Sony A6600 Review by Ken Rockwell

[@slam5]

the battery door of the A6600 has a spring. you must had got a defective camera.

[@KenRockwellTV]

The door has a spring, but the locking pawl or latch does not. It doesn’t lock when pressed closed unless you also slide the latch. Maybe I did get a bad one, but if I did, I won’t be the only one. Thanks!

[@Cthames123]

I just got the 6600 today for my street photo hobby and I think it is a joy to use! Being a full frame shooter (A7IV & A7C) I wanted the 6600 for it’s small size, tilt/flip up LCD (I don’t have a camera like this), grip, and not only the fantastic battery but also my ff E-mount lenses can be shared amongst my other cameras. Maybe the 6600’s new price ($1400) was steep 4 yrs ago but now with a later model out (6700) the price is closer to other models in the line. At $659 usd refurbished I took the 6600 over the other models even with no flash.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@Evliveoyuncu]

I don’t really like the unnatural tone of flash. It is preference of course.

[@KenRockwellTV]

It’s all art. Thanks!

[@Evliveoyuncu]

@@KenRockwellTV exactly. Thanks.

[@strongereveryday2302]

Thank you for this video. It prevented me from making the huge mistake of buying the a6600. It actually convinced me to go to the canon eosR.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Love it! See also www.kenrockwell.com/tech/comparisons/nikon-vs-canon-vs-sony-full-frame.htm thanks!

[@strongereveryday2302]

@@KenRockwellTV Thanks! A very helpful comparison. I wanted to like the Z7 but the articulating screen of the canon plus usage of normal cards sealed it for me. And the Sony...eh..terrible ergonomics, and not into the fanvoy culture around them. I owned an a6000 and that was the end for me and Sony. Been a faithful reader of your website since 2001.

[@JC-XL]

This guy has been making reviews for decades and still giving the worst advice out there 😂 Not surprised that he's got so little subscribers.

[@dilnozakholmatova7706]

J C Bro, your dumb as hell, this guy is giving great advice for every photographer. Atleast give him credit for trying unlike a lazy ass like you.

[@fairgo3285]

What's with the flapping of the battery door? First time fair enough but second time? trying to break it? Surely that's not a reason to or not to buy a camera, putting me off from watching the rest.

[@KenRockwellTV]

That door has no spring latch and will flap like that if you don’t go out of your way to slide the latch to lock it. That’s what I’m showing. If it can’t take it, it’s a bad camera. I shoot for a living; my cameras don’t sit on the shelf and have to perform to earn a spot in my hands. Thanks!

[@ronaldlee3537]

I purchased the Sony A6600, and I love it. It was purchases specifically for chamber music and theater & stage stills where the silent electronic shutter reeally shines. The IBIS is overhyped, in low- and uneven- light stage lighting, I get quite a few out-of-focus stills because the camera is slowly hunting for the correct focus with my Sony 70-350 zoom and it lets me release the shutter. As with Ken, I do miss the build-in flash, I hope in the next iteration, Sony put in the something similar to the flash from their RX100. Also if anyone is going to buy the A6600, I hightly recommend the self-adhesive rubber grip, it helps to get a good grip on an really expensive camera. My Nikon D500 with the Tamron 16-300 will outclass the A6600 for my purposes.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@orlandoricardo2328]

Humans are not happy with anything that this flash is for, I say for the real photographer to put an external flash and issue resolved, it is the best APS-C camera with new battery that we criticize a lot and with headphone we have to thank the change be smart.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@Cthames123]

I agree 100%! This issue with no flash has become way more of an issue than it really is. This is a really nice camera.

[@alistairstrachan8508]

Great review Ken. Just to clarify, do you miss the flash? :-)

[@KenRockwellTV]

Yes!!! Thanks!

[@justlou717]

What a breath of fresh air!! Finally someone that makes reviews instead of sales videos for their affiliate links. Your comments have led me to reconsider the a6400, I really wanted ibis for stills with prime lenses and the larger grip, but that missing flash just keeps poking me. Cheers! (Nothing wrong with affiliate links but if you love every camera you review, you aren’t reviewing.)

