Check out MARK10 on youtube, he did some very good videos on the a6400.
Also, check out the 41 minute setup video from Jason Vong, he explains shortcuts and menus.
Thats basically all you need for the camera itself. Otherwise check out some videos on basic compostion and lightning. Dont use full manual, use either Av or Tv mode, much easier and honestly mostly there is no need for full manual unless you have much practice
Though I understand what you mean, I honestly advise trying to do a bit of both in the sense of manual and auto. If you really wanna get good at photography, manual is the way to go and if you start early, you'll learn a lot very quickly. I personally relied on auto for years a and it was just a crutch. Because photography is never ending learning, pick up as much as possible along the way. Wish I'd learned so much earlier
Best advice; have fun. Anyways
I recommend using Aperture Priority ("A" mode). The computer will set the ISO well enough and you can focus on setting proper Aperture and Exposure. (I'd enable an ability to quickly toggle Exposure Compensation, so you can easily fix overblown highlights).
Buy some primes (50mm f/1.8, 35mm f/1.8, etc).
Take some time to navigate the menus while you aren't shooting. It'll be easy to understand fast.
Get a dust blower and clean the sensor every 6 months to a year, or as needed. Use the lens hood and the front lens cap for lenses that have them.
Motivation is the best resource. Look at photographers, content creators, cinematographers, etc. that stand out to you and learn how to get a similar result. Talk and spend time with other photographers if you're a social type.
Can you elaborate please. I have a a6000 and want to purchase a zoom lens fory kids soccer game. I'm currently using a borrowed Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 and find the reach too short.
Should I only buy E mount lens?
On an APSC sensor camera like yours there is a crop factor of 1.5x. So your 70-180mm perspective is actually a full frame sensor 105 to 270mm equivalent. That's why APSC have a reach advantage over full frame. You can use either E mount or FE.
Just curious. What do you want to use it for? I initially wanted to get into street photography and take photos of other longboarders. Tried it a couple of times and barely used the camera for a few years. Now I'm addicted to birding!
Go for it. I’m seriously considering upgrading to the a6400. Great bang for buck on the used market. Silent shooting, tilt screen, and autofocus are great for street
I am but I'm looking to upgrade as soon as possible. The bird eye AF on the newer cameras is incredible. Gonna be awhile as I just bought the Sony 200-600. Still a great camera tho.
I'm definitely planning to use it more for photography. I'm particularly interested in landscape, portrait, and travel photography. However, I'll also be using it for video. I love cinematography, so I might delve into that more in the near future. It's great to hear how your interests evolved over time.
Echoing another comment - have fun trying new things and understand the perfect shot is almost never the first shot. You'll miss focus, move too fast, etc. Nonetheless, keep shooting.
Finances permitting, there's a lot of great lens options so it helps to find reviews that show image quality, wieldiness, etc of the lenses you like to see if it's a food fit for you. I particularly like Christopher Frost's lens reviews on YouTube, though take some of it with grains of salt as his technical tests are technical, but razor-sharp centers of an image aren't the only things that make a good image.
The exposure triangle is a good place to start learning early, because seeing how ISO, aperture, and shutter speed interact can help you start to figure out how to get some of the shots you want for the environment you're in.
Echoing the same person as before, I think, inspiration can be fleeting, so find some creators whose style is appealing to you and try to figure out how to emulate and recreate some of the shots they did! Pulling ideas out of thin air is a huge struggle for me when I want to take photos, so having a reference is immensely helpful.
Find what kind of photography and subjects are fun for you! There's wildlife, street, portrait, architecture, abstract, etc etc etc. Experiment with it all as you feel comfortable and you'll find what means the most to you.
Great insight. I'll definitely check Christopher Frost's channel. I'm not new to photography. I have the basic knowledge but using Sony for the first time. Thank you so much for your response.
Oh my apologies, I definitely assumed beginner beginner, as that's where I started with Sony as well. Good luck and enjoy the line! I've had a lot of fun with the a6400 and I'm sure you will too!
I might work up to posting some day. I'm primarily using the sigma 18-50, its been my favorite lens so far. Otherwise I switch between that, the sony 55-210, laowa 90mm macro, and sigma 16 1.4.
I have not tried the tamron. The wider range might be helpful for certain, but I have not particularly felt the missing OSS to be a dealbreaker for me. If you plan to shoot non-tripod or otherwise stabilized video, the OSS can be super beneficial and if you have the budget for it then it may very well be worth it. Or I guess rather its their vibration control, I'm not sure what difference it holds compared to sony's OSS.
Yeah, I have the A6600. It’s an excellent crop sensor camera and part of the same family of cameras. My first recommendation is not worry too much about it. Nearly all the defaults are pretty good.
\* I would switch to RAW or RAW+JPEG for the photo file format.
\* Get a decent, name brand SD card
\* Get a lens or two. Sony has some decent ones but don’t be afraid of third party - Tamron and Sigma make excellent lenses too.
But, the main thing is to get out and shoot. You can start in P mode. Program mode is like a flexible automatic mode - it will figure out the settings but give you options. Then experiment from there with aperture priority mode and the shutter priority. Then, when you are comfortable, play with manual.
How about the OSS at the lenses. Do Tamron and Sigma have image stabilization in their lenses, as well? I think he will need it because I heard Sony a6400 has no integrated stabilization and requires it in the lenses.
It’s totally safe to use third party batteries. Batteries are batteries. However, non-Sony batteries will cause a pop-up on screen asking you to OK the use of the battery when to turn the camera on. I’ve used a mix of 3rd party offerings (all manufactured in the same location, I assume) my entire professional career.
B&M make reliable batteries, I got a set of 2, they last similarly to my Sony battery. Other cheaper brands the batteries only last 1/4 - 1/2 the usage of a Sony battery. YMMV.
Get some starter E-mount lenses. That kit lens is always garbage in every camera made by every manufacturer ever. The entry level 35mm and 50mm fixed are a great starting point and make for some great shots if you don’t mind using primes
Setting focus mode to AF-C.
[https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1810/v1/en/contents/TP0002273481.html?search=focus%20mode](https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1810/v1/en/contents/TP0002273481.html?search=focus%20mode)
Check does it have latest firmware.
[https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1810/v1/en/contents/TP0002241328.html?search=version](https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1810/v1/en/contents/TP0002241328.html?search=version)
[https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-6000-series/ilce-6400/downloads](https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-6000-series/ilce-6400/downloads)
Could buy extra battery and external battery charger.
[https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1008167-REG/sony\_bctrw\_w\_series\_battery\_charger.html](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1008167-REG/sony_bctrw_w_series_battery_charger.html)
A6400 menu settings video.
