Sony a6700 – Is it worth buying?
Text on the Picture: “Sony a6700 First Impressions”
Since the beginning of September, I have owned the Sony a6700, which was officially introduced on July 12. I had been considering getting an APS-C camera for a long time. However, I would have preferred it in an A1 body. The a6700 will not become my primary camera for wildlife photography, at least not for shots beyond macrophotography. The A1 and the a7R IV, with their full-frame sensors, will continue to be my first choice.
Why did I choose the A6700?
There are several reasons that made this camera interesting for me. First, it offers focus stacking, a feature unfortunately not available in the larger Sony models. Combined with an APS-C sensor, it provides a solid foundation for macrophotography. Until now, I have used a Lumix G81 for focus stacking in macrophotography, but I didn't have any specialized lenses for it apart from the kit lens. Since I already use Sony equipment, I couldn't use any of my lenses for this purpose. That's why I decided on another Sony camera. This way, I have everything in one system.
Another important point is the ability to shoot videos in 4K at 120 fps. My Sony A1 can do that too, but I wanted a lightweight dedicated hybrid camera for this purpose. The APS-C sensor also brings a crop factor of 1.5. This transforms a 400 mm lens into a 600 mm lens, at least in terms of the field of view. When shooting in 4K at 120 fps, an additional factor of 1.58 is added. This means that the total crop factor in 4K 120 fps is "1.5 sensor crop" + "4K 120fps crop 1.58", resulting in a field of view equivalent to 948 mm with a 400 mm lens. This can be very advantageous in nature videography.
The third reason is the ability to carry lighter camera equipment when exploring new natural areas. For example, the combination of the A6700 and the 100-400 mm f4.5 / 5.6 GM lens weighs only about 1888 grams.
Was buying the A6700 the right choice?
After presenting the three main reasons for my purchase decision, both for myself and for you, the questions now arise:
Was the acquisition worth it?
Did it impress at first glance?
This article might also interest you!
I describe my first long-term test with the Sony a6700 in the wild. Many pictures and videos were taken, giving you a comprehensive view of the camera.
The Great Sony A6700 Wildlife Test - Don't miss it!
Technical Specifications
Before I describe my first impressions and my small test, here are the technical specifications of the camera briefly. If you’re expecting a detailed review of the tech specs, I have to disappoint you. I think others have already covered that extensively.
Here are a few key facts:
26 MP BSI CMOS APS-C sensor (1.5 crop factor)
Bionz XR processor and AI Processing Engine
759 AF points with 93% coverage and AF tracking with subject recognition
11 fps shooting with mechanical or electronic shutter
4K video up to 60p from 6K capture and 120p with an additional 1.58x crop factor
S-Log3, LUT, S-Cine, HEIF, and HLG modes
5-stop in-body image stabilization
Z battery and weather-sealed body
Ergonomics and Body
a6700 mit Kit-Objektiv 16 - 50 mm f3.5 / 5.6
Body
As mentioned earlier, I would have preferred a body from the Sony 7 series with the same button layout. This would make operation easier for users of the 7 series, as well as for those upgrading from the A6000 series to the 7 series. You could start using it without having to make major adjustments and would have all the configuration options you’re used to. But that's my personal opinion. Sony is pursuing a different concept with the a6700 camera, likely aiming to appeal to a different target audience.
Viewfinder
The body is smaller than the a7 models, and the viewfinder is located in the top-left corner of the body. Initially, I thought this would be an issue, but these concerns turned out to be unfounded. Bringing the eye to the viewfinder of the A6700 works without much adjustment compared to bodies with a centrally positioned viewfinder.
The LCD is only mounted on a narrow bracket and is always positioned beside the camera when angled
Display
The display is now tiltable, to the delight of many users, as I've noticed in forums and tech discussions. Personally, I would have preferred the old tilting function in the style of the 7 series or the a7R V. A flip screen is more of a hindrance in most of my photography cases, and the risk of damaging the LCD is high. This mechanism holds the LCD on a narrow bracket, and the LCD is always beside the camera when angled. In controlled environments or for vloggers, this might be unproblematic, but for me, it is more of a risk and thus a negative point. However, it is not a deal-breaker for purchasing the camera.
Mode Dial: Photo, Film, S&Q
A particularly positive feature is that with the small Alpha camera, you can now quickly and easily select Photo, Film, and Slow & Quick Motion modes via a dial. Additionally, the settings for each mode are handled separately. This prevents accidentally carrying over photo mode settings to film mode or vice versa. Of course, this can also be configured individually in the menu if desired.
Ergonomics
Regarding ergonomics, my judgment is clear: If the A6700 were in the running for my main camera, its ergonomics would definitely be a deal-breaker. This may sound harsh, but from my personal perspective, the A6700 comes with a poorly thought-out body design. I am not talking about major changes but rather small details that have a big impact.
The arrangement of the dials is simply unergonomic.
For example, with the A7 III, A7R IV, or A1 models, I can easily access the front dial by moving my index finger from the shutter button. I can feel the dial directly. However, on the A6700, the shutter button and the front dial are very close together. Unlike the 7-series camera bodies, where the dial is slightly angled upwards and protrudes a bit more, it is straight and recessed on the A6700. For someone like me with larger fingers, this is a significant disadvantage. This is not a minor complaint but a serious stumbling block, especially in wildlife photography. In the wild, fractions of a second count, and if you have to search for the dial, the chance for the perfect shot is already gone. In my opinion, if the dial protruded just a bit more, it would significantly improve this issue.
Menu Navigation
The menu navigation is the familiar one from the newer Sony models. There are one or two adjustments, but overall, there is nothing particularly noteworthy from the first impression.
