Sony A6600 review

The Sony A6600 is Sony’s APS-C solution, and with it’s viewfinderless box-like design, it is, to be honest, a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s capable of capturing stunning images and video, with a surprisingly fast and accurate autofocus system. But on the other hand, the quirks make the handling a little frustrating.

Then there’s the control layout that I feel could definitely do with some tweaking—especially the awkward placement of the video record button. And while the tilting screen is useful, a fully articulating vari-angle would without a doubt have been a better option.

That said, if you can look past these minor issues, the A6600 is an impressive camera when it really matters: the image quality is excellent, the autofocus is reliable, and its battery life is impressive. It’s a solid performer, even if it’s not quite perfect.

The A6600 is Sony’s flagship APS-C mirrorless and offers a blend of performance and portability. It blends high-end performance and features, including the autofocus, image quality, and battery life that make it a great choice for both enthusiasts and students. The camera is packed with features like real-time Eye AF, 5-axis in-body stabilisation, and 4K video with full pixel readout—not bad for an APS-C camera body.

When compared to its closest rivals, the Fujifilm X-T4 and the Canon EOS R50, the A6600 more than holds its own with a host of unique features. The X-T4 will appeal to those who prefer a more traditional shooting style and experience, and of course, you have all those incredible film simulation modes, but the A6600 counters with its more advanced autofocus system for real-time tracking and animal eye AF. The Canon EOS R50, while a great choice for beginners, can’t quite match the A6600 when it comes to the image quality, in-body stabilisation (IBIS), and professional video features.

While the A6600 is a capable camera, it does have some drawbacks. The ergonomics could be improved, as the grip certainly felt cramped to me in use, and Sony’s menu system can be bewildering for many beginners. Sony’s APS-C lens selection still lags behind Fujifilm and Canon in certain categories. Perhaps the most noticeable omission, the lack of a built-in viewfinder, will be an issue for some photographers who prefer composing shots through an EVF rather than a screen.

That said, the A6600 has a lot going for it, especially for students and beginners. Its excellent autofocus system makes capturing sharp images easy, even for those new to photography. IBIS (In body image stabalisation) helps reduce motion blur, especially for handheld shots, and its strong video options make it a decent choice for content creators. The compact size also makes it a great everyday camera, and it is easy to carry around for both stills and video.

The omission of a viewfinder will be seen as an issue for more traditional photographers. However, for many who are used to composing on smartphone screens, the lack of a viewfinder should faze them. No viewfinder also helps keep the size, weight, and cost down.

The Sony A6600 is a decent all-rounder that excels in autofocus performance, IBIS, and video. If you’re looking for cutting-edge autofocus, solid video capabilities, and a compact form factor, the A6600 is definitely worth considering.

Sony has stuck with its rectangular, rangefinder-style design for the A6600 rather than adopting the mini-DSLR shape of its full-frame A7 series. This keeps it compact, but it may not suit everyone. A more substantial grip and a centrally placed viewfinder could have made handling more intuitive, but instead, the A6600 opts for a streamlined approach.

The grip is a common point of contention. It’s nicely shaped—but cramped, particularly if you have larger hands, in which case it feels incredibly small.

The button layout is also generally functional but not without quirks. The video record button is awkwardly placed in the top-right corner of the back panel, making it difficult to press—especially if you’re vlogging. Thankfully, Sony’s customisation enables you to assign the record function to a more accessible button.

One of the biggest handling complaints is the lack of a joystick or additional control dial for quick AF point selection and menu navigation. Instead, Sony relies on Touch Pad AF, which lets you drag the focus point on the screen while looking through the LCD.

Sony’s menu system is complex. Many key settings are buried within submenus, requiring a steep learning curve. The A6600 does offer a good level of button customisation, but some buttons remain fixed, limiting the level of personalisation.

Although the A6600 features a 3-inch tilting touchscreen, its functionality is disappointingly limited. You can set the AF point and activate Real-Time Eye AF, but you can’t navigate and can’t swipe through like you can on some rivals. Given how integral touchscreens have become for both stills and video shooters, this feels like a missed opportunity.

Despite these frustrations, the A6600 feels robust. Its magnesium alloy construction gives it a durable, high-quality feel. It’s also compact and lightweight, making it ideal for travel or all-day shooting. While the handling could be better, if you can work around the grip, button layout, and menu quirks, the A6600 remains a very capable and versatile camera.

The Sony A6600’s APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor delivers sharp images with solid dynamic range. Paired with the BIONZ X processor, the camera provides fast processing speeds and strong low-light performance, making it a great option for both stills and video.

Sony’s Real-Time Intelligent Autofocus feature works incredibly well and can be used for both humans and animals in stills mode and even for humans in video mode.

This makes it one of the most capable APS-C cameras for subject tracking, especially for portrait, pet, or action photography. Sony has also packed in 425 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection autofocus points, covering almost the entire frame.

For low-light shooters, the A6600’s native ISO of 100-32,000 (expandable to 50-102,400) gives it solid flexibility. While higher ISO settings introduce noticeable noise, images remain usable up to ISO 6400 in most situations.

One of the biggest advantages of the A6600 over some of its APS-C rivals is 5-axis in-body image stabilisation (IBIS). Sony claims it offers up to 5 stops of compensation, making it possible to shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds while still maintaining sharpness. This feature is great for low-light photography and handheld video, reducing the need for a tripod in many situations.

