Sony Announces a6000 With World's Fastest Autofocus

Sony’s impressive lineup of mirrorless cameras was bolstered with new blood on Tuesday, joined by the interchangeable lens a6000. The camera, which blurs the line between entry-level and enthusiast, sports what Sony says is the world’s fastest auto-focus performance among interchangeable lens cameras, at just .06 seconds. For anyone looking to hop into the DSLR market, the a6000 is meant to attract consumers who want quick shooting speeds, an abundance of connectivity features and a low, low price.

Equipped with a 24.3-megapixel APS-C sensor, the a6000 sports enough capabilities and power to please a wide range of users. If you’re especially concerned with snapping action photos, the a6000 is designed to ensure you get the best possible images. With an AF at just .06 seconds, Sony’s fresh new shooter offers even better performance than some professional DSLRs.

According to Sony, its newest model features a focal plane phase-detection AF sensor—179 focal points—that’s combined with the company’s high-precision contrast-detection AF. This allows the a6000 to track and focus on a subject moving through nearly the entire frame, Sony said—users can shoot up to 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus, too, which means you’ll be equipped to capture every little moment.

Other specs of the a6000 include 3-inch tilt able LCD screen, 1080p (60p/24p) movie recording, Wi-Fi, NFC, and an ISO range up to 25600 (51200 in Multi Frame NR). Additionally, the a6000 is compatible with Sony PlayMemories Camera apps, which gives users more flexibility and range while on the go; there are currently ten different apps available, with more planned for this spring.

In Sony’s already robust lineup, the a6000 is designed to fit in where the company sees an opportunity for growth: for folks who don’t want to throw down thousands for their first DSLR, or those replacing a DSLR (or maybe even a companion shooter). The a6000 will be available in April in both black and white, and offer two different versions: one with a 16-50mm motorized zoom lens, for $799, and another for just the body only at $650. If the kit lens isn’t to your liking, Sony’s latest camera is compatible with the companies assortment of “FE” and “E” lenses, which includes about 20 different models.