Sony’s APS-C lineup continues to grow, with cameras ranging from entry-level to pretty high-end. One of those cheaper cameras is the Sony a6100 ($750, announced in 2019) and one of the more expensive is the Sony a6700 ($1400, announced in 2023). Obviously the Sony a6700 is the more advanced of these two cameras, but by how much? And if you already have the Sony a6100, is it worth upgrading? I’ll answer those questions and more in today’s article! Let’s start by taking a look at the specifications of both cameras:
Sony a6100 vs Sony a6700 Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Sony a6100 | Sony a6700 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | August 2019 | July 2023 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | BSI CMOS |
| Image Processor | BIONZ X | BIONZ XR |
| Resolution | 24.2 MP | 26.0 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 6000×4000 | 6192×4128 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 23.5 x 15.6 mm (APS-C) | 23.3 x 15.5 mm (APS-C) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 3.92µ | 3.76µ |
| Low Pass Filter | Yes | Yes |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | No | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 32,000 | ISO 32,000 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 100-51,200 | ISO 50-102,400 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | No |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | No | Yes |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | No | No |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/4000 | 1/8000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 11 FPS | 11 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 8 FPS | 11 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | None | None |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 33 frames (11 FPS) | 59 frames (11 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF | Hybrid PDAF with deep learning subject recognition |
| Autofocus Points | 425 | 759 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -2 EV | -3 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/160 | 1/160 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | No | No |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 8 bits | 10 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 8 bits | 10 bits |
| Raw Video | No | No |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 30 FPS | 120 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 240 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | Extra 1.23x crop in 4K 30p; extra 1.14x crop at 1080p 100 / 120 FPS | Extra 1.58x crop at 4K 120p (otherwise no additional crop) |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 780 min | 780 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 1 | 1 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-I) | SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.0 in | 3.0 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 0.92 million dots | 1.04 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Single Axis | Fully Articulating |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 1.07x (0.70x FF equiv.) | 1.07x (0.70x FF equiv.) |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 1.44 million dots | 2.36 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | No | No |
| Headphone Jack | No | Yes |
| Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | Yes | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type B 2.0 | Type C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Battery Type | NP-FW50 | NP-FZ100 |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 380 frames | 550 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 420 frames | 570 frames |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 396 g (0.87 lbs.) | 493 g (1.09 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 120 x 67 x 50 mm (4.7 x 2.6 x 2.0″)1 | 122 x 69 x 64 mm (4.8 x 2.7 x 2.5″)1 |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $750 (Check Current Price) | $1400 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Sony a6100 Used Prices | Sony a6700 Used Prices |
| 1The depth measurements in this table exclude the optional rubber cap for the viewfinder | ||
Analysis
That’s a pretty lopsided comparison! I wouldn’t say it’s a huge surprise, considering that the a6700 is almost twice the price and four years newer, but it’s still pretty striking. Other than weight, size, and price, there’s nowhere that the Sony a6100 is ahead.
One of the most striking benefits of the Sony a6700 (which isn’t fully reflected in the specifications) is that it has a much more advanced autofocus system. The Sony a6700 borrows its autofocus from the high-end, full-frame Sony a7R V. The result is that the a6700 has one of the best autofocus systems you’ll find in any APS-C camera today.
Another big benefit is that the a6700 has an in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system. For shooting handheld with non-stabilized lenses, this can make a huge difference. Sure, most of Sony’s popular zooms have image stabilization, so it may not matter to you. But the moment that you start branching off to more unusual lenses (especially prime lenses and a lot of third-party glass), you’ll seriously appreciate the IBIS system.
Then there are the video features. The Sony a6100 actually has some impressive video specs considering the price, but the Sony a6700 easily has the advantage here. The camera’s 4K 120p capability is probably the headline difference, but the a6700 can also shoot internal 10-bit video with 4:2:2 chroma subsampling. This makes for more flexible footage if you need to do significant color grading in post.
In short, the Sony a6700 is definitely a more advanced camera than the Sony a6100!
Recommendations
Just because a camera is better on paper doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for you. In this case, the Sony a6100 has a serious ace up its sleeve – the price of $750. (And of course, it’s even less than that on the used market.)
Keep in mind that in many areas, the Sony a6100 holds its own compared to the a6700. Both cameras have the same image quality, both shoot 11 FPS, and both can shoot 4K video. If you don’t need the advanced autofocus system and videography features of the Sony a6700, you can potentially save a lot of money.
That’s why my overall recommendation is to pick the Sony a6100 for landscape or travel photography, and put all the money you save toward some good lenses (or toward travel)! You’ll actually get better photos that way compared to using the Sony a6700 with low-quality glass.
However, if you’re the type of photographer who will benefit from a high-end autofocus system and/or better videography features, the Sony a6700 is absolutely worth the upgrade. I think this article has made clear, it is the better camera! It’s just a question of whether the improvements are worth paying almost double the price.
I’d sum it up like this:
What does the Sony a6100 offer over the Sony a6700?
- Lighter weight (97g lighter or about 1.2 times lighter) and smaller size
- Lower price, costing $650 less
What does the Sony a6700 offer over the Sony a6100?
- In-body image stabilization, allowing for easier handheld photography even with non-stabilized lenses
- Significantly better autofocus system with high-end tracking capabilities
- Larger buffer (good for fast-paced action photography bursts) of 59 frames rather than 33 frames
- Much better videography features, such as internal 10-bit 4:2:2 recording and 4K 120p support
- A fully articulating LCD screen
- An additional command dial on the front of the camera
Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!
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