Sony a6000 is my new camera: the reasons of my choice
Introducing My New Camera: Sony a6000
Hey everyone, Alex here! Today, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news in my photography journey: I’ve recently switched over to the Sony a6000 as my main camera for street photography and secondary camera for portraits and editorial work. This decision marks a significant shift for me, especially after having used the micro four-thirds system extensively in the last 2 years.
Do you think I could purchase better a Sony a6600 or even the a7c? Yes, of course I could. But I consider this choice my entry in Sony. In future I will purchase more Sony cameras. My choice is not at all extemporaneous or episodic.
Why Sony a6000?
After careful consideration and testing, I’ve found that the Sony a6000 perfectly aligns with my artistic vision and practical needs as a photographer. Here are a few reasons why I’ve chosen this versatile mirrorless camera:
1. Sensor Quality: The Sony a6000 features a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor, offering exceptional image quality with dimensions of 6000x4000 pixels. This ensures that every detail is captured crisply and allows for ample room in post-processing without compromising on resolution. Despite I loved the Olympus EP5 I couldn’t consider it for my assignments for clients. While I am not a photographer who demands a lot of megapixels, 6000x4000 px is the right size to feel confident that I am giving my clients a correct product.
2. Compact and Lightweight: for street photography I need as main camera a compact solution, and I appreciate the Sony a6000’s compact size and lightweight build. It’s incredibly portable, making it ideal for my street photography expeditions where mobility and discretion are key. It is compact but still I can appreciate certain important features like counting with a in-built viewfinder, something I wass missing with my Olympus Pen and also with my Canon M200.
3. Autofocus and Speed: The Sony a6000 boasts impressive autofocus capabilities, which are crucial for capturing fleeting moments on the streets or during dynamic editorial shoots. Its rapid shooting speed ensures I never miss the perfect shot. Also for manual focus, with some vintage and third parts lenses, I realized the focus peak system on the Olympus Pen EP5 was not that reliable. And that is why I started to re-think about that camera despite I loved in many aspects.
4. Lens Compatibility: Sony’s E-mount system offers a wide range of high-quality lenses that cater perfectly to my diverse photography needs, from wide-angle for sweeping street scenes to portrait lenses that beautifully render expressions. I think a photographer today shooting digital needs to be aware that a camera is important from the point of view of the ergonomy and the experience working with but also we need to take into account the lenses. Lenses are fundamental. In my specific case you know about my passion for the pancake lenses. Sony has the discontinued 16mm that I already ordered. But there is also the 27mm AF lens made by 7Artisans, that for the crop factor is equivalent in full frame to a 40.5mm.
4. Editorial assignments: hey, last year I was hired as a sport photographer for L’EQUIPE and that is a career changing experience that put me in condition to re-think the entire panorama of what I need to grant to my clients.
Saying Goodbye to Micro Four Thirds
While micro four-thirds systems served me well in certain scenarios, I felt it was time for a change that could enhance my workflow and creative output. The decision to move to the Sony a6000 was driven by its larger sensor size and the overall ecosystem that Sony provides, which supports my professional ambitions and artistic style.
Canon model 7, the 35mm rangefinder camera purchased last month influenced also this big switch. As I said in the video, when I purchased the Olympus Pen EP5 was not just a choice for the aestetics I would achieve, but also a a personal gift to me, a camera that is pleasant to look at and wear. Olympus make precious cameras from the design point of view, with that fantastic vintage look that we don’t see often in digital cameras. With the purchase of the Canon 7, a camera that I already love and that I will use a lot, this desire to have a beautiful camera to work with, see and yes, wear (I don't think this aspect is stupid) is completely satisfied.
Now let me clarify a thing: I am not saying that my sony a6000 is ugly. I don’t see it ugly. But recently we assist to many photographers in need to appear with their vintage cameras, often dressing the cameras and not using them really, or maybe not achieving good results. While i love the idea, as I shared here with you, to have a nice looking camera dangling from my neck, I'm still results oriented. And I feel that many times a super cool camera attracts the attention of people. That can be a positive thing because I meet people that really loves to be photographer with a super sexy camera, but it can be also a problem if I want to be more invisible on the street. Sony a6000 seems to be just in the middle: it is a nice camera but not flashy. It is like a Ricoh in this sense, but in my opinion better.
Retaining My Canon Rebel T7
Despite adopting the Sony a6000 as my primary camera for street photography, I’ve chosen to retain my Canon Rebel T7. Its 24-megapixel sensor, similar to the Sony a6000’s, allows for consistency in image dimensions (6000x4000 pixels) across my photography gear. This ensures seamless integration into my workflow and allows me to maintain a familiar approach in certain shooting scenarios. So for street photography when I will not bring with me the 35mm rangefinder because I am off with film stock, Sony a6000 and Canon Rebel will be my cameras. And still I have 2 options as second body for assignments. When I worked for the client L’EQUIPE I did have with me 3 cameras, so in a case like that the Sony a6000 will take the place of the Canon M200.
Embracing New Photography Possibilities
As I embark on this new chapter with the Sony a6000, I’m excited about the creative opportunities it brings. Whether I’m capturing the raw energy of street life, the intimate expressions in portraits, or the narrative depth of editorial assignments, this camera empowers me to push boundaries and explore new dimensions in my photography.
Stay tuned as I continue to share insights, tips, and of course, stunning imagery captured with my new companion, the Sony a6000. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next!