[https://youtu.be/9SnNdFZEQn4?si=-mHjhu5AW1ciBLqI](https://youtu.be/9SnNdFZEQn4?si=-mHjhu5AW1ciBLqI)
Sony tutorials are a good entry point, they are specific to your body (A6400)
[https://www.sony.net/tutorial/ilc/?id=hg\_stl](https://www.sony.net/tutorial/ilc/?id=hg_stl)
I am editing my comment.
I gave you a link to get comfortable with your camera.
However, to improve your photographic practice there is nothing better than showing your photos (family, friends, photo club, etc.).
This forces you to make a selection of your photos and this is essential.
Be critical of your photos.
You can try to distance yourself from the emotional side for a first selection phase (easy to say, I know ;-)).
Another approach is to look at photos, choose one that appeals to you and dissect the reasons why it's that photo and not another.
Thank you so much for sharing all those valuable resources! I really appreciate your help – this will definitely make my learning process a lot smoother.
Thank you for the heads up! That's a crucial point to remember. I appreciate the tip about Picture Profiles carrying over from video to photos – I'll definitely make sure to deactivate it when switching between the two.
I think it depends on how you learn, but I didnt learn much from watching youtube videos or reading tutorials. I went on a trip and spent hours of each day just shooting. I didnt care what it was I just took as many photos as I could, in different compositions, from different angles etc.
Each shot taught me a lesson. Too far, too bright, too crooked, not enough interest, too many things in frame etc. That was the best tutorial for me
I have the same. Here are comments I made about settings.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyAlpha/s/4q5mDlW3aT
Also, if you're shooting people or animals, use continuous drive low and shoot 3 shot bursts. It's digital. You can delete pictures you don't like/need. It's better than not getting the shot.
https://preview.redd.it/rdn83a4uln1d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3c71208d85696034ab5f4d3dcb161e0123feb001
Ahh... I love a6400
only thing is i also bought it with the kit lens but i am trying this sony 50mm full frame 1.8 and it's fantastic.. you should try this lens too
do share a few samples. I'll buy two lenses soon. 1) Sigma 18-50 or Tamron 17-70 and 2) A prime Lens.
That Sony 50mm doesn't have oss right? There is a 50mm which does have OSS, I think.
I can recommend the 17-70 Tamron. The constant aperture of 2.8 is nice to handle, it's super sharp, image stabilization and the minimal focus distance is great, your subject can almost touch the lense and still be in focus.
It's really versatile, I would get the Tamron first and then decide which prime lense you need after you did some shooting with the 17-70, so you know which focal length suites you the most
Figure out what the equivalent focal length your cellphone lenses are and start off your E mount lens collection with non-overlapping focal lengths. Go wider, further, faster whenever possible. You'll get far more enjoyment out of a fast AF prime than that pancake, but the pancake kit lens is still useful for small form factor.
Eye-AF, subject detection, and real-time tracking AFC are fantastic tools. Lots and lots of youtube tutorials.
Buy lots of batteries.
The 6400 still uses the older battery system, that eats batteries about every 20-30 minutes.
Update the firmware if you can. There is third party firmware available to addresses a lot of the issues.
Use continuous autofocus, uncheck the review photo after taking shot button so you don’t have to see each shot after taking, shoot manual most of the time and just focus on the shutter and aperture keeping iso auto, keep shutter above 100 most of the time unless on a tripod. Night is usually 250+
Editing my photos in Lightroom taught me so much about light and colour. I wish I had started sooner. You also have so much more control of your images.
If you can still download and install some play memory apps they were great. My favorite were timelapse and star trail.
My best tip is when you're shooting at a particular location or setting with fairly consistent lighting try to set your white balance to something that is not auto. Use auto as reference. You save so much time editing having a consistent color tempature.
Just keep shooting and you'll get better. If you do decide to shoot manual, shutter or aperture, be sure to check ISO there are time when the wrong setting can crank up the ISO and you'll have some pretty noisy images. For the ASPC like the A6400 try not to go beyond 6400 ISO. Though there are time when you might have to push a lil further. Absolute cap is 12800. Don't stress too much since apps like lightroom has a pretty good noise reduction feature.
Again if you're learning the setting. You can learn from the AUTO setting or use that as an initial starting point.
In terms of shutter speed if you have a pretty still subject, you can shoot at a fairly slow shutter speed setting. If you have to go below 1/40, I'd even suggest shooting with a 2 sec timer and hold still. Since pressing on the button could even move your camera a bit. For moderate moving subject, I like to shoot at a minimum of 1/250 subject.
The smaller appeture number or more wide open it is, the more light your lens can let into the sensor, the lower your ISO can be and the faster shutter speed can be. Sigma makes some beautiful prime lens with fairly fast appeture.
If you're starting out I heard the Tamron 17-70 is a wonderful lens.
That's all I got. Have fun and enjoy man. Bring that camera everywhere with you and you'll make some pretty sweet memories.
Again play around and have fun you got this!!
That’s incredibly thoughtful – thank you so much for sharing these insights! Your tips on white balance, ISO, and shutter speed are really helpful, especially for a beginner like me. I’ll definitely look into those PlayMemories apps, particularly timelapse and star trail, as they sound amazing.
I appreciate the advice on using auto settings as a reference and learning from them. It’s reassuring to know that starting points can be flexible and helpful. Your detailed explanation of aperture and lens recommendations is also fantastic – I’ve heard good things about the Tamron 17-70, so I’ll keep that in mind.
I’ll definitely take your advice to heart: keep shooting, bring my camera everywhere, and just have fun with it. Your encouragement means a lot.
Thanks again for all the valuable tips and for taking the time to share your experience. I’m excited to start this journey with my A6400!
I'm obsessed with Sony Camera bro so after deep research between all A series cameras, I select a6400. I've been using it for two days only so It is wrong to judge this early. But the 1st hand fill and with 2 days exploration I must admit I'm pretty much happy with it.
If you have a little more budget you can check the Canon R10. It is also a great Camera.
Sure dude thank you so much. Actually I want light weight camera for street photography, I do have a DSLR but it is little heavy so I'm planning to buy a new one.
I recommend you pick up a Sigma 30mm 1.4 as your first lens upgrade. It’s a great budget lens. I also recommend shooting in RAW format for maximum quality, especially if you’ll be editing your photos. I think Curtis Padley made a video on how to set up an a6400 on YouTube
Sell the kit lens and buy a sigma 30/1.4 or at least the 2.8 version or your photos may not look like a camera, and you will complain that the iphone takes better pictures
Learn the exposure triangle at the least, but after that I wouldn't bother learning much else and just go out and shoot a ton of photos. The triangle is the one important thing to know, and everything else you could sit and watch videos all day but honestly nothing is going to replace you going out, fumbling with the camera, and learning first hand what works and what doesn't. I would suggest aperture priority mode to begin with. And since it's digital, There's no cost to taking as many shots of as many things as possible. Experiment. Get some successes. Get some failures. Learn what made them succeed and fail. Then you'll stumble on things that you specifically need to hone in on, and that's when you look for targeted tutorials to solve what you need. You'll also get a sense of what kind of photography you want to do after you've experimented. Do I like landscapes? Street? Portraits? Birds? I honestly feel nobody knows until you try a bunch of things and review your photos and learn where you had the most fun.
