Sony Alpha 6700 Review

As Sony's most advanced APS-C imaging sensor format camera to date, the Alpha 6700 takes over the flagship role in Sony's APS-C line-up.

The Sony a6700 is the result of implementation of the latest still image and video technology and capabilities from Sony's full-frame Alpha and Cinema Line into the compact and lightweight a6000 series, and this camera has an impressively extensive feature set.

Summary of Sony Alpha 6700 Features

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• 26-Megapixel Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS APS-C image sensor
• BIONZ XR Processing Engine
• Dedicated AI processing unit and Real-time Recognition inherited from a7R V, with wider range of subjects (Human, Animal/Bird, Animal, Bird, Insect, Car, Train, Airplane) and human pose estimation
• AI Processor for accurate subject tracking
• Optical 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilization with 5.0 stops of correction, Active Mode for movies
• ISO 100 - 32000 (expandable to ISO 50 - 102400 for stills)
• 11 fps Continuous Shooting
• Focus bracketing
• 4K oversampled from full-width 6K
• 10-bit 4:2:2 using XAVC HS and XAVC S-I formats
• High frame rate 4K/120p (100p) recording
• S-Cinetone picture profile from Sony’s professional Cinema Line
• S-Log3, S-Gamut3, S-Cinetone, User LUTs, up to 14+ stops of latitude
• Breathing compensation, Focus Map, and Peaking display for shooting video
• Stream high-quality live content via UVC/UAC w/internal recording
• AI-driven Auto-Framing smoothly tracks subjects, eliminating the need for manual camera movement via cropping.
• Improved AE algorithm
• Flicker suppression
• 3" 1.03M Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
• Multi-Interface (MI) Shoe compatible with digital audio interfaces
• Supports the Creators' App for seamless uploads of videos and still images to cloud services
• USB PD (Power Delivery) supports fast charging (charger and cable not provided)
• Compact, Lightweight

Sensor and Image Quality

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The a6700 gets a new Sony imaging sensor. "Combining an APS-C back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor boasting 26 effective megapixels with the speed and power of Sony’s advanced BIONZ XR processing engine ..." [Sony]

Model	FOVCF	Sensor	Pixel Size	Pixels/Megapixels		DLA*
Canon EOS R7	1.6x	22.3 x 14.9mm	3.20µm	6960 x 4640	32.5	f/5.2
Canon EOS R10	1.6x	22.3 x 14.9mm	3.72µm	6000 x 4000	24.2	f/6.0
Canon EOS R50	1.6x	22.3 x 14.9mm	3.72µm	6000 x 4000	24.2	DLA
Canon EOS R100	1.6x	22.3 x 14.9mm	3.72µm	6000 x 4000	24.1	f/6.0
Sony a1	1.0x	35.9 x 24.0mm	4.2µm	8640 x 5760	50.1	f/6.7
Sony a9 II	1.0x	35.6 x 23.8mm	5.9µm	6000 x 4000	24.2	f/9.6
Sony a9	1.0x	35.6 x 23.8mm	5.9µm	6000 x 4000	24.2	f/9.6
Sony a7R V	1.0x	35.7 x 23.8mm	3.76µm	9504 x 6336	61.0	f/6.1
Sony a7R IV	1.0x	35.7 x 23.8mm	3.76µm	9504 x 6336	61.0	f/6.1
Sony a7 IV	1.0x	35.9 x 23.9mm	5.1µm	7008 x 4672	33.0	f/8.2
Sony a7 III	1.0x	35.6 x 23.8mm	5.9µm	6000 x 4000	24.2	f/9.6
Sony Alpha 7C R	1.0x	35.7 x 23.8mm	3.76µm	9504 x 6336	61.0	f/6.1
Sony Alpha 7C II	1.0x	35.7 x 23.8mm	3.76µm	9504 x 6336	61.0	f/6.1
Sony a7C	1.0x	35.6 x 23.8mm	5.9µm	6000 x 4000	24.2	f/9.6
Sony Alpha 6700	1.5x	23.3 x 15.5mm	3.8µm	6192 x 4128	26.0	f/6.1

The Sony a6700's 26-megapixel resolution is a small step up from the 24.2MP in the a6600 and sufficient for most needs, including for professional requirements. The a6700 sharing the recently introduced a7R V's pixel size suggests technology sharing.

