Photography

Sony Announces New a6700 Camera & M1 Microphone

Sony will be expanding their ever-popular crop-sensor mirrorless camera series with the brand-new Sony a6700 Mirrorless Camera. All the latest technology has been packed into the lightweight and compact body of the a6700, which offers impressive image quality for its compact size. In addition, Sony is releasing the new ECM-M1 Camera-Mount Digital Shotgun Microphone alongside the camera, enabling you to capture high-quality audio with a small and compact shotgun microphone.

Key Features of the Sony a6700 Mirrorless Camera

  • 26 megapixel back-illuminated sensor
  • Maximum ISO of 32,000
  • AI autofocus features
  • 759-point autofocus system
  • 5-stop image stabilization
  • 11fps burst mode
  • 4k/120p video recording
  • HD/240p video recording
  • USB-C port for 4k/30p streaming
  • Redesigned ergonomic grip
  • Two dual SD/Type A card slots

Key Features of the M1 Shotgun Microphone

  • Small and lightweight
  • 8 different patterns for cardioid microphone
  • Mounts in the camera’s hotshoe

What’s New About the Sony a6700?

AI Autofocusing

Sony has truly loaded the new a6700 with some of the latest and greatest features available for mirrorless cameras. Most notably, this camera has AI autofocusing features, allowing you to not only track humans, but also other subjects like trains, cars, insects, birds, and more. You can easily switch between modes to help your camera track moving subjects and offer tack sharp focus in all instances. In addition, the 759-point autofocus system covers 93 percent of the image, resulting in perfect focus almost anywhere on the sensor.

26MP Sensor

The a6700 has a 26-megapixel back-illuminated sensor. This is the highest megapixel count we’ve seen out of the a6000 series, and the back-illuminated sensor is the first of its kind in the series for Sony. 

A back-illuminated sensor increases the light gathering ability of the sensor, which ultimately results in higher sensitivity and less noise with an overall higher image quality. This pairs perfectly with the camera’s maximum ISO of 32,000 to capture cleaner images in low light situations.

Photo by Fahad Jafarullah/Adorama

4K Video Footage

Video creators will love the impressive specs of the Sony a6700, which offer amazing video capabilities for its small and compact size. When shooting in 4K, you’ll be able to capture up to 120fps, allowing for excellent slow-motion footage at 4K quality. Even better, the 4K footage is over-sampled from 6K, so you can expect the footage to be outstanding. 

When your project calls for a higher frame rate, you can switch to 1080p and capture up to 240fps. The a6700 is the first camera in the a6000 series to offer 4K/120p. This is a massive win for video creators across the board.

You can expect all the usual ports on the a6700, but you’ll also notice something new. A USB-C port allows you to live stream 4K footage at 30fps, giving streamers unprecedented quality in a camera this size. Additionally, you’ll notice two card slots capable of accepting SD cards or Type A memory cards. 

Photo by Fahad Jafarullah/Adorama

New Ergonomic Grip

While talking about the build quality, it would be wrong not to mention the brand-new ergonomic grip. This provides a bigger spot to hold the camera, which ultimately leads to a more comfortable fit. One of the common complaints about the other a6000 series cameras was the small grip, making it uncomfortable to shoot over long days. Therefore, Sony has included a grip that complements the build of the a6700.

Sony M1 Shotgun Microphone

The new M1 Shotgun Mic, released alongside the a6700, is the perfect fit for any small and compact camera. The M1 offers eight different recording patterns. Whether you want to only capture the audio directly in front of the camera, or the audio of the whole room, you can easily adjust the dial on the back of the mic. Additionally, the compact size of the M1 will have you barely realizing that it’s on the camera.

Who Should Buy the Sony a6700?

The Sony a6700 camera comes in boasting the most impressive specs of any of Sony’s a6000 series of cameras. This camera is a great pick for a variety of different creators for several reasons. Primarily, the camera is compact and lightweight, making it a great choice for any kind of Sony creator who values a lightweight setup. 

Additionally, 26 megapixels is plenty for most any creator shooting photos, and 4K/120p footage should give you everything you need for simple videography. The new autofocus features make it easier than ever to remain in-focus on a variety of different targets. 

Additionally, creators looking to pick up a second camera body should look no further than the a6700. Impressive video specs and a compact body make this camera ideal for scenarios when you want to capture video or additional photos and need a second body to do so. It also comes at a much more reasonable price point than a full-frame camera.

Who Should Buy the M1 Microphone?

Finally, the M1 microphone is ideal for creators who value compact equipment. If you’re a video creator shooting on a compact crop-sensor camera body, the M1 is going to fit perfectly on top of your camera as if you didn’t even know it was there. The ease of switching between different modes will enable you to capture audio that simply wouldn’t be possible without a quality microphone.

Photo by Fahad Jafarullah/Adorama

Comparable Sony Cameras

Sony now has a seventh camera in their a6000 series, including the a6000, a6100, a6300, a6400, a6500, a6600, and now the a6700. The original a6000 is designed to be the most cost-effective camera with specs allowing creators to take excellent photos and videos without a hefty price tag. The latest camera to be released, prior to today, was the a6600 in 2019.

You’ll find that the a6700 is a huge step up from the previous models, now offering almost twice as many autofocus points (425 vs 759), a higher megapixel sensor (24.2 vs 26), better video recording specs (4k/30p vs 4k/120p), and many more features for both video and photo creators of all kinds.

Conclusion

The Sony a6700 and M1 microphone offers some incredible features that really have something to offer every kind of creator. Whether it be the redesigned camera grip, lightweight size, impressive video specs, or improved autofocusing modes and detection points, there is a lot to love about the new Sony a6700.

Check out these photos taken by Sal D’Alia using the Sony a6700 Camera:

Salvatore D'Alia is a filmmaker, photographer and content creator. He is a pioneer of the original content for web, his work can be quantified with more than one billion views on YouTube spreading from music to sports and art. Sal is a Sony Alpha ambassador and one of the founding members of the Sony Alpha Collective.
Gabby Robles

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