As a portrait photographer, I want specific things out of my camera—portability, ease of use, versatility, consistency, image quality—and in my three years of experience with the Sony A6000, it never fails to deliver. Despite its age, it’s a piece of equipment that never lost its place in photographers’ rotations.
The a6000 is an entry-level camera, which means it’s the perfect choice for photographers looking to start in their craft. It’s simple, easy to use, and gets the job done perfectly. With a prime lens like the 35mm f1.8 or Sigma 30mm f1.4 DCDN, the camera is lightweight and compact that you barely notice it hanging on your shoulder. It’s got a great grip too, which to me is better than its bigger, full-frame brothers, the Sony A7ii and A7Rii.
I took the a6000 on a campaign shoot once for a fashion brand’s spline, in collaboration with a popular boxing gym. Taking portraits of the trainers wearing the gear was straightforward, but the challenge was to photograph them in action. Though the a6000 lacks continuous eye auto-focus, it did not disappoint; I was still able to capture sharp portraits of the models performing mitt drills and doing punches through its face-detect AF. The client ended up loving the images and used them for their social media and in-store materials.
Despite its age, it’s a piece of equipment that never lost its place in photographers’ rotations.
Compared to other cameras, the a6000 also gives you the most bang for your buck. It’s cheaper than same class cameras from rival brands, but it performs as well as—if not better than—them. The lenses come out cheaper too, since the a6000 is a cropped sensor camera. Sony’s APSC-specific lenses are budget-friendly, but it’s great to have viable options from third-party manufacturers like Sigma.
The Sony a6000 is a timeless piece of equipment I’d recommend to anyone with a desire to get into photography. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned professional, this camera’s features are user-friendly and able to translate your vision into a reality. And if that’s what matters to you, then this camera is all you need.
--
The Sony A6000 is available for purchase at Henry’s Professional. Visit their website for more information.
