Sony a6400A Mirrorless Camera Body Black

Key Features

• 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor
• 425 phase and contrast-detection AF points
• Real-time Eye AF and subject tracking
• Continuous shooting up to 11fps
• 4K video with full pixel readout and no pixel binning
• Full HD high frame rate recording
• 180° tilting touchscreen for self-recording
• Interval shooting for time-lapse sequences

Product Summary

Compact, lightweight and remarkably capable, the A6400A remains an accessible route into the E-mount system for photography and video. Its 24.2MP APS-C sensor is backed by responsive subject tracking and Eye AF, making it well suited to everything from family photography and travel to wildlife and everyday moving subjects.

It also offers considerably more creative control than its small body might suggest. Fast continuous shooting caters for action, while detailed 4K recording, high-frame-rate Full HD and a forward-facing touchscreen provide a useful foundation for filmmaking and self-recorded content. Access to the extensive E-mount lens range also leaves plenty of room to expand a kit over time.

Fast, Reliable AF

425 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection points cover approximately 84% of the image area, providing responsive focusing across a broad portion of the frame. Real-time Tracking uses subject, colour, distance and pattern information to maintain focus on moving subjects, while Real-time Eye AF provides particularly useful support for portraits, people and animals.

Continuous shooting reaches 11fps with the mechanical shutter or 8fps during silent shooting, both with AF/AE tracking, giving the camera enough speed for family activities, wildlife and other moving subjects.

24.2MP APS-C Image Quality

The 24.2MP Exmor CMOS sensor and BIONZ X processor provide detailed stills with a standard sensitivity range up to ISO 32000, expandable to ISO 102400 for photography. RAW capture is supported with 14-bit output for greater flexibility when processing tonal and colour information.

4K Movie Recording with Fast Hybrid Autofocus

4K recording uses full pixel readout without pixel binning, oversampling approximately 2.4x the data required for the final 4K image. Fast Hybrid AF and Touch Tracking help maintain focus on moving subjects while recording.

S-Log2, S-Log3 and HLG profiles provide additional flexibility for colour grading and HDR workflows, while Full HD recording at up to 120fps supports slow-motion sequences. A 3.5mm microphone input also allows higher-quality external audio to be recorded directly.

Upgraded Build to Maximise Versatility

The 3.0-inch 921k-dot touchscreen tilts upwards by 180°, allowing the composition to be viewed from in front of the camera for self-recording, vlogging and self-portraits. Touch Focus, Touch Shutter and Touch Tracking provide direct control from the display.

An XGA OLED Tru-Finder provides an alternative for eye-level photography, with selectable 60fps or 120fps display rates.

A magnesium-alloy body combines portability with a shutter mechanism tested to approximately 200,000 cycles. Dust and moisture resistance provides additional protection for outdoor use, while extensive custom controls allow frequently used settings to be assigned to physical buttons and menus.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support image transfer, remote operation and location information through compatible mobile devices, rounding out a small body that remains suitable for both everyday photography and more advanced shooting.

Product features in detail

Unparalleled AF performance is the key to beautiful shots

Fast and accurate autofocus lets you capture fleeting moments in stunning detail, thanks to a combination of innovative technologies. A total of 425 phase-detection AF points work in conjunction with contrast-detection AF to achieve a remarkable 0.02 sec. speed, while High-density AF Tracking Technology follows even erratically moving subjects.

More accurate autofocus in dim lighting

Highly accurate autofocus is now possible even in dark settings, thanks to advances in the AF algorithm. With this model, the lower limit on the AF detection brightness range has been reduced to EV-2 when in AF-S mode.

AF in Focus Magnifier for finer focus adjustment

When extra-accurate autofocus is called for, such as when you're taking macro shots, you can display a magnified view of the general area you want to focus on, then finely adjust the exact point of focus in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

Easier manual focus with an improved peaking function

The camera's peaking function colour-highlights the most sharply focused section of the entire image area when you're using manual focus. Now blue has been added to the display's other peaking colours (red, yellow and white) to improve the visibility of the focus peak areas when you're doing the delicate focusing required for macro or portrait shooting.

