First released in 2019, the Sony α6400 is the middle child in Sony's entry-level APS-C Alpha lineup, sitting above the Sony α6100 and below the Sony α6600. Performance-wise, all three are similar, with the same high-res APS-C sensor and Sony's class-leading Real-Time Tracking autofocus. This model is a good middle-ground option, offering better build quality and a higher-resolution EVF than the a6100, but missing the longer battery life and in-body image stabilization of the a6600.
Our Verdict
The Sony a6400 is great for travel photography. It's relatively portable and well-built, with some weather-sealing for more peace of mind when shooting outdoors. Battery life is also quite good relative to other mirrorless cameras. Image quality is generally great, as well, and it's equipped with an excellent autofocus system that can track subjects without issue. That said, its ergonomics and user interface aren't the most intuitive.
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Excellent overall autofocus performance.
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Great photo quality.
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Sturdy, portable design.
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Ergonomics are somewhat lacking.
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Interface isn't especially user-friendly.
The Sony a6400 is great for landscape photography, especially if you're looking for a more portable APS-C camera. It's sturdily built, relatively portable, and weather-sealed, which is good for outdoor shooting sessions at remote locations. Image quality is also impressive overall, with great dynamic range to bring out a wider array of highlight and shadow detail in high-contrast landscapes. However, its user interface isn't especially intuitive.
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Great photo quality.
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Sturdy, portable design.
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Impressive dynamic range.
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Ergonomics are somewhat lacking.
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Interface isn't especially user-friendly.
The Sony a6400 is good for casual sports and wildlife photography. Image quality is impressive, and it has a responsive and fairly reliable autofocus system that does a good job of keeping up with fast-moving subjects. It also shoots at a fairly quick max burst rate to capture sequential moments of fast action. That said, while it has a decently sized buffer, it takes a long time to clear if you manage to fill it up, which can slow you down considerably.
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Relatively quick burst rate.
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Excellent overall autofocus performance.
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Great photo quality.
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Sturdy, portable design.
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Ergonomics are somewhat lacking.
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Interface isn't especially user-friendly.
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Long buffer clearing time.
The Sony a6400 has very good RAW image quality. With impressive dynamic range, it captures a wide range of detail in high-contrast scenes. Images look sharp and detailed, thanks to the camera's high-resolution sensor. Its noise handling is also decent in low light, though you'll still see noise in very low light.
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Impressive dynamic range.
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Images look sharp and detailed.
The Sony a6400 is decent for vlogging. Its screen can be flipped up to help you monitor yourself while recording, but unlike a fully articulated screen, it's easily blocked by peripherals like a microphone on the hot shoe. While video quality is good overall, there's a pretty heavy rolling shutter effect, which can cause skewing in the background with quicker camera movements. It also doesn't have in-body image stabilization, so you have to rely on optically stabilized lenses to get less shaky footage.
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Excellent overall autofocus performance.
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Sturdy, portable design.
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Good video quality.
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Disappointing video stabilization performance.
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Screen can be blocked by hotshoe-mounted accessories.
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Noticeable rolling shutter distortion.
The Sony a6400 is decent for studio video. Recording quality is impressive, but there are no high frame rate options in 4k to add slow-motion flourishes. It's also limited to 8-bit recording, even when outputting video to an external recorder, giving you less leeway to edit and grade your footage. On the upside, its autofocus system does an excellent job of tracking moving subjects and keeping them in focus. It also doesn't have a recording time limit, which is good for recording longer takes. While it has a microphone input, there's no headphone jack, which is a little disappointing.
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Excellent overall autofocus performance.
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Good video quality.
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No recording time limit.
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Limited to 8-bit color depth.
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Noticeable rolling shutter distortion.
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No headphone jack.
The Sony Alpha 6400 isn't designed for POV action video. There are few frame rate options in 4k and it doesn't have built-in stabilization. It's sturdy, relatively compact, and weather-sealed, which is good for outdoor recording, but it isn't rugged or waterproof for more extreme action sports.
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Sturdy, portable design.
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Disappointing video stabilization performance.
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Limited frame rate options in 4k.
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Noticeable rolling shutter distortion.
- 8.2 Travel Photography
- 8.1 Landscape Photography
- 7.5 Sport & Wildlife Photography
- 7.9 Raw Photo Performance
- 7.3 Vlogging
- 7.3 Studio Video
- 5.6 Action Video
- Updated Jan 29, 2024: Added text to the 'Raw Photo Performance' verdict box.
- Updated Jan 29, 2024: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.1.
- Updated Sep 07, 2023: We've updated the 'Sensor Type' from 'Exmor CMOS' to 'CMOS' to reflect the general sensor type without Sony-specific terminology.
- Updated Aug 30, 2023: Added link to the Canon EOS R10 in the '4k Video Internal Recording' section of the review to provide an alternative that supports 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording.