Sony has built a strong reputation in video, which considering they have a large broadcast side to the business shouldn’t be a surprise. When it comes to video, the A6600 doesn’t disappoint with 4K (3840 x 2160) video at up to 30p with full pixel readout and 2.4x oversampling, which helps produce detailed, high-quality footage.

For serious video producers, the camera includes S-Log2 and S-Log3 gamma curves, offering up to 14 stops of dynamic range for better grading in post-production. Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) support is also included for HDR workflows.

If slow motion is your thing, the A6600 can record Full HD at 120 fps, allowing for smooth slow-motion playback. It also includes a Slow & Quick (S&Q) mode, where you can set frame rates from 1 fps to 1000 fps to create in-camera speed ramping effects. These features definitely make it a great option for students.

One common video drawback of Sony’s APS-C camera is the rolling shutter, which can cause distortion when panning quickly. It’s something to be aware of if you’re planning to shoot fast-moving subjects.

Battery life is a major strength of the A6600. Thanks to the high-capacity Z-series battery, it offers up to 810 shots per charge, far exceeding many other mirrorless cameras in this category. For video shooters, this means longer recording times without constantly swapping batteries.

On the downside, the A6600 only has a single SD card slot, which supports UHS-I speeds rather than the faster UHS-II standard. Dual card slots would have been a welcome addition to a flagship APS-C model, especially for professional use.

The Sony A6600 delivers excellent performance, particularly in autofocus, image quality, and battery life. Sony’s Real-Time subject recognition proves to be among the best available, and with 425 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection points covering most of the frame, the camera locks onto subjects quickly and holds focus even in challenging conditions. Face and eye detection work brilliantly for both stills and video, making it an excellent choice for portrait photographers and vloggers. The animal eye AF is also highly effective, making it ideal for pet and wildlife photography. While Canon’s latest Dual AF system has improved significantly, Sony’s tracking ability just takes the edge.

When it comes to image quality, the 24.2MP APS-C sensor produces sharp, detailed images with a strong dynamic range, allowing for plenty of flexibility when adjusting exposure in post-production. Low ISO images have excellent clarity and colour accuracy, while higher ISO settings remain usable up to ISO 6400 before noise becomes intrusive. Sticking to ISO 3200 or lower ensures the cleanest results, though, with some careful post-processing, even ISO 12,800 images can be salvaged for certain types of work. The camera handles high-contrast scenes well, capturing impressive shadow and highlight detail, making it a great choice for landscape photography.

The in-body image stabilisation system has come a long way, helping to counteract camera shake when shooting handheld. It’s particularly useful for stills.

For action, the A6600 offers up to 11fps continuous shooting with autofocus and auto-exposure tracking. The buffer isn’t that great with a limit of 46 RAW files or 99 JPEGs before it slows down, but it’s enough for most sports or wildlife shoots for everyday photography. However, since the camera only supports UHS-I cards, clearing the buffer takes longer than it would on models with UHS-II support. If you shoot a lot of bursts, this could be a minor frustration.

Video performance is impressive, with oversampled 4K footage delivering excellent sharpness and colour reproduction. The inclusion of S-Log2, S-Log3, and HLG makes it a capable tool for filmmakers who need greater flexibility in post-production. Autofocus in video mode is just as strong as in stills, with smooth and accurate tracking that makes it ideal for solo content creators. The only real downside is the presence of a rolling shutter, which can cause fast-moving subjects to appear distorted if the camera is panned quickly.

Battery life is impressive thanks to Sony’s high-capacity battery; it can shoot over 800 images on a single charge, significantly outlasting most other mirrorless cameras. For video shooters, this means extended recording sessions without constantly worrying about battery swaps.

Overall, the A6600 is a reliable performer in most situations. Autofocus and image quality are its biggest strengths, while battery life is a real advantage for those who shoot long sessions. The rolling shutter in video and the buffer limitations for burst shooting could be drawbacks for certain users, but for most photographers and videographers, the A6600 delivers excellent results.

The Sony A6600 is a camera that gets a lot right but also has a few quirks that hold it back from being truly outstanding. The autofocus system is undoubtedly one of the best in its class, delivering fast and reliable subject tracking for both stills and video. Paired with excellent image quality, solid dynamic range, and impressive low-light performance, it’s a camera that enables wide shooting scenarios with ease. The addition of in-body image stabilisation further enhances its versatility, making handheld shooting more reliable. At the same time, battery life is a real standout feature, far surpassing most other mirrorless cameras in this category.

Despite these strengths, the A6600 isn’t without its issues. The lack of a viewfinder will be an issue for some, and while the tilting touchscreen is useful, its limited functionality feels like a missed opportunity. Handling is generally good, but the shallow grip and awkwardly placed video record button can make extended shooting sessions less comfortable. The menu system remains one of Sony’s biggest issues for beginners, and while there are plenty of functions and features, locating the exact options you need can take time.

For video, the rolling shutter effect can be an issue in fast-moving scenes, and while the 4K image quality is excellent, the lack of 4K 60p puts it a step behind some competitors.

For enthusiasts and students, the A6600 is a great option, offering a strong feature set in a compact and lightweight body. It’s a particularly suitable hybrid camera for both photography and video, especially where autofocus and battery life are priorities. However, if you prefer a more traditional viewfinder / EVF and a deeper grip, you may find cameras like the Fujifilm X-T4 or Canon’s latest APS cameras a better choice.

Ultimately, the A6600 is a highly capable camera that excels in many areas, but it does require some compromises. If you can live with its handling quirks and lack of an EVF, it will produce excellent results in both stills and video, making it a solid choice for students and enthusiasts.