Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Detailed Comparison

In this article, we’ve done a pretty detailed Sony a6000 vs Nikon D7000 comparison. Both cameras were introduced to the market as semi-pro cameras, so, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to expect to find a number of common things between the cameras.

Get the Sony a6000 now!	Get the Nikon D7000 now!

But then again, they are not from the same brand. And we know how the brand card could be a strong determinant of where a camera’s strength could lie. All these; the strengths, weaknesses and even what influence the brands have on the cameras, are themes that have been explored in detail in this article.

However, in order to cater to those who are looking to make a quick decision, we’ve created the comparison overview and comparison table sections. You’ll be able to quickly run through these sections in no time at all.

We do, nonetheless, recommend that you read through the entire article, especially if you are new to the photography scene. You could also broaden your range of options by checking out our other Sony-Nikon comparisons like the Sony a7R Vs D800e.

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Comparison Overview

Here is a quick rundown of the basic ideas of this review:

Overall Rating Of The Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000

From our research, we can say that both the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D7000 are impressive cameras. They both have really interesting features; both of them having a number of features that give them the edge over the other camera.

Rating Of The Features Of The Sony a6000 vs Nikon D7000

The two cameras actually have very few features in common. They both have an external flash port, an inbuilt flash, the Auto Exposure Bracketing feature, face detection and they both can shoot in RAW.

Both cameras are also missing the in body image stabilization feature but have a number of optical stabilization lenses to prevent photos from getting blurry.

Now for the places where the Sony a6000 does better. First off, with a 24 megapixel sensor resolution, the Sony a6000 has a better sensor resolution than the Nikon D7000 (16 megapixels). This camera also has the better maximum ISO (25600 as against 6400).

Furthermore, the Sony a6000 has an inbuilt wireless connection while you’ll have to get an Eye-Fi device for the Nikon D7000. The Sony a6000 has more focus points (179 as against 39) and also has the better continuous shooting rate (11 as against 6 frames per second).

Also, the Sony a6000 this camera has the Near Field Communication connection, can be smartphone controlled and also supports the use of the Ultra-High Speed (UHS-I) memory card.

Now for the places where the Nikon D7000 does better. First off, this camera is both dust resistant and water resistant. Furthermore, this camera has the more impressive battery life (1050 as against 360 shots per charge) and the more impressive maximum shutter speed (1/8000 as against 1/4000 second)

Also, this camera has a microphone port and can time-lapse record. Finally, the Nikon D7000 has a top level LCD screen and two storage slots.

Price/Value Ratio – Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000

Both the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D7000 are pretty affordable cameras. However, the Sony a6000 is way more affordable. And considering the features that both cameras come with, we actually believe that the Sony a6000 has the better price/value ratio.

About The Brands

Sony

The Sony brand is one of those diversified organizations. It has its hands in a number of different things and one of those is cameras.

Sony happens to be the leading producer of mirrorless cameras. These cameras usually have a pretty good sensor resolution but also have terrible battery life.

Nikon

The Nikon brand happens to be the leading producer of DSLR cameras, together with Canon. Nikon has been producing cameras for way longer than Sony.

So, Nikon has way more lenses and accessories in general than Sony. Also, while Nikon camera bodies are usually pretty affordable, you’ll be spending a bit to get the lenses.

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Comparison Table

	Sony a6000	Nikon D7000
Weight	0.76 pound	1.72 pounds
Dimensions	4.7 by 2.6 by 1.8 inches	5.2 by 4.1 by 3 inches
Viewfinder	Electronic	Optical Viewfinder
Battery Life	360 shots per charge	1050 shots per charge
Continuous Shooting	11.0 frames per second (fps)	6 frames per second (fps)
Sensor Resolution	24 megapixels	16 megapixels
Weather Sealing	No	Yes
Wireless Connection	In-built	Eye-Fi
Screen Type	Tilting Screen	Fixed Screen
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/4000 second	1/8000 second
Microphone Port	No	Yes
Storage Slots	1	2
ISO	100 – 25600 and can be expanded to 51200	100 to 6400 and can be expanded to 25600

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – A Comparison Video

Get the Sony a6000 now!	Get the Nikon D7000 now!