- Updated Apr 05, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.
- Updated Feb 24, 2023: Added full text and rewrote existing text for clarity.
- Updated Feb 14, 2023: This camera's dimensions were slightly off, so we re-measured them and updated the values on the review. The score is unchanged.
- Updated Jan 23, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.11.
- Updated Sep 16, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.10.
- Updated Aug 04, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.9.
- Updated Apr 22, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.
- Updated Dec 22, 2021: Adjusted menu system score to be more in line with other Sony cameras we've tested.
- Updated Nov 08, 2021: Reprocessed and re-uploaded 4k and FHD video stabilization videos.
- Updated Jun 28, 2021: Retested object tracking performance for photography. Updated 'Autofocus' box accordingly.
- Updated Apr 29, 2021: Corrected input error in 'In The Box' section.
- Updated Apr 28, 2021: Retested for 'Tested Battery Life In Video' and updated score for 'Battery' section.
- Updated Feb 08, 2021: Review published.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony Alpha 6400 comes in one color: 'Black'. You can see our unit's label here.
You can buy the body on its own, or bundled with a kit lens like the Sony E 16-50mm 3.5-5.6/PZ OSS lens or the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS lens.
If you come across a different variant of this camera, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Compared To Other Cameras
The Sony a6400 is an entry-level camera with an APS-C sensor. It's relatively portable, well-built, and stands above the pack when it comes to autofocus performance. That said, its ergonomics leave something to be desired, and it uses the older version of Sony's user interface, which isn't the most intuitive.
If you're looking for more options, check out our recommendations for the best mirrorless cameras for beginners, the best cameras under $1,000, and the best cameras for YouTube.
The Sony α6400 and the Sony α6600 are both APS-C cameras, and they perform similarly overall since they use the same sensor. The biggest difference between them is the inclusion of in-body image stabilization on the α6600, which can help stabilize the image at slower shutter speeds or longer focal lengths, even without an optically stabilized lens. The α6600 also has a larger battery that gives it nearly twice the rated battery life. However, the larger battery makes it bigger and heavier than the α6400. The α6600 also has a headphone jack and a couple more customizable buttons, though the α6400 has a built-in flash.
The Sony α6400 is a bit better than the Sony α6100, though both cameras use the same sensor, providing similar image quality, and the same lens mount. Still, the α6400 has slightly better build quality, with some degree of weather-sealing, along with a higher-resolution EVF.
The Sony α6700 is better than the Sony α6400. Beyond its new and improved sensor, with a new processor, it's also better-built, with a weather-sealed body, and has slightly better ergonomics. While image and video quality aren't far off, the a6700 has significantly better video specs, with internal 10-bit capture and more frame rate options.
The Sony α6400 and the Sony ZV-E10 are both great mirrorless cameras for beginners. The a6400 is a little better suited for photography since it has a viewfinder, and it's a little more comfortable to shoot with and better-built, with a weather-sealed magnesium alloy construction. The ZV-E10, on the other hand, is aimed specifically at vloggers and has a few advantages over the a6400 in that area, specifically a better built-in mic, an e-stabilization feature, and a fully articulated screen.
The Sony α7 III is better overall than the Sony α6400, though they use different-sized sensors. The biggest benefit of the α6400 is that it's more portable, but the α7 III is a higher-end and more capable camera, with a larger full-frame sensor, in-body image stabilization, and better ergonomics.
The Sony α6400 is better overall than the Sony α6000, especially if you're interested in video as well as photography. The biggest difference is that the a6400 can record video in 4k resolution. It also has a higher-resolution EVF, a newer sensor with better high-ISO performance, and an improved autofocus system. The a6000 is a bit more portable and offers similar photo performance at a fraction of the price since it's an older model.
The Sony α6400 and the Canon EOS R50 are both good entry-level cameras. The Canon is significantly more portable and has a fully articulated screen, whereas the Sony uses a tilt-out screen. The Canon is slightly more accessible for beginners, with a more intuitive user interface and more extensive auto modes. The Canon also has somewhat more advanced internal video capabilities, with support for internal 10-bit capture and more frame rate options. On the flip side, the Sony offers a much more established lens lineup.
The Sony α6400 and Canon EOS R10 each have their advantages. The Sony's weather-sealed rangefinder-style body is more compact, can be recharged via USB-C without needing an additional power adapter, and has a larger photo buffer. Meanwhile, the R10 has a faster continuous shooting speed and a more robust range of video recording functionality: it can shoot uncropped 4k at 30 fps or cropped 4k at 60 fps. While only the Sony supports Log recording, it's limited to 8-bit color depth. You can contrast that with the Canon's HDR PQ profile, which allows for 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording. The Canon's fully articulated display is also fully touch-sensitive and can be used to navigate its far more intuitive menu system.