Real-time Tracking holds the focus on tracked subjects

When you're tracking a fast-moving subject, the camera's improved automatic subject motion tracker uses a newly developed subject recognition algorithm that draws on colour, pattern (brightness), subject distance (depth) and face/eye information to recognise, and hold onto, your subject. Works seamlessly with compatible Sony lenses.

Enhanced Real-time Eye AF supports portrait shooting

Real-time Eye AF detects and autofocuses on the eyes of your subjects when you half-press the shutter. Either the left eye, the right eye, or auto can be specified, and when AF-C is set it maintains a stable focus even when part of the face is hidden, the face is backlit or the subject is facing downwards.

High speed continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking

Capture all the action with continuous shooting at up to 11fps (with after view), or 8fps (with silent shutter) and 8fps (for live view). Display lag has been minimised, and up to 116 JPEG (Standard) images can be shot, with group display available. Camera operability and access to various features while writing data have also been greatly improved.

An innovative image-processing system

The camera's APS-C size, 24.2-megapixel ExmorTMCMOS sensor provides a wide sensitivity range and excellent low-noise performance. In conjunction with the new-generation BIONZ XTMimage processing engine, it delivers beautiful, high-resolution images with superb image clarity and texture reproduction.

Extraordinary image quality, low noise and a wider ISO range

Maximum standard ISO sensitivity has been increased to ISO 32000 (expanded to ISO 102400 for stills), while improved imaging algorithms, detail reproduction technology and area-division noise reduction result in more realistic textures, better detail in shadow regions, and more lifelike colours, including human skin tones and natural plant colours.    

Newly added 1:1 aspect ratio for easier social-media shots

In addition to 3:2 and 16:9 aspect (width-to-height) ratios, the 1:1 aspect ratio used by social media platforms is now offered as an option. This eliminates the need for cumbersome hand-trimming of images after shooting in preparation for posting on social media.

14-bit RAW output with rich tonal gradation

When you're shooting in RAW format, the 14-bit digital signals that are converted from analog in the image sensor are passed to the front-end LSI and BIONZ X, where they undergo 16-bit processing before converting back to 14-bit RAW image output. This leads to smoother, more natural tonal gradation in these images.  [1] Image Sensor  [2] The latest high-speed front-end LSI  [3] 16-bit Image processing

4K movie recording in high-bit-rate XAVC S format

Super 35mm format, 4K movie recording with full pixel readout and no pixel binning allows oversampling with approx. 2.4x as much information as is required for 4K (QFHD: 3840 x 2160), adding up to the equivalent of 6K and giving these images more realistic depth. High-bit-rate (max. 100Mbps) XAVC S format, a consumer-friendly version of a format for professional use, plus HLG support result in better-looking movies.

Steady, precise AF tracking for better movies

Fast Hybrid AF brings high speed, accuracy and tracking performance to meet the stringent autofocus demands of 4K movies. AF tracking sensitivity can be adjusted for either stable focus or responsive refocusing, depending on the nature of the scene, and Touch Tracking lets you initiate tracking of a moving subject simply by touching the LCD screen.

S-Gamut/S-Log shooting

S-Log shooting gives you flexibility to make more expressive movies by performing colour grading in post-production. The S-Log3 and S-Log2 gamma curves feature a wide dynamic range (up to 1300%) that can help minimise blown highlights and blocked shadows. The S-Log3 gamma setting also provides an impressive 14-stop latitude. 

Slow and Quick motion, and high-speed 120fps recording

Slow motion (up to 5x) and quick motion (up to 60x) can be recorded in camera in high-quality Full HD, and no PC-based post-processing is required to view your slow-motion and quick-motion footage. Additionally, high bit-rate recordings of up to 100Mbps in Full HD can be used to create high-image-quality slow-motion movies in post-production. 