[@KenRockwellTV]

Hi Louis! Thanks!! Yip, just telling it like it is. You should see how much I love the Fuji x-t200 kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6vFc5eXgJ5rnMU

[@Reviews4fun1]

I’m a stills- only shooter and I have an old NEX6 and the apsc lens library built up plus spare batteries. I’m at a crossroads where I’d like an IBIS camera. I like the portability of the APSC system and like I said already have a lens library. Would you recommend: 1. Keep the NEX6 for travel and buy a a7iii with a couple lenses for home family portraits and local photos? 2. Buy the a6600 for the improved autofocus and IBIS? 3. Get the a6500 for a IBIS camera with the flash, and battery compatibility from my NEX6? Discounts are available now for this model. Is the 6500 autofocus good enough vs the newer models?

[@KenRockwellTV]

All A6000 series have awesome focus. Yes, get the old model with ibis and you’re good. Don’t put APS-C lenses on full frame cameras; it wastes most of the cameras sensor and performance.

[@artistjoh]

No PAL you say? Wrong, it does shoot 25/50/100fps. Since it is the standard in most of the world it is not an unnecessary “old” format as you say, but an essential set of frame rates for most of us outside North America.

[@KenRockwellTV]

PAL is an analog format that runs at 626 lines 50i. No relation to other 25p digital formats other than ease of format conversion. I tend to be formal about this having worked in Hollywood so long where we juggled formats all day; PAL is PAL and not 720/25p. Older digicams used to shoot at similar 576 line vertical resolution, but no longer in this SONY which only does HD. Thanks!

[@orshanti]

Hey can! Love your spirit in live video! Do you have a review on the canon m50?

[@KenRockwellTV]

Not yet. I'm delinquent on Canon APSC, they need to loan me some. Thanks!

[@colnagocowboy]

As an older film based photographer i always went for the lowest asa/iso i could kodachrome 25, agfachrome 50. Asa/iso 400 was as high as i dared go. Some of the iso offered on modern digital cameras amaze me. Someday i may even try them out.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@eeshaangauthamrao5695]

Is the a7000 rumour true if it is it will easily be a tough competitor to all the APSC out there.

[@KenRockwellTV]

I ignore rumors. I’m a shooter, not a talker, and I can’t shoot anything with a rumor. Ignore it. Thanks!

[@eeshaangauthamrao5695]

Thanks for the reply, Ken.

[@pf4773]

Great camera-I've had the A6000 for years, and now, 3 years ago, purchased the A6600. Unfortunately due to the pandemic I couldn't use it for its intended purpose: international travel. The battery life is phenomenal, grip and ergonomics (how the camera balances in one hand, is also fantastic. Lots of lenses possible that are cheap and high quality (Sigma), including used ones (I especially recommend the Sony 350mm zoom for this reason: a great zoom does what compact cameras and your cell phone simply can't do: get close to the action, be it sports, birds, animals, or street views. That said, with my traveling overseas once a month, sometimes I can't be bothered with the weight of this camera and a two lenses. So, a total warning to ANYONE thinking of buying full-frame cameras---good luck carrying them overseas and dealing with weight and size limitations in baggage. The airlines are nailing passengers with extra fees. Something rarely talked about: people pick up cell phones to use instead of regular cameras because of their portability and ability to share shots with others easily.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@tonedune3456]

My Sony next 5n has no built-in flash but comes with a little flashgun that you just leave on.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Great! Thanks!

[@brunofernandes4410]

I've recently transitioned from dslr to mirrorless and happened to pick the a6600. At 716 usd in India it was a steal!...paired it up with the sony 50-210 so called kit lense and results amazed me. I've extensively shot portraits, birds, animals in the last 2 months. Imagine pairing the body with a superior glass with wide aperture can do to your photography? I can barley wait to to try my f mount lenses on this body with a decent adaptor.. Still trying to familiarise with the Sony menu system but miss the additional dials on my Nikon d7200 which made shooting a breeze.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks! I’m not a fan of cross-brand adapters.

[@Cthames123]

The 6600 has a lot going for it. Too much is being made of the lack of a built in flash. Custom buttons-(4)6600 vs (2)6400 Grip-6600 much more comfortable Battery-6600 (810) shots vs 6400 (400) Headphone-6600 yes vs 6400 no IBIS-6600 yes vs 6400 no Color science-6600 matches a7iii Video eye detect & tracking-6600 yes vs no Flash- 6400 yes vs 6600 no Weight-6400(403g) 100g lighter vs 6600 Panarama mode-6400 yes vs 6600 no I like my builtin flash just like the next person but don’t use it on every shot. When I do I can add a separate one to the hot shoe. This is a really nice camera.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks! Just saying it like it is so you have the information to make your own choices.