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Which Is Better For What?

Sony a6000	Nikon D7000
First off, this is the better camera for shooting in low light and even too bright light. It has the more impressive ISO range of the two cameras.	On the other hand, if you are looking for the camera that you’ll use for long periods at a time, consider this camera. It has the more impressive battery life.
Also, if you’ll a lot of heavy cropping, consider getting this camera. It has a pretty impressive sensor resolution; more impressive than that of the Nikon D7000.	Also, while the Sony a6000 has the more impressive continuous shooting rate, we actually consider this camera the better for shooting quick moving subjects. This is because of its maximum shutter speed. There is a better chance of taking precise shots with this camera without having the subjects blurred.

Get the Sony a6000 now!	Get the Nikon D7000 now!

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Common Features

1. Viewfinder

First off, we are strongly behind the fact that both cameras have their own viewfinders. A viewfinder is there to help you frame your subject before you take a shot.

That is, the image you see through your viewfinder is a representation of what the actual photo will look like. So, you look through the viewfinder and decide if what you see is what you want to see. If it isn’t you can make the changes that are needed. That’s basically what framing is about.

That said, there are basically two kinds of viewfinders and both kinds are represented in this article. The optical viewfinder is what you’ll find in the Nikon D7000. This kind of viewfinder shows you your images the way the lens (or your naked eye) sees it.

While this isn’t the best representation of what your photos will look like (photos are digital), it is pretty close. Also, because it is optical, this kind of viewfinder doesn’t use up so much battery power.

On the other hand, the electronic viewfinder is what you’ll find in the Sony a6000. The electronic viewfinder is basically a small LCD screen. So, it gives a digital representation of the subject you are looking to shoot which is a really close representation of what the end photo will be.

2. Auto Exposure Bracketing

Before taking your shots in any setting, you’ll have to set the exposure. The exposure is what determines how dark or bright your photo will be, basically.

So, depending on how dark or bright you want your photo, you’ll set the ISO, the aperture and shutter speed (which are factors that determine the exposure of a photo).

Now, depending on what the light situation is, it could be pretty tricky to determine what the right emoji should be. You might have to go through the cycle of changing the exposure and shooting till you get the right exposure.

However, if your camera has the Auto Exposure Bracketing feature, that could be easily resolved. All you’ll need to do is switch on the Auto Exposure Bracketing mode.

In this mode, the camera is able to shoot the same subject in different modes that could be right for the photo you want to shoot. You then get to decide which exposure is the perfect fit or you could keep all variations if you need to. Thankfully, both cameras have this feature.

3. Flash

The flash is a feature that you’ve most probably come across and even used at some point. Basically every device that can take pictures has a flash. And the basic idea is that sometimes you could shoot in places where the light condition isn’t very favorable.

The inbuilt flash is that quick fix for shooting in dark places. If it is on, it produces a quick burst of light as you press the shutter button.

Now, we like the inbuilt flash because you can be sure that it will always be there. However, it is definitely not going to solve all your poor light problems. Part of the reason for this is that it doesn’t always have the longest reach.

This is why some cameras have an external flash port. If your camera has this port, you can get an external flash that will afford the light quality and reach you need.

Some cameras have one or the other. However, we like that both the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D7000 come with both the inbuilt flash and the external flash port.

Get the Sony a6000 now!	Get the Nikon D7000 now!

4. Video Resolution

Both the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D7000 have a video resolution of 1920 by 1080. While this isn’t the most impressive video resolution currently, it is actually pretty impressive; especially considering the fact that a camera isn’t primarily for shooting videos.

However, we have to point out that while the Sony a6000 shoots 60p (basically frames per second for videos), the Nikon D7000 can only shoot 24p.

5. RAW Support

Basically every camera can shoot in jpeg but not all can shoot in RAW. Now, a lot of people are actually OK with shooting in jpeg. After all, it offers decent image quality and the files are compressed. Compressed files are not heavy and so do not take up so much camera storage space.