While the a6700's imaging sensor is small relative to full-frame alternatives, it is huge compared to those available in phone cameras. The larger size of this imaging sensor is a big deal, capturing vast amounts of light and enabling a differentiatingly strong background blur. As with all Sony Alpha cameras, the R6700 imaging sensor has a 3:2 aspect ratio, with 1:1, 4:3, and 16:9 aspect ratios optionally available.

The a6700 avails ISO 100 - 32000 in 1/3-stop increments with expansion down to 50 and up to 102400 for stills. Despite the camera's available ISO range, the usable settings within that range are what really matter, and I immediately dismiss the highest settings as having a too-low SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio).

Let's take a closer look at noise and dynamic range.

With the Sony Alpha a6700 noise test results, much can be discerned. The smoothly colored Kodak color patches test chart subject combined with no noise reduction processing (key point) makes noise especially noticeable compared to detailed scenes that better hide noise levels. As always, noise reduction processing can improve upon the noise level seen in these images, but noise reduction can be applied to images from every camera, reducing its differentiation. So, avoiding noise reduction in the comparison levels the playing field. The Sony RAW-captured noise test images utilized the Lossless Compressed RAW setting and were processed in Capture One with the natural clarity method and the sharpening amount set to 30 (on a 0-1,000 scale).

Overall, we are not seeing significant improvements in noise levels in recent imaging sensor upgrades, but the current performance level is excellent. As the ISO setting increases from 100 to 800, noise levels grow slowly, from negligible to modestly noticeable. From ISO 1600 to ISO 3200, noise levels become more obvious, though images retain a high quality at these settings. By ISO 6400, images show noticeable impact from noise, and by ISO 12800, the noise is strong. ISO 25600 through 51200 results look bad unless significantly downsized, and ISO 102400 results look terrible.

As mentioned, the a6700 has the same pixel density as the recently introduced a7R V, and the Sony Alpha a6700 vs. a7R V noise test comparison shows similar results at the pixel level.

We have come to expect outstanding exposure latitude from Sony imaging sensors, and up to 14+ stops of dynamic range at lower ISO sensitivity was promised from the a6700. One way to look at a camera's dynamic range capabilities is to over or under-expose images and adjust them to the correct brightness in post-processing.

Increase the exposure by 2 stops and pull it back by the same amount in Capture One to get an idea of the dynamic range available. In that comparison, a6700 appears to lose little highlight detail. At higher ISO settings in this comparison, notice the reduced noise advantage of this form of oversampling along with a good exposure latitude maintained. Also, look at the ISO 50 comparison to see the reduced dynamic range available at this expanded setting.

It is similarly interesting to look at underexposed images with brightness increased by the offsetting amount. Underexposing when using the a6700 involves little or no noise penalty vs. selecting a higher ISO setting in the first place, even in higher ISO comparisons. A real advantage of this capability is pulling shadow details out of a very high dynamic range scene that is otherwise properly exposed, and it is especially important when an HDR technique cannot be used or is not desired.

Noise reduction can make a huge difference in the results, but not all of it is positive. Noise reduction is destructive to fine details and must be applied carefully for optimal results. The same applies to sharpening, and a stronger amount of sharpening may be needed when noise reduction strength is increased, boding well for Sony's default over-sharpening.

The a6700 does not support Pixel Shift Multi Shooting.

Sony's imaging sensors are among the best available. Relative to its APS-C imaging sensor class, the a6700 produces excellent image quality, including modest noise levels and excellent dynamic range.

In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS)

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Camera shake directly impacts image quality for both still images and movies, and Sony's 5-axis Optical In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) is a difference-maker, providing up to a 5.0-stop shutter speed advantage, and the stabilized viewfinder is also quite advantageous. Lenses such as the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II Lens and Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens have significantly increased versatility with IBIS available.

Many of Sony's lenses, including the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II Lens, have image stabilization included, and in-lens stabilization can be better tuned to the focal length in use. However, IBIS also has advantages. For example, in-lens stabilization cannot correct for rotation as IBIS can. IBIS works in coordination with in-lens OSS (Optical Steady Shot) for enhanced overall performance.

Media

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Sony's efficiently compressed non-lossy raw image format, delivering a significant file size reduction over non-compressed RAW files, is featured in the a6700. The lossless raw file format retains the ultimate image quality while dramatically reducing memory card and drive storage requirements for a win-win.

