Long established as one of the world’s leading electronics manufacturers, in recent years Sony has invested heavily in cameras. Their mirrorless cameras, in particular, have become market leaders, offering innovative features and extremely high quality.
Matching the right battery to your Sony camera sounds simple until you hit the exceptions: cameras that ship with no charger at all, an a9 that charges over micro-USB, and an a1 II charger that needs a separate USB-PD source. This chart covers batteries and chargers for 39 mirrorless and SLT bodies plus the compact line.
Here are some practical examples of the zoom range of the Sony E 10-20mm f/4 PZ G wide-angle zoom lens to give a visual sense of how the focal lengths translate into real-world shooting.
After weeks shooting the Sony a6700, here's an honest look at its handling, menus, viewfinder, and image quality — with a focus on stills rather than its well-known video chops.
I've been shooting with these two fast wide-angle primes for Sony E-mount. Here's my take on how they compare.
Here's a full set of Sony a6700 sample photos, shot in RAW and lightly processed in Lightroom Classic, meant to sit alongside a separate hands-on review. Click any image to see the full-size version and judge the image quality yourself.
See how the Sony a6700 actually handles high ISO, with real-world sample photos from ISO 3200 up to 102400, plus downloadable JPG and RAW files so you can judge the image quality yourself.
Here's my hands-on review of the Sony E 15mm f/1.4 G prime lens for Sony APS-C Alpha cameras.
Here are some sample images I've taken with the Sony E 15mm f/1.4 G lens on a Sony a6700. It's a fast prime designed for Sony's cropped-sensor APS-C cameras in the Alpha range.
The Sony a6700 has a micro HDMI (Type D) port for video output, plus a separate USB-C port for charging and data. Here's how to tell them apart and which cable to get for each.
The Sony a6700's manual focus ring does nothing until you enable it — Sony buries this under the name Full Time DMF rather than anything obvious. Here's exactly where to find the setting and which lenses and shooting modes it won't work with.
The Sony a6700's mechanical shutter is surprisingly loud, but switching to Silent Mode brings trade-offs beyond noise, including rolling shutter risk, no flash at all, and disabled features. Here's how to set it up and what to watch for.
The Sony a6700's framing grid is switched off by default and buried a couple of menu levels deep. Here's exactly where to find it, how to turn it on, and which grid styles are worth choosing.
The Sony a6700's AF-ON button is set up to work alongside the shutter button for autofocus by default — not ideal for back-button focus. Here's exactly which menu setting to change to separate them.
The a6700's format option isn't where you'd expect — it's tucked in the Shooting menu, not Setup. Here's exactly where to find it, plus when to use quick format versus the less obvious full format.
The Sony a6700 defaults to capping Auto ISO at 6400, well short of its 32,000 native and 102,400 extended range. Here's how base, native, and max ISO break down, and how to raise that ceiling yourself.
The Sony a7C II demands a fast UHS-II card, and picking wrong means dropped frames or a locked-up buffer mid-shoot. Here's exactly which V90 and V60 SD cards handle this camera's single card slot, 33MP bursts, and 600 Mbps 4K video without choking.
The Sony a7R V takes both CFexpress Type A and SDXC UHS-II cards in identical-looking slots, but their performance isn't equal — here's which to pick, when to use both, and the best cards for the job.
The Sony a6700 has a single UHS-II slot, and picking the wrong card grays out its best video modes entirely. Here's which V90 and V60 SD cards actually unlock 4K120 and All-Intra recording, based on independent speed testing.
If you're after a replacement or spare lens hood for your Sony lens, here are the part numbers to look for. Updated with the latest Sony lenses.
The Sony RX0 is compatible with just about any grip that folds out to a table-top tripod. But Sony makes one that adds a built in shutter release.
Sony uses a specific set of codes to distinguish its lenses, from the entry-level "E" series to the top-tier "G Master" glass. As a relative newcomer compared to Canon or Nikon, Sony's list is shorter, but the rapid evolution of their autofocus motors (from SSM to XD) can still be confusing. Here is the complete breakdown.
The Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G zoom lens has an ultra-wide perspective that adds a lot of drama and packs a lot of scene into the frame, but it manages to do it without the distracting parts that you often get at such extreme focal lengths.
The Sony a7 III's two card slots aren't equal — Slot 1 takes fast UHS-II cards, Slot 2 is stuck at UHS-I — and pairing them wrong quietly bottlenecks your bursts and backups. Here's exactly which cards, sizes, and settings to use for each slot.
Confused about which SD card the Sony RX100 VII actually needs? Here's why U3/V30-rated SDXC cards of 64GB or larger are the sweet spot, why UHS-II cards are wasted money in this camera, and which cards to buy.
This is a collection of photos I've taken with the Sony a6500 mirrorless camera to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting under different lighting conditions.
The Sony a1's two identical slots each accept CFexpress Type A or SDXC — but mixing formats carelessly can bottleneck your buffer mid-burst. Here's how the slots actually work and which cards avoid the trap.
Here's a collection of sample images of photos I've taken with the Sony a1 at high ISOs.
