Sony a6400 Review

Last Updated on October 24, 2022 by Sharon Advik

Sony a6400 Review:

Overview:

On January 15, 2019, Sony unveiled the 6400 digital camera.

As an update of the 6300, it is an APS-C mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC) intended to be a mid-range mirrorless camera.

The same 24-megapixel sensor as the 6500 is there in it.

The 6400 and 6500 were the 6000 series cameras’ two most influential models at their debut.

The Sony a6400 is a small, 24MP mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor that will appeal to many photographers, from amateurs to professionals searching for a portable second body.

The big news is that it includes a new processor based on Sony’s sports-shooting flagship a9, which makes it possible to use “Real-Time Tracking” autofocus, one of the best auto-focus solutions we’ve yet seen.

Once you’ve set it up, it’s also one of the simplest.

Detailed discussion about specifications:

Following is a detailed discussion about some of the essential features of the Sony a6400:

24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor:

The 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor achieves a smooth, nuanced image quality with less noise and great sensitivity from ISO 100-32000, which is raised to ISO 102400 for use in low-light situations.

The sensor has a distinctive design that uses thin copper wiring, improved circuit processing, and an improved front-end LSI to raise readout rates, decrease noise, and improve light-gathering capabilities for video recording.

4D focus:

A robust 4D FOCUS system covers the whole sensor surface and uses 425 on-chip phase-detection points and 425 contrast-detection areas to provide fine focusing in as low as 0.02 seconds.

High-density Tracking AF Technology, skilled at tracking moving targets in various lighting settings, is made possible by the hybrid AF system’s density of focusing points.

ISO Range:

A 24-megapixel image sensor with a maximum native ISO of 32,000 is featured in the a6400 (expandable to 102,400).

A mechanical shutter can sustain AF/AE tracking at 11 frames per second while shooting up to 8 frames per second with an electronic shutter.

In continuous mode, you can capture up to 116 JPEGs or 46 compressed RAW files.

4K UHD recording:

Internal UHD 4K video recording is supported at various frame rates up to 30 frames per second using the entire sensor’s width and an 8-bit 4:2:0 color sampling scheme using the 100Mbps XAVC S codec.

Additionally, oversampled 4K recording is available for more information, which uses a 6K capture region inside the Super 35 area.

Pixel binning is not used in this complete pixel readout, resulting in higher-quality imagery with less moiré and aliasing.

Bionz X processor:

The Bionz X processor in the a6400 is connected to the professional-grade a9.

However, it is not the same chip.

The new Real-Time Tracking option is the processor’s primary feature.

Still, we’ve also noted that overall performance is snappier than the a6300 and a6500, and boot-up times are substantially speedier.

Lens mount and Lenses:

There are 182 native lenses that you can use with the Sony A6400’s Sony E lens mount.

The variety of Sony E and FE mount lenses keeps expanding, and there are also many excellent options from third-party lens manufacturers.

The options for adapting lenses from other mounts are endless because of its extremely short flange focal distance.

Sony also offers an adapter (Sony LA-EA4) that enables the use of A-mount lenses with E-mount cameras, including AF.

The whole line of Canon EF lenses with Auto Focus is usable with adapters from Metabones and Fotodiox when used with E-mount cameras.

Here are some of the top lenses mentioned for the Sony a6400:

Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 – best lens for sony a6400

A high-quality everyday lens that is adaptable, user-friendly, and remarkably crisp.

Everything from starry skies to portraits, landscapes, and street photography works beautifully with it.

It is the world’s first fast-aperture F2. 8 standard zoom lenses for APS-C mirrorless cameras, with a focal length that ranges from 17mm to 70mm, and achieves a 4.1x zoom ratio.

Sony E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS – best lesn for sony a6400

A very adjustable lens that combines portability with telephoto reach.

With its powerful zoom range, you can capture anything, from wildlife to landscapes and portraits.

The 18-135 OSS gives the sony a6400 a very flexible zoom range that extends from wide-angle (27mm full-frame equivalent) to relatively short telephoto (202.5mm equivalent).

