The Sony a6400 has a 24.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor and expandable ISO range of 100-102400, thanks to its efficient light collection and advanced circuit process. This wide sensitivity range allows us to capture stunning low-noise images, even at higher ISO settings. The Sony a6400 camera packs a punch with its advanced technology and versatile capabilities, making it a standout choice for photographers and videographers.
Design and Build Quality
Sony a6400 camera strikes an excellent balance between portability and durability. The compact and lightweight design makes it incredibly easy to carry around, especially when compared to bulkier alternatives. Its slender profile and low weight make it an ideal companion for on-the-go shooting.
While it’s great for portability, it can feel a bit cramped when using larger lenses. The a6400 works best with smaller, lighter lenses like the E 10-18mm F4 OSS or the Vario-Tessar T E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS. It has weather sealing, providing protection against dust and moisture. The top and front pieces are constructed from magnesium alloy, contributing to its overall durability. We’ve found it to be sturdier than its all-plastic sibling, the Sony a6100.
Sony Alpha a6400 Controls and User Interface
The camera offers several customizable buttons, including Custom Button 1, AF/MF Button, AEL Button, and Custom Button 2. The a6400’s menu system, while extensive, offers a high degree of customization. There is option to create custom menu for our most-used settings, which has streamlined our workflow considerably. The tab system for grouping menu operations is intuitive, and we’ve found that most settings are accessible within two menu levels. The menu system spans multiple pages and submenus, making finding specific settings challenging for new users.
- C1 (Custom Button 1): Switch Focus Area
- AF/MF Button: AF On or Eye AF
- AEL Button: AEL hold
- Center Button: Focus Standard
- C2 (Custom Button 2): Reg. AF Area+AF On
The My Dial feature temporarily changes the function of the control dial, making it easier to adjust settings on the fly. We’ve set it up so that we can quickly switch between controlling aperture and shutter speed in manual mode. To set this up, go to My Dial Settings in the menu and assign shutter speed as an optional function for the control dial. Then, set the Custom Button 1 to toggle this function. Now, easily switch between adjusting aperture and shutter speed with a single button press.
Sony a6400 Video Recording
The a6400 can record internally at up to 4K 30 fps, which is a significant advantage for those seeking high-quality video output. The camera utilizes the full width of the sensor for 4K recording, resulting in stunning detail and clarity. When shooting at 4K24p, the footage is oversampled from 6K, rendering beautiful details without pixel binning. However, it’s worth noting that there’s a 1.2x crop factor when shooting at 4K30p. There is an option to record 4K 30 fps 4:2:2 externally via HDMI output. Both internal and external recording options support a bit rate of 100 Mb/s, ensuring high-quality footage for professional use.
Time-lapse and Slow Motion
To access time-lapse feature, navigate to the menu, go to page 3 of 14, and select “Interval Shoot Function.” This set various parameters such as shooting start time, interval, and number of shots. For fast-moving subjects, shorter intervals of 1-3 seconds work best. For slower subjects like clouds or shadows, longer intervals are more effective. The camera helpfully calculates the total shooting time based on our settings, which aids in planning our shots. The a6400 also excels in slow-motion video, capable of recording Full HD at 120 fps for up to 5x slow-motion playback
S-Log2 and S-Log3 Profiles
The a6400 offers S-Log2 and S-Log3 gamma profiles. These profiles provide a wider dynamic range and more flexibility in post-processing. When shooting in S-Log, use Picture Profile presets PP7, PP8, or PP9. PP7 combines S-Gamut and S-Log2, while PP8 uses S-Gamut3.cine/S-Log3, and PP9 employs S-Gamut3/S-Log3. To make it easier to check S-Log video on a Rec. 709 screen while shooting, use the Gamma Display Assist feature. This applies LUTs to the viewfinder and monitor display, making the contrast look as if we weren’t shooting in S-Log.
HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma)
The camera can record HDR movies using the HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) gamma in the picture profile. The Picture Profile preset PP10, which provides an excellent setting for HDR recording. When played back on a TV supporting HLG, movies recorded with PP10 display a wider range of brightness than usual. HLG is used in HDR TV program production and is defined in the international standard Recommendation ITU-R BT.2100.