Are there downsides to the new Sony lossless compressed RAW format? Smaller files read and write faster from and to memory cards and disk, but compute cycles are required for compression and decompression. The image compression does not appear to challenge the Alpha a7R V's BIONZ XR processor. Regarding decompressing RAW files, the overall performance difference will depend on the speed of the processor. I have not found decompression performance to be an issue.

The lossy compressed file format available on previous Sony cameras is still a good option, and it remains available. The uncompressed RAW option is no longer featured. In addition to the JPG compressed file format, "The Alpha [6700] includes the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File) format for smooth 10-bit gradations that provide more realistic reproduction of skies and portrait subjects where subtle, natural gradation is essential." [Sony]

The Sony Alpha 6700 writes image files to a single (no redundancy) SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card and includes support for the fast UHS-II standard but not CFexpress Type A. SD memory cards are small, relatively inexpensive, popular, and compatible with many cameras and card readers.

The a6700 formats a fast 64GB V60 UHS-II card in about 2.5 seconds.

Frame Rate, Buffer Depth, Shutter

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The a6700 supports 11 fps continuous shooting. While this speed is not especially remarkable today, it is quite fast.

With support for up to 1,000 JPG images or 59 RAW images (23 frames using Lossless Compressed RAW) in a burst, a significant high frame rate shooting duration is provided. The over 5 seconds of RAW shooting time was sufficient for the birds in flight sessions.

Model	FPS	Max JPG	Max RAW	Shutter Lag	VF Blackout
Canon EOS R7	15/30	224/126	51/42	50-99ms	n/a
Canon EOS R10	15/23	460/70	29/21	50-100ms	n/a
Canon EOS R50	12/15	42/28	7
Canon EOS R100	6.5 (3.5)	100	6
Sony a1	10/30	400	238	20-42ms	0ms
Sony a9 II	10/20	361	239	20-33ms	0ms
Sony a9	10/20	362	241	20-33ms	0ms
Sony a7R V	10	1000+	583		n/a
Sony a7R IV	10	68	68	20ms	n/a
Sony a7R III	10	76	28	20ms	n/a
Sony a7R II	5	24	23	20ms	n/a
Sony a7 IV	10	Full	1,000+
Sony a7 III	10	40	163	20ms
Sony a7C	10	213+	115+	20ms
Sony Alpha 6700	11	1000	59	20ms

Drag your mouse over the labels under the following image for a nearly 1/2 second look at a visual look at a wave overtaking a boogie boarder at the 11-fps rate.

Load Comparison Images

With the full electronic shutter selected, this camera does not produce sound during image capture. The electronic shutter is perfect for use during quiet events such as weddings, when photographing skittish wildlife, and during audio capture. The full electronic shutter has advantages and disadvantages.

With no mechanical shutter used, there are no moving parts, there is no shutter vibration, shutter failure is highly unlikely, and again, the camera operates in near silence.

Electronic shutter implementations often provide no sound or other haptic feedback, and knowing precisely when the image is being captured can be problematic. Adding a "beep" is counter to the goal of the silent shutter. This camera solves the primary problem by providing a light click the moment the shutter release triggers image capture. I love it. Still, this haptic feedback does not account for the subsequent image capture in continuous shooting modes.

Additional downsides of an electronic shutter are related to the current technology line-by-line reading of the imaging sensor. Fast side-to-side subject or camera movement can result in an angular-shifted image with vertically straight lines becoming noticeably slanted (with the camera in horizontal orientation). Understand that the second curtain of a mechanical shutter chasing the first curtain can produce the same effect. Still, the difference between mechanical shutter (with electronic first curtain shutter, about 3.2ms) and electronic shutter performance in this regard has historically been big.

The Sony a6700's tested imaging sensor readout speed is a reasonable 25ms, a I struggled to see a rolling shutter issue in the many hundreds of bird in flight images reviewed. Here is a table of imaging sensor readout speeds.

Model (times in ms)	Electronic	1st Curtain Mechanical
Canon EOS R5	16.3	3.5
Canon EOS R6 Mark II	14.5	3.4
Canon EOS R7	29.2	2.4
Canon EOS R8	14.5	3.4
Canon EOS R10	35.0	2.8
Canon EOS R50	35.3	2.4
Canon EOS R100	78.0	2.4
Sony Alpha 1	3.8	2.4
Sony Alpha 7R V	99.3	3.5
Sony Alpha 7R IV	99.3	3.7
Sony Alpha 6700	25.0	3.2

Certain light pulsing (including from others' flashes) can influence electronic shutter-captured results, creating troublesome banding.