The Nikon Z 50 and the Sony α6400 are both great entry-level models with different advantages. The Nikon has better ergonomics and a more intuitive user interface, while the Sony has a more effective autofocus system and a more established lens ecosystem.
The Nikon Z 30 and the Sony a6400 are both good entry-level cameras but have different strengths. The Nikon is better for vlogging, thanks to its fully articulated screen and uncropped 4k video recording at up to 30 fps. However, the Sony's viewfinder comes in handy for photography. It also has a better battery life and a more intuitive autofocus system. Lens options are more limited for the Nikon, as well.
The Sony α7C is better than the Sony α6400, though they use different-sized sensors. The α7C's full-frame sensor outperforms the APS-C α6400 in dynamic range and low-light performance. It also features in-body image stabilization, a more effective autofocus system, and a longer battery life, but the α6400 is more portable.
The Sony α6400 is better than the Canon EOS M50, primarily because Canon has discontinued its EF-M mount and is no longer developing new lenses for it. The Sony also has a more effective autofocus system, quicker burst shooting, and a longer battery life.
The Sony α6400 and the Fujifilm X-T30 II are both good mid-range cameras. They're both portable APS-C options, but while the Sony offers a more comfortable handgrip and better build quality, some shooters may prefer the retro style and dedicated exposure dials of the Fujifilm. Other than that, the Sony offers a more effective autofocus system for those who shoot a lot of moving subjects.
The Sony α6400 is better than the Canon EOS M50 Mark II, as Canon has discontinued its EF-M mount and is no longer developing new lenses for it. On top of that, the Sony also has a more effective autofocus system, quicker burst shooting, and a longer battery life.
The Sony α6400 is better overall than the Canon EOS R100, though the Canon may offer better value for those on a very tight budget or those looking for a simpler camera. The Sony has a less intuitive user interface, but it's better-built, has a more effective autofocus system, quicker burst shooting, and better video specs.
The Sony α6400 and the Nikon Z fc are both great entry-level APS-C cameras. That said, the Sony is a little more portable, feels a bit better-built, and feels more comfortable to shoot with. It also has a slightly more effective autofocus system, along with a better battery life. On the other hand, the Nikon has slightly better noise handling and dynamic range, along with a fully articulated screen that's better-suited to vlogging and video work.
Test Results
The Sony a6400 is quite portable. It's lightweight and has a relatively compact design that makes it easy to take on the go, especially compared to alternatives like the Nikon Z 50.
Build quality is great overall. It's weather-sealed for some light protection against dust and moisture, with top and front pieces made of magnesium alloy. All in all, it feels durable, with sturdier materials than the all-plastic Sony a6100, though some of its dials can feel a bit sluggish.
- Sony a6400 camera body
- Sensor cap
- Sony E 16-50mm 3.5-5.6/PZ OSS lens
- Lens cap
- Rear lens cover
- Shoulder strap
- 1x NP-FW50 battery
- AC adapter
- Micro-USB cable
- Startup guide
The ergonomics are pretty good, and the camera should suit all but the largest hand sizes. It can feel a little cramped due to the camera's compact size, but the grip is nicely textured, and there are a fair amount of buttons and dials that make it relatively easy to adjust settings.
The EVF has a typical resolution for a mid-range mirrorless camera, though newer cameras have increasingly higher-res EVFs. Thankfully, the rubber eyecup around the viewfinder is fairly large and comfortable.
The Sony a6400 has a tilting screen. The tilting mechanism feels solid, and the screen gets plenty bright, so you'll still be able to see it on sunnier days. The resolution is a little on the low side, but it's still decently sharp. Unfortunately, touch capability is mostly limited to selecting focus points. You can't use it to navigate the menus, which is a bit of a hassle. For selfies and vlogs, you can flip the screen up 180 degrees to face you, but if you'd prefer a fully articulated screen, you can check out a camera like the Sony ZV-E10.
The menu system is okay. Like other older Sony cameras, it's not particularly intuitive or clearly organized. There are many, many submenus and settings pages, and it can be a little difficult to find exactly what you're looking for. It doesn't help that you can't use the touchscreen to navigate through it. That said, there are a ton of customization options, including custom menus and a quick menu that makes it easier to find your most-accessed settings, once you set things to your liking.
The Sony a6400 has good battery performance. It's rated for 410 shots by CIPA standards, which doesn't necessarily reflect real-world usage but is a good benchmark to see how cameras perform in relation to one another. It's quite good for an entry-level APS-C mirrorless camera, outperforming models like the Nikon Z 50 and the Fujifilm X-S10. But it still falls far short of DSLR standards and most full-frame mirrorless models.