However, it is a nice idea to go for a camera that also shoots in RAW. RAW photos are untouched and uncompressed and so there is no data and no quality. That is, photos shot in RAW retain their original quality.

So, while you might not want to shoot in RAW because the files are pretty large, it makes sense to have it handy, especially if you’ll be doing professional photography.

6. Face Detection

Finally, both cameras have the face detection feature. This feature helps both cameras to detect and then focus on human faces. Once this is done, the cameras (that have this feature) make the human face(s) the major focus of the shoot.

This helps to reduce the incidence of blurry photos and is a very important feature if you want to shoot portraits.

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – A Sony a6000 Demonstration Video

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Unique Features

1. Mirrorless Vs DSLR

This mirrorless vs DSLR difference is a very fundamental difference between the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D7000. While the Sony a6000 is a mirrorless camera, the Nikon D7000 is a DSLR and there is a basic difference between how these two kinds of cameras function.

Basically, a DSLR camera has both a mirror and an optical viewfinder. Now, when light passes through the lens on a DSLR, it gets distributed to the sensor and the viewfinder by being reflected from a mirror.

On the other hand, when light passes through the lens on a mirrorless camera, it goes on to the sensor. The sensor then sends a digital image to the viewfinder or the LCD screen as the case may be (not all mirrorless cameras have a viewfinder. With those that do not, you’ll have to use the screen to frame).

Now, aside the basic workings, DSLR and mirrorless cameras usually differ in weight. Because of the absence of a mirror, mirrorless cameras are able to be significantly smaller and lighter than their DSLR counterparts while performing at the same or an even higher level.

DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras have also been known to differ in their battery life performance. DSLRs typically have a better battery life than their mirrorless counterparts. And this could be attributed, in part, to the kind of viewfinders they typically have.

The optical viewfinder is what you’d usually find in a DSLR and this kind of viewfinder doesn’t use up so much battery power, unlike the electronic viewfinder which you’d typically find in a mirrorless camera.

2. Weight

Even though the camera’s weight isn’t exactly a feature, it is definitely something you want to factor in as you pick the right camera for you. The right weight will be dependent on what you need the camera for.

If you’ll be doing a lot of energy exerting stuff with your camera, you’ll need something lightweight. However, if not, you could go for whatever feels right in your hands.

That said, at 1.72 pounds, the Nikon D7000 is significantly heavier than the Sony a6000 that weighs 0.76 pound.

Furthermore, both cameras have an APS-C sensor and as a result will require lenses of the same weight and size for the same aperture and focal. So, while attaching a lens to both cameras will affect their individual weight, it won’t affect the weight difference between the cameras.

3. Sensor Resolution

A camera’s sensor resolution is what gives you the room to touch up your photos after they’ve been shot. Here’s what we mean. When you crop your photos or blow them up, the photos lose some details which affects their quality.

Now, if your camera has an impressive sensor resolution, it won’t stop the photos from losing details when they are cropped, blown up or even when you try to print them large. However, you’ll have enough details left that the quality would still be alright.

This is why photographers that know that they won’t be able to avoid cropping their photos go for cameras with very impressive sensor resolution.

That said, of the two cameras in this review, we only consider the Sony a6000’s 24 megapixel sensor resolution impressive. The Nikon D7000’s 16 megapixel resolution is not a cropper’s best friend.

4. ISO

The ISO is what determines how much light the camera will let in. This is why it is one of the features that determine a camera’s exposure.

Now, the ISO you decide to set your camera to will be dependent on how much light is available in your environment. If there is there is too much, you want a low ISO so that your camera doesn’t let in all that light. And if it isn’t enough, you want a high ISO so that your camera can let in as much light as is available.

Knowing this, you’ll agree with us that it is a nice thing for a camera’s ISO range to be decently wide. Even if you think you might never need to go so high, it doesn’t hurt to know that your camera has such ability. Who knows when you might need it?