The a6700's mechanical first curtain shutter speed maxes at 1/4000 sec., and the full electronic shutter avails 1/8000 sec. Both options support 30 sec. exposures. The X-sync speed is a relatively slow 1/160. Interval shooting is available.

The Sony Alpha 6700 is a responsive camera that delivers the strong shutter and frame rate performance we expect in a review-time-new camera model.

Autofocus

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Precise focusing is mandatory for the ultimate image quality, and the latest MILC AF systems are showing massive improvements over cameras even a few years older. Headlining for the a7R V was a new AI processing unit driving AI-based image recognition and working with the fast BIONZ XR image processing engine. "State-of-the-art AI processing uses detailed information about human forms and postures to dramatically improve the camera's subject recognition accuracy and make full use of its potential resolution." [Sony]

That processing power facilitates impressive subject detection and tracking capabilities, giving this camera what was Sony's best AF performance to date, and that feature has migrated to the a6700.

Recognizable subject selections are Human, Animal, Bird, Animal or Bird, Insect, Car, Train, or Airplane, and the range of subjects can be limited.

The human pose estimation capability is especially interesting.

Detailed settings for each recognition target are configurable.

Tracking Shift Range restricts the subject recognition distance from the tracking frame (1-5).

Tracking Persistence Lvl "Sets the sensitivity for whether to continue tracking around the subject or shift the focus to another subject that is closer in shooting distance when a recognized subject is lost. When set to 5 (Locked On), even under conditions where a recognized subject is lost, such as when the subject that you want to shoot is temporarily hidden by another object, the camera continues to track the area around the subject. When set to 1 (Not Locked On), under conditions where the camera cannot continue to track a recognized subject, such as when the subject is moving fast, the camera cancels tracking and quickly shifts the focus to another subject that is closer in shooting distance." [Sony]

Recognition Sensitivity (1-5) sets the sensitivity of subject recognition. Lower settings prevent false recognition and higher settings recognize subjects that are normally difficult.

Recognition Priority Set. enables subject-type prioritization when animals and birds are recognized at the same time.

Note that only [Recognition Priority Set.] is available in movie mode.

Recognition Part directs the camera to recognize Eye/Head/Body, Eye/Head, or just Eye, and individual options can be disabled via Recong. Part Sel. Settings. A subject recognition frame can be enabled to show the eye, face/head, or body of the subject (only the entire body of insects and front of a car, train, or airplane). Recognition Part Select can be assigned to a custom key.

Faces can be registered (Face Memory) for optional priority detection and tracking. Auto, right eye, or left eye can be selected for human and animal subjects, with the switch available as a custom key function.

Many other autofocus parameters are available, and all of this may seem overwhelming. Rest assured that the defaults work fine for most of the options. Select the subject type and go shooting.

The Sony Alpha 6700's AF system is remarkably good at identifying even small-in-the-frame subjects and tenaciously stays on its target.

In the field, the AF performance was outstanding with gulls on the beach. While a sitting gull may not sound challenging to focus on, they were close (trying to steal my lunch) and the focal length was long, creating a shallow depth of field challenge. Also, the birds were constantly and randomly turning their heads, which meant the camera was in constant motion for compositional reasons. When preening, their head movements were furious and random.

What about when they turn their heads directly toward the camera? No problem for the a6700 (100% crop).

The a6700 did not seem as astute at tracking birds in flight and small birds running on the beach. The camera focused on the background bird enough times that I should mention this.

Boogie boarding at 400mm proved no challenge for the a6700's AF, even when the subject was close and obscured by significant splashing.

The a6700 had no trouble recognizing this small-in-the-frame chipmunk.

The a6700's phase-detection AF point count is 759, and the low light AF capability is to EV -3 (quite dark, though not as dark as supported by some other MILCs).

Does the a6700 always defocus and refocus in single shot mode (AF-S)? Yes, but with a high-performing lens, focusing is fast.

As mentioned, I appreciate the slight haptic feedback on the shutter release press. That said, I find that activating AF via the shutter release half-press state requires slightly more pressure than my muscle memory expects, initially leaving me wondering why the camera is not focusing. With use, this minor annoyance factor has diminished.

