ILCE-6000Y

I'm not sure I could more clearly love this camera. I purchased this camera after looking for an excuse to buy a nice camera for a long time. When the opportunity arrived for me to teach our school yearbook class, it was time for me to learn how to take good photos. There are plenty of comprehensive reviews on here... so I will just addressed why I pulled the trigger on this purchase, and why I'm so happy with it. For starters, I FIRMLY believe this camera is the best bang for your buck you can possibly get in DSLR or mirrorless at the time of this review. In fact, I've noticed the price just dropped this month. Like many of you reading this, I've spent COUNTLESS hours doing research to be sure this big purchase was the right one. I knew I'd use the camera semi-professionally, and needed it to meet criteria that allowed it to be effective in low light and take rapid shots to capture the action of the kids I work with. The a6000 was the clear winner despite a suggestion from a family member who has a cheaper model Sony mirrorless. After comparing the two... I'm FIRMLY convinced I made the perfect decision for me. I use this camera primarily to take pictures of the kids at our school, and that includes our middle school sports program. At 11 shots per second... I don't miss a beat. I've caught some incredible photos of our kids, and the parents and school community are buzzing about the awesome impact these cool photos have on our ability to create a buzz around campus. One of the parents on campus is a professional photographer, and when she was taking photos next to me at our annual winter concert she looked at my photos and was stunned that I was not only getting photos on par with the quality of her pro DSLR setup, but that some of the low-light photos even came out BETTER. I'm using nothing so far besides the kit lens and 50-210mm lense. Though I plan to upgrade to a strong fixed lens soon. Quick heads up... the Wasabi battery pack isn't just important, it's ESSENTIAL. This camera sucks battery like crazy, but you should be able to go three to four hours of HEAVY shooting on 2 or 3 batteries. With that said, the Wasabi batteries also have a larger capacity than the Sony batteries, so I use them more often anyways. The only other minor gripe I have about the camera is the sensor that detects your eye at the viewfinder (and shuts off the LCD display) is crazy sensitive. But that's super minor compared to what feels to me like the best big dollar purchase I may have ever made. Get a good book to teach you this camera, spend a small amount of time on it, and you won't believe the quality photos you get out of it.

Professional photographer MASSIVELY IMPRESSED! I purchased this camera as our "family fun" and vacation camera (when do not want to lug around our heavy pro bodies and lenses). Highlights: The AP-C sized sensor is really amazing. The image quality is fantastic. The viewfinder is appreciated and functional! Pro's: -Image quality rivals my old D7000, which was far heavier, bigger, more cumbersome and more expensive -Wifi is a GREAT feature! I can now take professional quality photos and send it to my smart phone for immediate posting to Facebook. -Digital viewfinder is great because it shows in real-time what your manual adjustments will look when you take your photo (as opposed to the snap/review process with pro bodies). It also turns the screen on/off automatically to conserve battery power. -Size and weight, I cannot believe they crammed so much tech into such a small body at such an affordable price! -Great lenses available (sold separately) for more advanced users or those looking for pro quality photos. #1 recommendation SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 prime lens (becomes a fast 50 for this crop sensor, with stabilization) Cons: -In camera processing not as advanced as the older and lesser qualified Nikon J bodies -Not as weather sealed as Olympus or other mirrorless bodies (I was originally going to get another Nikon 1 series the AW for all weather, but the image quality wasn't nearly as good... still, if I'm shooting in the snow/rain I'll be paranoid this camera will break if getting wet or super humid as opposed to many other weather sealed options out there). -Raw quality isn't easily compatible with Photoshop and RAW's aren't as impressive of an improvement/versatility as my Nikon bodies. Net, if you get this camera, just use it as a JPEG shooter and save on the card/computer memory. Some background on me; I shoot professionally and use Nikon bodies. My previous mirror less was a J3, but the image quality was too poor in low light conditions which led me to find an alternative. I am incredibly impressed with the Sony! If you want a camera you can take snowboarding or surfing I suggest the Nikon AW1 (more expensive and less image quality, but water/shock/freeze proof), if you take your camera in less harsh environments but still feel the in camera processing is important or would like a camera which handle the rain I suggest an Olympus, for a cheaper camera the Nikon J's are great. If you want one of the best quality mirrorless cameras, and image quality is your priority, this is it.