Image Quality
The camera’s 24.2-megapixel APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor, coupled with advanced processing technology, delivers excellent results across various shooting conditions. The a6400 utilizes Sony’s new-generation BIONZ X image processing engine, supported by a front-end LSI. Significant improvements in image processing algorithms result in enhanced image clarity, texture reproduction, and overall image quality. This processor also enables impressive features like 11fps continuous shooting and 4K video recording with full pixel readout.
ISO Range
the standard ISO range, which extends from 100 to 32,000 for both stills and movies, is best for an APS-C camera. It’s expandable up to ISO 102,400 for still images. The camera also has good noise reduction at medium and high sensitivities, making it versatile in lighting conditions. Photographers can comfortably use ISO 12,800 for small prints or online sharing without significant quality loss. Even at this high ISO, it produces usable medium-sized prints, which is remarkable for an APS-C camera.
Dynamic Range
The a6400 boasts impressive dynamic range capabilities. At base ISO (100),a dynamic range of 13.6 EV, capturing a wide range of tones in a single image. This translates to greater latitude when adjusting exposures in post-processing, with less likelihood of revealing noise or banding.The a6400’s dynamic range performance is particularly strong at low to mid-level ISOs. As RAW shooters, it exposes for highlights and cleanly lift shadows in post-production. The a6400’s metering system tends to produce bright, punchy images straight out of the camera.
Flip Up Touchscreen Display
The a6400 features a 3-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 921k dots. The screen’s brightness is impressive, and it can be seen clearly even in bright sunlight. What really stands out is the screen’s tilting mechanism. It can flip up 180 degrees, making it perfect for selfies and vlogging. The mechanism feels solid and reliable. We can use it to select focus points and activate touch tracking, which is handy.
Sony a6400 Autofocus
The a6400 features an advanced autofocus system with 425 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection AF points. These points are densely positioned, covering approximately 84% of the image area. This extensive coverage can track subjects effectively as they move across the frame in every type of shooting scenarios.
Real-Time Tracking
Sony’s newly developed “Real-time Tracking” mode utilizes artificial intelligence-based object recognition to process color, subject distance, patterns, and spatial information. It has accurate subject tracking, even with fast-moving subjects. What’s truly impressive is how the Real-time Tracking works with the camera’s Eye AF feature. When photographing humans or animals, the a6400 uses AI to recognize face and eye positions, monitoring the subject’s eye in real-time with exceptional precision.
0.02 Second AF Acquisition
Sony a6400 can acquire focus in as little as 0.02 seconds that it’s indeed lightning-fast. Camera reacts almost instantaneously to a half-press of the shutter button, correctly identifying targets the majority of the time. This speed, combined with the camera’s ability to shoot at up to 11 fps in “Hi+” mode, makes the a6400 an excellent choice for action and sports photography.
Connectivity and Sharing
The Sony a6400 offers a range of connectivity options that make sharing and remote control a breeze. The camera supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, providing versatile ways to connect with smart devices. It can easily pair with any smartphone using both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. For iOS users, a recent update has made the pairing process as simple as tapping, matching the convenience Android users have enjoyed for some time. NFC (Near Field Communication) technology allows quick and easy connection with NFC-enabled Android smartphones. Simply touch the smartphone to the camera’s NFC mark for 1-2 seconds, launch the Sony Imaging Edge Mobile app, and establish a connection.
Battery
The a6400 uses the NP-FW50 Li-ion battery, which is compatible with various Sony camera models. The camera is rated for approximately 360 shots per charge. The battery’s safety features include multiple circuit protection against overcharging, short-circuit, high-temperature, and surge protection. It’s also memory-free, so it can be charge at any time without affecting performance. The a6400 can be charged using a micro-USB cable, which Sony includes in the package.
Storage
The a6400 features a single SD card slot located in the battery compartment at the bottom of the camera. It can be access both the battery and SD card without removing the camera from a tripod, due to the offset ¼-20 mount.
