Sony a6400: is it Good for YouTube and Vlogging? Review

Mirrorless cameras are amazing for vlogging. They combine the best of compact and DSLR cameras into one single device. Sony has been releasing excellent mirrorless cameras for a while and they offer a wide variety of equipment for video creators.

The Sony A6400, for example, is a great camera made for beginners that has many cool features for photo and video applications.

But, as you probably know, not all cameras work well for recording vlogs. Some might be heavy, some might not have a flip screen, some might lack video stabilization, etc.

So, what about this camera? Is the Sony A6400 good for vlogging?

Sony A6400 Overview

First of all, the Sony A6400 is a mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor. This means it’s a small, lightweight camera that is mainly designed for entry-level photographers and videographers.

APS-C sensors are cropped sensors cheaper and “simpler” than full-frame sensors. They provide good image quality but capture less information. They are the recommended option for beginners because APS-C cameras and lenses are usually more affordable and modest.

Let’s see what the Sony A6400 has to offer:

Design and body construction

Thanks to its mirrorless design, the camera is compact and portable.

The body is pretty much the same as the previous A6000 cameras with minor upgrades. The external controls haven’t changed although it has many new functions that are only accessible through its digital interface, which can be annoying for some people.

If you’re familiar with the earlier A6000 models, you will love this camera because you won’t have to get used to new buttons.

The Sony A6400 has an electronic viewfinder, a pop-up flash and a hot-shoe. This makes it a very versatile camera.

As for the rear display, it has an LCD touch-screen that you can tilt 74° down and 180° up. This means you can keep an eye on the framing while recording yourself.

However, some vloggers prefer a screen that flips out of the body, but honestly, any “selfie screen” will come handy for recording vlogs.

As for the memory card slots, it only has one. And sadly, it doesn’t support UHS-II cards. Nevertheless, if you’re not a professional, you probably won’t see this as an issue.

24.2 megapixels APS-C sensor

As I said before, this camera has an APS-C sensor. It has a resolution of 24.2 megapixels and it works with a BIONZ X processor to deliver a great performance and flawless results.

It has a sensibility range from ISO 100 to 32,000, expandable up to 102,400 for still images. The sensor is equipped with noise reduction so you can work with high ISO in low light conditions without ruining image quality and losing detail.

In other words, this sensor handles noise pretty well, and it is good to shoot photos and videos in almost any place you want.

Autofocus and image stabilization

The Sony A6400 has a fast hybrid autofocus system that offers quick and accurate focus even for moving subjects. This technology suits vloggers because it will keep a constant focus on all videos.

It also has cool and useful functions such as the Eye-AF that detects subjects’ eyes to guarantee the perfect focus for portraits.

And according to Sony, it’s the “world’s fastest autofocus”.

On the downside, this camera doesn’t have in-body image stabilization. That’s a shame because it can make handheld shooting a little bit messier as it doesn’t compensate camera shake.

If you're looking for an APS-C camera with stabilization, Fujifilm might be a better option. Alternatively, you could check out a Panasonic G85 if you don't mind the smaller Micro 4/3 sensor.

Video

The Sony A6400 can shoot 4K video at 24, 25, or 30fps and 1080p video at up to 120fps. So, if you’d like to record slow-motion videos with this camera, you’re free to do so and have fun!

The video quality is really good and the fact that you can tilt up the screen 180° to see yourself while recording daily vlogs is awesome. However, you should note that this won’t work much if you’re using a microphone attached to the top of the camera to record audio.

Battery and Connectivity

As to the battery, you should know that the Sony A6400 doesn’t include an external battery charger. That’s pretty annoying if you want to charge an external battery or if you just want to charge the battery outside the camera, like it’s done traditionally.

But on the positive side, you can charge the camera while you record. So if you’re at home, you can just plug your camera with the USB power cable and never worry about running out of charge. Or you could also use a power bank when you’re on the go.

Regarding the connectivity options, this camera has a 3.5mm microphone input as well as micro HDMI and micro USB 2.0 ports.

It also supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, so you can connect your camera to the Sony PlayMemories Mobile app in Android and iOS devices.

Is the Sony A6400 Good for Vlogging?

Now that we have talked a little bit about the main features of this camera, it’s time for the big question: is it good for vlogging?

Actually, yes.

This camera is a good deal for most vloggers because it has a simple and compact construction, includes a flip screen, and has a good autofocus system.

But, of course, it’s not perfect. It doesn’t have image stabilization, so if you are going to shoot handheld, you probably would like to invest in lenses equipped with OSS.

(Note: OSS –Optical SteadyShot– is the image stabilization system offered in Sony cameras and lenses)

However, if you can set it on a tripod or any camera stabilizer, the Sony A6400 seems like a nice choice for recording YouTube videos and vlogs.

If you’re a more experienced videographer and you’d like to buy a high-quality camera that fits many more needs beyond vlogging, you might want to look for a different camera.

This is especially true if you want to use it for a lot of handheld recording.

Also, the battery life is not the best if you’re going to be recording video for a long time without a charger.

Best Lenses for The Sony a6400 for YouTube and Vlogging

Remember that Sony A6400 has an APS-C sensor, so you have to look for lenses that fit these kinds of sensors.

Btw, you might want to investigate a little bit about something called crop factor to understand the differences between lenses for full-frame and APS-C sensors.

But, if you don’t want to go too deep into technical stuff and you’d just like to know what lenses you can use with this camera, I can recommend you two options.

To record from home if you can set it up on a tripod and have enough space: Sigma 30mm F1.4