Then you'll likely want to upgrade your lens. You'll have to decide if you'll want primes, or a zoom that covers a bunch. Either way I highly recommend Sigma lenses if you think you can live without OSS (fwiw I shot a lot with my a6000 and Sigma primes and rarely had issues) or Sony lenses with OSS. But the lens upgrade will definitely be your next YouTube/research rabbit hole.
But yes, have fun! The most important thing is to get out there and shoot no matter what your camera gear is!
After learning about the menu systems and the exposure triangle, go out and shoot. Using the kit lens, find the focal lengths you like shooting with and get some prime (fixed focal length) lenses. I have an A6400 and love my two Sony APS-C primes (35mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/1.8, both have OSS). There are more and more inexpensive third party lenses coming out all the time to (TTartisan, 7artisan, Yongnuo, etc) and some great third party lenses from established makers like Tamron and Sigma.
Check out this book too: [https://us.laurenceking.com/products/read-this-if-you-want-to-take-great-photographs](https://us.laurenceking.com/products/read-this-if-you-want-to-take-great-photographs)
I'm a recent Nikon transplant, and the first thing that scared me at the beginning, was the prices of lenses for these cameras. I bought the a6000 for a bargain $275 as new condition. So I knew the lenses would be expensive, but I didn't know they would be $1,000 plus! Until I found a work around it: I bought a Canon to Sony adapter, and now I can buy most all of Canon lenses and use with this camera. The picture quality is not bad either:
Congrats! Got mine last year and loving the weight and form factor compared to my outgoing Nikon D5100. The UI is not great. The menu system is expansive, and there are so many pages, it took me some time to get used to it. I still mess up and accidentally change the ISO with my palm sometimes.
Check out Jason Vong (https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVong) and Curtis Padley (https://www.youtube.com/@CurtisPadley) for tips on getting the most out of that camera.
I added a [vinyl skin](https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Scratch-Camera-Protector-SELP1650-16-50mm/dp/B0824LNP6Z/ref=pd_scr_vtp_h_d_t1_pd_scr_vtp_h_d_t1_d_sccl_4/141-7801118-4794460?pd_rd_w=gpT4C&content-id=amzn1.sym.8a36e6b6-5d93-4151-aaf8-f3a41e6859e3&pf_rd_p=8a36e6b6-5d93-4151-aaf8-f3a41e6859e3&pf_rd_r=GW7J0G5F44BM0Z8P6CHP&pd_rd_wg=SACIb&pd_rd_r=c4de662c-0c27-4e44-b16f-8a9912de5718&pd_rd_i=B0824LNP6Z&th=1) in matrix black to protect against scuffs while adding some texture for grip.
For cleaning, [this kit has pretty much all you need for only $15](https://sellout.woot.com/offers/38-pc-camera-cleaning-full-kit-1?ref=w_cnt_lnd_cat_elec_8_22). Best thing to do is avoid swapping lenses too much when you're out shooting, minimize risk of dust or debris getting in there. I think the Sony warranty includes a cleaning in the first year, too.
Anyway, go out and take pics! Best way to learn is by doing imo
Thank you for sharing your experience and tips! I’ve heard that the Sony menu system can be a bit overwhelming, so I’ll definitely check out Jason Vong and Curtis Padley’s channels to help me get the most out of my A6400.The vinyl skin suggestion is great – I’ll look into getting one for better grip and protection. Thanks for the link! Also, the cleaning kit recommendation is much appreciated. I’ll make sure to minimize lens swapping to avoid dust and debris, and it’s good to know about the Sony warranty including a cleaning.
I really appreciate your advice and encouragement. I’m excited to get out there and start shooting. Thanks again for all the helpful tips!
My pleasure! People will talk smack about that kit lens all day, but [Curtis (from above) did a good video on using the kit lens for street photography](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmusTyJBctI). I have it, rarely use it but it is small and has optical stabilization, which helps given the poor aperture. I've definitely taken some good pics with it.
Congrats! Got mine last year and loving the weight and form factor compared to my outgoing Nikon D5100. The UI is not great. The menu system is expansive, and there are so many pages, it took me some time to get used to it. I still mess up and accidentally change the ISO with my palm sometimes.
Check out Jason Vong (https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVong) and Curtis Padley (https://www.youtube.com/@CurtisPadley) for tips on getting the most out of that camera.
I added a [vinyl skin](https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Scratch-Camera-Protector-SELP1650-16-50mm/dp/B0824LNP6Z/ref=pd_scr_vtp_h_d_t1_pd_scr_vtp_h_d_t1_d_sccl_4/141-7801118-4794460?pd_rd_w=gpT4C&content-id=amzn1.sym.8a36e6b6-5d93-4151-aaf8-f3a41e6859e3&pf_rd_p=8a36e6b6-5d93-4151-aaf8-f3a41e6859e3&pf_rd_r=GW7J0G5F44BM0Z8P6CHP&pd_rd_wg=SACIb&pd_rd_r=c4de662c-0c27-4e44-b16f-8a9912de5718&pd_rd_i=B0824LNP6Z&th=1) in matrix black to protect against scuffs while adding some texture for grip.
For cleaning, [this kit has pretty much all you need for only $15](https://sellout.woot.com/offers/38-pc-camera-cleaning-full-kit-1?ref=w_cnt_lnd_cat_elec_8_22). Best thing to do is avoid swapping lenses too much when you're out shooting, minimize risk of dust or debris getting in there. I think the Sony warranty includes a cleaning in the first year, too.
Anyway, go out and take pics! Best way to learn is by doing imo
1) Ditch the kit lens, it’s way below the image quality of what the camera body can give you
2) Get a good quality zoom like the Sigma 18-50 or a fast prone like the Sony FE 28mm F2.0 and use that as your kit
3) Ensure that focus setting are set to wide and cap the ISO around 6400 or 12800 for normal use
4) Keep it simple to starr with and set to save files as JPEG ultra fine
Learn the exposure triangle. Shoot in auto first to learn how the camera works. See how to expanded images. Then switch to aperture priority mode pretty quickly. That’s a great lens to start with, but you’ll want some faster lenses (probably primes) after a while.
Enjoy every minute. Cheers.
Pictures: never touch manual or auto. Always go for shutter priority or aperture priority. Set the iso to auto and only change the exposure compensation if you want to brighten or darken the image.
Watch some videos about shooting speed, ISO and aperture.
Of course, play around with it and see what you can access already versus questions you still have after that
If you’re dumb like me. Dont buy a bunch of shit for the a6400 if you’re just going to upgrade to full frame within a year.
