Sony introduces the A6400 mid-range APS-C mirrorless camera

Wednesday 16 January 2019, 14:07 by Michelle Peeters | 4,710 views | 1 comment

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Sony has announced a new E-mount system camera: the α6400 (model ILCE-6400). It is an updated 24.2-megapixel mirrorless camera with a flip-up touchscreen on the rear, as well as an 'A9-derived' processor and autofocus system, along with advanced autofocus technologies.

Eye AF technology has been further optimised thanks to artificial intelligence (AI)-based subject recognition

Specifications

• APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor camera with 24.2 MP and BIONZ X image processor and updated image processing;
• The world's fastest autofocus at 0.02 seconds and real-time Eye AF;
• 425 phase-detection AF points and contrast-detection AF covering 84% of the image;
• Continuous shooting with full AF/AE tracking functionality at up to 11 fps with a mechanical shutter and 8 fps silently (electronically);
• Real-time tracking thanks to artificial intelligence (AI)-based subject recognition;
• 4K movie recording without pixel binning with 2.4x oversampling;
• Integrated time-lapse functionality;
• Tilting LCD screen for selfies and vlogging.

In many respects, the camera resembles an a6300 with a more powerful processor, improved autofocus and a more extensively articulated touchscreen, but launched at a slightly lower cost. The time-lapse function has also been added again, after being lost when Sony stopped offering in-camera apps.

Like previous models, the camera can shoot at up to 11 fps or 8 fps in silent shutter mode, both with full autofocus and exposure capability, but without live view.

Improved AF

Most of the improvements actually come in the form of autofocus improvements developed for the a9.

These include increased speed along with the improved 'real-time tracking' and Animal Eye AF that are coming to the a9 professional sports camera this spring and summer. Animal Eye AF will not be available on the a6400 until this summer.

In tracking mode, you can specify a subject. The camera will then focus on the eye and switch to face detection if the eye moves out of the frame. The subject is then treated and tracked as a generic subject, for example if the head turns away from the camera for a moment.

Like recent APS-C Sony models, the camera has 425 phase-detection points spread across the sensor. These points, combined with the more powerful processor, allow Sony to claim the world's fastest AF, with all the footnotes that such claims usually entail.


The most obvious differences are that Sony now says its subject-recognition and tracking algorithms include eye and pattern detection, in addition to the distance, colour and facial-recognition information they previously used. According to the company, this should result in more stable, sustained tracking.

Movie AF tracking has also been improved, says Sony. Like the a6300, oversampled 4K video is taken across the full width of the sensor.

The camera also offers an 8-bit version of the Hybrid Log Gamma standard for easily capturing HDR video, allowing a wider range of tones to be captured and displayed naturally on the latest TVs. The company only promises compatibility with its own TVs.

Prices and availability

The new α6400 will be available in the Benelux from February 2019 for 1,050 euros (body only) or 1,150 euros with the SELP1650 lens. The camera will also be available as a kit with the SEL18135 lens for 1,450 euros.

You might also like

• 

  Review: Sony A6700 APS-C mirrorless camera

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Sony introduces the new ZV-E10 vlogging camera

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Sony A6600 and Sony A6100 announced

  by Aäron Nasarany

• 

  Sony announces the A6700, a first impression

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Canon introduces mirrorless crop cameras: the EOS R7 and EOS R10

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Tamron introduces ultra-wide-angle and super-telephoto zooms for Sony E-mount

  by Nando Harmsen

1 comment

Have your say

Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.
Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.