Sony a6000 promises world’s fastest AF and 11 fps subject tracking

Sony has released its new a6000 mirrorless camera, which is the replacement to the NEX-6. This midrange mirrorless features a 24MP CMOS sensor, Sony’s latest Bionz X processor, and a refined Hybrid AF system that covers 92% of the frame with phase-detect points. The new AF system allows for continuous shooting at 11 fps with subject tracking, and also promises the ‘world’s fastest autofocus’, according to Sony. The camera now offers zebra pattern and clean HDMI output for movie lovers. Those who love the XGA EVF on the NEX-6 may be disappointed by the smaller, lower resolution one on the a6000.

The camera will be available in silver or black for $650 body only, or $800 when kitted with the 16-50 F3.5-5.6 power zoom lens.

Read our First Impressions Review for more on the a6000

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Press Release:

Sony Electronics Introduces the Versatile α6000 Interchangeable Lens Camera with World’s Fastest Autofocus System¹

New Mirrorless Camera Features Impressive AF, 24 MP APS-C Sensor, BIONZ® X Processor, OLED Tru-Finder™ and more

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11, 2014 – Sony Electronics’ new α6000 camera pushes the limits of mirrorless camera innovation, boasting the world’s fastest AF performance1 at just 0.06 seconds. 

The speedy new camera (model ILCE-6000) is also equipped with a high-resolution 24.3 MP image sensor and powerful BIONZ X processor. This powerful combination of features ensures that still images, full HD videos and all fleeting moments are captured in sharp focus and incredible detail.

 “With the world’s fastest autofocus system1, the ability to capture a blazing 11 frames per second and a 24.3 MP sensor, the new α6000 rivals even the best DSLRs in the market today in terms of performance, and does this in half of the size and weight at an extremely attractive price point,” said Neal Manowitz, director of the alpha interchangeable lens camera division at Sony.  “It’s an ideal choice for photo enthusiasts eager to ‘go light’ and take their photography to the next level.”
Mike Fasulo, President and COO of Sony Electronics, added “The new α6000 camera is simply the latest in a recent line of awe-inspiring product introductions from our digital imaging group – one of the key pillars of our core electronics business.   As a leader in the imaging industry, we’re continuing to push the limits of innovation, offering products and experiences that only Sony can deliver.”

New ultra-fast AF system
Even quicker than most professional DSLRs, the phenomenal autofocus speed of the α6000 camera is powered by Sony’s advanced Hybrid AF system.  The new model features a focal plane phase-detection AF sensor with an extremely wide autofocus coverage area – 179 focal points– that is teamed with high-precision contrast-detection AF.  This potent combination allows the camera to accurately track and respond to a subject moving through nearly the entire frame, and to shoot at an eye-popping speed of up to 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus.  It’s an unprecedented combination of speed and frame coverage in today’s market.

Design and Controls
The new camera’s clear, bright OLED Tru-Finder lets you see a live preview of all setting adjustments before the shot is taken, so what you see is exactly what you get.  Conveniently placed mode and control dials on top of the camera give easy access to commonly used settings.  Additionally, a ‘Function’ button and two additional customizable buttons give quick access to any one of 47 assignable functions.  There’s also a built-in flash for extra flexibility in any shooting situation.

Wi-Fi® and PlayMemories™
The α6000 camera has built-in Wi-Fi, giving consumers one-touch connection with Xperia® or NFC-compatible Android™ smartphones or tablets for instant image transfer and sharing2.  A single touch also activates Smart Remote Control, linking the camera with a smartphone or tablet for a live image preview, to fire the shutter from a distance and to review shots instantly. 

For devices without NFC one-touch capabilities, users can wirelessly transfer images and videos and activate Smart Remote Control through Sony’s free PlayMemories Mobile™ application, available for the iOS and Android platforms.
The camera is also compatible with downloadable Sony PlayMemories Camera Apps, adding a range of exciting and creative capabilities.  Currently there are a total of 10 different applications available with several others to be released this spring. 

Learn more at www.sony.net/pmca .

Pricing and Availability
The Sony α6000 compact interchangeable lens camera will be available in April 2014 in black and silver in a kit with a compact, versatile 16-50mm motorized zoom lens (model SELP1650) for about $800.   It will also be offered separately as a body for about $650.

Sony has also announced the price of its previously announced full frame E-mount 70-200mm F4 G OSS telephoto zoom lens (model SEL70200G).   This lens will be available in March for about $1500.

The new camera and all compatible lenses and accessories will be available at Sony retail stores (www.store.sony.com) and other authorized dealers nationwide.

Sony α Lenses Assortment
The α6000 camera is compatible with Sony’s ever-growing assortment of E-mount interchangeable lenses, and uses the same Sony E-mount as the α3000, α5000 and acclaimed α7 and α7R models, as well as all the previous α ‘NEX’ cameras.  All Sony ‘FE’ and ‘E’ lenses are compatible with all E-mount cameras.