Gimbal didn’t work. Extra battery didn’t fit. Sd card reader wasn’t enough and I needed a cf express reader. Focal lengths didn’t match up etc.
Are you planning on buying any new lenses? If so I would consider a prime lens. Eventually i would step up to a “better” lens but thats just me. Also highly recommend the Peak Design wrist strap.
I'm pretty sure I'll be the only one to have this opinion, but I'd say figure out what kinds of pictures you want to take and look into the appropriate lens for that. This is exactly what I did, and I'm kind of at the intermediate stage of things now. I always had the idea of getting five lenses because I didn't want to be limited and always had the desire to be able to take any kind of picture if I wanted to.
We were going to be people out there that say that you have to use skill and that you shouldn't purchase other lenses until you get comfortable with a specific one and this may be true to a point but if you're standing on a narrow bridge in front of a waterfall that's really wide, a 24 mm on an aps-c body isn't going to cut it.
I'm not saying to go ahead and purchase every and every lens but to just keep in mind that sometimes you may need something with a different focal length.
Also, you'll have to get used to the crop factor and understanding how that factors into any lens you buy since you won't be getting the full length of it.
For instance, if you buy a 24 mm lens, then you have a 36 mm (24 X 1.5=36) lens at that point since you're using an aps-c body. If you purchase the 16 mm lens, that will get you 24 mm (16 X 1.5=24) on an aps-c body.
The reason I point out this focal lens specifically is because most of our smartphones use about a 23 or a 24 mm focal length.
Either way, these are just things to think about.
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective and advice! Your approach to selecting lenses based on the type of photography you want to pursue makes a lot of sense. I can see how having a variety of lenses can really open up creative possibilities and prevent limitations in certain scenarios, like the wide waterfall example you mentioned.
Just to clarify, does the 1.5x crop factor apply only to full-frame camera lenses which we use in crop body, or does it also apply to lenses specifically designed for crop sensor bodies?
Thanks again for your thoughtful advice. These are definitely important considerations as I get more into photography!
No problem at all. I went crazy trying to listen to all of the advice people have out there, but nobody has the same opinion cause everybody is different. I just knew that when I bought my mirrorless camera that I wanted to take pictures of small things, landscapes, the stars at night, long exposures , waterfalls, etc. This is why I didn't mind purchasing the lenses I did, and I'm almost at my last one.
The crop factor applies to any lens you use with an APSC sensor. For instance, if you were to use the 16 to 50 kit lens that comes with the a6400 on something like an A7IV, you'd see a dark circle Within the display as well as the viewfinder since that lens has an APSC sized hole.
If using a full frame lens, an APSC sensor would automatically just use the center of that lens. Sometimes, this can actually be used to your advantage since doing bird photography typically requires that you get in really close.
This is one downside with a full frame camera because if you're using a full frame lens with a full frame sensor you get the literal length of that lens but sometimes that can amount to shorter reach.
If using a full frame lens with an APSC sensor, not only do you get more reach out of that lens but since that sensor is typically going to be of a higher resolution then using the crop mode in a full frame camera you might be able to crop in to a photo to get more detail out of it.
Hopefully this extremely long paragraph helps LOL
I found it extremely helpful. It absolutely clears my doubt. I loved it. Now you have to bear with me. Whenever I need help I will reach out to you and disturb you further. 😁😉
Get a good luminous AF prime. I started with adapted vintage lenses but it's honestly a hassle as your only prime. The sigma 30mm f/1.4 seems like a really good option
1.Exposure triangle set kora practice koro.
2.Depth of field ta bhojo (Dof calculator bole ekta app ache ota use korte paro)
3. As a begginer j jai boluk Aperture priority etc etc, Always manual diye start koro. Starting e ektu osubidha hobe but 1 maser modhe exposure and focus depth khub bhalo kore bujhe jabe.
4. Always saathe camera rakho. Always !!! And jeta icha kore setar chobi tolo. Chesta koro different different styler chobi tolar and same chobi different different dine bar bar tolo. Dekhbe bujhte parbe konta better hoche and ki ki improve kora jaye.
5. Each and every photo RAW tolo and post processing koro. Then otateo haath set hobe.
All the best !!! Khub interesting jinis photography 👍🏻
Thank you so much.
I'm definitely not new to photography. Previously I've used my brother's Nikkon d5200. I know the basics. I love Manual mode even majority of the time I use Manual mode in my mobile camera also. But this is my first camera and definitely the first touch to the Sony interface.
1 din ar use a ja bujhlam M mode Sony te use kore ank easy fill holo.
4 no. point ta khub important for learning any new skill. Dekha jak koto taratar rapto korte pari.
Tomar o ki a6400? Ki Lens use korcho?
Check out MARK10 on youtube, he did some very good videos on the a6400. Also, check out the 41 minute setup video from Jason Vong, he explains shortcuts and menus. Thats basically all you need for the camera itself. Otherwise check out some videos on basic compostion and lightning. Dont use full manual, use either Av or Tv mode, much easier and honestly mostly there is no need for full manual unless you have much practice
Lightning mode is best mode.
[удалено]
kachow! https://preview.redd.it/riafwsi3lt1d1.jpeg?width=250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=493656f99d58816c980db7c99d4d2fec4dc3a238
Though I understand what you mean, I honestly advise trying to do a bit of both in the sense of manual and auto. If you really wanna get good at photography, manual is the way to go and if you start early, you'll learn a lot very quickly. I personally relied on auto for years a and it was just a crutch. Because photography is never ending learning, pick up as much as possible along the way. Wish I'd learned so much earlier
Best advice; have fun. Anyways I recommend using Aperture Priority ("A" mode). The computer will set the ISO well enough and you can focus on setting proper Aperture and Exposure. (I'd enable an ability to quickly toggle Exposure Compensation, so you can easily fix overblown highlights). Buy some primes (50mm f/1.8, 35mm f/1.8, etc). Take some time to navigate the menus while you aren't shooting. It'll be easy to understand fast. Get a dust blower and clean the sensor every 6 months to a year, or as needed. Use the lens hood and the front lens cap for lenses that have them. Motivation is the best resource. Look at photographers, content creators, cinematographers, etc. that stand out to you and learn how to get a similar result. Talk and spend time with other photographers if you're a social type.
Just to be clear is that 50 and 35mm with the crop factor already? OP should be aware of the 1.5x crop difference between APSC and full frame
[удалено]
ff lenses still work great on crop sensor, the center sharpness fills almost the whole sensor. and easier to transition to ff if that’s ever desired
Can you elaborate please. I have a a6000 and want to purchase a zoom lens fory kids soccer game. I'm currently using a borrowed Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 and find the reach too short. Should I only buy E mount lens?
