Welcome to this Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3200 comparison. Both cameras are known and used by numerous photographers around the world, and it’s no wonder.
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| Get the Sony a6000 at Amazon | Get the Nikon D3200 at Amazon |
Both cameras have a lot of amazing features and capabilities, but which should you go for? Don’t worry, we’re here to help.
In this comparison, we’ll cover the ups and downs of both cameras in detail. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to decide which camera best meets your requirements.
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3200 – Comparison Overview
The Sony a6000 is a semi-pro mirrorless camera, while the Nikon D3200 is an entry-level DSLR. Despite being different in type, both cameras have quite a number of common features.
For instance, both cameras have high sensor resolutions. This gives you more detail in your images. Both cameras also have a built-in flash, which comes in handy when shooting in low-light situations. If this isn’t enough for you, an external flash shoe is also provided on both cameras.
The Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3200 have some other common features, but we’ll talk about those later on. For now, let’s move on to their unique features.
The Sony a6000 has a higher burst rate than the Nikon D3200. As a result, you can capture even more points in your subject’s movement.
The a6000 also has near-field communication (NFC). With this feature, you can connect wirelessly to other nearby compatible devices.
The Nikon D3200 on the other hand, has much better battery life than the a6000. This means that you can shoot for a longer length of time on a single charge.
The D3200 also has a microphone port which you can use to attach an external microphone to the camera.
One con which both cameras share is the lack of weather sealing. This means that you can’t shoot in harsh weather environments without the cameras getting damaged by moisture and dust.
When it comes to the price/value ratio, the Sony a6000 is the better camera. Don’t get the wrong idea; the Nikon D3200 gives you great value, but for the price, it just doesn’t seem as worth it as the a6000.
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3200 – Comparison Table
Sony a6000 | Nikon D3200 | |
| Date released | February 12, 2014 | April 19, 2012 |
| Type | Semi-pro mirrorless | Entry-level DSLR |
| Dimensions | 120 x 67 x 45 mm | 125 x 96 x 77 mm |
| Weight | 344g | 505g |
| Screen type | Tilting screen | Fixed screen |
| Screen size | 3 inches | 3 inches |
| Burst rate | 11 fps | 4 fps |
| Light sensitivity | 100 – 25600 ISO (can be raised to 51200 ISO) | 100 – 6400 ISO (can be raised to 12800 ISO) |
| Viewfinder | Electronic | Optical |
| Sensor type | APS-C CMOS | APS-C CMOS |
| Sensor resolution | 24 megapixels | 24 megapixels |
| Focus points | 179 | 11 |
| Battery life | 360 shots | 540 shots |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Face detection focus | Yes | Yes |
| Supports RAW format | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in flash | Yes | Yes |
| External shoe for flash | Yes | Yes |
| Weather sealing | No | No |
| IBIS (in-body image stabilization) | No | No |
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3200 – What situation is each best for?
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Sony a6000 | Nikon D3200 | |
Sports photography | The Sony a6000 has a burst rate of 11 fps. With a burst rate this high, you’ll be able to capture more points in your subject’s movement. The Sony a6000 also has 179 focus points. This gives you wider frame coverage when focusing. Weather sealing is very important when doing sports photography. Unfortunately, the Sony a6000 doesn’t have this feature. As a result, you’ll need to be careful of the environment you are shooting in. | Same as the a6000, but has a burst rate of 4 fps, and 11 focus points. |
Daily photography | The Sony a6000 weighs 344g. its dimensions are 120 x 65 x 45 mm. Because of its small compact body, the Sony a6000 is the more ideal choice for on- the-go photography. | Unlike the a6000, the Nikon D3200 weighs 505g. its dimensions are 125 x 96 x 77 mm. |
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3200 – Common features
High sensor resolution
Both cameras have high sensor resolutions. The Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3200 both have a sensor resolution of 24 megapixels.
With a sensor resolution this high, you’ll get a lot of detail in your photos. You can also crop your images without losing a lot of detail.
