Sony a6700 Sony a6700 Mirrorless Camera with 16-50mm Review

The Sony Alpha 6700 is a solid APS-C mirrorless camera built around a 26MP sensor and Sony's powerful BIONZ XR processor. It's got dedicated AI smarts for subject tracking, which is great for grabbing shots of fast-moving subjects like wildlife or sports. On paper, it's a capable stills camera for the enthusiast photographer. But you'll notice the compromises pretty quickly. The video specs are just okay, the body isn't weather-sealed, and the screen is fixed. It's a camera that feels like it's trying to do a lot, but ends up being just decent at most things.

Performance is a real mixed bag. The AI-powered autofocus is the star, tracking subjects like a champ and landing in the 44th percentile for AF. That's genuinely useful. But the sensor and video performance are in the 30th and 31st percentiles, which is pretty average for this price. The burst shooting is also on the slower side at the 38th percentile. It's fast where it counts for action, but don't expect class-leading image quality or video chops.

The value proposition gets tricky with a price swing from $1365 to $1600. At the lower end, it's a maybe. At $1600, it's a hard sell. You're paying a premium for the Sony name and that AI autofocus system, but you're giving up a lot of features competitors include at this price, like stabilization and a better sensor. Shop around for that $1365 price if you're set on it.

Stack it up against its rivals and the trade-offs are clear. The Canon EOS R7 beats it on burst shooting and has in-body stabilization. The Fujifilm X-S20 offers much better video features and a more fun shooting experience for about the same money. Even Sony's own older a6400 offers similar core performance for less cash. The Alpha 6700's main advantage is that AI tracking, but that's about it. You're giving up a lot for that one trick.

Buy this if you're a Sony shooter who needs that cutting-edge AI autofocus for sports or wildlife and you don't care about video or a rugged build. For everyone else, especially travelers, vloggers, or hybrid shooters, the competition from Canon and Fujifilm simply offers more camera for your money.