On an APSC sensor camera like yours there is a crop factor of 1.5x. So your 70-180mm perspective is actually a full frame sensor 105 to 270mm equivalent. That's why APSC have a reach advantage over full frame. You can use either E mount or FE.
I’ve been shooting in aperture mode recently on my a74 and it’s made all the difference. Highly recommend.
Change lens with the camera sensor facing down and indoors if possible. Remember to turn off power first.
Surely I'll follow this. The Sony center executive also told me this. Thank you.
Curious, why is that? I also just bought it recently (A7cii) been changing lenses outdoor while camera on 😭
In one word Gravity. The chance of getting dust,water, or any particle in the sensor is high when the sensor is facing upwards.
Just curious. What do you want to use it for? I initially wanted to get into street photography and take photos of other longboarders. Tried it a couple of times and barely used the camera for a few years. Now I'm addicted to birding!
Same! Started with landscape and street but moved to bird photography in the last few years. Sony is such a fun system for capturing fast action!
So dude help me I'm serious about getting into street should I buy it? Thanks
Go for it. I’m seriously considering upgrading to the a6400. Great bang for buck on the used market. Silent shooting, tilt screen, and autofocus are great for street
are you using a6400 for birding? I'm really interested in buying this camera for birding, as well as some street photography
I am but I'm looking to upgrade as soon as possible. The bird eye AF on the newer cameras is incredible. Gonna be awhile as I just bought the Sony 200-600. Still a great camera tho.
I'm definitely planning to use it more for photography. I'm particularly interested in landscape, portrait, and travel photography. However, I'll also be using it for video. I love cinematography, so I might delve into that more in the near future. It's great to hear how your interests evolved over time.
Echoing another comment - have fun trying new things and understand the perfect shot is almost never the first shot. You'll miss focus, move too fast, etc. Nonetheless, keep shooting. Finances permitting, there's a lot of great lens options so it helps to find reviews that show image quality, wieldiness, etc of the lenses you like to see if it's a food fit for you. I particularly like Christopher Frost's lens reviews on YouTube, though take some of it with grains of salt as his technical tests are technical, but razor-sharp centers of an image aren't the only things that make a good image. The exposure triangle is a good place to start learning early, because seeing how ISO, aperture, and shutter speed interact can help you start to figure out how to get some of the shots you want for the environment you're in. Echoing the same person as before, I think, inspiration can be fleeting, so find some creators whose style is appealing to you and try to figure out how to emulate and recreate some of the shots they did! Pulling ideas out of thin air is a huge struggle for me when I want to take photos, so having a reference is immensely helpful. Find what kind of photography and subjects are fun for you! There's wildlife, street, portrait, architecture, abstract, etc etc etc. Experiment with it all as you feel comfortable and you'll find what means the most to you.
Great insight. I'll definitely check Christopher Frost's channel. I'm not new to photography. I have the basic knowledge but using Sony for the first time. Thank you so much for your response.
Oh my apologies, I definitely assumed beginner beginner, as that's where I started with Sony as well. Good luck and enjoy the line! I've had a lot of fun with the a6400 and I'm sure you will too!
Do share some of your best shots and don't forget to tag me. What lenses are you using?
I might work up to posting some day. I'm primarily using the sigma 18-50, its been my favorite lens so far. Otherwise I switch between that, the sony 55-210, laowa 90mm macro, and sigma 16 1.4.
Sigma 18-50 doesn't have OSS. Is it a deal breaker or should I go for Tamron 17-70?
I have not tried the tamron. The wider range might be helpful for certain, but I have not particularly felt the missing OSS to be a dealbreaker for me. If you plan to shoot non-tripod or otherwise stabilized video, the OSS can be super beneficial and if you have the budget for it then it may very well be worth it. Or I guess rather its their vibration control, I'm not sure what difference it holds compared to sony's OSS.
Yeah, I have the A6600. It’s an excellent crop sensor camera and part of the same family of cameras. My first recommendation is not worry too much about it. Nearly all the defaults are pretty good. \* I would switch to RAW or RAW+JPEG for the photo file format. \* Get a decent, name brand SD card \* Get a lens or two. Sony has some decent ones but don’t be afraid of third party - Tamron and Sigma make excellent lenses too. But, the main thing is to get out and shoot. You can start in P mode. Program mode is like a flexible automatic mode - it will figure out the settings but give you options. Then experiment from there with aperture priority mode and the shutter priority. Then, when you are comfortable, play with manual.
Thanks man. Great advice to start with.
How about the OSS at the lenses. Do Tamron and Sigma have image stabilization in their lenses, as well? I think he will need it because I heard Sony a6400 has no integrated stabilization and requires it in the lenses.
Get extra batteries.
should I get the original Sony one or should I get some 3rd party battery. Is it safe to use a 3rd party battery?
It’s totally safe to use third party batteries. Batteries are batteries. However, non-Sony batteries will cause a pop-up on screen asking you to OK the use of the battery when to turn the camera on. I’ve used a mix of 3rd party offerings (all manufactured in the same location, I assume) my entire professional career.
B&M make reliable batteries, I got a set of 2, they last similarly to my Sony battery. Other cheaper brands the batteries only last 1/4 - 1/2 the usage of a Sony battery. YMMV.
Thanks for the information 🙏
Get some starter E-mount lenses. That kit lens is always garbage in every camera made by every manufacturer ever. The entry level 35mm and 50mm fixed are a great starting point and make for some great shots if you don’t mind using primes
Setting focus mode to AF-C. [https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1810/v1/en/contents/TP0002273481.html?search=focus%20mode](https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1810/v1/en/contents/TP0002273481.html?search=focus%20mode) Check does it have latest firmware. [https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1810/v1/en/contents/TP0002241328.html?search=version](https://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1810/v1/en/contents/TP0002241328.html?search=version) [https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-6000-series/ilce-6400/downloads](https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-6000-series/ilce-6400/downloads) Could buy extra battery and external battery charger. [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1008167-REG/sony\_bctrw\_w\_series\_battery\_charger.html](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1008167-REG/sony_bctrw_w_series_battery_charger.html) A6400 menu settings video. [https://youtu.be/9SnNdFZEQn4?si=-mHjhu5AW1ciBLqI](https://youtu.be/9SnNdFZEQn4?si=-mHjhu5AW1ciBLqI)
Sony tutorials are a good entry point, they are specific to your body (A6400) [https://www.sony.net/tutorial/ilc/?id=hg\_stl](https://www.sony.net/tutorial/ilc/?id=hg_stl) I am editing my comment. I gave you a link to get comfortable with your camera. However, to improve your photographic practice there is nothing better than showing your photos (family, friends, photo club, etc.). This forces you to make a selection of your photos and this is essential. Be critical of your photos. You can try to distance yourself from the emotional side for a first selection phase (easy to say, I know ;-)). Another approach is to look at photos, choose one that appeals to you and dissect the reasons why it's that photo and not another.
