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Sony A6000 vs Fujifilm X-T20

Introduction

 

Sony and Fujifilm mirrorless cameras have always competed with each other, especially when it comes to mirrorless cameras. I’ve previously made comparison reviews about the Sony A6000 as well as the Fuji XT20 with other cameras from different brands, while for this article, I saw it fit to make a comparison review about these two remarkable mirrorless cameras since they both come at a similar price range, and they both share similar specs and features.

However, by the end of the article, we’re going to see which one outperforms the other, I’m going to mention even the slightest details and differences between them, while at the end of the article, you’ll find a comparison table where the most key features and specs about each camera will be shown, thus, you’re going to able to see which one outmatches the other in which aspect.

Although take in mind that before purchasing a camera you need to know what features are you after more, but if you’re someone who is just starting out, then one of these two cameras will do the job perfectly.

They pack the most commonly used features, they have great aesthetics as well as a decent performance, so let’s get straight into the topic and see what these cameras are truly capable of.

Related: Fujifilm X-A3 vs Sony A6000

Head To Head Comparison

Sony A6000

This is not new, I’ve said it in my previous Sony a6000 reviews, this particular camera is one of my favorites, it comes with a fair and reasonable price yet it packs some serious features. Many of you may think of this camera as old, and you’re right it’s been some years since it was first released, but even to this day, the Sony a6000 remains as a top-option for users worldwide, and in this article, I’m going to tell you why.

First, let me start by pointing out a couple of interesting facts about the design. The Sony a6000 is the smallest mirrorless camera on the market, it’s compact, light and it’s easy to carry. On the other hand, it has a traditional mirrorless camera button layout, everything can be easily reached, you have the tradition four-way navigation pad as well as all the controls and dials for direct access to some of the most commonly used features, while I find everything to be spaced well which prevents accidental clicks while shooting.

Now, even that I love the size of this camera, this doesn’t really help the handling. To be more precise, I don’t really like how the camera fits in the hands, the handgrip is relatively small and it isn’t as deep as you would find it in some other cameras out there, which for larger hands, this might be a problem so I highly suggest you carry a camera strap for more security.

As we move one, the display on the rear si 3-inches and it holds 921,000k-dots, and there’s some good news about it, but there is some bad news as well. First, the screen can tilt, which is an in-vogue feature especially for videographers, but the bad news is that the screen is not touch-enabled, so you can’t really have that experience that you’d had with a touch-enabled screen, if you decide on getting the a6000, then you’ll have to ignore the lack of a touchscreen.

Also, I don’t really like how the display performs in outdoor light, sometimes you can’t see what’s on the display and that can cause some frustration, but there’s an electronic viewfinder available, so there’s that.

In terms of performance, let’s start with the 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor which delivers a stunning image quality with plenty of details, sharpness, and vibrancy. But that’s not all, this combines with the Bionz X imaging processor which enhances its performance and speed even more, while it allows for a continuous shooting speed of 11-frames per second, which is more than most other rivals out there in this price range, and some of the above.

Regarding the ISO performance, the a6000 is also a great performer in low-light conditions, to be exact, at up to 12,800 ISOs I was able to get noise-free images, while for the most part, higher than that you’re going to notice some over-exposure and some lack of detail with noise. For your information, the ISO sensitivity ranges from 100-25,600.

Moreover, another strong point of the Sony a6000 is the autofocus system, featuring a 179-point focal place phase-detection AF and 25 contrast-detect points, you’ll going to get some serious tracking and focus maintaining across the frame, even if the subject constantly moves.

When it comes to video recording, the Sony a6000 allows you to make movie magic with Full HD 1920 x 1080 video in cinematic 24p, or capture fast action at incredible 60p and 60i frame-rates. Some people may be disappointed that the camera lacks 4K, but considering the price, the a6000 delivers much more value in performance.

Connectivity-wise, the Sony a6000 includes a built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, which means you can instantly share or transfer all your images and work with compatible smartphone devices or tablets.

To sum up, the Sony a6000 is one of my favorite mirrorless camera out there, it’s not just the affordable price which makes it a preferable option for the majority, it’s also the features and the performance that it offers for that price.

Sony A6000 Sample Images:

Related: Sony A6000 vs Canon 80D

Fujifilm X-T20

The Fuji XT20 comes with a relatively higher price than the a6000, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean that this camera is better, the a6000 may include some features that you need that this camera doesn’t. Another major difference between these two cameras is that the XT20 was released only two years ago, whereas the a6000 ages more than that.