Video battery life is decent. It can last for about an hour and a half of continuous 4k video recording at the camera's highest quality settings, which is fairly typical. You'll be able to record plenty of footage on a full charge, and it also supports use while charging over USB, if you need extra juice on a long shooting day.
The Sony a6400 shoots at a fairly quick max burst rate. It's fast enough for everyday sports and action photography, but the size of its buffer is somewhat limited. It's not the worst, but it can quickly fill up, especially if you're shooting RAW files. Unfortunately, it's also painfully slow to clear if you do manage to fill the buffer up, which can interrupt your shooting and potentially cause you to miss a critical moment.
The Sony a6400 uses a hybrid autofocus system with both phase- and contrast-detection focus points. This generation of Alpha cameras have what Sony calls 'Real Time AF Tracking', which integrates the camera's subject detection with face and eye detection, so that the camera can seamlessly switch between them as the subject moves around. It works very intuitively and effectively, though the area mode options and settings can be a little overwhelming at first.
While the camera's tracking abilities don't surpass that of higher-end Sony cameras like the Sony a7C, it's still very good overall. If you rely on AF tracking, it keeps up with faster subjects well for the most part. Though focus points cover most of the frame, the camera can still lose track of people at the very edges. More erratic movements can also cause some trouble, but the camera is usually quick to re-acquire focus.
With tracking disabled and sticking to single-point AF, the camera's autofocus is fantastic. It's accurate and quick, especially when using a lens with a solid focusing motor, and shouldn't have any trouble keeping whatever's under the focus point in focus.
Unlike the Sony a6600, the a6400 doesn't have in-body image stabilization, so you'll have to rely on optically stabilized lenses if you want to get steady shots at slower shutter speeds or longer focal lengths. Despite not having IBIS, Sony's Optical SteadyShot works well, and you can get clear photos at relatively slow shutter speeds when using a lens with OSS. That being said, stabilization performance can vary depending on the specific lens, what focal length you're shooting at, and even how steady your hands are.
The Sony a6400 has impressive dynamic range. It isn't as wide as cameras with full-frame sensors, but it still preserves a fairly wide range of highlight and shadow detail in high-contrast scenes. That drops off in low light, naturally, but it's on par with other APS-C cameras of its caliber.
Images are very detailed. With its high-resolution sensor, the camera does a great job of resolving fine detail, though this is most apparent when pixel-peeping. Still, you have a bit of leeway to crop in without losing too much clarity.
The Sony a6400 has decent RAW noise handling. It performs well in low light for an APS-C camera, outperforming competitors like the Nikon Z 50.
The Sony a6400 supports Log recording with S-Log 2 and S-Log 3 to preserve a wider range of detail in your videos, though it's limited to 8-bit color depth, so you'll have a harder time getting the most out of those Log profiles, especially S-Log 3.
The camera is great for shooting more cinematic-looking videos at 24 fps, and it can also record 4k at 30 fps but with a noticeable crop. However, there aren't any high frame rate options for slow-motion video.
4k internal recording capability is decent. There's no recording time limit, which is great, but the camera can overheat and shut down during long recording sessions. Also, while 8-bit 4:2:0 video recording will be fine for most beginner video shooters, it can be a bit limiting if you want to shoot with Log profiles and get more out of your video in post. While the similarly-priced Canon EOS R10 doesn't support Log profiles, it does have an HDR PQ profile that allows for more detailed 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording.
Autofocus is excellent in 4k. The camera's tracking works really well. It has little trouble detecting and keeping moving subjects in focus. That said, it doesn't support more precise eye AF in video mode.
4k video quality is good. Videos are sharp and detailed, for the most part, though it's only decent in low light. There's some noticeable grain and loss of detail.
The Sony a6400 has a slow sensor readout speed, so the rolling shutter effect is pretty bad. It can be quite distracting with quick pans and camera movements.
You have more high frame rate options in 1080p, with up to 120 fps recording, though there's a slight crop at 120 fps. That's great for slow-motion video and smooth fast action.
Internal recording is great in 1080p, but just like with 4k, it's limited to 8-bit recording. On the upside, there's no time limit on recording, which is great for longer uninterrupted takes.
Autofocus is just as good in 1080p. The camera does an excellent job of tracking and keeping moving subjects in focus, even as they move around the frame.
1080p video quality is good in proper lighting, though it doesn't perform as well in low light.
Rolling shutter effect is a lot less pronounced in 1080p, which is good. Skewing is less apparent, but it's still present with panning camera movements.
There's just a single SD card slot, and it's on the bottom of the camera, making it a little harder to access when using a tripod.
The inputs are on the left side of the camera. It has a Micro USB port for charging and file transfer, unlike newer models like the Sony ZV-E10, which increasingly have USB-C ports. You also have a Micro HDMI port to connect to an external display, as well as a microphone jack, but no headphone jack.