Simply one of the best cameras I have ever used, and for the price, you can't beat it. I bought the package deal with the standard kit lens and the 55-210mm lens, and especially with the 55-210mm, I've taken some of the best photos I've ever taken, and I've only scratched the surface of what this camera can do! What I love: --Compact size and weight! At work, I use a Nikon D300s, and the weight difference is amazing. The Sony a6000 is so light, it's just a joy to carry around and use! --Tons of features! Auto modes for beginning photographers, but it has the ability to go all manual for more advanced photographers --FAST shutter! I mean fast. Up to 11 frames per second! --PEAKING on manual focus!! This means that when you look at the view screen or optical viewfinder on manual focus, whatever is in focus gets a slight red outline. Fantastic feature! I haven't mastered the art of tack sharp focus yet, but this helps me be sure that I'm in focus! --View screen on the back can tilt up or down, so you can have the camera higher or lower, and still be able to see the screen --Programmable buttons that you can set to work just about any feature of the camera. Use Auto Focus Lock alot? Just set one of the buttons, and have instant access to that feature! --Face programming! Shooting a birthday, and want to be sure the birthday boy or girl's face is always the focus? Store a photo of their face in the camera, and from then on, whenever the camera sees that face, it will lock on. Amazing. --Auto Eye Focus! Taking a portrait, and want to make sure the eyes are in focus? Use auto eye focus, and the camera will automatically find the eye and focus accordingly. What I don't like so much (but these are really just nitpicky, since I pretty much love everything...) --Kit lens doesn't seem to be as good a quality as the 55-210mm. You might want to consider a different lens. --Screen on the back is hard to see in sunlight. Luckily, the camera also has an optical viewfinder, and you can look there to take photos, or even review photos you've taken. Everything you see on the back screen you can see in the viewfinder. --Learning curve. This has a gigantic menu, and lots of buttons and things, so it can be a chore to learn. My advice? Find one of Gary Fong's videos online or at sonya6000.com. --Battery could last a little longer, IMHO So many fantastic features in one camera! Sorry to gush, but I'm just in love with my Sony a6000. You absolutely cannot get a better camera for the money. Great job, Sony!

If ever there was a physical embodiment of the word "compromise," it would be the a6000. When I saw that the 55-210 bundle was on sale for Christmas of 2015, I made the impulsive decision to sell all my Canon DSLR gear and jump ship for Sony mirrorless. I think I wanted something fresh and new. And in that regard, the a6000 certainly delivers. Before I go any further, I'll say that I'm actually returning the camera, but not because it isn't great. Sony is rumored to be releasing the follow-up to the a6000 in the coming months, and I'm hoping that it addresses some of my concerns. Pros: -Form factor. It feels great in the hand, even if it's a bit on the small side. I'm used to the chunky, grippy Canon 60D, so most of my critiques will be in comparison to that model. The a6000 is a breeze to carry around. -Auto-focus. It focuses like a BEAST. Facial tracking is incredible, and makes portrait work a breeze. Moving subjects aren't a problem, either, thanks to the 179 AF points. That's a lot more than my 60D's 9 points... -Image size. 24MP is just really great for such a tiny body. Pictures are sharp, even with the kit lens, and colors are vivid. -Live view. Seeing the exposure of your shot change in the viewfinder as you fiddle with the settings is nothing short of miraculous. Never do you have to review photos over and over to see how they are exposed. You already know. -Legacy glass. By using adapters, you can use ANY old manual lenses from any manufacturer, and the a6000 makes focusing incredibly easy through focus peaking. Very cool. -Tilting screen. This is such a huge plus. You won't know how you lived without it. Cons: -Screen resolution... Both the Electronic View Finder and the screen on the back are very, very low resolution. If you are used to looking at a smartphone with a modern screen, the a6000 might be very jarring for you. This is actually the main reason I'm returning it in order to wait for the next model; reviewing photos was a grainy, unpleasant experience. HOWEVER, if you don't mind the low resolution for composing and reviewing shots, then you will be VERY happy with the quality of the photos once you get them out of the camera. -Battery. The battery is /okay/. But if you are accustomed to the insanely good batteries of Canon or Nikon DSLRs, the a6000's 250-ish shots per charge is almost embarrassing. -Wifi, NFC, and the app store. These options, while potentially useful, are pretty burdensome. Sony has a good menu system for the a6000, but it's bogged down by the old-fashioned design choices for navigating wifi and the app store. It feels like a conflict between old and new. Sony got so many things right with the a6000 that I'm not sure I can ever go back to DSLRs. I have seen the light of mirrorless. Great image quality, amazing auto-focus, low price, and compact form-factor come together to make a formidable package. If you need a travel camera or something to perfectly capture that family reunion, this is your camera, 100%. However, between the sad battery life and the equally sad screen/EVF resolution, I think I'm not quite ready to devote myself to this camera for the next 5 years. I really do want to love it, but for me, the time just isn't right.

I am neither a photographer nor a wannabe but I know how to shoot and what to shoot. I found this one is pretty convenient for the beginners and the semi-pros as well. If you already have TP lenses then go for the regular package, otherwise go for both lenses and it's bang for the buck. Although APS-C is much smaller than full frame sensors, but far better than any other smaller ones and photos are quite big. The camera is very lightweight and small, easy to carry; has the remote functionalities, can install apps from the camera or sony store with remote install; Sony a-guide is very good for lessons and lens specs; tons of features inside and outstanding focus. On/off time is faster with latest firmware update. Only downside so far I found is the battery life which is total crap; Bought couple of aftermarket batteries with better mAh from amazon.