Face detection focus
This feature is very useful when doing portrait photos. Face detection focus scans the frame for a face, and then focuses on it. This makes you portrait shots clear and in focus.
Viewfinder
Both the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3200 have a viewfinder. However, there is a slight difference. The a6000 has an electronic viewfinder, while the D3200 has an optical viewfinder. With a viewfinder, you have better framing and more control.
Built-in flash
The Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3200 each have a built-in flash. This comes in handy in low-light situations. However, a built-in flash might cause red eye.
External flash shoe
Both cameras have an external flash shoe for external flashes. This reduces the risk of getting red eye in your portraits. External flashes also give you more control over the light they produce.
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3200 – Unique features
Sony a6000
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179 focus points
With so many focus points, you have wider frame coverage when focusing. This improves tracking performance when focusing on moving subjects.
Burst rate of 11 fps
A high burst rate comes in handy when shooting moving subjects. If you are taking pictures of athletes, children, or any type of moving subject, a high burst rate gives your camera the ability to capture more points in your subject’s movement.
NFC
With this feature, you can connect wirelessly to other nearby compatible devices. To connect, all you need to do is simply touch the two devices against each other.
Weighs 344g
For a mirrorless camera, the weight of Sony a6000 is pretty average. Since it’s so light, you can easily carry it about without it taking up space in your bag.
Nikon D3200
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Microphone port
The Nikon D3200 doesn’t have a built-in microphone, but it does have a microphone port which you can use to connect an external microphone. With this, you have the option of getting high quality audio recordings.
Battery life of 540 shots
The battery life of the Nikon D3200 is pretty average for a DSLR. However, it’s still a lot better than the battery life of the a6000. With the D3200, you can shoot for a longer length of time than the a6000 on a single charge.
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3200 – Unique Pros
Sony a6000
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Better wireless connectivity.
Wider frame coverage when focusing.
Weighs less.
Higher burst rate.
Nikon D3200
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Longer battery life.
Option of high-quality audio recording.
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3200 – Unique Cons
Sony a6000
Shorter battery life.
No microphone.
Nikon D3200
Fewer focus points.
No NFC.
Heavier than the a6000.
Lower burst rate.
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3200 – Common Pros
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Better image quality.
Bigger prints and more detail.
Better framing and control.
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3200 – Common Cons
No weather sealing.
No image stabilization.
Sony a6000 vs Nikon D3200 – How Users Feel About Both
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Sony a6000
Users were impressed by how easy it was to use the a6000. Both beginners and pros had no trouble with the Sony a6000’s controls.
Many people were also impressed with how solid this camera felt. However, they didn’t really like the ergonomics.
Users also liked the lightness and compactness of the Sony a6000. The fact that Sony was able to cram so many features into such a small body was amazing.
Another thing about the Sony a6000 which users liked was the value. For about 500 bucks, they got a camera with features rivaling quite a number of DSLRs.
A lot of people complained about the a6000’s battery life. Many users mentioned that the battery life drained over time, even when not in use.
This problem was solved by simply turning Airplane Mode on. However, when transferring photos and videos via Wi-Fi, be sure to turn it off.
Overall, users think that the Sony a6000 is an amazing camera which photographers of any level can use.
Nikon D3200
For a camera of its type, users thought that the Nikon D3200 was quite affordable. The price seemed reasonable enough for such a camera.
The image quality was another thing about this camera which users liked. Many people also found the D3200 easy to use. Both beginners and pros had to trouble with the menus and controls.
One thing about this camera which a few people complained about was the lack of weather sealing. These complaints were from people who wanted to shoot in harsh environments such as storms, or hurricanes.
Overall, users were very impressed with this camera. Admittedly, it wasn’t the best out there. But for a camera of its type, the price was worth it.
Final Thoughts
That concludes this comparison. The Sony a6000 and the Nikon D3200 are both amazing cameras with numerous features and capabilities.
Both cameras are roughly the same price, so affordability isn’t an issue. However, if you want more value, go for the Sony a6000.
You can’t go wrong with if you choose either one of these cameras. It all comes down to which features you need most.
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