Great news! A dozen of SAR readers wrote me that Sony is already shipping the first preorders! In detail I got reports about cameras shipped by Sony Stores in Germany, France, Italy and Sony Australia. Still no news from North American stores but I am sure they can hope for a shipment soon too!
Sony A6000 preorder list with US and Europe links:
Sony A6000 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama, BHphoto (Click here), SonyStore (Click here). In Europe at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, AT, NL, BE, CH, FI, SE, PT, WexUK.
Silver A6000 at WexUK (Click here).
Sony A6000 with lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama, BHphoto (Click here), SonyStore (Click here), Sony Canada (Click here), WexUK (Click here).
Silver A6000 with lens at WexUK (Click here).
Sony 70-200mm FE at Amazon (CLick here), BHphoto (Click here), SonyStore (Click here). In Europe at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, AT, NL, BE, CH, FI, SE, PT
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Any one considering X-T1 over this? I mean, I don’t want a viewfinder and I want a touch/flip screen but Sony has discontinued the NEX 5. If I’m going to have to upgrade to the A6000, I might as well go big and update to the Fujifilm X-T1.
If both cameras here the same price yes, but its not the case, If I had the extra money I would look for the full frame a7 which is around the same price as apsc xt1…
But A7 has no lens… only a bad kit lens and either slow/cheap or fast/expensive/heavy. APS-C seems like a good size sensor for decent size lens. X-T1 has amazing and fast lenses, awesome colour and white balance. It has speed and matches or beats A6000 in other respects except movie. If Sony resurrects NEX 5 form factor with NEX 5 features and A6000 level specs, I’ll buy it but if I’m forced to upgrade, it would probably be the X-T1.
Doesn’t match the A6000 in auto focus, tracking or image quality (new Sony sensor). But hey do what you got to do…
A7 kit lens is not bad, actually very reasonable for a kit lens. Actual MF with focus magnifier & peaking works very well. Obviously if fast autofocus is very important, than you can ‘t do much wrong with the A6000 especially considering the price difference with th X-T1
Had a chance to play with the kit lens at the weekend. Compared to the 18-55, it’s pretty good, but compared to the a-mount 16-50 or 28-75 it’s pretty ropey (nowhere near as sharp wide open and corner performance is very disappointing). Personally I’d buy the a7 body and put the extra money towards the 35/2.8 or 55/1.8… As an a-mount shooter I was pleasantly surprised with the a7 – it’s a great camera to use and I’d be all over it if the primes were stabilised (Sony get your finger out).
I’ve also looked into the X-T1, the AF is better on the a6000, and I’ve decided that X-T1 does not offer too much over a NEX
I’ve also got a bunch invested in a NEX lenses, so i’ve purchased a Sony A7 last thursday. If i want autofocus, i use an APS-C lens, if I want full frame, i can use one of many fast MF lenses which I already own.
Excellent. I have 3 lenses SEL1855, SEL35F18 and SEL50F18. I would have considered A7 as well, however I heard that it’s not worthwhile using those lenses with it. True or false?
LOL, well, mines still on a plane somewhere flying from Korea to New Zealand 😛
yes, its true that its not worthwhile using those 3 lenses on it for you, UNLESS you’re going to invest in full frame glass. I have quite a few Voigtlander and Canon FD ones which cost a fraction of what a AF lens equivlent normally would have cost
I’m expecting the crop lenses to be bad, because you only get a 10mpx image from A7 and 16mpx from A7r, I expect these to be the same or worse than using it on a crop body. I can confirm that in about a week or two when it actually arrives
Discontinued the Nex 5? Only by name. A5000 is it’s successor.
Mine should be here very shortly. I did consider the XT-1 at some point, but I have two E lenses that I really like, and I’m not a fan of Fuji’s retro controls, nor their X Trans output. I’ve been with Sony for two years now and globally pleased with the experience, even if I bitch a lot, lol… The N7 is my main and most loved camera, I did have two A7 units but liked neither enough to keep them. I’m in hopes this A6K is a finally a *real* breakthrough in AF performance…
Can you share with me why you didn’t like the A7? :3
It’s a long story !! I suggest you go to DPR a check a review titled “a hump away from greatness”, you’ll find most of my observations there. A camera with a lot of positives though.
I’ve got mine yesterday, at 999 AU$ with kit lens…
How’s EVF compared to NEX7?
I just got my A6000 in Australia today!! Such an awesome camera!
Tell us more !!
Is high ISO and dynamic range better than on NEX7?
Sorry I never owned a Nex 7 so I don’t.
So then, I got mail, Sony Germany is shipping, and mine is already here and charging.
Short first impressions:
• It’s slightly chunkier than the N6/7. It feels a bit more substantial than the N6, but not as gem-like as the N7. Top plate seems to be magnesium alloy, but the body itself is plastic.
• EVF is ok, but you can see the pixels, and as far as I remember, you can see the downsized resolution in comparison to the N7. I’m not a big fan of EVFs anyway, so I don’t care that much. Good to have one if I might need it.
• AF feels very snappy, even in really dark circumstances it were able to get focussed, although only after a second or so (but that was more like a black wall without much structure).
• The two top dials should be swapped. Maybe the existing layout is perfect for small japanese hands, but for northern european men, it’s a contorsionist’s job.
So far everything up to the expectations. Looking forward to having fun with it.
Some update:
• WiFi with the A6000 is fun, the Remote Control is pretty cool. The camera came with a very simple version (just exposure comp. and shutter), so you have to download the recent update to get access to the newer features like setting of focus point and other parameters. Works very well with the SEL1855 (well, no zooming, naturally).
• All this WiFi stuff would be much easier with – yes – a touch screen, btw.