I love this camera! I got it as travel camera as I wanted something that was small with lots of control and great image quality. I came from using a Nikon D50 DSLR, so grabbing a just a point and shoot was not going to cut it. Yes there are some great pocket cameras with APS sized sensors that deliver great images, but they are much more expensive, I was thinking of getting the A5100, as they are almost the same, but I really wanted the electronic viewfinder, so I got this one. The main selling point for me was the size. It is mirrorless, so it is able to be smaller than other DSLRs. I've taken the camera with me on trips to New York City, Hawaii, Seattle, and Portland and it has been a great camera. It's easy to carry around, even with the extra lens, I can just shove them into a my back pack that has some of my other things and I don't feel like it's a burden to carry around. Picture quality is great. Sony makes great sensors, even Nikon uses them in some of their cameras. Lens selection is not as great as Canon or Nikon, but it is picking up and they are getting more great quality lenses all the time.

I just love this camera. I was a die hard Canon fan but this camera just blows away the Rebel and 7D cameras. The EVF is the bomb!!! What you see is what you get. Cameras with mirrors are like using antiques after using this. In the dark the EVF is bright making framing the shot easy. Light and easy to use I take it everywhere. After 40 years of using some of the best cameras made this is my favorite ever. I used an adapter to for my old manual Nikon glass and the results are spectacular. I just bought the Sony 50/1.8 and it matches my old glass but with OSS. The kit lenses are ok and better than the Canon kit lenses. I would like to see a better choice of wide lenses the 16 that Sony makes is not sharp they need to work on that. And the flash is based on some oddball mount that is unique to Sony. I hope that shortly Sony improves the lens selection and comes out with a better and affordable midsize flash. Sony is not just raising the bar they are making a whole new bar. I have now used this camera for 3 months and now also have the 24 1.8. I print with a Epsom 3880 and prints up to 17 by 22 are tack sharp. How fun!!!

I cannot tell you enough how much I love my Sony a6000. It is my most prized possession! This last July I started a travel blog (http://becauseshecantravel.com) and needed to "up my photography game". After lots of shopping around and reviews, this seemed like the obvious choice. I got a screamin' deal over Black Friday that includes the telephoto lens and a camera bag. I'm a fairly beginner photographer, but have taken classes sporadically and have gotten some great photos out of my iPhone camera. However, the jump from iPhone camera to this camera...wow. You will be so amazed! After using for about three months, here are my main takeaways: - Buy the telephoto lens, it is AMAZING. I wish I could always shoot with that lens, everything is perfectly crisp. - YouTube has a crap ton of helpful how-to videos on this camera. I had a weird auto-crop thing happening and was able to turn it off through YouTube tutorials. Same with the beeping sound when you focus. Check out the videos for sure if you have any questions. - The battery definitely runs out quickly. Since I had read about this issue before buying the camera, I invested in a charger with two additional batteries (NP FW50 RAVPower Camera Battery Charger Set), which was absolutely worth it and has been necessary more than once. You will run out of battery after about 300 photos (which goes surprisingly fast). - The process to switch lenses is super easy, well done Sony! - This is a great first step to professional photography. Particularly for travelers! It is very lightweight, even with the whole camera bag you hardly even feel it. An important feature for those of us on the go. - It has a pop-up flash! I didn't realize this when I bought it, so that was a pleasant surprise. - The function to wirelessly transfer photos from my camera to my cell phone is hands-down my favorite feature. When I'm traveling wi-fi and computers can be spotty. Having the ability to send photos directly to my phone, to then post on social media, is invaluable. I think they undersell this feature, it's so easy and useful! Overall, I love this camera and will recommend it to anyone and everyone who will listen to me.

Very nice mirrorless digital camera that even beats lots of mid ranged and a few high end DSLR. Very fast focus, easy to use, learning curve to know the functions are a bit strange to others but very easy for me even though I a new to this camera. Highly recommended for beginners as it does what are advertised what it can do. And for the money, very reasonable for price... actually very cheap for a high performance camera that deliver superb pictures and videos.

Awesome picture quality,good focus,night mode is very fine and minimum noice,pro & expert mode working really awesome macro mode also helpfull.

Very nice product

I said it is a great LITTLE camera and that is very important. I will be able to take it easily wherever I am going. The pictures are sharp and the colours are accurate….Love the fact that I can use my other Sony lenses with this camera.

Flexible high quality camera. For amateur, delivers excellent photos in auto mode. As experience grows can start getting creative with multiple scene modes. For more expert photographers can shoot in aperture or shutter priority modes or full manual. Telephoto zoom lens is great for shooting children where getting too close might spoil the spontenaity of the action. Multiple shooting modes help capture action, and bracketing exposure option ensures perfect exposure. Smaller and lighter than most DSLRs but all the same features. HD video also a plus.