Daven Mathies/Digital Trends

David Elrich / Digital Trends

The Sony A6600 and the Fujifilm X-T3 could seem like fully several types of cameras, however every is a high-end mirrorless mannequin concentrating on lovers and professionals. The Fujifilm options one of many best-looking, best-handling designs of any trendy digital camera, whereas the Sony is loaded with superior expertise. This comparability will assist you to resolve which is strategy works higher for you.
Sony introduced the A6600 in August 2019 and it’ll ship in November. It’s an improve to 2016’s A6500, and though not a lot has modified when it comes to specs, there’s nonetheless sufficient going for this digital camera to get folks excited. The X-T3 is Fujifilm’s flagship crop-sensor digital camera (a title it shares with the X-H1 and new X-Pro3). It could also be a yr outdated, nevertheless it nonetheless compares favorably to the Sony in lots of respects.
Sensor
Both cameras include an APS-C sensor with a 1.5X crop issue in comparison with full body. The X-T3 often is the older digital camera, nevertheless it truly has the newer sensor, with 26 megapixels in comparison with the A6600’s 24. This distinction in decision has little real-world impact and shouldn’t impression your choice.
The X-T3’s sensor is backside-illuminated, which helps it gather extra mild, and makes use of Fujifilm’s distinctive X-TRANS pixel array which helps management moiré with no need an anti-aliasing filter. Sony, however, has chosen to make use of a skinny wiring layer and huge photodiode substrate, which additionally makes it extra environment friendly at gathering mild, whereas sticking to the normal Bayer pixel sample. In apply, each sensors carry out admirably.

