Sony a6400 Review: Best Travel Size Camera for Beginning Vloggers

February 7th, 2021 | Posted by: Grace Kim

Planning an open ended trip and debating if you want to invest in a DSLR camera? Not sure where to start and would rather settle capturing images on your phone?

Cameras are not cheap, especially if you’re on a budget. They’re an investment but if fully maximized in use, long term rewards will reap. Especially if you’re looking to travel for an extended period of time, I’m sure you’d want to capture your adventures with quality images.

Mobile photos are great but if you’re looking to capture a range of images, like in low light or in distance, investing in a DSLR camera is worth every dollar.

Side thought: don’t you want to properly capture the northern lights one of these days? That would be an experience of a lifetime!

Specifications

The Sony a6400 comes with subtle updates and enhancements from it’s processor, the a6300. Accessories and functionalities are similar, but you just can’t beat particular updates, such as the advanced autofocus with the a6400.

Sensor: 24.2MP APS-C CMOS, 23.5 x 15.6mm
AF Points: 425-point phase detection with Real-Time tracking at 84% coverage
Image processor: Bionz X
Screen flexibility: 180° up, 90° down
ISO range: 100 to 32,000
Max Image Size: 6,000 x 4,000px
Video: 3,840 x 2,160 at 4k/30p
Audio: mic input, no headphone output
View Finder: 2,359k EVF (electronic viewfinder)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi with NFC and Bluetooth (pairing capabilities with the Sony PlayMemories Mobile App)
Max bursts: 11fps burst shooting (8fps with silent shutter)
Interval shooting: added option
Memory card: 1x Memory Stick Pro Duo/SD/SDHC/SDXC, UHS I; uses exFAT file system to handle large file sizes and data volumes over 4GB
Body size: 4.8 x 2.0 x 2.8 in (LWH)
Body weight: 14.3 ounces (0.89 pounds) (battery and SD card included)
Battery charge: 410 shots per battery (per CIPA)

Depending on your intentions with photography, the Sony a6400 is noted as one of the best travel cameras under $1000. These price points are as followed:

Body only: $898
With the 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 Power Zoom Kit Lens: $998
With the 18-135m f/3.5-5.6 Power Zoom Kit Lens: $1,298

Prior to my purchase, I knew that I wanted to invest in lenses that provided quality and range aside from the kit lens, so I only purchased the body. Separately, I purchased the Sony’s 10-18mm F4 OSS lens and Sony 18-105mm F4 lens, providing me with dynamic range to focus on subjects that are both wide and longer in distance.

Sony 18-105mm F4

Sony 10-18mm F4

Pros

Extremely quick autofocus
24MP APS-C image sensor
4k video with no recording limit
Weather sealed
Perfect travel size camera
Built-in flash and hot shoe
11fps continuous drive
Compact body

Cons

Low light performance
Unresponsive touchscreen
Flip screen interference with mic
No IBIS (in-body image stabilization)
UHS-I card slot
Menu system
Rear screen

First Looks of the Sony a6400

Talk about a compact, light weight mirrorless camera. As an upgrade from the Sony a6300, the a6400 provides a good balance of both photo and video. If you’re in the beginning stages of pursuing photography, the Sony a6400 is one of the best cameras for travel vlogging. It’s a mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor, meaning that the camera uses a smaller area to form an image with a narrower field of view.

Prior to traveling full time, I was already hooked on photography and was shooting with a Nikon D3400. And because I had the intentions of capturing my journey not only through photo but also through video, I wanted a camera that provided both. Thinking budget friendly, I decided not to spend an additional ~$2000 on a full frame camera, like the Sony A7S III. But if you’re looking to pursue professional photography, consider looking into a full frame camera. But because those weren’t my initial goals, I settled with the Sony a6400 and couldn’t have been happier with my decision.

Why Sony a6400?

There are countless reasons why the Sony a6400 may be the perfect fit for your photography, videography, and travel needs. And as Sony continues to create some of the best cameras in the market, you can’t go wrong with the image quality the Sony a6400 provides.

Autofocus

Word on the street is that Sony claims that the a6400 has the world’s fastest focus acquisition. As a follow up of the a6300, updates and adjustments have been made with it’s ability to lock onto a subject in 0.02 of a second. Now, that’s extremely fast.

With tracking mode, the camera uses machine learning to identify and track subjects. Real-time eye detection and pattern recognition are added to better identify and track subjects, which is optimal if your subject is constantly moving.

Physique

Let’s talk about lightness. If you’re worried about conserving space when packing for your next trip, the Sony a6400 is hands down the perfect size for both short and long term trips. It fits well not only in a carry on bag, but it’s also light in wight to wrap around your shoulders.