The a6700 lacks the much-loved joystick, useful for positioning the AF point or area. Touching a subject on the rear LCD or using the touch and drag feature while using the EVF effectively handles that task and initiates subject tracking. Or, press the set button to enable use of the 4-way rear control dial buttons, disabling their normal functionality until set is pressed again.

Subject recognition prioritizes subjects in the selected area mode, with many modes to choose from.

Overall, the a6700's AF system is impressive.

Movies

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Video performance, of course, is high on the a6700's capabilities list. Here are the details:

Video Compression
XAVC S: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, XAVC HS: MPEG-H HEVC/H.265

Movie Recording Format (XAVC HS 4K)
3840 x 2160 (4:2:0, 10bit) (Approx.)
119.88p (200 Mbps), 100p (200 Mbps), 59.94p (150 Mbps / 75 Mbps / 45 Mbps), 50p (150 Mbps / 75 Mbps / 45 Mbps), 23.98p (100 Mbps / 50 Mbps / 30 Mbps)

3840 x 2160 (4:2:2, 10bit) (Approx.)
119.88p (280 Mbps), 100p (280 Mbps), 59.94p (200 Mbps / 100 Mbps), 50p (200 Mbps / 100 Mbps), 23.98p (100 Mbps / 50 Mbps)

Movie Recording Format (XAVC S 4K)
3840 x 2160 (4:2:0, 8bit) (Approx.)
119.88p (200 Mbps), 100p (200 Mbps), 59.94p (150 Mbps), 50p (150 Mbps), 29.97p (100 Mbps / 60 Mbps), 25p (100 Mbps / 60 Mbps), 23.98p (100 Mbps / 60 Mbps)

3840 x 2160 (4:2:2, 10bit) (Approx.)
119.88p (280 Mbps), 100p (280 Mbps), 59.94p (200 Mbps), 50p (200 Mbps), 29.97p (140 Mbps), 25p (140 Mbps), 23.98p (100 Mbps)

Movie Recording Format (XAVC S HD)
1920 x 1080 (4:2:0, 8bit) (Approx.)
119.88p (100 Mbps / 60 Mbps), 100p (100 Mbps / 60 Mbps), 59.94p (50 Mbps / 25 Mbps), 50p (50 Mbps / 25 Mbps), 29.97p (50 Mbps / 16 Mbps), 25p (50 Mbps / 16 Mbps), 23.98p (50 Mbps)

1920 x 1080 (4:2:2, 10bit) (Approx.)
59.94p (50 Mbps), 50p (50 Mbps), 29.97p (50 Mbps), 25p (50 Mbps), 23.98p (50 Mbps)

Movie Recording Format (XAVC S-I 4K)
3840 x 2160 (4:2:2, 10bit) (Approx.)
59.94p (600 Mbps), 50p (500 Mbps), 29.97p (300 Mbps), 25p (250 Mbps), 23.98p (240 Mbps)

Movie Recording Format (XAVC S-I HD)
1920 x 1080 (4:2:2, 10bit) (Approx.)
59.94p (222 Mbps), 50p (185 Mbps), 29.97p (111 Mbps), 25p (93 Mbps), 23.98p (89 Mbps)

Audio Recording Format
LPCM 2ch (48 kHz 16 bit), LPCM 2ch (48 kHz 24 bit), LPCM 4ch (48 kHz 24 bit)

Note that 120p requires a V60 or faster speed-rated SDXC card.

Overall, video quality is excellent.

4k 30p video has only mild rolling shutter effects. 4k 120p video has a significant crop factor, but still shows only mild rolling shutter effects.

Active SteadyShot produces a huge improvement in handheld footage vs. standard OSS, though a small crop (1.13x) is required for this feature. Sony's Auto Framing tracks a subject in a crop of the overall scene, zooming in and out slightly during the recording. This is a very cool feature for self-recording.

Exposure/Metering System

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All current Sony Alpha cameras perform exposure calculation well, and the a6700, featuring 1200-zone evaluative metering at EV -3 – EV 20, with +/- 5.0 EV exposure compensation available, has the latest algorithm updates for improved performance, 20% improved according to Sony. Better autoexposure performance makes photography easier.

The a6700 features optional anti-flicker shooting and, with the variable shutter speed feature, can auto select a shutter speed that avoids banding in modes controlling the shutter speed. This feature has 19 hints and notes in the user manual, instructing on use of the advanced options and capabilities of this camera's anti-flicker shooting.