Sophisticated features for easier movie-making

The 6400 facilitates the workflow of professional videographers with a wide range of functions, including clean HDMI output, time code / user bits (TC/UB), rec. control, marker display/setting, zebra function, Slow & Quick Motion, simultaneous proxy movie recording, extraction and separate storage of a still from a movie, Gamma Display Assist function, and in-monitor display of current ISO value when shooting with ISO Auto, among others.

Support for professional-quality mic and audio input

External camera microphones can be attached via the microphone jack, and there is also an option for line input via XLR connectors using the camera's separately available XLR adaptor kit, which enables connection with various high-end microphones for professional-level audio.

Interval shooting for the creation of time-lapse movies

Continuous shooting with a set interval between 1 and 60 seconds is now available within the camera, and the resulting still images can be edited into a time-lapse movie on a PC using the Viewer application from the Imaging EdgeTMdesktop applications. A simple variable-speed preview function allows you to see an image, on the camera, of how the finished movie will look.

180°-tiltable LCD screen with versatile touch functions

The high-resolution 921k-dot LCD has a 3.0-type screen and tilts upward a full 180° for easy framing of self-portraits and vlogs. The LCD's intuitive touch operations include Touch Pad (smoothly move the focus point), Touch Focus (set the focus point), Touch Shutter (release the shutter), and Touch Tracking (activate Real-Time AF).

Smooth display on the OLED viewfinder

The high-contrast, high-resolution XGA OLED Tru-FinderTM provides high visibility, fine details even in dark areas, accurate colours and smooth displays at either 60fps or 120fps, with the framerate selectable for smoother viewing. Standard and High quality settings are available for both the viewfinder and the LCD monitor. 

Custom functions for greater operability

The camera's eight keys and controls can be custom-assigned to any of 89 shooting and replay functions, and frequently used functions can also be assigned to the control dial and control wheel with My Dial. My Menu allows flexible assignment of 30 menu items, and the custom settings screen helps keep track of everything. Help displays are available on the menu screen via a single button.

User-interface improvements for efficient settings control

A new feature displays frequently used ISO ranges on the ISO setting screen, and another displays frequently used focus-area types on the AF area-setting screen. And when using Flexible Spot mode you can now cycle the AF area up, down, right and left – useful when shooting sporting scenes where the subject moves frequently within the AF area. 

Greater control over white-balance settings

If set in advance, auto white balance can now be locked or unlocked at any time, for more consistent colour tones when there are multiple light sources. Custom setting of white balance has been simplified, and you can now select an AWB priority setting when shooting with incandescent lighting – either warmer Atmosphere Priority, or White Priority for purer whites.

More versatile flash functions

When shooting with compatible wireless flash units, rear-curtain sync and slow sync can now be selected, increasing your creative options for lighting.

Easier ratings and protection from deletion

Still images can be given a rating or protected from deletion, and both functions can be accessed via pre-assigned custom keys.

Advances in remote camera control

When doing remote shooting using the Remote app from the Imaging Edge desktop applications, you can now use the overlay display to make precise adjustments to focus and composition while checking the live view on your PC screen.

One-touch remote, One-touch sharing, Location Information Link

The One-touch remote feature turns your mobile device into a viewfinder and remote control, while One-touch sharing allows photos and videos to be transferred to your device for social media sharing. The camera can also acquire location data via Bluetooth. (These mobile device features are available via Sony's Imaging Edge Mobile app.)

Sturdy, durable construction for robust operation

The camera's low-vibration shutter mechanism is designed and tested to withstand around 200,000 shutter cycles, and the body, top cover and front cover use a light but highly rigid magnesium alloy. Major buttons and dials are sealed, and casing components have an interlocked double-layer structure to resist dust and moisture.

Imaging Edge desktop applications

Elevate your photography with the Imaging Edge desktop applications. Use “Remote" to control and monitor shooting live on your PC screen; “Viewer" to quickly preview, rate, and select photos from large image libraries; and “Edit" to develop RAW data into high-quality photos for delivery. Get the best from Sony RAW files, and manage your productions more efficiently.

Read our Sony A6400 Review for our hands-on experience, sample images and a closer look at its performance in real-world shooting.

Sample images