Design-wise, the Fuji XT20 looks well-built, futuristic and well-thought-out, while in terms of size, this one feels slightly bigger than the a6000 in hands, which for me is more preferable because yes, I have large hands. Apart from that, the XT20 boasts a magnesium alloy body which makes the camera pretty durable, while the dials on the top place, the front, and rear control dials all feel great. There’s a pop-up flash as well, there’s a switch from moving from Auto to P/A/S/M mode, and for the most part, the manufacturer could have done a better job here because it’s so easy to accidentally flip this switch.

To continue, the XT20 features a 3.0-inches tilting Touchscreen panel for operation at almost any angle, to be more precise, the screen can tilt upward by about 90-degrees, and downward by 45-degrees. The touch-enabled screen will allow you to manually set focus where you want, although, you’ll be pretty limited since you can’t really navigate through the menu with your finger, while you also can’t move the focus point with your finger, so there’s that.

Although the XT20 has a 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder that is not as large as some EVF in more high-end mirrorless cameras, however, it’s definitely bigger than most other optical-viewfinders found on entry-level DSLRs, for instance, the Canon 77D, or the Nikon D5600.

Moreover, the Fuji XT20 has a 24.3-megapixel X-Trans CMOS III APS-C sensor with no low-pass filter, while it combines with the X-Processor Pro II to output a continuous shooting speed of 5.0-frames per second in live-view shooting, 8.0fps when using the mechanical shutter.

Also, what’s more, appealing is the auto ISO sensitivity that ranges from 200 to up to 12,800, but that’s not all since it also has a boosted ISO than ranges from 100 to up to 51,200. You already get the idea of what quality you’ll get in low-light, while for more convenience, the Fuji XT20 packs 7 white balance presets.

This camera is actually better than the a6000 is a lot of ways, starting with the autofocus system, more precisely, the XT20 includes a contrast-detect sensor, phase-detect, multi-area, center, selective single-point, tracking, single, continuous, touch, face-detection AF, while in number, it has a 325-point autofocus system. This will allow the camera to deliver incredible performance when it comes to tracking and maintaining focus on subjects, which makes the camera preferable for wildlife, sports, portrait photography, action, and events. Let’s also mention that it has a focal-length multiplier of 1.5x.

I’ve covered enough, for the most part, but I haven’t really mentioned yet the fact that this particular camera can also record 4K. In addition to conventional Full HD video, the Fujifilm X-T20 also supports 4K video, while it accepts both an HDMI monitor and an external microphone for full-scale video productions, so for those serious videographers, this is really good news since they can get 4K capabilities in an affordable package. Just like with most other mirrorless Fujifilm cameras, this time around you also get film simulation modes for video, such as the monochrome, Classic Chrome, and so on.

Before we end, it’s also important to mention that the X-T20 has a built-in Wi-Fi, a USB 2.0 port, a micro HDMI port, a microphone port, and you can remotely control the camera via smartphone, however, take in mind that the X-T20 doesn’t include a headphone port.

Overall, there’s really nothing bad about this camera, it delivers great value for money, it’s well-rounded whether you see it in terms of features, specs, or performance.

Fujifilm X-T20 Sample Images:

Related: Sony A6000 vs Samsung NX500

Sony A6000 vs Fujifilm X-T20 Feature Comparison

  Sony A6000 Fujifilm X-T20
Camera Type Mirrorless Mirrorless
Megapixels 24.0 24.3
ISO Range 100-25,000 200-12,800(100-51,200)
Flip-Out Screen Yes Yes
AF Points 179 phase-detect AF Points 325 AF Points
Viewfinder Yes Yes
Touchscreen No Yes
Video Recording Yes Yes
Sensor Size APS-C X-Trans CMOS III APS-C

Conclusion

By the comparison table itself, I think you can clearly see which camera holds the advantage, even so, it all depends on how much you need.

The Sony a6000 tends to come at a more affordable price, and I really like what the manufacturer has done for that price, it has a great autofocus system, it has a great ISO performance and an impressive 24-megapixel sensor.

On the other hand, the Fujifilm X-T20 is the bigger brother which comes with tons of upgrades and improvements, starting from the autofocus system, the touchscreen capabilities for manual focus, the 2.36M-dot organic EL electronic viewfinder, and so on.

If you’re on a budget, then I’d suggest you go for the Sony a6000, it’s decent and it’s the smallest mirrorless camera on the market, while on the other hand if you want something more mid-ranged but still with a reasonable price, the Fuji X-T20 would be the ideal choice. It will serve you well whether you use it for sports, action, wildlife, or portrait photography.

Related: Sony A6000 vs Canon 70D