Available metering modes are Multi, Center, and Spot (standard and large), Entire Screen Average mode (stable auto-exposure through composition changes), and Highlight (detects the brightest area in the frame to (strongly) avoid blown highlights).

Viewfinder and LCD

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"The XGA Tru-Finder 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder offers a bright, high-resolution, 1.07x magnification means for eye-level monitoring and sports and a dedicated 120 fps mode for smoother viewing when tracking moving subjects." [B&H]

This is a compact, relatively low-resolution EVF, but it is responsive, provides a large view and has good image quality. I find the upper-left corner EVF positioning different from what I'm acclimated to, but it doesn't bother me otherwise. For sure there is plenty of nose clearance for right eye shooters.

The eyecup is removable.

The rear LCD is a 2.95" (7.5cm) TFT, vari-angle touch screen, with approx. 1,036,800 dots.

The vari-angle feature's opening angle is approx. 176°, and the rotation angle is approx. 270°. This movement includes the ideal-for-vlogging front facing orientation, and the orientation of left-side ports avoids wire interference over much of the range.

Physical Design

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To visually compare the Sony Alpha 6700 with many other camera models, use the site's camera product image comparison tool. As the predecessor, the a6600, is not represented in that tool, I'll include that comparison in this review, with the a6600 always positioned above the a6700.

Overall, Sony maintains an efficient, relatively squared design across their Alpha line-up, and many of the provided controls are shared, making migration and multi-model use easy.

Back of the Camera

The primary feature on the back of the camera is always the LCD, and the primary change on the back of the a6700 is the vari-angle LCD, pivoting to the side and then rotating vs. the a6600's tilting LCD. The newly added touch capabilities greatly enhance this display's usability.

The AEL and AF/MF selector switch and C3 button were omitted from the a6700 design, and the AF-ON / magnify button has been enlarged. The a6700 grew in depth, and the sloped ledge near the top of the back shows how some of this depth was integrated.

See the button on the right edge? What was the movie start/stop button is now the C1 button.

The stacked mode dial is visible from the back, but I'll discuss it in the top view discussion. Otherwise, much is the same. The design is also like the a7C, and the right mid and lower back features are rather standard across Sony's line-up.

The rear dial has 4-way button press functionality, and Sony should limit the press to those 4 directions. Better for AF point positioning would be 8-way capability. The dial's periphery design affords an opportunity for a better grip surface.

Top of the Camera

Only the eyecup and shutter release rise above the camera's top by a significant amount, with the other controls remaining nearly flush and protected.

The top of the camera shows the landing position of the moved movie start/stop button — it traded places with the C1 button. The top is a better location for whichever control you use the most, and the top is a better movie start/stop position for self-recording.

While the power on/off button remains in the same location, the small lever for using it moved toward the right, from about 12:00 to about 2:30 — where it is more awkward to reach.

The new stacked mode dial is a great upgrade, enabling the camera's capture mode to be changed independently from the exposure mode. However, with fewer modes on the dial, it is possible to position the dial between the clicks.

The a6700's Auto mode takes complete control, allowing beginners to create quality images, and the three custom modes let advanced photographers program immediately accessible setups.

Side of the Camera

The left side of the camera features mic, headphone, micro HDMI, and USB-C ports, with the SD slot positioned in the center.

The right side of the camera is primarily the grip.

The recessed C1 button most faces this side.

Front of the Camera

The front of cameras tends to be featureless aside from the grip and lens mount. The a6700's front shows the IR receiver port removed from the middle of the grip and, much more important, a dial added to the top.

While the dial is a fantastic addition, making the camera considerably easier to control, I find the dial awkward to reach while firmly gripping the camera. Moving the dial inward and up, or angled up, would make it easier to use (though perhaps easier to inadvertently change).

Size of the Camera

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Sony Alpha cameras, featuring a squared design, are compact and lightweight, and the a6700 is smaller than all the full-frame models except the a7C, and only the a6700's grip depth measures more than that model. The a6700 is slightly lighter than the a7C.

The a6700 grew slightly from its predecessor, but it lost a tiny amount of weight.

