Two of Sony’s most popular APS-C mirrorless cameras are the a6400 and a6700 cameras. But don’t let the names fool you – even though it sounds like both cameras are part of the same line, the Sony a6400 is a deliberately lower-end camera that is also significantly cheaper than the Sony a6700 ($900 compared to $1400). What are you giving up if you pick the a6400 instead of the a6700? Or, if you already have the Sony a6400, is it worth upgrading to the a6700? My article today will answer your questions!
Sony a6400 vs Sony a6700 Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Sony a6400 | Sony a6700 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | January 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 x 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 100-102,400 | 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) | 46 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 | 2.36 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) | 360 frames | 550 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 410 frames | 570 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 403 g (0.89 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 | $900 (Check Current Price) | $1400 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Sony a6400 Used Prices (eBay Partner Program affiliate link) | Sony a6700 Used Prices (eBay Partner Program affiliate link) |
| 1The depth measurements in this table exclude the optional rubber cap for the viewfinder | ||
Summary
Well, it’s no contest, is it? :)
In every category – with the exceptions of weight, size, and price – the Sony a6700 matches or beats the Sony a6400. That’s not a big surprise, considering that it’s a much more expensive camera and is also newer by more than four years. But it’s still kind of crazy how lopsided this comparison really is.
Some of the biggest differences are in the realm of video performance. The Sony a6400 isn’t a terrible camera for video – it can still shoot 4K, after all – but the Sony a6700 definitely ups the ante. With 10-bit 4:2:2 internal video possible, you can simply get higher quality footage out of the a6700, better suited for extensive post-production. And of course, the fact that it can shoot at 4K 120p (albeit with an extra crop) is pretty awesome for slow-motion requirements.
In terms of construction, the a6700 rearranges the button layout quite a bit. So, if you’re moving up from the a6400, it may feel unfamiliar at first – although you’ll surely get used to it. Two nice benefits of the a6700 are the extra command dial on the front, and the fully articulating rear LCD.
Lastly, a major benefit of the Sony a6700 isn’t obvious from just looking at the specifications: It has a much better autofocus system. The AF system on the a6700 is actually borrowed from the high-end Sony a7R V, making for one of the best APS-C cameras on the market today in terms of autofocus! That’s especially apparent in terms of autofocus tracking. If only Sony had added dual memory card slots, a joystick, and a bigger buffer to the a6700… it would really have been a dream camera for sports and wildlife photography at that point.
Recommendations
Even though the Sony a6700 is the clear winner in this head-to-head comparison, it’s also $500 more expensive than the Sony a6400. For that difference, you can put a lot of money toward a high-quality Sony lens, like our favorite Sony Sonnar 55mm f/1.8 ZA. Often, a cheap camera + high-end lens will beat a high-end camera + cheap lens!
I personally think that you should stick with the Sony a6400 if you’re a landscape photographer, travel photographer, or portrait photographer. For those genres of photography, the improvements of the Sony a6700 won’t matter very much. Sure, you might appreciate the fully articulating LCD screen and the IBIS system, but probably not to the point that it’s worth a $500 difference.
But if you’re a wildlife photographer, sports photographer, and especially a videographer, it’s definitely worth getting the Sony a6700 instead. You’ll gain a lot of useful features, ranging from the better autofocus system to the higher-quality 4K options.
I would sum it up like this:
What does the Sony a6400 offer over the Sony a6700?
- Lighter weight (90g lighter, or about 1.2 times lighter) and smaller size
- Lower price, costing $500 less
What does the Sony a6700 offer over the Sony a6400?
- In-body image stabilization, allowing for easier handheld photography with non-stabilized lenses
- Significantly better autofocus system with high-end tracking capabilities
- 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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