A6400vs ZV-E1
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Content Creation & Vlogging — A6400 (2019): The best value APS-C Sony you can buy — especially used. Real-time Eye AF at this price point was transformative when it launched and still makes it one of the most reliable autofocus systems in the lineup.
Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
Who should buy what
A6400 (2019)
- Vloggers and content creators who need a flip screen and reliable AF
- Photographers upgrading from a compact or smartphone
- Beginners who want room to grow into a full E-mount lens ecosystem
- Anyone prioritising autofocus performance at an accessible price
ZV-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The a6400 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a6400 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A6400 (2019) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS BSI | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (6K oversampled, no crop), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 425 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 11fps mechanical, 8fps with AF tracking | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 403g (body, battery, card) | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 120.0 × 66.9 × 59.7mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | None — screen only |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 180° flip for selfie/vlog, 921k dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | Micro-USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | A6400 | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Landscape | — |
More comparisons with A6400
Camera family history