• Resolution, dynamic range and the possibilities to lift shadows are just stunning in comparison to my old Nikon D80. So I’m plain happy. Can’t actually compare it to the N5 oder N7 because I don’t have them here, but from memory I’d say: not worse 😉
• Haven’t found any level funktion. They left it out.
so is battery drain really bad like the other poster mentioned?
I noticed quite some drain, but I had the WiFi on and did fiddle a lot with settings and the battery is maybe not up to her full capacity yet. Nevertheless, after these first impressions I’d rather buy two than one spare battery.
I read somewhere that Sony’s charger will show full when it is not. It may show what is considered the minimum power to count as full on the camera, but requiring extra hours for an actual full. I don’t know if it is true, but that’s what some manual advised.
A little test here… with the battery fully loaded (some hours longer than neccessary), I took a video, 25p, high ISO, for 30 minutes.
Battery is now down to 66%, which is exactly within the specs (handbook says: 90 min. continous video with full battery).
Btw., no overheating! Big news, they seemingly solved the problem! Camera gets warm, but no warning, no shut off. Great.
Some more answers to questions I read somewhere the last days, here or in forums, I don’t remember, bit anyway:
• One can set upper and lower ISO for Auto ISO at will.
• There are three MR (“Memory Recall”) modes which can be individually set – which is very handy.
• Focus magnification zooms in on the spot you (Spot AF) or the camera choose.
Hope this helps a little.
Have my A6000 on order from B&H, but I might cancel and go with Fuji X-T1 for 3 simple facts.
1. Bigger selection of glass (mirrorless) that is a higher quality build than Sony.
2. EVF is bigger, higher res, etc.
3. Controls are in all the right places, but I know this is subjective.
I shoot portraits, fashion, engagement parties, etc professionally, but dont always want to lug around a heavy DSLR (Nikon D800e, D700, etc) when i go on trips to Europe and around the USA. I want something smaller with amazing image quality, fast AF, and a nice selection of lenses made specifically for the system.
The only eason at this point I am even considering the Sony is so that my wife can use it as well without asking me 100 questions on how to change a setting before every shot she takes. The Fuji is not as accessable as the Sony inthat regard, it is a thinking mans/womans camera.
Maybe I will just get both 😛
Is the Fuji X-T1 a better camera than the NEX series or even A6000? Image quality wise? It’s an APS-C like the NEX series right?
Honestly, I think the lens you want focal and aperture-wise should always be the decision on the system. Sensor to me is close to meaningless because I shoot usually from ISO 200-800. But then again to still stay in that range faster glass is always the best investment. Feel what your type of photography is and then go for glass. GL!
Why do you compare A6000 to the Fuji X-T1? Two completly different cameras, different pricepoints, different user-scenarios? I have the suspicion that Fuji PR is heavily involved in this thread.
Just my 2 €-cents.
Compared because I have a preorder on the Sony, and others are mentioning Fuji as an alternative. Not everything is black and white when making decisions on large $$$ purchases.
They are diff in a lot of ways but also very simliar.
1. Both are mirrorless
2. Both are aps-c sensors
3. Both are considered the mid-high end body for their mirrorless line
4. With comparable lenses the price isnt so diff. I dont consider the kit 16-50mm lens Sony offers even close to the quality of he 18-55 f2.8-4 lens Fuji offers as a kit.
Again, I might just get both, cause both have their strengths, but when it comes to lenses, Fuji is building a high quality system around the X series. Take a look at their new f1.2 lens lineup, very impressive.
I heard very good stuff about the Fuji X-T1, but isn’t that $1,799?
there was a rumor that the A6000 might have a few days sale when it hits….like $50 off…is it better to wait for that or just do a pre-order? i’m not in a rush anyway….also, wait for reviews a few weeks after the camera is released before ordering?
I don’t think it will get a price-reduction anytime soon, because it is already well priced I’d say.. but we will see. Mine arrived today, maybe I don’t want the price reduced anytime soon? 😉
Someone in the dpreview E-mount forum got word from “a reliable source” that the A6000 will start shipping in the US within a week! Admin, any whispers from *your* reliable sources that might confirm, contradict or expand on this rumor?
Got my a6000 today. I had a NEX-5N before.
Over all it’s a pretty good camera but there are two things I have a problem with.
– the white balancing is very bad (!!!) I was happy with the auto white balancing of the 5N but the a6000 is very brownish and I’m not happy with it. But this is only my first impression.
– the worst problem I have with the a6000 is the battery. Battery is empty VERY fast. I can’t believe how fast and will try the plane mode. When I don’t find a solution the camera returns to sony. With such a short battery time I can’t do photos without taking 10 extra batteries with me. Does anybody have similar problems or a tipp what can be the reason for this?
I don’t have mine yet, but things like wifi and GPS are notorious battery drainers. Try using airplane mode except when you really need wifi.
Mine drained fast too, but WiFi could be reason too, good tip! And actually, while setting everything up, the display was on for like hours.
And normally in the manuals it says you should load the batteries a couple of times first (like loading, unplugging, loading, unplugging) to bring them to their full capacity. I don’t know if that is a modern legend, but Apple as far as I remember advises so with their iPhones.
I tried with airplane mode on and there is no improvement in battery life at all. I also tried with my old two batteries from my NEX-5N which perseveres very long with the 5N and it’s the same!!!! Freaking short battery life with all batteries. I tried to handle the 5N and the a6000 exactly the same with full charged batteries and the a6000 empties around fourt fimes as fast as the 5N. Taking photos with the a6000 is as if I take photos with my 5N only 25% charged. Very bad news for me… I have airplane mode turned on all the time.
I dont have mine yet, but what if you disabled Wi-Fi? Would that help? What is airplane mode?
Try turning Pre AF off