Sony A6100 Review
Image Quality
All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 24.2 megapixel Extra Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 13Mb.
The Sony A6100 generates impressively clean results with minimal grain and detail loss. At ISO 6400 there’s only a slight increase in noise and reduction in detail, making this sensitivity completely usable. Only at ISO 12800 does grain and detail smoothing become more severe, although it’s by no means unsightly. ISO 25600 is really the ceiling for acceptable image quality, such is the high level of grain, loss of detail and reduced dynamic range. ISO 51200 is best avoided due to the intrusive grain and colour speckling.
If you dial things down to more sensible sensitivities, though, the A6100 records excellent dynamic range, especially when assisted by Sony’s Dynamic Range Optimisation. Good colour vibrancy adds extra visual appeal while maintaining accurate colour reproduction, though this of course can be adjusted to your own preference in the camera settings.
It’s worth noting that the Alpha A6100 doesn’t incorporate sensor-shift stabilisation and instead relies on conventional lens-based optical stabilisation. But even if you don’t have an optically-stabilised lens fitted, upping the camera’s sensor sensitivity to compensate for camera shake isn’t a big deal thanks to the A6100’s respectable high ISO image quality.
Noise
There are 10 ISO settings available on the Sony A6100. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting for both JPEG and Raw files.
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ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 6400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 6400 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 12800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 12800 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 25600 (100% Crop) |
ISO 25600 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 51200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 51200 (100% Crop) |
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File Quality
The Sony A6100 has 3 different image quality settings available, with Extra Fine being the highest quality option. Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.
| Extra Fine (13.3Mb) (100% Crop) | Fine (6.59Mb) (100% Crop) |
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| Standard (4.34Mb) (100% Crop) | RAW (23.9Mb) (100% Crop) |
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Flash
The flash settings on the Sony A6100 are Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow sync and Rear flash sync, with Red-eye reduction available in the Main Menu. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.
Flash Off - Wide Angle (24mm) |
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Flash On - Wide Angle (24mm) |
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Flash Off - Telephoto (75mm) |
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Flash On - Telephoto (75mm) |
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And here are some portrait shots. Neither the Auto setting or the Red-eye reduction mode caused any amount of red-eye.
Flash Off |
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Flash On |
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Red-eye Reduction |
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Night
The Sony A6100's maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds and there's also a Bulb mode for even longer exposures, which is excellent news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds at ISO 100.
Dynamic Range Optimizer
D-Range Optimiser (DRO) is Sony's solution to improve shadow detail in photos taken in contrasty light.
Off |
LV1 |
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| LV2 | LV3 |
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LV4 |
LV5 |
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High Dynamic Range
High Dynamic Range Optimiser (HDR) is Sony's solution for capturing more contrast than a single exposure can handle by combining two exposures into one image.
Off |
1.0EV |
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2.0EV |
3.0EV |
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4.0EV |
5.0EV |
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6.0EV |
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Creative Styles
There are 7 Creative Style preset effects that you can use to change the look of your images. Note that they can be applied when shhoting both JPEG and Raw images.
Standard |
Vivid |
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Portrait |
Landscape |
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Sunset |
B/W |
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Sepia |
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Picture Effects
The Sony A6100 offers an extensive range of 13 creative Picture Effects. Note that these are not available when shooting Raw images.
Off |
Toy Camera |
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Pop Color |
Posterization |
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Retro |
Soft High-key |
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Partial Color (Red) |
High Contrast Mono |
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Soft Focus |
HDR Painting |
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Rich-tone Mono |
Miniature |
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Watercolor |
Illustration |
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Sweep Panorama Mode
The Sony A6100 allows you to take panoramic images very easily, by 'sweeping' with the camera while keeping the shutter release depressed. The camera does all the processing and stitching and even successfully compensates for moving subjects.
| Standard |
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| Wide |
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