As you zoom in, the maximum aperture soon decreases to the much smaller maximum aperture of F5. 6 from its initially broad starting point of F3.

Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS – best lens for sony a6400

One of the most incredible lenses for the Sony a6400 while taking portrait photos is the Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS lens.

It is an APS-C lens with a full-frame equivalent focal length of 75mm, which is very close to the 85mm many photographers like for portraiture.

A lightweight, reasonably priced lens with all the features you could need for excellent portrait photography.

It has excellent bokeh, focuses quickly, and is quite crisp.

Sensor and Photography features:

The Sony A6400 contains a Bionz X CPU and a 24.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) CMOS sensor.

With aspect ratios of 1:1, 3:2, and 16:9, you may capture photos with a resolution of 6000 x 4000 pixels.

The A6400 can save files in RAW format, which provides you more capacity for post-processing, and it has a native ISO range of 100 – 32000 that can be increased to 102400.

The Sony A6400 is not the APS-C camera with the highest resolution.

The A6400 can maintain 11 frames per second in continuous shooting mode with its mechanical shutter and AF/AE tracking.

However, that is with the viewfinder in “after view” mode, which is not the greatest for capturing fast-moving subjects.

A silent mode and an 8 frames per second “live view” mode are available for shooting.

LCD and Viewfinder:

The 3.0-inch back LCD on the Sony Alpha A6400 has a 922,000-dot resolution.

The diagonal of the screen is used to determine the LCD’s size.

For live view framing, image inspection, and setting management, having an extensive and detailed display on the back is practical.

The LCD size is logically related to the camera size, as a larger camera body will provide more space on the back for mounting a sizable rear screen.

Because the A6400 includes an integrated electronic viewfinder, shooting in bright sunshine and other circumstances when it can be challenging to see, the LCD monitor is made simpler.

The viewfinder offers a 2,359k-dot resolution and 100% coverage.

To accurately frame your photographs and reduce the need for post-processing cropping, 100 percent coverage ensures that what you look at in the viewfinder when taking the photo corresponds perfectly to what you will get later in your image.

The viewfinder’s magnification ratio is 0.7x (35mm equivalent).

Connectivity and Battery:

The a6400 has wireless connectivity, as you might anticipate.

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC are all supported.

Apple users may now instantly pair the camera with the Sony Play Memories Mobile app thanks to a recent upgrade to iOS, much like Android users have been able to do for a very long time.

The Sony NP-FW50 Battery powers the Sony A6400 and has a minimum capacity of 7.3Wh and a maximum charge voltage of 7.2V. (1020mAh).

You will receive it with the camera, but you will need to buy any other items separately.

Videos and Photos:

The A6400 can record full HD video at up to 120 frames per second at the same bitrate or 4K video at 30 frames per second in the XAVCS format.

Its HDMI connector also provides clear HDMI output to external recorders.

The A6400 is a standard issue save from its unique 4K video capability and excellent focus.

The Sony a6400 is a feature-rich camera with good image quality and a fantastic price compared to its specifications.

Although the real-time tracking AF capabilities and focus times amazed me, they are imperfect.

Is Sony A6400 still worth buying?

I would want to make the expert recommendation that the Sony A6400 is a dream camera for bloggers, vloggers, and other independent content producers. It has excellent 4K video and even better still images, and its 180-degree screen and eye-detect AF make it ideal for taking videos with only one hand.

My friend has just entered the world of vlogging. He questioned me about what he ought to get to improve his vlogging. I recommended my favorite A6400 to him because it offers excellent video quality. Because of this adaptable tool, which makes things simple for me, he increased the number of his followers, and people admired how he handled things. Yeah, it’s still worth buying.

Is Sony Alpha A6400 good for photography?

