I recently purchased the Sony A6100 camera, and I am absolutely thrilled with its performance! This camera has exceeded my expectations in every aspect, and I can confidently say it is a game-changer in the world of photography. Here are the reasons why I believe the Sony A6100 deserves a glowing 5-star review:1. Exceptional Image Quality: The A6100's image quality is outstanding. With its 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor, I am able to capture breathtakingly sharp and detailed photos. The dynamic range and color accuracy are remarkable, resulting in stunningly vibrant and lifelike images.2. Lightning-Fast Autofocus: The autofocus system on the A6100 is nothing short of impressive. The 425 phase-detection AF points cover almost the entire frame, allowing for swift and ... MoreI recently purchased the Sony A6100 camera, and I am absolutely thrilled with its performance! This camera has exceeded my expectations in every aspect, and I can confidently say it is a game-changer in the world of photography. Here are the reasons why I believe the Sony A6100 deserves a glowing 5-star review:1. Exceptional Image Quality: The A6100's image quality is outstanding. With its 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor, I am able to capture breathtakingly sharp and detailed photos. The dynamic range and color accuracy are remarkable, resulting in stunningly vibrant and lifelike images.2. Lightning-Fast Autofocus: The autofocus system on the A6100 is nothing short of impressive. The 425 phase-detection AF points cover almost the entire frame, allowing for swift and accurate subject tracking. It locks onto subjects in an instant, ensuring that I never miss a crucial moment.3. Incredible Low-Light Performance: One of the standout features of the A6100 is its exceptional low-light performance. The camera handles high ISO settings remarkably well, producing clean and noise-free images even in challenging lighting conditions. It has opened up a whole new world of nighttime and indoor photography for me.4. Intuitive and Versatile Controls: Sony has done an excellent job in designing the A6100's controls. The ergonomic grip feels comfortable in hand, and the buttons and dials are strategically placed for easy access. The intuitive menu system and customizable function buttons make it a breeze to navigate through the camera's settings and options.5. Impressive Video Capabilities: The A6100 isn't just a powerhouse in still photography but also in videography. It supports 4K recording with full pixel readout and no pixel binning, resulting in sharp, detailed, and cinematic footage. The camera's advanced autofocus system performs flawlessly in video mode, ensuring smooth and precise tracking of subjects.6. Compact and Lightweight: One of the major advantages of the A6100 is its compact and lightweight design. It's the perfect companion for travel and street photography, as it doesn't weigh me down and easily fits into my bag. Despite its size, it doesn't compromise on features and delivers professional-level performance.In conclusion, the Sony A6100 is a true gem in the mirrorless camera market. Its exceptional image quality, lightning-fast autofocus, impressive low-light performance, intuitive controls, impressive video capabilities, and compact design make it an ideal choice for both enthusiasts and professionals alike. I wholeheartedly recommend the Sony A6100 to anyone who wants to take their photography to the next level. It's a game-changer, and it definitely deserves a solid 5-star rating!