1.
Shot on Fujifilm X-T3
2.
Shot on Sony A6600
The Fujifilm has a local ISO vary of 160 via 12,800. In comparability, the A6600 has a local ISO vary of 100 via to 6,400. Shooting in RAW, each provide loads of flexibility for enhancing and getting the look you need. Both additionally provide nice picture high quality straight out of digital camera when capturing JPEG, one thing Sony has labored laborious to enhance within the A6600. But if we needed to choose a winner, we nonetheless desire the gorgeous colour copy of Fujifilm’s movie simulations in its JPEGs.
Autofocus
For the previous few years no less than, Sony has pushed the boundaries of autofocus efficiency. The A6500 comes with 425 phase- and contrast-detection factors, overlaying 84% of the sensor. The X-T3 makes use of 117 factors — nonetheless, they are often additional cut up up into 425 factors and canopy 90% of the sensor. Sony does have the quicker AF, nonetheless, down to simply 0.02 seconds in ideally suited situations. No different model in the marketplace claims to match that.
Both programs are constructed with face and eye detection and produce nice outcomes for when photographing each nonetheless and transferring topics. The A6500, nonetheless, makes use of Sony’s newest Real-Time Tracking and Real-Time Eye AF applied sciences, which had been constructed on synthetic intelligence and take AF efficiency to the subsequent degree. Real-Time Eye AF additionally works on animals, making it an amazing possibility for wildlife photographers.
Both programs have fast and dependable AF, however Sony takes the win right here.
Build high quality and design
The X-T3 and the A6600 can each be described as compact, light-weight mirrorless cameras, however they give the impression of being strikingly totally different. The Fujifilm X-Series has lengthy adopted a extra conventional analog really feel with devoted dials for the ISO and shutter pace. It options a big, center-mounted digital viewfinder (EVF) giving it the look of a small SLR. The Sony is the extra modern-looking digital camera, with fewer bodily controls an EVF tucked into the left nook. Both cameras can be managed through their touchscreens. We love all of the bodily dials and buttons on the X-T3, however which is the higher structure largely comes down to private desire.
At 1 pound 3 ounces, the X-T3 is heavier, however solely by a few ounces. It can also be the bigger digital camera at 5.2 x 3.7 x 2.3 inches, in comparison with 4.72 x 2.63 x 2.73 inches for the Sony. A noticeable distinction in these cameras is the scale of the grip. Sony has designed a big grip that stands out farther from the physique which isn’t pleasing on the attention, however affords a stable hand maintain and homes a big battery. The X-T3 has a extra delicate grip, nevertheless it’s nonetheless substantial sufficient to really feel just like the digital camera is safe in your hand.
We must also point out that the X-T3 has two card slots, the A6600 solely has one. Whether you simply need to maximize storage capability, create redundant backups, or separate nonetheless and video information, that second card slot can turn out to be useful.
Overall, the X-T3 feels extra like a digital camera, whereas the A6600 seems like a elaborate tech gadget. We’re giving the win to the X-T3 right here.
Stabilization
There’s one obvious omission from the Fujifilm X-T3: In-body picture stabilization (IBIS). Just one X-series digital camera has it, the X-H1, however the X-T sequence is seemingly too small to slot in a gimbaled sensor. While a few of Fujifilm’s XF-mount lenses are optically stabilized, our favourite lenses for the system are the wide-aperture primes — practically all of which aren’t stabilized. This limits how sluggish of a shutter pace you should utilize with no tripod.
The Sony A6500 was the primary APS-C mannequin to incorporate sensor-shift stabilization, a function that has been carried ahead into the A6600. It stabilizes movement on 5 axes and affords as much as 5 stops of shake discount, letting you shoot handheld at shutter speeds many instances slower than in any other case attainable.
Obviously, Sony takes the win right here.
Video
Sony is thought for video — it makes camcorders {and professional} cinema cameras utilized in Hollywood, in spite of everything — however Fujifilm took an enormous leap ahead with the video capabilities within the X-T3, surpassing Sony in lots of respects. Both cameras shoot 4K, however solely the X-T3 affords each DCI (4,096 x 2,160) and UltraHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolutions (the Sony solely affords UltraHD). It also can shoot 4K at 60 frames per second, the place the A6600 tops out at 30.
Additionally, the X-T3 can shoot in-camera 10-bit video with 4:2:0 colour at as much as 400 megabits per second, or output uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2 video over HDMI into an exterior recorder. Those are pro-level specs and the picture high quality is spectacular. Sony is restricted to 8-bit video whether or not recording internally or externally, and tops out at a bitrate of simply 100mbps. Both cameras provide logarithmic colour profiles for preserving extra dynamic vary, however you possibly can push the X-T3 footage additional because of the extra bit depth.
But with out IBIS, capturing video on the X-T3 all however requires a tripod, gimbal, or different stabilization system. This is the place the A6600 has an actual edge. The significance of IBIS shouldn’t be underestimated, and whereas the X-T3 could provide higher high quality and extra framerates and resolutions that superior videographers crave, the A6600 might be simpler to make use of for the common individual. Factor Sony’s wonderful focusing system, and it simply will get higher.
Picking a winner right here relies on how a lot video shoot and what you want. The X-T3 has extra potential, however informal shooters will seemingly be happier with the A6600.
Other issues to think about
Battery life: Fujifilm batteries have put a downer on an in any other case unbelievable digital camera. With the X-T3 you possibly can anticipate round 360 pictures from a single cost. The A6600 knocks it out the park as compared, from which you’ll anticipate about 830 pictures from a single cost.
Shutter pace: The X-T3 has a reasonably distinctive benefit right here, albeit one most photographers don’t actually need. It has a shutter pace vary from 1/8,000 second all the way in which all the way down to 15 minutes. You can shoot all the pieces from sports activities to star trails with out the necessity for a distant timer. The A6600 has a extra conventional vary of 1/4,000 to 30 seconds.
Viewfinder:  The A6600 has a 2.36-million-dot decision and a 0.7X magnification, whereas the X-T3 is each bigger and extra detailed at 3.69 million dots and 0.75X magnification.
LCD Screen: The LCD display on the A6600 flips 180 levels, good for individuals who are liable to taking selfies. The X-T3 LCD display solely strikes to 60 levels, however that is nonetheless helpful for individuals who shoot from the hip or a tripod.
Both screens are touch-sensitive. However, you will have extra management with the X-T3, because it permits consumer to alter focus, settings, and take a shot. The A6600 solely affords the power to alter focus factors when utilizing the contact display.
Cost: The A6600 will price shoppers $1,400 (physique solely). The X-T3 physique could be picked up for $1,500, however being a yr after its launch, can usually be discovered for much less because of prompt rebates.
Conclusion
Both of those cameras will provide photographers nice outcomes. They’re versatile, well-made, and able to pro-level picture high quality. For sports activities and motion pictures, the Sony A6600 is the way in which to go because of its superior autofocus monitoring and vastly superior battery life. But for different disciplines, from landscapes and night time skies to portraits and road pictures, we’d nonetheless go for the Fujifilm X-T3. It’s a workhorse that may serve you properly for a few years to return.

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