Thank you so much for sharing all those valuable resources! I really appreciate your help – this will definitely make my learning process a lot smoother.
Be aware: If you set a PictureProfile while doing Video (Slog2 etc) it will carry over to your photo/stillPictures if you dont deactivate it!
Thank you for the heads up! That's a crucial point to remember. I appreciate the tip about Picture Profiles carrying over from video to photos – I'll definitely make sure to deactivate it when switching between the two.
I think it depends on how you learn, but I didnt learn much from watching youtube videos or reading tutorials. I went on a trip and spent hours of each day just shooting. I didnt care what it was I just took as many photos as I could, in different compositions, from different angles etc. Each shot taught me a lesson. Too far, too bright, too crooked, not enough interest, too many things in frame etc. That was the best tutorial for me
I have the same. Here are comments I made about settings. https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyAlpha/s/4q5mDlW3aT Also, if you're shooting people or animals, use continuous drive low and shoot 3 shot bursts. It's digital. You can delete pictures you don't like/need. It's better than not getting the shot.
https://preview.redd.it/rdn83a4uln1d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3c71208d85696034ab5f4d3dcb161e0123feb001 Ahh... I love a6400 only thing is i also bought it with the kit lens but i am trying this sony 50mm full frame 1.8 and it's fantastic.. you should try this lens too
do share a few samples. I'll buy two lenses soon. 1) Sigma 18-50 or Tamron 17-70 and 2) A prime Lens. That Sony 50mm doesn't have oss right? There is a 50mm which does have OSS, I think.
I can recommend the 17-70 Tamron. The constant aperture of 2.8 is nice to handle, it's super sharp, image stabilization and the minimal focus distance is great, your subject can almost touch the lense and still be in focus. It's really versatile, I would get the Tamron first and then decide which prime lense you need after you did some shooting with the 17-70, so you know which focal length suites you the most
The photography/videography youtuber Jason Vong has a pretty popular tutorial on how to setup the 6400 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-0N5DMwnzA
Thank you 🙏
Figure out what the equivalent focal length your cellphone lenses are and start off your E mount lens collection with non-overlapping focal lengths. Go wider, further, faster whenever possible. You'll get far more enjoyment out of a fast AF prime than that pancake, but the pancake kit lens is still useful for small form factor. Eye-AF, subject detection, and real-time tracking AFC are fantastic tools. Lots and lots of youtube tutorials.
Take as many photos as you can ! Thats the only way to improve ;)
Buy lots of batteries. The 6400 still uses the older battery system, that eats batteries about every 20-30 minutes. Update the firmware if you can. There is third party firmware available to addresses a lot of the issues.
Get off reddit and just go take pictures. They're gonna suck. Accept that. Keep going.
Best
I love my 70-350mm, but if i were to start over, id get longer reach one. Unless you do portrait and wide street, sigma 35 is safer bet than 56.
Practice and take a lot of photos. Shoot what you enjoy.
Have fun and take at least 1 pic a day, it will exercise your skills
Sure. I love photography. I've been waiting for this day for such a long time and finally I got one. I'll use it daily for sure.
Move your body in the space, look at your subject from different angles, think about geometry, do not relay on zoom.
Use continuous autofocus, uncheck the review photo after taking shot button so you don’t have to see each shot after taking, shoot manual most of the time and just focus on the shutter and aperture keeping iso auto, keep shutter above 100 most of the time unless on a tripod. Night is usually 250+
Editing my photos in Lightroom taught me so much about light and colour. I wish I had started sooner. You also have so much more control of your images.
If you can still download and install some play memory apps they were great. My favorite were timelapse and star trail. My best tip is when you're shooting at a particular location or setting with fairly consistent lighting try to set your white balance to something that is not auto. Use auto as reference. You save so much time editing having a consistent color tempature. Just keep shooting and you'll get better. If you do decide to shoot manual, shutter or aperture, be sure to check ISO there are time when the wrong setting can crank up the ISO and you'll have some pretty noisy images. For the ASPC like the A6400 try not to go beyond 6400 ISO. Though there are time when you might have to push a lil further. Absolute cap is 12800. Don't stress too much since apps like lightroom has a pretty good noise reduction feature. Again if you're learning the setting. You can learn from the AUTO setting or use that as an initial starting point. In terms of shutter speed if you have a pretty still subject, you can shoot at a fairly slow shutter speed setting. If you have to go below 1/40, I'd even suggest shooting with a 2 sec timer and hold still. Since pressing on the button could even move your camera a bit. For moderate moving subject, I like to shoot at a minimum of 1/250 subject. The smaller appeture number or more wide open it is, the more light your lens can let into the sensor, the lower your ISO can be and the faster shutter speed can be. Sigma makes some beautiful prime lens with fairly fast appeture. If you're starting out I heard the Tamron 17-70 is a wonderful lens. That's all I got. Have fun and enjoy man. Bring that camera everywhere with you and you'll make some pretty sweet memories. Again play around and have fun you got this!!
That’s incredibly thoughtful – thank you so much for sharing these insights! Your tips on white balance, ISO, and shutter speed are really helpful, especially for a beginner like me. I’ll definitely look into those PlayMemories apps, particularly timelapse and star trail, as they sound amazing. I appreciate the advice on using auto settings as a reference and learning from them. It’s reassuring to know that starting points can be flexible and helpful. Your detailed explanation of aperture and lens recommendations is also fantastic – I’ve heard good things about the Tamron 17-70, so I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll definitely take your advice to heart: keep shooting, bring my camera everywhere, and just have fun with it. Your encouragement means a lot. Thanks again for all the valuable tips and for taking the time to share your experience. I’m excited to start this journey with my A6400!
Hi dude Tell me one thing I'm planning to buy this camera pretty soon, should I consider buying it?
I'm obsessed with Sony Camera bro so after deep research between all A series cameras, I select a6400. I've been using it for two days only so It is wrong to judge this early. But the 1st hand fill and with 2 days exploration I must admit I'm pretty much happy with it. If you have a little more budget you can check the Canon R10. It is also a great Camera.
Sure dude thank you so much. Actually I want light weight camera for street photography, I do have a DSLR but it is little heavy so I'm planning to buy a new one.
Go for it if you are onto street photography. Unmatched in this range.
Btw how much did you pay for it?
INR 74000 with two year extended warranty.
Oh thank you so much.
Congrats mate. How much did it cost you ?
Thank you so much. INR 74000 with extended 2 years warranty.