Model	Body Dimensions		CIPA Weight
Canon EOS R7	5.2 x 3.6 x 3.6"	(132.0 x 90.4 x 91.7mm)	21.6 oz (612g)
Canon EOS R10	4.8 x 3.5 x 3.3"	(122.5 x 87.8 x 83.4mm)	15.1 oz (429g)
Canon EOS R50	4.6 x 3.4 x 2.7"	(116.3 x 85.5 x 68.8mm)	13.3 oz. (375g)
Canon EOS R100	4.6 x 3.4 x 2.7"	(116.3 x 85.5 x 68.8mm)	12.6 oz. (356g)
Sony a1	5.1 x 3.9 x 3.3"	(128.9 x 96.9 x 80.8mm)	23.7 oz (673g)
Sony a9 II	5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1"	(128.9 x 96.4 x 77.5mm)	23.7 oz (673g)
Sony a9	5.0 x 3.8 x 2.5"	(126.9 x 95.6 x 63.0mm)	23.7 oz (673g)
Sony a7R V	5.3 x 3.8 x 3.3"	(131.3 x 96.9 x 82.4mm)	25.6 oz (723g)
Sony a7R IV	5.2 x 3.9 x 3.2"	(128.9 x 96.4 x 77.5mm)	23.5 oz (665g)
Sony a7R III	5.0 x 3.9 x 3.0"	(126.9 x 95.6 x 73.7mm)	23.2 oz (657g)
Sony a7R II	5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4"	(126.9 × 95.7 x 60.3mm)	22.0 oz (625g)
Sony a7 IV	5.2 x 3.8 x 3.1"	(131.3 x 96.4 x 79.8mm)	23.0 oz (650g)
Sony a7 III	5.0 x 3.8 x 3.0"	(126.9 x 95.6 x 73.7mm)	23.0 oz (650g)
Sony a7C	4.9 x 2.8 x 2.4"	(124.0 x 71.1 x 59.7mm)	18.0 oz (509g)
Sony Alpha 6700	4.9 x 2.8 x 3.0"	(122.0 x 69.0 x 75.1mm)	17.4 oz. (493g)
Sony Alpha 6600	4.7 x 2.6 x 2.7"	(120 x 66.9 x 69.3mm)	17.7 oz (503g)

The neck strap lugs take the width dimension out slightly to 5.2" (133mm).

While small is great in many respects, the small grip is a detriment when actively using this camera with one of the larger lenses. After holding the a6700's compact grip (my pinky slides under the camera) with a Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens mounted for a couple of hours, the padded area at the base of my thumb became sore. Also, the body of Sony's larger FE lenses, including the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II Lens, uncomfortably contacts the first joint of my two grip fingers.

Ergonomics, Build Quality, and Durability

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Built on a lightweight, high-rigidity magnesium alloy chassis, the Sony Alpha 6700 is solidly built, with a high-quality feel — like other recent Alpha models. The buttons, dials, and switches have nice haptic feedback.

The a6700 has dust and moisture-resistant seals, though it is not waterproof.

Additional Features

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"Sharing and connectivity with Sony's Imaging Edge Mobile app is now even easier and more powerful. Quickly configure camera Wi-Fi settings using the low-power Bluetooth connection, and enjoy greater control over automatic image transfers." [Sony]

The a6700's wireless LAN functionality includes the faster 5GHz band in addition to the conventional 2.4GHz band.

Background FTP file transfer enables sending files to a remote FTP server over a wireless LAN, high-speed wired LAN (compatible USB Type C to Ethernet adaptor cable required), or a USB-tethered smartphone.

The a6700 receives Sony's latest menu system iteration, a positive improvement from the earlier a6x00 models.

An imaging sensor anti-dust system is provided.

A battery/vertical grip is not available for the a6700.

Battery

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Highly convenient is that the a6700 shares the Sony NP-FZ100 battery pack power source with many other recent Alpha series models. This relatively compact battery is rated for approx. 550 shots (viewfinder) or 570 shots (LCD monitor) (CIPA standard). Real-life experience is that battery life usually exceeds CIPA ratings and dramatically exceeds CIPA ratings when shooting in continuous modes.

Unusual is that no provision for charging the battery is included in the box. You will need the Sony BC-QZ1 Battery Charger or a cable supporting USB PD (Power Delivery) in the camera (the a6700 kit with the E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS Lens didn't even include body or lens mount caps).

In addition to the battery, the a6700 can also be powered via a USB connection to a computer or mobile battery, and this connection can be used to charge the battery.

As usual for Sony Alpha cameras, the battery door is spring-loaded, but the switch is not. It must be slid into the locked position after closing the door.

