Sony has made some of the most interesting and useful cameras in the market from a wide range of price points as well. The problem is sometimes we are confused about which to choose for, such as between the Sony Alpha 7C Vs A6400 that are equally good and equally compact for casual or professional application. They are very capable in various situations but, not exactly the same and before deciding to choose one, let’s see what you can get from these cameras.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- How to Choose a Mirrorless Camera
- What are Sony Alpha 7C and A6400
- How are the Design of Sony Alpha 7C and A6400
- How are the Autofocus in Sony Alpha 7C and A6400
- How are the Application of Sony Alpha 7C and A6400
- How are the Performance of Sony Alpha 7C and A6400
- Sony Alpha 7C Vs A6400
Choosing a Mirrorless Camera
The market of mirrorless cameras is never quiet with new releases almost every year from different brands that are competing in the market. DSLR used to be a firmer option but now the two are just alternatives to each other. They can take similarly great images and are available with tons of lenses to choose from based on what you are aiming to capture. But, this also means we have many more to consider when going shopping and this is why it can be confusing. Read also: Nikon Coolpix B500 vs Canon Powershot SX430.
For those who are opting cameras with interchangeable lenses, considering the type of lens or the collection of options is wise. No matter how high the resolution our camera has, it will have certain drawbacks when paired with a poor lens because the larger the resolution, the better as well it is in pointing the lens’s optical flaws. Do consider a good quality lens available for the camera to optimize every pixel it already has so we don’t have to worry about mushy details anymore.
As for the image quality, it is more difficult to choose based on this criteria because it is more of a result from various factors including the photographers. The same camera paired with different lenses will produce different results, moreover taken by different people. It is more of a combination of experiences and how well the photographer is handling the situation so they can capture the image as they want despite all limitations present. Our tip is to choose a camera you can feel confident at such as those without confusing menus or just easy to use.
When it comes to cameras, we will also hear about sensors which affects the actual depth of field each format offered with different sensor sizes. The example is full frame with f/2.8 will create a dramatic blur effect of background which is great to bring focus on your subject while if you choose an APS-C, we will need the f/1.8 to create the same effect or even f/1.4 with 4/3 sensor. While a bigger sensor enjoys the benefit of shallow depth, it is the opposite for those with great depth of field.
Another thing to pay attention to is the type or collection of features in your camera. As it has been mentioned above, photographers should be comfortable with their device and most cameras today come with some useful features as well to support the functionality. Starting from an easy to read monitor to simpler menu and some features that can work together continuously, do consider what will be useful in your application.
| Sony Alpha 7C | Sony A6400 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 8.27 x 6.1 x 5.4 inches | 6.2 x 9.2 x 4.55 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 1.1 pounds | 1.7 pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About Sony Alpha 7C and A6400
Camera is a complicated device and this is why choosing one can be confusing as well. We do suggest matching the camera with your typical use so then we can optimize their capabilities because different units are often quite different from each other and our choice doesn’t have to be the same with other people. If this is your first camera, setting up a budget first can be convenient as we have a clear guide about which are possible for our pocket and not all more expensive cameras are better as well.
Most popular brands are good options and chances are they will carry an ideal camera for you as well such as what Sony has been offering for the past years. This brand is famous for their compact mirrorless cameras such as the A6500 which was one of the best back then along with their A7 series. They are the favorite of many for the useful features and pretty easy to get used to as well but, with the growing options, it makes the boundary between each model seem to be not that far apart as well.
The A6000 and A7 line are two amazing families from Sony with some cameras that can be quite closely compared to each other such as the new Sony Alpha 7C and A6400. Some people may wonder why the A6400 is more expensive than A6500 and this is because the little brother is actually newer and when first released is actually already a budget choice with some stripped down features we get from the A6500. The camera itself was more than 2 years old now being released at the beginning of 2019.
The A7C is pretty new and just several months now in the market, not even a year old yet with a price tag about two times more expensive than A6400 so it is understandable why the two are often compared, just to see which will be wiser to pay for. The biggest difference between two cameras or lines here is the sensor size because the A7 is a full frame line while A6000 is an APS-C line, the same as other popular models like A6500 and A6600.
Sony Alpha 7C and A6400 Design
Being a full frame and an APS-C translates well on dimension difference but not actually on the width or height because side by side the A7C just looks thicker than the A6400. The fashion is also different with the A7C’s black and silver accent or full black while the latter is in full black only but, the material seems the same or unibody magnesium alloy. Another prominent difference is on screen because the A6400 is wider by 0.3 inch compared to A7C which is only 2.7-inch.
They feel solid and claim to be dust and moisture resistance. The layouts for controls are the same as well and the interesting part here is their display flip at different sides or in different methods. With A6400, they are the same as A6600 so the display is flipped upward, shown above the camera while the Alpha 7C is fully articulating so they will show at the side of the camera whether facing the shooter or the subject for video blogging.
Sony Alpha 7C and A6400 Autofocus
Digging in deeper about Sony Alpha 7C and A6400, we already know that A7C is a full frame while the latter is an APS-C camera. The APS-C is featured with 425 phase and contrast detection autofocus covering 84% of the sensor while the full frame camera has 639 phase points and 425 contrast detection autofocus covering 93% of the sensor. In the real world our eyes won’t be able to tell the difference but the A7C does have more settings available at 7 different settings compared to only 3 of them in A6400.
Sony Alpha 7C and A6400 Application
Similar to the A6600, the A6400 is also continuously shooting at 11 frames per second while the latter is at 10 frames per second. The difference is negligible but the buffer is quite far apart from each other because your A6400 will shoot 116 jpegs or 46 RAW files before slowing down compared to A7C which can shoot 220 jpegs or 115 RAW in a row, nearly twice as much which makes this camera more ideal if you are working in action or sport photography.
Another thing related to the application is the memory card used because we are quite surprised it still uses the UHS-1 card while the A7C is using the UHS-2 card means the memory should work faster on the full frame side, again making it better for faster application as well.
Sony Alpha 7C and A6400 Performance
Lastly we want to talk about the experience and just overall performance of the Sony Alpha 7C and A6400. The side by side difference is in color because the A7C color profile seems new, it somehow looks more natural as well with truer skin tone, overall we do think it looks more pleasant but you can always edit the A6400 to look like A7C so it’s just a matter of effort. The real difference in our opinion is the lack of IBIS on A6400 which is very important for many people.
The famous in-body image stabilization previously loved in A6500 is gone now, along with panorama mode which the latter is actually not featured as well in A7C. Thankfully the A7C retains the stabilization feature so the camera will be more useful for handheld application. In addition while A6400 uses new image processing which is better than previous cameras, the A7C has better ISO sensitivity and is useful to 51200 and beyond compared to 32000.
Sony Alpha 7C vs A6400
Both are great cameras, they are not the best but can be a great choice for a professional or just hobbyist. The A7C will be a better option in general even with just the image stabilization which is crucial for many users but the camera is also fast and more suitable for a wider range of application yet the price point itself is quite a drawback. Image quality is actually on par so for casual users we do think the A6400 is a wiser choice for the budget.
Conclusion
You should choose the one that seems to fit in the application or which sounds better based on your preference. Alpha 7C is a newer, better, and more expensive camera with versatility but the A6400 is more than enough for the price point and if you don’t need all the bells and whistles from A7C, we recommend the A6400.