I have owned a few Sony mirrorless cameras over the past 7 or so years, and the new Alpha 6100 impressed me with its great balance of features - especially the improved auto-focus system. Sony provided the camera in exchange for this review, and I was pleased to be able to use it to capture some shots over the last two weeks, during the Christmas holiday season. I'll mention my impressions of the features I found noteworthy.If you're considering purchasing this camera, you may already understand quite a bit about digital camera technology and why you would want to invest in one in order to capture pictures that smartphones simply aren't capable of. If you haven't, the short answer is that these cameras have dramatically bigger sensors that capture more light and ... MoreI have owned a few Sony mirrorless cameras over the past 7 or so years, and the new Alpha 6100 impressed me with its great balance of features - especially the improved auto-focus system. Sony provided the camera in exchange for this review, and I was pleased to be able to use it to capture some shots over the last two weeks, during the Christmas holiday season. I'll mention my impressions of the features I found noteworthy.If you're considering purchasing this camera, you may already understand quite a bit about digital camera technology and why you would want to invest in one in order to capture pictures that smartphones simply aren't capable of. If you haven't, the short answer is that these cameras have dramatically bigger sensors that capture more light and can produce the shallow-depth-of-field ("blurry background") effect without all the digital processing tricks that smartphones rely on. In the enthusiast stand-alone camera market, there are two primary types of cameras - DSLR's and "mirrorless" cameras (the Alpha 6100 is a mirrorless camera). Without saying too much about the technical differences, the latter are so named because they eliminate the physical mirrors that DSLR's use - the viewfinder is actually a tiny LCD screen that shows you exactly the picture the camera is going to take, including helpful information overlays. Traditionally, the downside of mirrorless cameras has been slower autofocus systems and perceptible lag in the viewfinder. However, Sony and other companies have been relentlessly tackling these problems, and even the industry giants Canon and Nikon are producing mirrorless systems now to cater to people that like their advantages.As mentioned, I have used multiple Sony cameras - mirrorless always appealed to me as the inevitable future for stand-alone cameras, and I have invested in a few additional lenses for Sony's mirrorless camera system. In the meantime, Sony has really improved their technology and made some waves amongst professional photographers. The Sony Alpha 6100 takes their current state-of-the-art auto-focus system with real-time tracking and adds it to a model in reach of hobbyists and families that want to capture gorgeous photo memories. The auto-focus system can be switched between person and pet tracking modes, and has an uncanny ability to lock onto subjects' eyes. Once locked onto a subject, continuing to hold the shutter button half-pressed will keep the focus locked on, and does a fantastic job of following that subject as they move and turn - often even if the subject is partially- or fully-obscured momentarily. This is definitely the best auto-focus system I've used on a Sony camera, and from other reviews of the Alpha 6100's siblings, Sony seems to have one of the top focusing systems right now. If you're thinking of this camera as an investment to capture pictures of children in motion, the auto-focus system is a very good reason to purchase the Alpha 6100. The only downside is that you will need to change some of the options out-of-the-box to enable the real-time tracking and tweak how it works to your preferences.Another improvement over Sony's older models that I really like is the improvements to smartphone connectivity. Sony has had an optional companion app for mobile Android and iOS devices for a while, and they renamed it from "PlayMemories" to "Imaging Edge" since my previous camera model. The app is not the most intuitive, and I did find it a little cumbersome to get it connected initially. (I was using an iPhone; maybe it would be slightly easier with Android. However, NFC did work - I'm not sure if that improvement in Imaging Edge is due to an improvement by Sony or Apple, but it's cool that NFC can be used on iOS now to simplify the Wi-Fi connection.) I have found it to be reliable enough - no dropped connections between camera and phone yet. Sony's app has always allowed you to turn your phone into a remote control for the camera, which is a great feature if you want to set up the camera on a tripod and take a group photo that you can be part of. It's also long supported transferring photos from the camera to the phone, to make it easier to share them (or edit them with another app). However, one feature that is new with latest series of Alpha cameras is an additional Bluetooth connection support which the app leverages to "geotag" photos using your phone's GPS. I always thought it was really neat to be able to see my vacation photos taken with a smartphone on a map based on where they were taken, and had wished that data could be integrated with my "good" camera. Although I've used apps that log your phone's location and then use that to add the data to photos later based on timestamp, it's pretty