Outlined below, the E-mount family now includes 20 different models with several premium models from Carl Zeiss® and G Series Lenses:

• E 16mm F2.8
• E 20mm F2.8
• E 35mm F1.8 OSS
• E 50mm F1.8 OSS
• E 30mm F3.5 Macro
• E 24mm F1.8 ZEISS
• E 10-18mm F4 OSS
• E PZ 16-50mm F3.5 – F5.6 OSS
• E 18-55mm F3.5 – F5.6 OSS
• E 18-200mm F3.5 – F6.3 OSS
• E 18-200mm F3.5 – F6.3 OSS LE
• E PZ 18-200mm F3.5 – F5.6 OSS
• E 55-210mm F4.5 – F6.3 OSS
• E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS
• E 16-70mm F4 ZEISS OSS
• FE 28-70mm F3.5 – 5.6 OSS
• FE 35mm F2.8 ZEISS
• FE 55mm F1.8 ZEISS
• FE 24-70mm F4 ZEISS OSS
• FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS

1. Amongst interchangeable-lens digital cameras equipped with an APS-C image sensor as of February 12, 2014. Determined with internal measurement method with E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens mounted, Pre-AF off and viewfinder in use.

Sony a6000 specifications

Comments

179 focal points –> 179 focus points?

It would be great if some trusted camera testing site (wink wink) could verify all those claims of “fastest AF” with independent objective (numerical) testing…

But they’d rather shoot black-and-white resolutions charts in case manufacturers cheat with their megapixel counts (?)…

11 fps with C-AF would be perfect for sports, but Sony APS-C E-mount does not have a single decent sport tele zoom. f/6.3 55-210 and 18-200, nor $1500 FE 70-200/4 need not apply.

I’m the world’s fastest 100m runner (1).

Note 1: Measured against against 85 year old ladies in 35c heat.

“Fastest AF for an APS-C mirrorless camera”

So still kind of slow.

I’m just warming with the recently announced Canon G1x II…but seeing this at a price of $800 makes the Canon look like a joke. (even considering equivalence)

Put the same sensor in a RX10 with a 16-50mm lens and I might buy.

What’s special about the RX10 body that you’re missing from this $800 kit option?

Minimum body size/weight, with fixed lens. Don’t need to be able to change lenses if the 16-50mm is of good quality.

fastest AF ?

“Amongst interchangeable-lens digital cameras equipped with an APS-C image sensor as of February 12, 2014. Determined with internal measurement method with E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens mounted, Pre-AF off and viewfinder in use.”

as usual the real kings of mirrorless AF = Nikon 1 and m43 are excluded for marketing purposes 🙂

And according to Fujifilm, the XT-1 will own this one. We’ll see…

but it includes some APS-C DSLR with really nice AF, so if the statement is true, it is quite bold !

Why not? The size and weight of the lens affects AF speed. I could not find fault in Sony’s claims.

never forget:
digicams and smartphones are all mirrorless, most are very small sensor/lens=very high inherent deep dof = closer/closest to ‘focus-free’ (tinier apertures, sensors very close to lens opening = brighter for af sensors)

next in size …
m43/nikon1 = next closest expected to fast/easier to AF (minimal focus mechanic adjustment) ‘focus-free’ demands … hardly phenomenal, if it is inherent to high/deep dof optics of ‘small systems’ …

when a larger system system (apsc or ff) is fast for inherent shallower dof image optics, the AF demands are so much higher for identical incoming light on AF Sensor or image sensor.

and you wonder why disposable film cameras with tiny apertures were ‘focus-free’ even if the image surface was still far from the lens opening in the film days … if they had AF …they only needed one for infinity, and one for macro… and no real ‘focusing’ task to speak of.

put the AF of m43 behind ff/aps LENS/Body, and it will surely struggle to focus

And as long as they don’t reveal their “internal measurement method”, their claims are meaningless to outsiders.

additionally:
smaller systems
=smaller lens
=smaller apertures
=smaller mechanical (shorter distance for mechanical actions for AF to work)

a 1mm shift in mechanical adjustment for AF translates to focusing FASTER LONGER DISTANCE DIFFERENCES in a smaller system than a larger system:

a tiny adjustment of a given time and mechanical AF movement in: the smallest system can focus from 0 to infinity
a small system can focus from 3m to 30m, easier when dof super deep
a medium system … 8 to 20 easier deeper dof, worse shallower dof
a large … only 11 to 12 worse when super shallow
a very large … 11.5 to 11.6 worse when dof super shallow
(using imaginary values for illustration only)

its just logical smaller systems have easier/less AF mecanical loads when overcoming dof thats hardly ever shallow, and much closer to focus-free conditions than larger systems will ever be.

No touch screen and finder resolution only 1,440,000 with 0,7 magnification.
Nex 6 have 2,359,000 dot finder and 1,09 finder magnification!

Wow another camera with the worlds fastest AF. That makes about 4 in the last year and none of them are DSLR’s. Does anyone ever verify these claims?

read the fine print – only compared against APS-C cameras… so not against M4/3s which have blazing fast AF

Damn, I was ready to sell my 1D X and E-M5!

Also, “determined with internal measurement method”. Impossible to verify (or disprove) their claim without knowing their method.

Comparing to the NEX-6, sensor and processor have been significantly improved. AF performance is still mysterious. Hope it works well. I am not quite satisfied with the one on NEX-6. New C2 button is lovely, and Fn button is moved to a more reasonable place.

I doubt if the wheel works better than NEX-6. The place is not easy to reach with your thumb. Considering that mode dial is not as frequently used as the wheel, why not swap their position?

Hmm… I am considering A7R. But it may be less responsive in overall operation than A6000. And I got 4 APS-C lenses already. But I really love the photo quality from A7R. How should I pick?

This looks to be a very nice camera!

A little expensive but it has some nice features.

Maybe this is the sensor Nikon has been waiting for with focal plane phase detection for the D400.