That said, the Sony a6000 has the more impressive ISO range. Its ISO can go as high as 25600 while that of the Nikon D7000 can only go as high as 6400. However, both cameras can have their ISOs expanded with that of the Sony a6000 going as high as 51200 and that of the Nikon D7000 going as high as 25600.

5. Maximum Shutter Speed

This is another feature that determines the camera’s exposure and it kinda has something to do with light. Shutter speed is basically what it says; how fast the camera shutter is. So, maximum shutter speed tells us a camera shutters speed limit.

Now, one very important reason why people like a fast shutter speed is because of how it can help capture moments. So, if your camera has a really fast shutter speed, you can basically freeze moments. You can shoot really fast moving subjects and capture their details without blur which is awesome.

However, did you know that a slow shutter speed could be useful to? Shooting with a slow shutter could make the photos you shoot blurry but that could be a good thing if you are looking to create an illusion of motion.

That said, it is definitely better to have a camera with a high maximum shutter speed. This way, you can set your camera to shoot slow or fast.

That said, the Sony a6000’s 1/4000 second maximum shutter speed is pretty impressive. However, the Nikon D7000’s 1/8000 second is definitely more impressive.

6. Continuous Shooting

This one also has something to do with speed. Your camera’s continuous shooting rate is basically how many photos it can take in one second. It is a mode you can switch on, though; not like your camera will just always take more than one photo in a second.

Anyway, you’ll appreciate this feature a whole lot more if you shoot in places where time is of the essence. Such places as wildlife forests, sports centers and even wherever celebrities are require that you do whatever you do quickly.

That said, the Sony a6000 has a more impressive continuous shooting rate than the Nikon D7000. With the Nikon D7000, you can get 6 frames in one second while the Sony a6000 offers up to 11 frames per second.

Get the Sony a6000 now!	Get the Nikon D7000 now!

7. Wireless Connection

For a camera, wireless connection, or internet connection in general, is important for having swift (and of course wireless) transfer of files; from the camera or to the camera.

That said, both the Sony a6000 and the Nikon D7000 actually have a means of gaining internet access. However, this feature has made it here because there is a profound difference between the means.

The Sony a6000 has an inbuilt wireless connection. So, with just a Wi-Fi connection, you can gain access to the internet. However, the Nikon D7000 does not have this feature built-in but it does have a provision for an Eye-Fi device.

The Eye-Fi device is kinda like a SD card that you slot into the camera in order to gain access to the internet. You need to know, though, that this Eye-Fi device is not as swift and does not have as wide a coverage as the inbuilt wireless connection.

Furthermore, of the two cameras, only the Sony a6000 has the Near Field Communication (NFC) feature. This feature is another connectivity feature. However, this works without internet access; the other device (usually a smartphone) just has to have the NFC feature too.

Finally, the Sony a6000 can be controlled using a smartphone. You’ll download the camera app on the smartphone and then connect the camera to the phone via this app.

Once that is done, you can place the camera where you want it to be and then go to a comfortable place to shoot with your smartphone. And because the remote in this case is a smartphone, you’ll be able to see what the camera sees on the phone screen.

8. Articulating Screen

This is the kind of screen that can be moved or angled in certain directions without moving the camera body. And the idea of this kind of screen is that it allows you shoot photos from some nearly impossible angles like overhead shots.

There are different kinds of articulating screens. The tilting screen (which the Sony a6000 has) can only be moved upward and then back down. A full flex screen, on the other hand, can be rotated and as a result, can be used to shoot or record oneself by oneself.

The Nikon D7000, however, doesn’t have any kind of articulating screen; its screen is fixed.

9. Microphone Port

Basically every digital camera has an inbuilt microphone. However, the inbuilt microphone is not reliable for recording quality audio, especially when you are outdoors. This is because it has the tendency to pick up a lot of environment and handling noises.

If your camera has a microphone port, however, it is now up to use to get the microphone that will give you the quality you’re looking for. That said, of the two cameras in this review, only the Nikon D7000 has a microphone port.

