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SONY α6000 / SHOOTING REPORT

The Alpha 6000 is the successor of the NEX-7 and the NEX-6. What they have cultivated in the NEX series has now been integrated in the Alpha series. Today, the concept of the NEX series sounds quite natural, but when interchangeable-lens digital cameras were emerging, what the NEX series featured appeared to be pretty ambitious and free from the preconception about how cameras should be. In this sense, we can say that the NEX series was very SONY especially when they started. Since then, the E-mount system has expanded to the point that they have lenses for both full frame and APS-C formats. However, since the mount was launched as digital, we can also say that it's the APS-C format that directly inherits its original concept. So, I went out to check the evolution of this latest mainstream E-mount camera.

( Photography : Z II & 4Beats / Text : 48 )

The "leeway" brought by the evolution

What best characterizes this camera is the speed. SONY claims that the new Fast Hybrid AF system with an amazing number of AF points (179!) realized the world's fastest AF speed. Actually, the brisk AF felt great and I rarely experienced the situation where I couldn't fire when I wanted to. The speed of a camera body is like a physical ability, so the higher it is, the more leeway for shooting I can enjoy. Such ability is directly linked to feeling and is hard to guess from the spec sheet. So, check it by touching and trying, and I'm sure you can feel the improvements.

I chased after the moving subject. I wished it stopped and took time in sucking nectar, but it didn't. But, thanks to the fast AF, I could capture the moment it rested on the flower.

It's quite common that AF fumbles and we cannot fire when the lighting is sweet or at the very moment someone appears in the background nicely. Although this is such a natural thing, but I believe that the essential ability of a camera is to be able to focus and shoot quickly.


"Matured" image quality and handling

Even though the NEX series had extremely user interface in the beginning, this new model reflects the results of their continuing effort to listen to user feedbacks over the years. For example, the two dials of the NEX-7/NEX-6 have different ridged pattern that we can feel by thumb. Switching between EVF and rear LCD screen is easy. The body shape including the nice grip realized DSLR-like handling. The shape of a tool is crucial and a good tool works like body parts. The image quality, realized by the new sensor and the latest imaging processor, is cutting-edge. This model is a legitimate evolution as an advanced APS-C format model.

Shot at ISO1600. Yet, the tonal gradation is so smooth that it doesn't have to be equipped with fast and heavy lenses. You know, the main advantage of this series is the great balance between the performance and size.

The image quality generated by the combination between the body and the kit lens "E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS" is simply wonderful. The lightweight power zoom is not only perfect for the starter lens but also great for movie shooting. And, it's the great first power zoom for those who have non power-zoom E-mount lenses.

All shots in this review are JPEG images straight from the camera and they seem to require no retouching. Point and shoot, and you get great pictures. Oh, I forgot to mention that it also features Wi-Fi and NFC, so you can transmit images to your smartphones without a difficulty.


Shoot light and get absorbed in photography.

To develop this model, SONY didn't employ flashy new functions. Instead, they raised the bottom performance and it symbolizes the history of this series. In other words, if they have already reached an excellent answer, they don't have to change it drastically. Yet, the AF speed and the continuous shooting capability excel other models. For existing E-mount users, this camera is one of the best candidate for updating their camera bodies. Meanwhile, it's a great body for someone who starts using an interchangeable-lens digital camera as it doesn't require special knowledge to shoot great pictures. And, whenever s/he becomes advanced, the flexible user interface will support advanced operations.

The Alpha 6000 is an ideal form of an E-mount camera because it has the best balance among portability, handling, and image quality.
Get it and keep shooting. Cameras are improving in order to record the best moments.

( 17.10.2014 )