α6100 & 16-70 f4

Your Camera is Your Compromises

I own a number of very capable cameras: SLRs (APSC and Nikon full-frame), a 4/3 sensor compact, and a bag of assorted expensive lenses. But I enjoy the camera I currently use which is an older design and technically less capable than some of my other cameras. It's the second cheapest camera in the current Sony mirrorless range. I have the money to upgrade it, yet I haven't and I almost certainly won't. Why?

Because the Sony α6100 camera with the Sony/Zeiss 16-70 f4 lens as my walk-about lens represents a collection of compromises which are precisely the ones I want. If I try and improve any aspect of this combination then I lose out somewhere else. Every so often I look at upgrading, and at other camera systems, and I wonder if they might be better for me. Every time I decide to stick.

Here are the 7 features I have carefully balanced in my choice of camera. What matters a lot to me may matter less to you, and also less to the multitude of online reviewers—here's what matters to me:

1) Weight, 2) Balance, appearance, and feel, 3) Image resolution and quality, 4) Ease and speed of use. 5) Features, 6) Battery life, and 7) Cost.

Here's where this camera & lens scores in these areas:

The α6100 weighs 396g (including battery). The 16-70 lens weighs 307g. Giving a total weight of 703g. This is a huge win for such a capable camera: it's fairly light and nicely balanced, you can carry this all day on hikes and up mountains. Even adding just a few more grammes makes a noticable difference for enjoyable outdoors and travel photography. Sony's latest offering in the range, the α6600, is 107g heavier (including battery). No thanks.

The α6100 fits in my hand perfectly and partnered with this lens does not "droop" when hanging round my neck or at my side. There have been complaints that the grip is not deep enough for larger hands—well I have big hands and it feels perfect to me. So I say try it.

The α6100 sensor is 24mp APSC. 24mp is a sweet spot for resolution: you can print your images large, and do modest cropping, and I do. Yet compressed RAW file sizes are not huge. The sensor has been updated in Sony's newer cameras, but, well, I've tried and up to ISO 400 it is very hard indeed to spot even the slightest improvement in image quality. Try it yourself, scroll around the large image and look closely at the smaller ones for each sensor. Sony uses a lossy compressed RAW format which very occasionally causes mild banding. Annoying, but they still use the same lossy RAW in their current cameras. And I don't care about ultra-high ISO performance—I don't take pictures without flash in near darkness. What is this new reviewers' obsession?

The Sony-Zeiss 16-70 f4 lens is controversial and has a reputation for patchy image quality. I got mine second hand and maybe I was lucky because this one is a beauty. It focuses usefully closer than the kit, is very sharp (including the corners), and is a joy to use. It has decent image-stabilisation so I don't need IBIS with its inevitable increase in camera size, weight, and price.

The menu system has been criticised, but hey, it's fine once you get used to it and I prefer it to my Nikon full-frame beastie. You can usefully set exposure compensation to the thumb-wheel, put it on Aperture Priority, then adjust the aperture by the little ring on the back. Sorted. Sony's auto-focus is legendary, super-fast, and easily betters the expensive Nikon DSLRs I own. OK Sony has tweaked the autofocus for their newer cameras but they have been tweaking a close-to-perfect system.

I rarely do videos so have no use for better video capabilities than it currently has. It will do a short full-HD video just fine, you pay more to get stuff like 4K and long videos should you want that. I don't. It apparently has fairly pronounced rolling shutter—I don't care.

It has a tiny pop-up flash which I set to -3 for excellent fill-in flash in bright light. Note you need to be at 35mm or more with the 16-70 lens or it casts a shadow. This also gives you a great small flash for casual indoor use. The latest, most expensive, and heaviest Sony in this range now comes with no built-in flash. Bad decision.

The battery life is no better than OK, and I miss the Nikon D610's last-for-ever battery. It was several models on before Sony added a bigger battery, but that adds to size and weight. The α6000 lasts a day of shooting as long as you don't spend too much time reviewing the images. I don't carry a spare because it has not been an issue for me.

And finally, cost (I am Scottish after all). If you are on a budget you can get most of the above from the α6000 which retails at £499 but good-condition models currently available second-hand on a well-known auction site for half that with the perfectly usable 16-50 kit lens. If you can stretch to the α6100 you get a more modern sensor and a rear screen that can swivel to allow vlogging. Should you go for the Sony/Zeiss 16-70 lens it will set you back a fair bit, so you may want to look for a second-hand deal and confirm that the seller has a return policy—I did and did not need to use it. There are some great 3rd party lenses: the superb Laowa 9mm f2.8 (manual focus) does astro-photography and general UWA stuff at a very affordable price. There are a number of Sony-brand e-mount lenses. Research carefully before parting with your hard-earned, but you can build up a good system if you want. The Sony 55-200 kit lens is far better than its reputation and I recommend it.

In Conclusion

Everything I have said and listed here is subjective. If you live in a humid climate then this camera is not for you (you need the α6400 which has weather-sealing but is a lot more expensive and a little heavier and bigger). If you don't need weather-sealing then I strongly recommend you consider this camera. Why not check out what can be achieved with it? There are Flickr groups for both the α6000 and the Sony/Zeiss 16-70 lens where you can view hundreds of relevant images. Your personal camera compromises will almost certainly differ from mine, find your own sweet spot.

It's a great time to be into photography!