[@richardpcrowe]

I love my Sony APSC cameras... I use an A6400 and an A6600 and also use a full frame A7iii... My favorite lens for this camera is the 28-75mm f/2.8 Tamron. I have never used my built-in flash. However, I do use flash for most of my shots. I think that the built-in flash sucks... I carry the Flashpoint/Godox mini TTL350 flash everywhere but, really wish that there was a Sony capable flash equivalent of the Canon 270EX ii.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@JET-Photo]

Ken proves the built in flash sucks with that horrible photo of that poor dog. I have a hard time taking advice from a jpeg only shooter that uses built in flash.

[@dct124]

Funny thing about the in between iso range of H1, H2, H3, H4 is if you set your camera to Auto ISO in those ranges, the camera will use those 1/3 or 1/2 stops in ISO that you can't manually select which I agree is odd and a pain mostly.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Look out, those ISOs all look pretty crummy regardless. Thanks!

[@dct124]

@@KenRockwellTV for sure, I cap myself at 12800 for speed and 6400 for everything else.

[@RM-hy4so]

How does this compare to the X-T3? Thanks

[@KenRockwellTV]

Completely different brands. Different looks and totally different handling. Consider Fuji for people pictures, go SONY for action, and go canon or nikon for landscapes and nature. See also www.kenrockwell.com/tech/comparisons/nikon-vs-canon-vs-sony-full-frame.htm Thanks!

[@slam5]

Ken, one thing you need to understand about Sony, you need to get use their workflow, it is very different from Canon or Nikon. You need to learn the different workflow. Sony is far more like a computer than Canon or Nikon. It has a lot of customization so you can use it the way you like it. To review the camera properly, you need to use it a bit and then read the manual/watch some videos on how to set it up. It is a lot of work for a Canon or Nikon shooter but that's the way it is.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Been shooting Sony since the 1990s. Inferior design. Thanks!

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

I am looking at A6400 right now. Funny the fill flash thing...it really changes the game once you realize it. Wearing a white shirt as a bounce reflector for an external flash unit works miracles as well.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@ddolde]

The only Sony I'd ever buy is a TV not a camera

[@KenRockwellTV]

Sony is also very good for pro video and pro audio, too.

[@gregsullivan7408]

Great review - thanks. Just a nitpick though - it seems contradictory to say that it's autofocus was already good enough on the old models, yet on the other hand, say that a DSLR is still better for sports.

[@KenRockwellTV]

A6000 is good; DSLRs still tend to be better - but depends on the DSLR and lenses of course. Thanks!

[@sierragold]

Excellent review. Detailed, lively, informative, not too long & not too short! Thank you, hopefully more to come from you! Question, re your comment on the Fuji's being ideal for people shots: what setting would you be referring to for JPEGS? I'm assuming either the Standard setting or the Astia setting?

[@KenRockwellTV]

I use the STD setting. I find all the "film" modes inferior; all Fuji did was try to make the camera's output mimic a BAD SCAN of film, not how great film really looks on the light table. Try it and see; here are samples: www.kenrockwell.com/fuji/gfx-50r.htm#filmsim (works the same in all Fuji cameras) . Thanks!

[@rorykamryn3923]

i know I'm kinda randomly asking but do anyone know of a good website to watch newly released movies online?

[@juliozayd7514]

@Rory Kamryn Flixportal xD

[@rorykamryn3923]

@Julio Zayd Thank you, signed up and it seems to work :D Appreciate it!!

[@juliozayd7514]

@Rory Kamryn no problem =)

[@mrrolandlawrence]

Ken, i think you might be waiting a long long long time for a menu update. The reason sony keep it as is is for cost. Same menu, all their cameras, regardless of sensor size or feature set. Thi means you dont need anyone to create a better user experiance (engineering savings), just tack on some new features somewhere and the firmware will pick it up. Hasselblad have a lovely menuing system and by comparison they are a small company so its not a lack of resources at sony. Sony also have a notoriously bad track record for firmware updates. Soon as the next model is out, forget it. EOL buddy.

[@KenRockwellTV]

I agree. Nikons dopey menu bank fiasco has been plaguing pro photography since 2004 and it’s still a problem today. Thanks!

[@ronaldsand3000]

Interestingly Ken I’ve bought many top end cameras and brands (not as much as you) and the only camera I was ever disappointed with colours and image fidelity was the Sony 6500 so I got rid of it I bought it as a cheap automated version of my Leica M10, in the end I bought the Leica CL

[@KenRockwellTV]

Bravo and thanks.