Here are some sample images I've taken with the Sony a1, Sony's latest and greatest 50MP full-frame mirrorless camera.
Here's a selection of photos I've taken with the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G wide-angle prime lens on a Sony Alpha camera to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting.
I've recently been out shooting with the Sony FE 70-200mm GM OSS zoom lens. Here are some photos I've taken with it.
A set of handheld, natural-light sample photos from the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS, shot on a Sony A1 across a range of apertures and distances — a real look at what this compact macro prime can do, from close-up flower detail to soft-background portraits.
Here are some practical examples of the zoom range of the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS zoom lens on a Sony Alpha full-frame mirrorless camera.
Here's a collection of photos I've taken with the Sony HX99 compact camera using the macro feature.
Confused by the a6500's manual and its cryptic memory card codes? Here are tested SD card picks that cover every one of the a6500's photo and video features, plus guidance on sizes and compatibility.
The Sony a6600 doesn't come with a memory card as standard. But you're going to need one before you start shooting. Here are my practical recommendations on which cards to get.
Sony's guidance on which memory cards are best to get for the Sony a6100 isn't all that helpful. So here are my practical and up-to-date recommendations on what SD card to get for it to take full advantage of the camera's features.
A running chart of filter thread diameters for Sony E-Mount and A-Mount lenses, updated as new glass ships, plus the step-up ring trick pros use to avoid buying a filter for every lens.
Sony has released a new version of their flagship full-frame mirrorless camera: the Sony a7R IV. After having been shooting with it quite a bit, here's my take.
Here's a collection of images shot with the Sony a7R IV full-frame mirrorless camera under different lighting conditions and with different settings to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting.
The Sony a7R IV gives you several options when it comes to choosing which file image file format to use and how to work them into your workflow. Here's a rundown.
Sony's FE 12-24mm f/4 G lens is an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens designed for their full-frame cameras. For an unusually wide lens, it's remarkably true and sharp and doesn't suffer from the usual optical flaws you'd expect.
The virtual horizon (or virtual level) tool is one of the most useful overlays for composing your shots. Here's how it works on the Sony a7R IV.
The Sony a7R IV gives you some control over customizing what types of information you can see on the back screen and through the viewfinder. Here's how to set it.
Formatting an SD card on the Sony a7R IV takes just a few taps once you know where the menu is — here's exactly where to find it, how each of the two card slots is handled, and what to do if you wipe a card by accident.
If you're running into an error when Slot 1 SD card is full on the Sony a7R IV, here's how to make it roll over to Slot 2 automatically.
The Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM is a high-end fast prime designed for Sony's full-frame mirrorless cameras. Here's my hands-on review.
Here's a collection of photos I've taken recently with the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM wide-angle prime lens on a Sony a7R IV body.
Here's a collection of images shot at high ISOs on the Sony a7R IV, Sony's flagship model with a new and improved 61MP sensor.
Here's a real-world look at what the Sony RX100 VII's images actually look like — 20MP files shot across its 24-200mm optical zoom, in RAW and JPG, under varied conditions and ISOs.
Real-world RAW sample images from the Sony RX100 VII at ISO 3200 through 12800, showing how this compact holds up once the light fades and noise starts to creep in.
See untouched Sony RX100 VII photos shot across its full ISO 64–12800 range, with downloadable original RAW and JPG files and real-world RAW file size figures to judge quality for yourself.
I've been out shooting with the brand-new Sony a7R IV, the full-frame flagship model in Sony's mirrorless camera range. Here are some side-by-side examples taken through the ISO range from ISO 50 to ISO 102400.
The Sony RX100 VII's built-in panorama mode is convenient but has real limits: JPG-only output, a fixed 1/500s shutter, and no way to stop a sweep early. Here's exactly how it works, with dimensions for each aspect ratio and real example shots.
The Sony RX100 VII's 24-200mm optical zoom is just the start — two digital zoom modes push it further, at a real cost to sharpness. Here's how each one works, with sample images to show the actual differences.
Here's my hands-on review of the Sony Alpha a6400, Sony's newest addition to its compact mirrorless interchangeable lens range.
A selection of photos I've taken with the Sony 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 E-Mount lens, a highly versatile zoom lens.
Here's a collection of photos I've taken with the Sony a6400 to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting conditions.
Here's a collection of photos I've taken with the Sony Alpha a6400 mirrorless camera using high ISOs from ISO 6400 up through ISO 102400.
Here are some practical examples of photos shot throughout the Sony a6400's ISO range from ISO 100 through ISO 102400.
The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is a popular choice for APS-C mirrorless cameras like the new Sony a6400 or the Sony a6000. And it makes for a versatile zoom lens for everyday travel photography. Here are some practical examples of its zoom range.
Sony's manual is vague about which SD card the a6400 actually needs. Here's what the UHS-I, U3 and card-size ratings really mean, plus practical picks that work.
A tiny, pocketable camera with a 24-720mm zoom sounds too good to be true — here's what the Sony HX99 actually gets right and where it falls short after extended hands-on shooting.
A selection of real-world Sony HX99 sample photos, shot in a mix of RAW and JPG and lightly processed, showing exactly how this pocket superzoom compact performs day to day.