The image quality is indeed excellent, but that can also be stated for any of its APS-C mirrorless competitors, many of which are considerably less expensive. The Sony A6400 is the best camera for bloggers, vloggers, and independent content producers. Even though I’ve already said that the Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS lens is one of the most impressive lenses for the Sony a6400 while capturing portrait photographs, this APS-C lens has a full-frame equivalent focal length of 75mm, which is extremely close to the preferred portrait focal length of 85mm for many photographers. Whenever I am out for a brand shoot or collecting memories, I love to carry this along with me.

Is Sony A6400 entry-level?

The Sony A6400 is not “entry-level,” in my opinion, based on my experience. I believe the camera’s menu system is confusing and unfriendly, especially for novices. Six menu categories make up the 36 menu pages. Up to six settings may be found on each menu page, and some open submenus themselves. Don’t let the visually complex appearance of it frighten you. Being a photographer, I am constantly being inundated with images, and unless I am in the mindset to be looking critically at a photo, these everyday images I see only serve to provide tidbits of information, whether they be advertisements for products of interest, pictures from my family showcasing the dog doing something silly, or images of my cousin graduating ceremony. I know how to manage this body, so everything went well.

Is Sony A6400 discontinued?

In late November 2021, it announced similar production halts for the Sony a7 II and a6100. It also announced a stop in manufacturing the Sony Alpha a6400 mirrorless camera. While those two cameras are no longer in production, the Sony a6400 is again in production and offered in Sony’s domestic market. They are also no longer included in the listings of items suspended, which implies they won’t be returning. I have used this camera for many tasks and done several reviews of this brilliant camera as it offers 4k video, which attracts my customers to get my services.

Are the A6400 suitable for beginners?

Although I’m a little perplexed, something inside me screams that the A6400 might be an excellent pick for novices in some situations. Although taking pictures is nice, learning how to adapt to videos is difficult. helpful for new photographers or those who have only ever used cropped sensors but are interested in full frame.) Amazingly, the Sony a6400 offers 24.2 megapixels. With its 24.2MP sensor and ISO increased to 102,400, this APS-C model can still produce an excellent low-light film, making things quite handy for a newbie. I made my son learn this camera as a beginner, but my assistance made him go through this process quickly.

Is Sony A6400 rainproof?

Yes, I adore the Sony A6400 camera primarily because it is waterproof. The Sony a6400 has a sturdy and trim design. Underwater photography is further protected by the body weather-sealed against moisture and dust. I can go on the road and go trekking with it without feeling any discomfort. If I had brought a different camera that is not waterproof, my trip last year on the Appalachian Trail with my friends might have turned out disastrously. Trees couldn’t have adequately shielded our possessions from the rain that lasted the entire day. The weather was too severe for tents to withstand. Due to the weather forecast, I captured incredible images of the storm’s black clouds and a beautiful rainbow.

Suitable for “Street Photography”

The Sony A6400 has a score of 66 for “Street Photography,” which qualifies it as a GOOD option.

The Sony A6400 will meet the majority of your needs.

It is compact, includes a flash, which is great for shooting people in dramatic situations, and has excellent autofocus for candid portraits of people.

It is user-friendly and makes your life so much fun in the street while wandering. If you have this camera by your side, then no matter which city street you are walking, you will feel like you are ruling it

Suitable for “Daily life” Photography

The Sony A6400 is a GOOD choice for this style of photography, with a score of 67 for Daily Photography.

It is one of the most outstanding cameras for documenting daily life due to its adaptability.

This model creates a larger-than-life lifestyle with enhanced mobility and vibrant colors.

It does not disregard the potential to take wonderful everyday life photographs nearby.

Why is the Sony a6400 preferred?

The A6400 is as quick and responsive as its cutting-edge AF specifications indicate.

Face/eye detection moves around the frame without any latency, and in continuous AF/continuous shooting mode, the autofocus is nearly instantaneously adjusted to changes in subject distance.

In conclusion, the Sony a6400 is a great camera.

In addition to excellent color performance, it has excellent AF tracking, outstanding ISO performance, and excellent dynamic range.

The Sony a6400 camera more than holds its own in photography and excels in video performance.

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