What’s Changed? The Sony Alpha a6700 is a feature-rich mirrorless APS-C camera that offers a few substantial upgrades over its predecessor, the a6600. Most notable among these are a 26MP sensor and BIONZ XR processor borrowed from the higher-end FX30, up to 4K 60p video at full sensor width, vlog-friendly video modes, uploadable LUTs, and, perhaps most significantly, a second command dial on the front of the camera.
26MP APS-C Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor. At the heart of the Sony Alpha a6700’s advanced imaging system is a 26MP APS-C/Super 35mm sensor and BIONZ XR processor that work in tandem to produce high-quality 4K images with the 16:9 area, capture 14+ stops of dynamic range, and improve low-light performance using Dual Base ISO.
UHD 4K Video Capture. The a6700 can capture UHD 4K 60p 10-bit 4:2:2 video with full 1:1 pixel readout from its 6K sensor to ensure that there’s no binning, moiré, or aliasing. It can also capture UHD 4K 120p 10-bit 4:2:2 footage from a 1.58x cropped region of the sensor, and you get a broad range of Full HD 1080p recording options. If you’re using a 128GB memory card, you can record for over two hours in 4K 30p, or over forty minutes in 4K 60p.
XAVC HS and S-I Video Codecs. This camera incorporates the XAVC HS codec, which uses HEVC/H.265 encoding to retain detail at smaller bitrates, and XAVC S-I, which is an intraframe codec that gives you consistent performance and quality at up to 600 Mb/s.
Gamma Controls. The a6700 includes the S-Cinetone color matrix that was previously seen in Sony’s Cinema Line cameras like the VENICE and FX6. You can use the S-Cinetone color profile to produce healthy-looking, accurate skin tones; beautiful, well-controlled highlights; and soft, distinct colors. You also get the S-Log3 and S-Gamut3.Cine gamma curves, which will give you a 14+ stop dynamic range with greater control over grading in the shadow to mid-tone areas of your image. Finally, the a6700 supports Hybrid-Log Gamma to give you a broader color gamut.
Look Up Tables. You can upload user-created Look Up Tables (LUTs) and presets and directly apply them to your footage or use them to preview how they’d look if you applied them. If you’re using LUTs to preview, you can embed them alongside the video file so they’re available for post.
Slow & Quick and Time-Lapse Modes. Slow and Quick (S&Q) mode lets you capture 4K video at specified steps between 1-120 fps and Full HD video between 1-240 fps, depending on the format you’re shooting. This lets you drastically slow down or speed up the action. The a6700 also supports time-lapse shooting, and offers instant frame-rate, recording, light, and interval customization.
Advanced Still Rendering. The Alpha a6700 includes the High Efficiency Image File (HEIF) format in 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 options, giving you plenty of color-rendering and compression options for the highest possible still-image quality and storage management. In addition, you can choose Compressed or Lossless Compressed options when shooting RAW. AI processing makes algorithmic adjustments to skin tone, white balance, and backlighting in Auto mode to give you markedly improved exposure results when compared to the a6600. You also get a stills-specific Hybrid Log-Gamma mode that portrays accurate dynamic range in 10-bit HEIF format when you’re viewing stills on a tethered monitor or TV.
AI-Based Hybrid Autofocus System. This updated Fast Hybrid autofocus system, which you can use for stills and video, features its own dedicated processor and a host of advanced features. It incorporates a dense grid of 759 on-sensor phase-detection autofocus points in stills mode and 495 on-sensor phase-detection points in video mode, which covers about 93% of the camera’s image area, and provides extremely fast, accurate performance in a range of lighting conditions down to -3 EV.
Autofocus Tracking Features. The a6700’s autofocus system features a range of AI-based tracking features, many of which are carried over from the a7R V. Its Real-Time Recognition AF feature works with seven selectable subject types. Its Human mode tracks people by their body and head positions for maximum sharpness when shooting portraits, and the Real-Time Eye AF feature’s performance has been improved by 60%. Its Animal, Bird, and Animal/Bird modes are 40% more accurate for recognizing a variety of animal types—including insects—and pinpointing and tracking their heads and eyes. This system also has dedicated Car/Train and Airplane modes, which can detect and track those subjects with utmost accuracy, even at high speeds.
Vlog-Friendly Design. This camera borrows some of the ZV-E1’s vlog-friendly aspects, including large on-screen buttons for ease of use, and AI-enhanced framing that recognizes and tracks subjects when recording video, and then seamlessly auto-crops to keep the subject prominent in the frame, which greatly simplifies camerawork that would otherwise be a lot for a single person to take on. You can use the touchscreen to adjust for speed, sensitivity, and subject positioning.
Five-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization. The built-in image-stabilization feature helps keep things smooth even when you’re shooting hand-held or in low light. Its Active Mode smooths out your footage even more by combining optical systems and digital optimization. This camera can record gyro movement when optical image stabilization is turned off so that you can stabilize your footage in post.
Memory and Power. This camera records to widely available SDHC/XC memory cards, and the rechargeable NP-FZ100 battery is rated for approximately 570 shots or 120 minutes of video per charge. You can also power the a6700 or charge its battery via a USB connection to a computer or mobile battery.
Connectivity. In-camera Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands lets you quickly share images to mobile devices so you can post them to social media, email them, or upload them to the cloud. You can use the Sony Creators’ App, which replaces the Imaging Edge App, to connect to the Creators’ Cloud platform. Creators’ Cloud lets you share and store media, edit, and collaborate, all in the cloud. The a6700 can use USB output using UVC/UAC control via a computer for streaming and broadcasts, with the USB output supporting video up to 4K 30p.
Viewing Methods. You’ve got two options for composition and review. The large XGA Tru-Finder 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder has 1.07x magnification that makes it great for eye-level shooting, while its dedicated 120 fps mode is great for working with fast-moving subjects. There’s also a 3.0-inch, 1.03m-dot, side-opening rear touchscreen LCD with a tilting design that lets you work from high, low, and front-facing angles.
Body Design. A new front command dial gives you additional, intuitive control and speed within reach of your forefinger, while a revised grip design makes handling easier over long shoots and facilitates access to the camera controls. The durable magnesium-alloy body is weather-sealed against dust and moisture so you can keep shooting in less-than-stellar conditions.