[@Cthames123]

That must have been a huge shift in performance! The Leica CL is not known to be a particularly fast camera, processor wise and the autofocus doesn’t seem to be on par with the a6500. How did your decision work out, mow a few years later?

[@elielredstone7882]

The flash that comes with the other Sony 6000 cameras are not fill flashes and white out the faces in my experience. What am I missing?

[@Reviews4fun1]

Add an opaque plastic cup and point it to the sky

[@KenRockwellTV]

Just not using it right. It should do fill flash in good light at the default settings; I don't use diffusers of cups which waste most of the light, however if you're shooting in low light you'll get blown-out faces if most of the light comes from the flash. Let the camera increase the ISO a lot and allow slower shutter sync speeds to see more of the ambient light in dim light so the flash is only a small part of the total exposure. Thanks! .

[@elielredstone7882]

@@KenRockwellTV Thank you Ken-that makes sense. So does the A6400 make sense with an image stabilized lens?

[@twagn]

6400 (with pop up) is basically the same except IBIS, better grip and battery. Not worth $500 over the 6400

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@frankthespank]

A Sony camera Ken?!? Blagghhhhhhh!!! Just kidding 😊 Keep up the good work and Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family!

[@KenRockwellTV]

Hee hee! Thanks and Merry Christmas !

[@genghis2510]

You can’t expect a guy with a Hasselblad to fully appreciate something Japanese.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Everyone appreciates some things, some people appreciate everything. Thanks!

[@emanuelbinder4263]

Mainly because Blads are Chinese now...

[@12chairs]

With flashlight it came out flat

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks again and thanks again to your help and your thoughts on your thoughts about your wishes.

[@bloodshot9224]

I’ve wondered for years on why camera companies won’t give you full control of the pop up flash. I should be able to set flash intensity to 1/4th power or 1/2 power can anyone explain why no one has done this?

[@KenRockwellTV]

It’s late and I forget, but I believe my nikon dslrs all do this. It’s in the flash modes menu.

[@GregoryVeizades]

@@KenRockwellTV This is correct.

[@joevrose1]

Sony cameras have flash exposure compensation which lets you add or subtract flash power. On models with a pop up flash, it dials the onboard flash and external flashes through the shoe; on models without flip up flash, it controls external flash.

[@Jimmyageek]

The build-in flash was too harsh and for me it useless, I love Flash but on A6400 the flash blown out everything

[@KenRockwellTV]

That’s fixed by adjusting flash exposure compensation. Thanks!

[@SideshowBob44]

Hold it back and bouce it off the ceiling.

[@thesharpercoder]

I am a left eye shooter. The ergonomics of the Sony A6### bodies is a total non-starter.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@Gxost14]

Me too, but I got used to a6000 viewfinder very quickly.

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

By the way, RX100m6 and m7 can shoot flash in silent mode.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Wow, never tried. As I said, I’m delinquent reviewing Canon EOS m system.

[@hiresmusic]

Sony menu system in their "classic" NEX3 & NEX5 cameras was much simple and clear than new one. So many people already complained about their menu system since A7 or RX100 ,but it still just little edited. This camera has IS,which big plus for enthusiastic people who plan using A6600 with for example vintage lenses.With my great respect to Nikon Z50 or Canon M6 MKII (actually suppie camera imho) they don't have it.A6600 ergonomics better than A6000 because of bigger grip. Sony has many own followers,they main clients for this camera.But of course I prefer Z6 to this camera.Look,Z6 body has same price as A6600 body! And of course miles better!

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@Reviews4fun1]

I have a NEX6 which has been fine til recently when the 50mm 1.8 is pooping out on the autofocus until the dreaded “LENS NOT RECOGNIZED” error pops up and I need to play the re-attach game. So I think I’ve isolated the problem to the lens. Was toying with upgrading the body but I’m not a video guy so I’ll just grab a new lens and see if the camera can still keep up. Thinking of grabbing 35mm1.8 or the 16-55 2.8 G.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Weird; I’m reviewing the E 50/1.8 OSS now to be published soon.

[@Reviews4fun1]

Ken Rockwell I think the internal autofocus motor is dying. Works for like a minute then dies needing re-attachment for initialization. Repair costs more than the lens. It’s great when it works but it’s a frustrating process.

