For many reviewers, the Sony Alpha A6000 Mirrorless Camera is the best digital camera for beginners and perhaps the best digital camera. While it doesn’t quite compare to our top pick, the Nikon Z50, it’s still a great camera that beginners should at least consider. Even though this digital camera hosts a smaller image sensor than its full frame counterparts, still images still come out surprisingly well. Thanks to the lightweight camera body and an easy to navigate menu, this camera is a good option for entry-level photographers. You might also wish to upgrade from the A6000 as you get more professional, and that’s where our top-rated digital camera reviews come in handy.
Related: Photograph quick motion with ease on the modest Sony Alpha A6500 mirrorless digital camera.
Why We Like It – Sony Alpha A6000 Mirrorless Camera
There are a lot of professional features on the Sony Alpha A6000 Mirrorless Camera that will please enthusiasts looking to level up their camera game, such as the high ISO range and AF system. With that in mind, this is also a great point and shoot camera, so truly entry-level photographers should be happy as well.
- Small and lightweight body makes this camera great for traveling
- Easily adjust camera settings with customizable buttons and easy-to-navigate menus
- Several autofocus modes that work well in the right lighting
- Non-touchscreen LCD makes autofocus frustrating
- Tends to hunt for focus in low light
Image Quality
Image quality on the Sony Alpha A6000 is surprisingly good, considering the small APS C sensor size utilized. You won’t get the high-quality photos that you might from a full frame or medium format camera, but with the proper combination of skill and available Sony E Mount lenses you can get pretty close. Images render with nice detail that is well-kept through the low to mid ISO sensitivities, with noticeable noise appearing around ISO 6400. Video quality is a little iffy on the Sony A6000, with some reviewers praising the full-HD video and others finding the quality subpar.
Related: For dark scenes or during the night, consider the Sony Alpha A7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera for a better image quality.
Ease of Use
Small digital cameras like the Sony Alpha A6000 mirrorless camera are good starting points for entry-level photographers that want to experiment with different lenses and shooting styles. The in-camera menus are easy to navigate, and the physical buttons are firm to avoid any unwanted triggering. This is an intuitive point-and-shoot kind of digital camera, so beginners should be able to get good image quality without having to mess with things like focal length or white balance. The autofocus system might also frustrate inexperienced photographers, as it tends to hunt in low light and points are difficult to set without an LCD touchscreen. The Alpha A6000 has Wi-Fi connectivity, so photographers can easily transfer files from the camera straight to their phone, but using the remote control app is frustrating.
Battery Life
The battery life on the Alpha A6000 is decent, lasting about 310 shots per charge. Because of the viewfinder type on mirrorless cameras, they typically can’t compare to their mirrorless counterparts. When held up to the 600 shots of the Canon EOS 800D or the 1500 we saw in our Nikon D3500 Digital SLR Camera review, the Sony A6000 looks fairly unimpressive. Many reviewers also noted these batteries can take a pretty long time to charge, so it’s not a bad idea to invest in a spare or two.
Durability
The plastic body on the Sony Alpha A6000 mirrorless camera might be a cause for concern for photographers that want to take their camera on the go. This digital camera is also not weather-sealed, so it’s important to keep the camera protected during travel. Despite both of these, the majority of reviewers felt the body felt both durable and light. The smaller size is also a plus for people that want to travel with this camera: it’s a bit too big for a regular pocket, but should fit in a standard coat pocket or purse just fine.
Value
Considering some of the DSLR options available at a lower price than the Alpha A6000, it’s a little difficult to recommend this mirrorless camera. The kit lens is nice enough, but if you want to take advantage of swapping lenses, say for a zoom lens, you will have to pay more to add those to your kit. The single memory card slot also makes the Sony A6000 fairly obsolete for anyone who’s more than a photography enthusiast. That being said, if you amateur photographers that want something smaller than a DSLR this camera is a decent choice.
Sony Alpha A6000 Mirrorless Camera Wrap Up
The Sony Alpha A6000 mirrorless camera can’t really hold a candle to its similarly-priced counterparts. While it is easy enough to use without extensive learning, this camera can also be frustrating to work with. Battery life is subpar, and low light photos are decent without being amazing. With cameras, though, size can matter, so if you are on the hunt for an entry-level camera to stow in a small bag or a large pocket, this is an alright pick.