Customization of Dials and Buttons
Sony offers the usual flexibility here as well: every button and dial can be individually assigned. You can even set a back-button focus or reassign the video record button.
The A6700 in Its First Practical Test
Update: You can see more recent photos taken with the Sony A6700 in my current Japan travel live-blog articles.
Now let's move on to my first small practical test. I visited a wildlife park and took some photos. I used two different lenses: the sony 70-200 mm f4 and the Sony 100-400 mm f4.5/5.6 GM.
Camera Settings:
Burst Mode: High+
Focus: AF-C (Continuous Autofocus)
Focus Area: Spot:S
File Format: RAW Lossless Compression
Autofocus Subject Detection: Animals and Birds
Metering Mode: Multi
My subjects were a pair of steppe eagles being cared for in a bird rescue station. The sun was perfectly positioned at my back. Here I show both the unedited RAW image and the developed image.
Lens Combinations:
A6700 + Sony 100-400 mm f4.5/5.6 GM
A6700 + Sony 70-200 mm f4 G
In the evening, I tried my hand at landscape photography during a beautiful sunset. Here too, I will show the original image in RAW format and the developed image. The combination used was the A6700 and the Tamron 28–75 mm f2.8 lens. I intentionally underexposed the photo significantly, and it was taken without using any filters. This allowed the camera to demonstrate its strong dynamic range capabilities.
Impressive Performance of the Sony A6700
Although my test is just a first impression, I can already mention a few points that have impressed me and that I look forward to further testing in the wild.
Autofocus Performance
The autofocus immediately convinced me: fast and precise. I have used almost all camera models of the 7 series (a7 III, a7R III, a7R IV) and I can say that the autofocus of the A6700 is definitely better than those mentioned. During my test in the wildlife park, I also had the opportunity to try a niece’s older a7 II, as she participated in a small photography course I conducted that day. The difference is like night and day. The autofocus is clearly one of the strengths of the A6700 from Sony.
Burst Shooting, Write Speed, and Buffer
Fast, efficient, and with an impressively robust buffer system: Although the camera can only achieve a maximum of 11 frames per second in burst mode, I was able to take continuous shots for about 5 seconds before the buffer reached its limit briefly. After a short pause of just a few seconds, I could continue shooting immediately. As a storage medium, I used a "Kingston SDR2/128 GB Canvas React Plus UHS-II" SD card, which can hold up to 3294 images in losslessly compressed RAW format. This performance is definitely an advantage of the camera, especially in wildlife photography.
Image Quality
I would rather not write too much about image quality, as it depends not only on the camera but also significantly on the lens. However, the quality delivered by the A6700 is excellent and does not need to hide behind the 7 series. I cannot yet make any statements about ISO noise and image quality under adverse conditions. However, I will examine these aspects more closely in future tests.
Would I Buy the Camera Again – Is It Worth It for Wildlife Photography?
Yes and no!
Overall, the camera is incredibly strong in terms of autofocus and burst buffer, making it very enjoyable to use. Regarding 4K recording at 120 fps, I still need to conduct tests; unfortunately, I haven't gotten around to that yet. This could further influence my overall judgment.
Why Yes and No?
Well, if you are already entrenched in the Sony ecosystem, this will significantly influence your purchase decision. Choosing to buy a new camera body from a brand you already have equipment from is fundamentally different from deciding on an entirely new camera system. What I mean is that if you already have most of your equipment from Sony and you want an APS-C camera, the A6700 would be the right choice since you already have compatible lenses.
However, if you are just starting to gather equipment for wildlife photography and are not yet committed to a specific brand, I would recommend looking at models from the Sony a7 series, such as the a7 IV, a7R IV, a7R V, or the A1. If you want to stay within the same budget range as the A6700, the Canon R7 would be a suitable alternative. It is roughly on par with the A6700 and a bit cheaper.
The reason for this recommendation lies mainly in ergonomic aspects, which I have already discussed above. But this is something you will need to decide for yourself based on how important this factor is to you.
Since I primarily acquired the camera for macro and film shooting, I cannot yet give a definitive verdict. However, my first impression is that it is strong in terms of performance for its class. Based on my initial experience, I can imagine that the A6700 also has a place in wildlife photography, though with some compromises in ergonomics and speed. For me personally, this is a clear drawback.
My Initial Impression:
The Sony A6700 is a solid choice for those already within the Sony ecosystem looking for a secondary camera for specialized tasks such as macrophotography, landscape, or nature videography. For beginners in wildlife photography or those not yet committed to a specific brand, models from Sony's 7 series might be a better option. In the same price range as the A6700, the Canon R7 or other brands like Nikon are also worth considering, especially if ergonomics is a decisive criterion.
Pros:
Autofocus: Fast and precise, even better than some models in the Sony 7 series.
4K Video at 120 fps: Useful for nature videography with an additional 1.58 crop factor.
APS-C Sensor: Enlarged image section, 1.5 crop factor, which can be useful in wildlife photography.
Focus Stacking: Particularly useful for macrophotography.
Lightweight: Ideal for long hikes and explorations.
Image Quality: Equivalent to the 7 series.
Button Customization: High flexibility for individual customization of buttons and dials.
Buffer: Continuous shooting without quickly overloading the buffer at high burst speeds.
Cons:
Ergonomics: Layout of controls, especially for people with larger hands.
Body Design: Not as robust as the Sony 7 series.
Display: Flip screen; the swivel display can be more of a hindrance and risk in certain outdoor situations.
Electronic Shutter: Significant rolling shutter when photographing.
This is my initial impression of the Sony A6700, though it is not yet fully tested over a longer period. I will report more once I have gathered more experience.