10. Weather Sealing

Weather sealing is a form of protection for cameras against certain weather elements like moisture and dust. There are different degrees to this with some cameras being waterproof and others being water resistant.

Now, the difference between a camera that is waterproof and one that is water resistant lies in how much exposure the camera can get to water.

A camera that is waterproof is fully protected against water and so can be submerged in water. This is the kind of camera you can take swimming or even diving.

However, if your camera is water resistant like the Nikon D7000, it is only partially protected. So, while it might survive some accidental exposures, you do not want to take it diving.

That said, while the Nikon D7000 is both water resistant and dust resistant, the Sony a6000 is not weather sealed at all. So, you’ll have to be careful when and where you decide to use the camera.

11. Top Level LCD Screen

This one is a small LCD screen located at the top of the camera. The idea of this little screen is to afford you a quick glance at what’s going on with the camera without having to turn yourself or the camera. It is basically about ease and only the Nikon D7000 has this feature.

12. Available Lenses

Finally, the Nikon D7000 has more lenses available to it than the Sony a6000. The Nikon D7000 has 302 regular lenses available to it while the Sony a6000 has only 102.

Furthermore, both cameras do not have an in body image stabilization feature. As a result, you’ll have to rely on optical stabilization lenses if you do not want your photos to come out looking blurry. That said, the Sony a6000 has 23 of these lenses available while the Nikon D7000 has 88.

Sony a6000 vs Nikon D7000 – A Nikon D7000 Demonstration Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnHil6WgTXQ

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Unique Pros

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Pros Of The Sony a6000

• First off, the Sony a6000 has the more impressive sensor resolution. This makes it the better option for those that do heavy cropping.
• Furthermore, this camera has an inbuilt wireless connection that affords you swift transfer of files to an online location.
• This camera has the better continuous shooting rate of the two cameras.
• The Sony a6000 has the more impressive maximum ISO.
• Furthermore, this camera has a better low light performance than the Nikon D7000. This is because it has a better low light ISO (1347) than the Nikon D7000 (1167).
• This camera also has the Near Field Communication connection with which you can wirelessly transfer your files to an off-camera device without needing an internet connection.
• The Sony a6000 can be connected using a smartphone. And this might come in handy if you have to shoot in a places that are not very safe.
• Furthermore, this camera has a lot more focus points (179) than the Nikon D7000 (39). As a result, it will focus faster and more precisely than the Nikon D7000.
• This camera also has a better color depth (24.1) than the Nikon D7000 (23.5).
• The Sony s6000 supports the use of an Ultra-High Speed memory card; the UHS-I, to be precise. This memory card allows for the swift transfer of files.
• Finally, this camera is significantly smaller and lighter than the Nikon D7000.

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Pros Of The Nikon D7000

• First off, the Nikon D7000 is both dust and water resistant.
• Furthermore, this camera has a more impressive battery life (1050 shots per charge) than the Sony a6000 (360 shots per charge).
• Also, an external microphone can be used with this camera, making it the better option for recording videos.
• The Nikon D7000 has the higher maximum shutter speed.
• Furthermore, this camera can time-lapse record without needed to download any special app.
• Also, this camera’s inbuilt flash has twice the coverage of that of the Sony a6000 which has a 6 meter coverage.
• The Nikon D7000 has a top level LCD screen.
• Furthermore, this camera has a slightly better dynamic range (13.9) than the Sony a6000 (13.1).
• Also, this camera has two storage slots as against the Sony a6000’s one.
• Finally, this camera has more lenses available with it than the Sony a6000.

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Unique Cons

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Cons Of The Sony a6000

• First off, the Sony a6000 doesn’t have an impressive battery life.
• Furthermore, this camera is not weather sealed.
• Also, the absence of a microphone could put a damper on things for videographers.

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Cons Of The Nikon D7000

• First off, the Nikon D7000 does not have any form of offline wireless connection. As a result, you won’t be able to make transfers without an internet connection or wires.
• Also, this camera could be considered heavy in some circles.