A tiny sensor was never going to match the low-light leaders, but how bad is the Sony HX99's high ISO noise really? Here's a set of real sample images shot at ISO 1600 and above, judged on their own merits.
The Sony HX99 is a fun little camera to shoot with, and it has some really impressive features. But it's not as easy as it could be to know which is the right type of SD card for your camera. Here are my practical recommendations on good choices for the Sony HX99 compact camera.
It's not easy to know which is the right SD card for your camera. Here are my practical recommendations on good choices for the Sony RX0 ultra-compact camera.
The Sony a6000 takes the NP-FW50 battery, good for roughly 310-360 shots — here's how the genuine Sony version compares to cheaper aftermarket picks, plus faster charging options.
It's not difficult to format a memory card in the Sony a6500, but the option is a bit buried in the menu system. Here's where to find it, as well as some other related tips.
The Sony HX99 is a tiny camera with a massive zoom range. Here are some examples of what the zoom can do in real-world shooting.
Here are some quick practical examples of the zoom range of the Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 lens, a cost-effective and versatile telephoto zoom for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras.
Here's a selection of photos that I've shot at high ISOs with the Sony a6500 to give a sensor of how useful its high ISO settings are in real-world shooting.
A tiny, fast pancake prime with a 24mm-equivalent view on APS-C — here's a look at what the Sony E 16mm f2.8 actually delivers, through unedited RAW photos shot on a Sony a6500 across a range of apertures.
Battery life isn't one of the Sony RX0's strengths. Whether you're looking for a spare battery or to replace a battery that isn't holding a charge as well as it should, here's a rundown of the options. And what Sony doesn't tell you is that there's a good alternative that might be easier to find and potentially cheaper.
The Sony RX0 is tiny and looks like an action camera that's built for shooting video. But it's also a surprisingly capable stills camera as well. Here are some example photos I've taken with it to give a sense of its real-world performance in various shooting conditions.
The Sony RX0 is tiny, rugged, and waterproof. But while it might look like Sony's answer to GoPro, it packs a surprising amount of high-end features and power.
The Sony RX0 is a tiny but surprisingly powerful camera. It's an unconventional choice as a travel camera, and it's not without its issues. But it also has a lot going for it, including decent low-light performance. Here's what I've found when shooting photos with it in the ISO 3200 to ISO 12800 range.
A collection of real Sony a7 III sample images shot on actual travel trips in variable light, not a studio test. Shot in RAW with minimal edits and Sony's native color profiles, they show exactly what this eight-year-old sensor still delivers in the field.
A set of lightly processed RAW sample photos shot with the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM on a Sony a7III, covering a range of subjects, apertures, and focal lengths to show how this G Master zoom actually performs in everyday travel shooting.
A collection of photos taken with the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens to give a sense of how it performs in real-world shooting conditions.
The Sony a7 III's native ISO range runs 100 to 51200, with an extended range stretching from 50 down low to 204800 at the top. Here's what that actually looks like, with side-by-side high-ISO sample images and downloadable RAW files.
The Sony a7III's silent shutter really is silent, not just quiet. Here's the two-step setup to enable it, plus the shooting-mode limits and one electronic-shutter caveat worth knowing before an important shoot.
Here's a selection of sample images I've taken with the Sony 35mm f/1.4 ZA lens, one of Sony's high-end E-mount prime lenses.
The Sony 50mm f/1.4 ZA lens is one of Sony's high-end lenses. On full-frame sensors it offers a normal perspective and is especially good for low-light and selective focus shooting. Here are some sample photos I've taken with it.
How useful are the Sony a7r iii's high-ISO settings that go all the way up to ISO 102400? I shot some images to find out.
The Sony a7r iii has a well-earned reputation for boasting an extraordinarily good sensor, and it has an ISO range from 50 up through 102400. I shot some real-world examples through the ISO range to see how the ISO settings compare side by side.
By default, Sony mirrorless cameras with dual memory card slots don't automatically switch to memory card slot 2 when the card in slot 1 is full. Here's how to change that.
This is a straightforward guide on how to format memory cards in the Sony a6000 camera to free up space and to prepare the memory card just the way the camera wants it.
Any current V30 UHS-I SD card handles the Sony a6000 just fine — but XAVC S video also needs a card of 64GB or larger, which is the real cause of the notorious 'does not support XAVC S movies' error. Here are solid picks plus the bitrates, formatting, and spec details behind them.
Here's a selection of photos I've taken with the Sony RX100 V compact camera under different shooting conditions.
Here's a selection of photos I've taken with the Sony RXR1 II high-end compact camera under different shooting conditions.
Sony's new RX1R II marks the very high end of pocketable cameras. It has a 42-megapixel full-frame sensor, a fixed f/2 Zeiss lens, and boatloads of features. It also has a price to match.
My name is David Coleman, and this is my site. I take photos for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Underwater. And a bunch of places in between. I'm based in Washington, D.C.
This site is where I post practical photography help, tips, and troubleshooting.
All posts and reviews on this site are written by me. And I only review gear with which I have personal hands-on experience. By a photographer, for photographers. More about me.
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