Weighing only 14.3 ounces (0.89 pounds), the camera screams portability. Not only is it light in weight, but it’s also compact in size measuring 4.8 x 2.0 x 2.8 in (LWH).

Product details of the Sony a6400 camera

When solo traveling, I’m sure you’d want to capture selfies along your journey. With the flip screen functionality, you’d be able to do just that. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the best touch screen, but it does the job. It has the same 921k-dot resolution of the original a6000 with a 16:9 screen and although this is great for video, it’s not the best for 3:2 photography.

Along with the poor touch screen functionality, Sony also hasn’t done the best job with mic placing. Once the mic is attached, it blocks the screen; however, there is a viable solution. Purchase and attach a Camera Cage and you’ll be able to use both the flip screen and mic without having the mic block your screen. Problem solved!

Video

If you’ve been debating whether or not to pursue video, the Sony a6400 may be the right camera for you.

When I first started traveling, I knew that I wanted to make vlogging a habit, while still pursuing photography. So after researching what worked best for me, I narrowed down my search and eventually pursued purchasing the Sony a6400.

Being able to record video in 4k without worrying about a recording limit is a win. Unlike the Sony a6300, you won’t get capped out after recording a 30 minute video. But instead, depending on your memory card, you can record up to 13 hours with the Sony a6400. Game changer, isn’t it?

Along with the increased recording time, the Sony a6400 also provides the ability to record in 4k, S-Log 2, S-Log 3, and HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma).

If you’re a beginner and have absolutely no idea how to navigate video settings, I highly recommend learning, understanding, and shooting with manual video settings first. This way, you’ll avoid getting upset if your footage doesn’t come out as intended. I’ve learned the hard way and either had to reshoot hours of video or simply couldn’t use certain footage at all.

Downsides

With anything, there will always be pros and cons. Which is also why there are constant updates and versions with these high tech cameras.

Although the Sony a6400 came out with newer updates from the a6300, there are still a handful of things that Sony could’ve done to enhance their newer models.

For anyone far from being tech savvy, the menu system can be overwhelming and intimidating at first. The menu setting consists of 14 pages, which will undoubtedly take time getting accustomed to.

Till this day, the more I travel, the more I learn something new from my menu settings. There’s a lot to learn and if you make the effort to learn and execute one new thing from the menu system, your Sony a6400 knowledge will be off the roof.

Learning takes time and patience, so don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get your intended shots at first hand.

Overall

For someone who opened up the Sony a6400 for the first time while traveling to now making a living from travel photography, this camera has and continues to work wonders.

It was extremely intimidating and adjusting to the camera at first. But if you make the effort to reach your photography goals, navigating your camera will soon become second nature. From learning how to navigate camera settings to understanding light, the Sony a6400 has the been the best travel size camera.

Read hundreds of blogs and watch every single Youtube video but until you go out and shoot, you won’t understand Sony a6400’s full capabilities. It’s important to conduct research before making the purchase, especially if you’re on a budget. However, there is a solution. Best Buy provides flexible financing options starting on purchases $299 and up. Your payment will be split between 18 months with no interest. This way, you’ll have an ease of mind while meeting payments as you’re traveling.

If you’re looking to take beautiful pictures and vlog your travel journeys, there’s no doubt that the Sony a6400 isn’t the perfect fit. With all its updates, and functionalities, it’s an extremely universal camera. I’ve had no problems traveling with my Sony a6400, paired perfectly with my Sony’s 10-18mm F4 OSS lens and Sony 18-105mm F4 lens.

Additional Questions

Does the Sony a6400 overheat?

As an upgraded feature, Sony introduced an overheating fix for the Sony a6400. In the menu options, find the Auto Pwr OFF Temp to set the camera’s overheating warning. This way if the camera does get too hot, it will shutdown.

How long can Sony a6400 record?

Until the memory card is full, the camera overheats, or the camera loses power, the Sony a6400 will record for up to a maximum of 13 hours.

Does Sony a6400 shoot 4k?

Yes. The Sony a6400 shoots 4k with intricate detail. There’s a full suite of capabilities that make vlogging easier with 4k, such as no recording limit, variety of Log profiles, zebra warnings, and phase-detect autofocus with a microphone input.

Can Sony a6400 shoot 120fps?

Yes, the Sony a6400 can shoot up to 120fps in HD. However, the only downfall is that there is no IBIS embedded into the Sony a6400. So if you’re looking for a smoother cinematic feel, this may not be the best camera option for you.

What battery does the Sony a6400 use?

The Sony a6400 is powered by the Sony NP-FW50 battery, which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery pack. I recommend carrying at least 2 additional packs at all times since the battery life isn’t the most optimal, especially if you’re planning on shooing a ton of video.

Sony a6400 Review: Best Travel Size Camera for Beginner Vloggers + Photographers