 1/2 EV Steps) |
| Metering Range | -2 to 20 EV |
| White Balance | Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Color Temperature Filter, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent (Cool White), Fluorescent (Day White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Fluorescent (Warm White), Incandescent, Shade, Underwater |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 11 fps at 24.2 MP for up to 46 Frames (Raw) / 116 Frames |
| Interval Recording | Yes |
| Self-Timer | 2/5/10-Second Delay |
| Recording Modes | XAVC S UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 24.00p/25p/29.97p [60 to 100 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 100p/119.88p [60 to 100 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 24.00p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p [50 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 50p/59.94p [25 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 25p/29.97p [16 Mb/s] AVCHD Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 50i/59.94i [17 to 24 Mb/s] |
| External Recording Modes | 4:2:2 8-Bit UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 24.00p/25p/29.97p Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 24.00p/50i/50p/59.94i/59.94p |
| Recording Limit | Up to 1995 Minutes |
| Video Encoding | NTSC/PAL |
| Audio Recording | Built-In Microphone (Stereo) External Microphone Input |
| Audio File Format | AC3, Dolby Digital 2ch, Linear PCM |
| Focus Type | Auto and Manual Focus |
| Focus Mode | Automatic (A), Continuous-Servo AF (C), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus (M), Single-Servo AF (S) |
| Autofocus Points | Phase Detection: 425 Contrast Detection: 425 |
| Autofocus Sensitivity | -2 to +20 EV |
| ISO Sensitivity | 100 to 32000 (Extended: 100 to 102400) |
| Shutter Speed | Electronic Front Curtain Shutter 1/4000 to 30 Seconds Bulb Mode |
| Metering Method | Average, Center-Weighted Average, Highlight Weighted, Multi-Zone, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority |
| Exposure Compensation | -5 to +5 EV (1/3, 1/2 EV Steps) |
| Metering Range | -2 to 20 EV |
| White Balance | Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Color Temperature Filter, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent (Cool White), Fluorescent (Day White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Fluorescent (Warm White), Incandescent, Shade, Underwater |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 11 fps at 24.2 MP for up to 46 Frames (Raw) / 116 Frames |
| Interval Recording | Yes |
| Self-Timer | 2/5/10-Second Delay |
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder Size | 0.39″ |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2,359,296 Dot |
| Viewfinder Eye Point | 23 mm |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 1 |
| Viewfinder Magnification | Approx. 1.07x |
| Diopter Adjustment | -4 to +3 |
| Size | 3.0″ |
| Resolution | 921,600 Dot |
| Display Type | 180 Tilting Touchscreen LCD |
| Built-In Flash | Yes |
| Flash Modes | Auto, Fill Flash, Hi-Speed Sync, Off, Rear Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Wireless |
| Guide Number | 19.69′ / 6 m at ISO 100 |
| Maximum Sync Speed | 1/160 Second |
| Flash Compensation | -3 to +3 EV (1/3, 1/2 EV Steps) |
| Dedicated Flash System | TTL |
| External Flash Connection | Hot Shoe, Wireless |
| Media/Memory Card Slot | Single Slot: SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo Hybrid (UHS-I) |
| Connectivity | 3.5mm Microphone, HDMI D (Micro), Wired Remote Port, USB Micro-B (USB 2.0) |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi |
| GPS | No |
| Operating Temperature | 32 to 104 F / 0 to 40 C |
| Battery | 1 x NP-FW50 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, 7.2 VDC, 1080 mAh |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 4.7 x 2.6 x 2.4″ / 120 x 66.9 x 59.7 mm |
| Weight | 14.22 oz / 403 g (Body with Battery and Memory) |
| Package Weight | 1.5 lb |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 6 x 5.6 x 4.5″ |