[@jwgfoto5419]

If the camera is on full auto, I believe the camera can make a significant difference in the quality of the photos. The photographer has to do the composition which will not likely be done by the camera soon. BTW I have been visiting your website for years and have read most reviews on Nikon gear and many others. Thank you! Merry Christmas!

[@KenRockwellTV]

Merry Christmas! Thanks!

[@likithgowdav5089]

Sir thank you for a great video , is the autofocus in sony faster than nikon d500 which camera should I buy nikon d500 for 1026$ used or sony a6500 for 590 $ used I shoot photos majorly but do few short videos like 5 or 10 mins max

[@KenRockwellTV]

I use iPhone for video. D500 ought to be better for sports and action, and have better colors if you prefer them saturated.

[@likithgowdav5089]

@@KenRockwellTV thank you very much sir

[@huwmorgan51]

Thanks for talking about the lack of the built-in flash. I'm not letting go of my a6500 unless Sony comes out with a camera that has one.

[@KenRockwellTV]

AMEN BROTHER!!!! No flash? Why a stupid idea. Thanks!

[@NwNeko]

Does a6600 have soft skin effect? I love this function so much, and I can't find it in any reviews.

[@KenRockwellTV]

I forget, look on the manual. Thanks!

[@hatpeach1]

Thanks, Ken. Appreciate you. But... "Macintosh?" LOL. 1998 called. It has the floppy disks that you ordered.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Eh? Thanks!

[@artmaltman]

Hi Ken. There are rumors that Sony color science has been improving with more recent models, such as a6600 vs a6500, or A7Riv vs A7Riii. Have you found the most recent models to be closer to Nikon / Canon. Also please clarify if you are discussing JPEG out of camera vs RAW (very different issues). Thank you. Art

[@KenRockwellTV]

Hi Art, I’ve not seen anything major from Sony colors. These are corporate preferences, matters of artistic taste. I told SONY how they can add emulation modes to duplicate Nikon and Canon colors, don’t know if there’ll ever add that. For now just shoot Nikon or Canon, and yes, all of this is as shot in the camera (JPG). With dad the colors don’t exist until rendered in your choice of software.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Nope. Haven’t seen any difference other than slightly more adjustability in the picture controls. I prefer Canon or Nikon over Sony for color.

[@rodrigowonghernandez]

Would you be doing a review on the Canon EOS M6 II?

[@KenRockwellTV]

Perhaps, all a matter of time. I'm long overdue for Canon APSC. Thanks!

[@slimphotog]

3:02 Nice point about the flash.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@gregsullivan7408]

Yep and it made me bring my big 420EX along to Christmas lunch today, to put on my EOS M - thanks Ken 😃

[@moza260]

12:15 can do that in other sony touchscreen camera? or it is just available on a6600? i know you can touch it for AF, but holding+moving while touching it, thats new right?

[@GideonSmit]

That's already on the a6500.

[@moza260]

@@GideonSmit can a7 III do that too? my a9 surely cant do that..

[@GideonSmit]

@@moza260 yes you can. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWKof3StYpKKa5o

[@moza260]

@@GideonSmit ok on a7 iii, is it my setting not right or a9 really cant touch the focus on live view while seeing through viewfinder? i just followed all the setting in kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWKof3StYpKKa5o but still cant touch/swipe the focus when im in viewfinder, its work just fine for touch focusing when its in liveview mode..

[@KenRockwellTV]

Hold and move for different AF points has been around a while on Sony and other brands. Thanks!

[@Gxost14]

I thought nobody will complain about missing built-in flash. In a6000 it was usable only with small lenses, because big lenses produced shadows in bottom-left corner of the image. Pointed at the ceiling this flash lacked power with slow lenses. So it wasn't usable with my Sony 16-70/4. Since current kit lens for a6600 is both slow and big I doubt if built-in flash had any sense with it. Of course having built-in flash is better than not having it, but for such small body it's barely usable.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

I want a built-in flash on EVERY Sony camera - a9II included...

[@KenRockwellTV]

Me too!!!!!

[@Cthames123]

I like a built in flash just like the next guy but what do you do on the full frame cameras? None of those have built in flash.

[@artmaltman]

Value of IBIS?

[@kennygo8300]

Yeah, I think the IBIS is the big feature of the a6600 over the a6100.

[@KenRockwellTV]

I don't use it; I use OSS lenses. Other love IBIS, especially people who adapt manual lenses.