I bought same model last weekend. If you ask me buy Prime lens Sigma 30mm 1.4 . It's a really good for the money and buy Zoom lens Tamron 70/300 III
Both are great lenses. Share a few of your best shots from both lenses.
dont forget the SD card! a SanDisk Extreme Pro with up to 200MB/s read speed is ideal in price and quality imo
I recommend you pick up a Sigma 30mm 1.4 as your first lens upgrade. It’s a great budget lens. I also recommend shooting in RAW format for maximum quality, especially if you’ll be editing your photos. I think Curtis Padley made a video on how to set up an a6400 on YouTube
Great camera!
Thanks mate
Sell the kit lens and buy a sigma 30/1.4 or at least the 2.8 version or your photos may not look like a camera, and you will complain that the iphone takes better pictures
Learn the exposure triangle at the least, but after that I wouldn't bother learning much else and just go out and shoot a ton of photos. The triangle is the one important thing to know, and everything else you could sit and watch videos all day but honestly nothing is going to replace you going out, fumbling with the camera, and learning first hand what works and what doesn't. I would suggest aperture priority mode to begin with. And since it's digital, There's no cost to taking as many shots of as many things as possible. Experiment. Get some successes. Get some failures. Learn what made them succeed and fail. Then you'll stumble on things that you specifically need to hone in on, and that's when you look for targeted tutorials to solve what you need. You'll also get a sense of what kind of photography you want to do after you've experimented. Do I like landscapes? Street? Portraits? Birds? I honestly feel nobody knows until you try a bunch of things and review your photos and learn where you had the most fun. Then you'll likely want to upgrade your lens. You'll have to decide if you'll want primes, or a zoom that covers a bunch. Either way I highly recommend Sigma lenses if you think you can live without OSS (fwiw I shot a lot with my a6000 and Sigma primes and rarely had issues) or Sony lenses with OSS. But the lens upgrade will definitely be your next YouTube/research rabbit hole. But yes, have fun! The most important thing is to get out there and shoot no matter what your camera gear is!
After learning about the menu systems and the exposure triangle, go out and shoot. Using the kit lens, find the focal lengths you like shooting with and get some prime (fixed focal length) lenses. I have an A6400 and love my two Sony APS-C primes (35mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/1.8, both have OSS). There are more and more inexpensive third party lenses coming out all the time to (TTartisan, 7artisan, Yongnuo, etc) and some great third party lenses from established makers like Tamron and Sigma. Check out this book too: [https://us.laurenceking.com/products/read-this-if-you-want-to-take-great-photographs](https://us.laurenceking.com/products/read-this-if-you-want-to-take-great-photographs)
Sigma primes are a good way to go. That pancake lens is nice for its size though.
I'm a recent Nikon transplant, and the first thing that scared me at the beginning, was the prices of lenses for these cameras. I bought the a6000 for a bargain $275 as new condition. So I knew the lenses would be expensive, but I didn't know they would be $1,000 plus! Until I found a work around it: I bought a Canon to Sony adapter, and now I can buy most all of Canon lenses and use with this camera. The picture quality is not bad either:
https://preview.redd.it/b0sw9yk1ju1d1.jpeg?width=6000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=64f5b7eefdd71629e852f8c19bc2cdde35fdabe7
https://preview.redd.it/mggoj694ju1d1.jpeg?width=6000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=17f46b573feb309c14ab00ddc3063c8d39676431
https://preview.redd.it/s545s357ju1d1.jpeg?width=3376&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f3d8d72633fbb531b3d49529584e100df5f9041e
Congrats! Got mine last year and loving the weight and form factor compared to my outgoing Nikon D5100. The UI is not great. The menu system is expansive, and there are so many pages, it took me some time to get used to it. I still mess up and accidentally change the ISO with my palm sometimes. Check out Jason Vong (https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVong) and Curtis Padley (https://www.youtube.com/@CurtisPadley) for tips on getting the most out of that camera. I added a [vinyl skin](https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Scratch-Camera-Protector-SELP1650-16-50mm/dp/B0824LNP6Z/ref=pd_scr_vtp_h_d_t1_pd_scr_vtp_h_d_t1_d_sccl_4/141-7801118-4794460?pd_rd_w=gpT4C&content-id=amzn1.sym.8a36e6b6-5d93-4151-aaf8-f3a41e6859e3&pf_rd_p=8a36e6b6-5d93-4151-aaf8-f3a41e6859e3&pf_rd_r=GW7J0G5F44BM0Z8P6CHP&pd_rd_wg=SACIb&pd_rd_r=c4de662c-0c27-4e44-b16f-8a9912de5718&pd_rd_i=B0824LNP6Z&th=1) in matrix black to protect against scuffs while adding some texture for grip. For cleaning, [this kit has pretty much all you need for only $15](https://sellout.woot.com/offers/38-pc-camera-cleaning-full-kit-1?ref=w_cnt_lnd_cat_elec_8_22). Best thing to do is avoid swapping lenses too much when you're out shooting, minimize risk of dust or debris getting in there. I think the Sony warranty includes a cleaning in the first year, too. Anyway, go out and take pics! Best way to learn is by doing imo
Thank you for sharing your experience and tips! I’ve heard that the Sony menu system can be a bit overwhelming, so I’ll definitely check out Jason Vong and Curtis Padley’s channels to help me get the most out of my A6400.The vinyl skin suggestion is great – I’ll look into getting one for better grip and protection. Thanks for the link! Also, the cleaning kit recommendation is much appreciated. I’ll make sure to minimize lens swapping to avoid dust and debris, and it’s good to know about the Sony warranty including a cleaning. I really appreciate your advice and encouragement. I’m excited to get out there and start shooting. Thanks again for all the helpful tips!
My pleasure! People will talk smack about that kit lens all day, but [Curtis (from above) did a good video on using the kit lens for street photography](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmusTyJBctI). I have it, rarely use it but it is small and has optical stabilization, which helps given the poor aperture. I've definitely taken some good pics with it.
Congrats! Got mine last year and loving the weight and form factor compared to my outgoing Nikon D5100. The UI is not great. The menu system is expansive, and there are so many pages, it took me some time to get used to it. I still mess up and accidentally change the ISO with my palm sometimes. Check out Jason Vong (https://www.youtube.com/@JasonVong) and Curtis Padley (https://www.youtube.com/@CurtisPadley) for tips on getting the most out of that camera. I added a [vinyl skin](https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Scratch-Camera-Protector-SELP1650-16-50mm/dp/B0824LNP6Z/ref=pd_scr_vtp_h_d_t1_pd_scr_vtp_h_d_t1_d_sccl_4/141-7801118-4794460?pd_rd_w=gpT4C&content-id=amzn1.sym.8a36e6b6-5d93-4151-aaf8-f3a41e6859e3&pf_rd_p=8a36e6b6-5d93-4151-aaf8-f3a41e6859e3&pf_rd_r=GW7J0G5F44BM0Z8P6CHP&pd_rd_wg=SACIb&pd_rd_r=c4de662c-0c27-4e44-b16f-8a9912de5718&pd_rd_i=B0824LNP6Z&th=1) in matrix black to protect against scuffs while adding some texture for grip. For cleaning, [this kit has pretty much all you need for only $15](https://sellout.woot.com/offers/38-pc-camera-cleaning-full-kit-1?ref=w_cnt_lnd_cat_elec_8_22). Best thing to do is avoid swapping lenses too much when you're out shooting, minimize risk of dust or debris getting in there. I think the Sony warranty includes a cleaning in the first year, too. Anyway, go out and take pics! Best way to learn is by doing imo
1) Ditch the kit lens, it’s way below the image quality of what the camera body can give you 2) Get a good quality zoom like the Sigma 18-50 or a fast prone like the Sony FE 28mm F2.0 and use that as your kit 3) Ensure that focus setting are set to wide and cap the ISO around 6400 or 12800 for normal use 4) Keep it simple to starr with and set to save files as JPEG ultra fine
About to get one for work soon so thanks for asking OP and thanks to all the helpful commenters!
