Sony today announced the A6700, ostensibly the new top-of-the-line APS-C sensor model. I’m not 100% sure what everyone was expecting from the next generation of A6### models, but I’m fairly sure that everyone will find something that misses their mark, as this is an incremental update, not a new statement of technologies. The introduction also explains Sony’s recent instant discount on the A6600 model (currently US$1000, body only), as the A6700 comes in at the old A6600 price (US$1500).
The body changes some from the A6600: overall a little larger, particularly at the grip, plus we now have a front command dial just below the shutter release.
Inside, we get the 26mp APS-C sensor, ostensibly a newer Bayer version of what Fujifilm has been using, plus the new processors that supports Sony’s recent AF and AI work. This provides some new abilities, most notably on the video side (the boost from 24mp to 26mp really doesn’t impact stills meaningfully). But it also powers the new autofocus system, which is effectively the A7R Mark V one now. Better subject recognition and tracking, more frame coverage, AI used with human posing.
Some of the small “surprises" on the A6700 are the articulating rear LCD, and the single SD slot (most were expecting two slots). Overall, while some probably feel that the A6700 isn’t quite as exciting as some previous Sony generational updates, I suspect that in practice the A6700 will turn out to be a reasonably competitive and well-rounded camera, as it seems to bring together a lot of Sony’s current technologies.
Along with the A6700, Sony also announced a new 70-200mm f/4G Macro OSS lens. The big story here is “very compact, but 1:2 macro capability.”