What is the Best Lens for the Sony Alpha 6700?

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When deciding which camera brand to purchase, consider the available accessory system. If your needs are light, a few good lenses may be completely adequate. Professionals with more complex needs are not as easy to satisfy, and Sony has even the most seasoned pro covered.

What is the best lens for the Sony Alpha 6700? The Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens is a great choice. I have not used most of Sony's APS-C "E" lenses as of review time, but I don't recommend the inexpensive (in a kit) Sony E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS Lens.

For more advice, the site's Best Sony Lenses page is a great starting point. The Best Sony General-Purpose Lens, Best Sony Telephoto Zoom Lens, and Best Sony Wide-Angle Lens pages feature recommendations for the top 3 lens types. Also, check out the site's Sony Lens Reviews for in-depth coverage of all of Sony's lenses.

Price

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The APS-C format imaging sensor keeps the a6700 modest in price relative to its flagship feature set.

This camera hit the streets with a list price modestly lower than the Canon EOS R7's but matching that camera's current discounted street price.

Wrap Up

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Keeping a review of the incredibly feature-laden a6700 concise but complete is a difficult balance to find, and this review is not a complete description of every feature available.

The 527-page owner's manual is linked to at the top of this review. It is worth, minimally, browsing to understand the extensive features available in this camera.

The Sony Alpha 6700 used for this review was online/retail acquired.

Alternatives

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For someone considering an a6700 purchase, the Canon EOS R7 is another option to consider.

Check out the Sony Alpha a6700 vs. Canon EOS R7 specification comparison along with the visual comparison of these cameras.

What are the differences between the Sony Alpha 6700 and the Canon EOS R7?

Here are some of the R7 advantages over the a6700:

• 32.5 MP vs. 26.0
• 15 or 30 fps continuous shooting vs. 11 for 51 or 42 frames vs. 59 (or 23 for Lossless Compressed RAW)
• AF working range down to EV -5 vs. EV -3
• 7-stop IBIS vs. 5-stop
• Mechanical shutter to 1/8000 vs. 1/4000
• Electronic shutter to 1/16000 vs. 1/8000
• X-sync to 1/250 with mechanical shutter, 1/320 electronic 1st curtain shutter, vs. 1/160
• 1.62 million dot LCD vs. 1.04 million dots
• Has dual card slots
• Auto-Leveling
• Has a joystick
• Larger, more comfortable grip, easier to use EVF
• Ships with battery charger

Here are some a6700 advantages over the R7:

• To 4k 120p (cropped) vs. 60 fps
• Metering range down to EV -3 vs. EV -2
• Has ISO 102400 vs. 51200 (though you won't want to use it)
• Auto Frame for video recording
• Uploadable LUTs
• Smaller: 4.88 x 2.75 x 3.00" vs. 5.2 x 3.6 x 3.6" (122.0 x 69.0 x 75.1mm vs. 132.0 x 90.4 x 91.7mm)
• Lighter: 17.4 oz vs. 21.6 oz (493g vs. 612g)

With similar street prices, the a6700 and R7 are two excellent choices for high-performance needs.

Sony tends to keep the predecessor camera models in the line-up, creating many options to select from. The most recently introduced camera is always the best choice within a model line, but the older models are available for lower prices.

Summary

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As expected from a flagship camera model in a mature line-up, the a6700 has an outstanding feature set that performs extraordinarily well.

It was adventure day. The new a6700 was in house, two of the girls were home and anxious to go somewhere, a plan was quickly formulated, and an adventure was underway.

Earlier in the day, I discovered that the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Lens was mounted instead of the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Lens I wanted. The lenses are similar in appearance, and easy to confuse when packing in haste. Eventually, that mistake became an advantage.

As we explored the relatively small rock outcropping, my daughter shouted "Copperhead!". Minutes later, we realized that we were hanging out with (at least) 8 copperheads and two timber rattlers, one of which was quite large. The inadvertently included 24-70 got the job done much better than the 16-35 would have.

The compact, lightweight a6700 was an ideal choice for adventuring, and it joined me on other outings. This gull was disappointed with me for not sharing my beach lunch.

I also spent a day in Ricketts Glen State Park with the s6700.

This compact was a superb choice for capturing the many waterfalls in this location.

Overall, the a6700 is a great all-around choice for an APS-C camera.

It is a solid performer that delivers excellent image quality.