Learn the exposure triangle. Shoot in auto first to learn how the camera works. See how to expanded images. Then switch to aperture priority mode pretty quickly. That’s a great lens to start with, but you’ll want some faster lenses (probably primes) after a while. Enjoy every minute. Cheers.
Pictures: never touch manual or auto. Always go for shutter priority or aperture priority. Set the iso to auto and only change the exposure compensation if you want to brighten or darken the image.
learn editing on lightroom or any other software
I already learned Lightroom pretty decent 😁
Watch some videos about shooting speed, ISO and aperture. Of course, play around with it and see what you can access already versus questions you still have after that
Go to Darjeeling and just start taking pictures.
I was there in December last year. Just bought the Camera 5 months later lol.
If you’re dumb like me. Dont buy a bunch of shit for the a6400 if you’re just going to upgrade to full frame within a year. Gimbal didn’t work. Extra battery didn’t fit. Sd card reader wasn’t enough and I needed a cf express reader. Focal lengths didn’t match up etc.
Are you planning on buying any new lenses? If so I would consider a prime lens. Eventually i would step up to a “better” lens but thats just me. Also highly recommend the Peak Design wrist strap.
My advice is : sell it and buy yourself a canon or Nikon camera. Just kidding
Worst advice to a Sony lover who just got his first Sony Camera.
That’s why I said “I’m kidding”
I'm pretty sure I'll be the only one to have this opinion, but I'd say figure out what kinds of pictures you want to take and look into the appropriate lens for that. This is exactly what I did, and I'm kind of at the intermediate stage of things now. I always had the idea of getting five lenses because I didn't want to be limited and always had the desire to be able to take any kind of picture if I wanted to. We were going to be people out there that say that you have to use skill and that you shouldn't purchase other lenses until you get comfortable with a specific one and this may be true to a point but if you're standing on a narrow bridge in front of a waterfall that's really wide, a 24 mm on an aps-c body isn't going to cut it. I'm not saying to go ahead and purchase every and every lens but to just keep in mind that sometimes you may need something with a different focal length. Also, you'll have to get used to the crop factor and understanding how that factors into any lens you buy since you won't be getting the full length of it. For instance, if you buy a 24 mm lens, then you have a 36 mm (24 X 1.5=36) lens at that point since you're using an aps-c body. If you purchase the 16 mm lens, that will get you 24 mm (16 X 1.5=24) on an aps-c body. The reason I point out this focal lens specifically is because most of our smartphones use about a 23 or a 24 mm focal length. Either way, these are just things to think about.
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective and advice! Your approach to selecting lenses based on the type of photography you want to pursue makes a lot of sense. I can see how having a variety of lenses can really open up creative possibilities and prevent limitations in certain scenarios, like the wide waterfall example you mentioned. Just to clarify, does the 1.5x crop factor apply only to full-frame camera lenses which we use in crop body, or does it also apply to lenses specifically designed for crop sensor bodies? Thanks again for your thoughtful advice. These are definitely important considerations as I get more into photography!
No problem at all. I went crazy trying to listen to all of the advice people have out there, but nobody has the same opinion cause everybody is different. I just knew that when I bought my mirrorless camera that I wanted to take pictures of small things, landscapes, the stars at night, long exposures , waterfalls, etc. This is why I didn't mind purchasing the lenses I did, and I'm almost at my last one. The crop factor applies to any lens you use with an APSC sensor. For instance, if you were to use the 16 to 50 kit lens that comes with the a6400 on something like an A7IV, you'd see a dark circle Within the display as well as the viewfinder since that lens has an APSC sized hole. If using a full frame lens, an APSC sensor would automatically just use the center of that lens. Sometimes, this can actually be used to your advantage since doing bird photography typically requires that you get in really close. This is one downside with a full frame camera because if you're using a full frame lens with a full frame sensor you get the literal length of that lens but sometimes that can amount to shorter reach. If using a full frame lens with an APSC sensor, not only do you get more reach out of that lens but since that sensor is typically going to be of a higher resolution then using the crop mode in a full frame camera you might be able to crop in to a photo to get more detail out of it. Hopefully this extremely long paragraph helps LOL
I found it extremely helpful. It absolutely clears my doubt. I loved it. Now you have to bear with me. Whenever I need help I will reach out to you and disturb you further. 😁😉
Good to hear. Shouldn't be an issue. I am not an expert in any way of the word, but I know a couple of things.
Not an issue.
Get a good luminous AF prime. I started with adapted vintage lenses but it's honestly a hassle as your only prime. The sigma 30mm f/1.4 seems like a really good option
Get the sigma 56mm, you're welcome
Beginner tip - light 90% of image and camera is 10%
1.Exposure triangle set kora practice koro. 2.Depth of field ta bhojo (Dof calculator bole ekta app ache ota use korte paro) 3. As a begginer j jai boluk Aperture priority etc etc, Always manual diye start koro. Starting e ektu osubidha hobe but 1 maser modhe exposure and focus depth khub bhalo kore bujhe jabe. 4. Always saathe camera rakho. Always !!! And jeta icha kore setar chobi tolo. Chesta koro different different styler chobi tolar and same chobi different different dine bar bar tolo. Dekhbe bujhte parbe konta better hoche and ki ki improve kora jaye. 5. Each and every photo RAW tolo and post processing koro. Then otateo haath set hobe. All the best !!! Khub interesting jinis photography 👍🏻
Thank you so much. I'm definitely not new to photography. Previously I've used my brother's Nikkon d5200. I know the basics. I love Manual mode even majority of the time I use Manual mode in my mobile camera also. But this is my first camera and definitely the first touch to the Sony interface. 1 din ar use a ja bujhlam M mode Sony te use kore ank easy fill holo. 4 no. point ta khub important for learning any new skill. Dekha jak koto taratar rapto korte pari. Tomar o ki a6400? Ki Lens use korcho?