cool that it can now be integrated right as the photos are taken. This is a feature that some of Sony's competitors have already had for a while, but it's a nice-to-have on the Alpha 6100. (Of course, if you use this feature and are conscious about privacy, be careful to consider removing geotag information before sharing photos online.)The Alpha 6100 takes great pictures. It takes some practice to get the hang of adding effects that everyone is used to adding with filters in smartphone apps, but the results really are great. With a 24MP sensor, the images capture a lot of information and are great for printing. Due to the larger sensor, pictures taken in low light exhibit less digital noise than smartphones (though smartphones can compensate with more software corrections). I've very pleased with the color and sharpness I've gotten. I do not typically shoot a lot of video, but this camera can take 4K footage and I thought the video quality was quite good on a 4K TV. It does not support some of the more advanced videography features (like S-Log), though higher-end Sony models do.The Alpha 6100 is typically sold in a bundle with a small, 16-50mm power-zoom lens. The lens is compact enough, especially compared to typical DSLR lenses. It's a OK starter lens and works well with the auto-focus system. Sony and other manufacturers make a number of E-mount lenses with a range of prices. Although many will cost as much or more than the camera (which is common for any interchangeable-lens camera system), there are some reasonably-priced gems and many of the expensive ones are highly rated.I really appreciated that Sony is still using the same battery that earlier cameras in their NEX and Alpha 6000 series used. This means all my spare batteries work with any camera and charger. On the downside, Sony's higher end models are now beginning to use a newer batter that has longer life, but I found battery life to be more than sufficient for my needs. (The batteries are small and it's easy to care a spare or two.) If you're not already a Sony camera user, this may not matter to you - but I would like to point out that all of Sony's cameras have featured USB charging built-in, which is actually quite convenient (they can charge with a simple micro-USB cable; no need to to travel with a charger unless you want to).The Alpha 6100 uses a slightly lower resolution LCD screen in its electronic viewfinder than in higher-end Sony models, but I still find it very clear to use. One feature I miss that Sony has included on other models is an artificial horizon overlay in the viewfinder (or rear screen) that makes it easy to get level horizons in your shorts. The rear screen is touch-sensitive, though the interface still must be operated with the controls on the rear of the camera - the touch is mostly used for tapping to pick a focus point if you can't get the camera to focus where you want. The rear touch screens of Sony's latest models now do flip up 180 degrees - basically a "selfie mode." I think using this camera for selfies is a bit silly, but it could certainly be very practical if you're interested in making YouTube-style videos.My existing investment in the Sony mirrorless system makes me admittedly biased, but Sony has been making some very good cameras. There are highly-regarded competitors, but the Alpha 6100 is still a great purchase. It's an extremely nice upgrade to older cameras at the lower end of Sony's Alpha 6000 lineup, adding the latest auto-focus and smartphone connectivity features while retaining lens and battery compatibility. And for anyone considering the investment in a stand-alone camera, the Alpha 6100 has a nice blend of features for a reasonable price.

Diminutive size plus image quality make this a useful 'bridge' between a pocket camera (OK, you'll need poacher's pockets for this one) and a full kit of camera and lenses. I bought the kit complete with 18-50 zoom and 55-210 zoom for an excellent 799, new with official 2-year warranty. Construction is 'only' polycarbonate whereas later and loftier versions (eg a6600) are magnesium alloy. Nonetheless, it feels good. These posher models also get in-body image stabilisation but heh, all the lenses I have and possibly will add have it in the lens anyway! The two lenses supplied are of metal construction as is the e-mount on the camera body. Lack of a proper manual is my main gripe. Yes, there's a full manual for download but nearly 600 pages in a pdf file? On your ... MoreDiminutive size plus image quality make this a useful 'bridge' between a pocket camera (OK, you'll need poacher's pockets for this one) and a full kit of camera and lenses. I bought the kit complete with 18-50 zoom and 55-210 zoom for an excellent 799, new with official 2-year warranty. Construction is 'only' polycarbonate whereas later and loftier versions (eg a6600) are magnesium alloy. Nonetheless, it feels good. These posher models also get in-body image stabilisation but heh, all the lenses I have and possibly will add have it in the lens anyway! The two lenses supplied are of metal construction as is the e-mount on the camera body. Lack of a proper manual is my main gripe. Yes, there's a full manual for download but nearly 600 pages in a pdf file? On your phone? Setting up to connect to a phone and PC is less than easy, mainly down to this lack of an actual book you can refer to. If you can live without the mag alloy body with built-in stabilisation then this has most of the spec of the a6600 for half the price.