Sony announces two APS-C cameras and two lenses

Sony’s latest batch of new products strengthens its already powerful and popular APS-C system

The A6600 and A6100 are lightweight camera bodies featuring leading-edge autofocus skills, excellent image quality and the latest video technologies. The A6100 is aimed at newcomers to interchangeable lens camera photography who want to shoot high-quality still images in a wide variety of situations, while the A6600 is designed to appeal to demanding photographers and video makers.

The two cameras share some identical features. At their heart is a 24.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS image sensor using the latest BIONZ Z image processor to deliver low-noise images even in very poor light. And both cameras feature very fast and accurate AF systems with an AF acquisition time of just 0.02secs using a 425 phase detect system that covers about 84% of the image area. The wide coverage and high density of AF points helps ensure spot-on autofocus in the most challenging conditions. Both models offer real-time tracking using Sony’s latest algorithm with AI (artificial intelligence-based) object recognition for accurate AF, and there’s real-time eye AF, too, that again uses AI for accuracy and tracking speed of human and animal subjects.

(Above) Sony A6100

Both cameras have a native ISO range of 100 to 32,000 although the A6100 has expansion only to 51,200 while the A6600 is expandable to 50-102,400.

The A6100 and A6600 offer 4K video in Super 35 format, which gives full pixel readout without pixel binning, giving about 2.4x the amount of data for 4K shooting and this oversampling ensures great results.

Sony consider the A6600 to be the new flagship of its APS-C camera range and extra features include a five axis in-body image stabilisation system, with a 5EV benefit. It uses a Sony Z battery give a capacity of approx 720 still images using the EVF and a dust- and moisture-resistant body. There’s also real-time eye AF for movie shooting, so you can let the camera do the work while you concentrate on content.

(Above) Sony A6600

The A6600 will be available from this October at a £1450 body only or as a kit with the 18-135mm zoom for £1800. The A6100 will be available from the same time and is priced at £830 body only or as a kit with the 16-50mm zoom at £900. A two-lens kit with 16-50mm and 55-210mm zooms is priced at £1150.

Sony’s two new APS-C lenses are both G lenses. The E 16-55mm f/2.8 G is a dust- and moisture-resistant standard zoom featuring two advanced aspherical and two aspherical elements to give outstanding edge-to-edge sharpness, while three extra low-dispersion elements keep chromatic aberrations to a minimum. An XD (extreme dynamic) Linear Motor gives fast, quiet AF and efficient tracking. This lens will be available from this October priced at £1200.

The E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS gives an equivalent range of 105-525mm in the 35mm format and uses three ED glass elements and one aspherical lens to provide a high level of performance. This 5x telezoom is very compact, weighing just 650g and uses XD Linear Motor technology for fast, precise AF. Built-in OSS (Optical SteadyShot) image stabilisation helps sharp shooting at the longer focal lengths, the lens is dust and moisture resistant and a focus hold button can be assigned different functions via the camera body.

This long telezoom will be available from this October priced at £830.

Features at a glance: Sony A6600

• 24.2-megapixel resolution
• 425 phase detect and contrast detect AF points
• Five-axis in-body image stabiliser with 5EV benefit
• Native ISO range of 100 to 32,000, expandable to 50 to 102,400
• Dust- and moisture-resistant body
• EVF with 2.35m dots
• 11fps continuous shooting
• 30secs to 1/4000sec shutter range, 1/160sec sync speed
• USB charging
• Microphone and headphone ports
• NP-FZ1000 battery for 810 shots
• Body weighs 503g

Features at a glance: Sony A6100

• 24.2-megapixel resolution
• 425 phase detect AF points
• Native ISO range of 100 to 32,000, expandable to 51,200
• 3in tiltable LCD touch screen monitor
• 11fps continuous shooting
• 30secs to 1/4000sec shutter range, 1/160sec sync
• EVF with 1.44m dots
• Microphone port
• Integral flash
• USB charging
• NP-FW30 battery for 420 shots
• Body weighs 420g

For more information, please visit Sony’s website.