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Common Pros

	Sony a6000	Nikon D7000
Viewfinder	The Sony a6000 has an inbuilt viewfinder which will afford you a better framing experience than the LCD screen.	Same as the Sony a6000. However, that of the Nikon D7000 is an optical viewfinder.
Flash	The Sony a6000 has an inbuilt flash which is really a quick solution to a poor lighting situation. We like it because you can be sure that it will always be available. This camera also has an external flash port. As a result, you can attach an external flash to this camera. The external flash is generally a better light source than the inbuilt flash.	Same as the Sony a6000.
Auto Exposure Bracketing	We also like that this camera has the Auto Bracketing feature. One need not go through a trial and error process of picking the right exposure when one isn’t sure of what that should be. One can just switch on the Auto Bracketing mode, allowing the camera do its thing.	Same as the Sony a6000.
RAW Support	The Sony a6000 can shoot photos in RAW. This means you have the option the option of shooting photos that retain their original quality for those times when you need all the details that your sensor has to offer.	Same as the Sony a6000.
Face Detection	Finally, this camera is able to detect human faces from amongst a number of other things. This feature makes this camera a good idea for shooting portraits because it is able to make the human face(s) the center subject of the photo.	Same as the Sony a6000.

Get the Sony a6000 now!	Get the Nikon D7000 now!

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Common Cons

	Sony a6000	Nikon D7000
Image Stabilization	The Sony a6000 doesn’t have an in body image stabilization feature. As a result, if your hands shake as you shoot, there is a very significant possibility that the photos you shoot will come out looking blurry. You’d either have to place the camera on a steady platform or just get optical stabilization lenses in order to reduce the possibility of having blurry photos.	Same as the Sony a6000.

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – What People Think About Both Cameras

Sony a6000	Nikon D7000
It looks to us like a lot of the people who have used this camera are really impressed by it. The camera was introduced as a semi-pro camera and customers think it is very fitting. A lot of people laud the quality of photos that this camera affords. The sensor resolution and the fact that the camera shoots in RAW are some of the factors that help ensure good quality photos. People also seem to be really impressed with the camera’s continuous shooting rate and its maximum shutter speed too. In fact, a number of professional photographers have said that this camera could make for a professional camera; a pretty affordable one at that. The size is another thing that a lot of people laud about this camera. They seem to like that you can get so much functionality in a small body.	Apparently, this camera also takes really nice photos because we cannot count the number of times people have praised it for its quality photos. Another feature that people seem really impressed with is the battery life. Apparently, it is a significant improvement on the battery life of previous Nikon cameras. Some people have mentioned the environmental sealing as something they really like about this camera. In fact, a number of them expressed surprise at finding a camera of its price range that has any kind of weather protection. The double storage slots and microphone port are some other reasons people like this camera.
However, a few people have complained that this camera isn’t very videography friendly because of the absence of a microphone port.	However, some people have complained about this camera’s lack of an inbuilt wireless connection and generally any kind of connectivity that allows for offline wireless transfer of files.

Get the Sony a6000 now!	Get the Nikon D7000 now!

Sony a6000 Vs Nikon D7000 – Our Take

Sony a6000	Nikon D7000
We actually really like this camera and are really impressed by it. It has a lot of features that, in our opinion, could make it a good professional camera or at least a great backup. It takes really good photos and also has an impressive sensor resolution so that you can crop if you need to. We also like that the camera is small and lightweight. It can fit in a number of small places and so can be that camera that you always have at the ready. The fact that it is really affordable is another reason we like this camera.	We also like the Nikon D7000 and believe that for the features it doesn’t sport, it has a number of other redeeming features. Its impressive battery life and weather sealing are two areas where it does way better than the Sony a6000. For a number of, reasons we wouldn’t as far as saying that this camera could serve as a professional camera, chief among them being its not very impressive sensor resolution. However, it is still a pretty decent semi-pro camera.
There are a number of things that could have been taken care of especially with its video recording function. However, for a semi-pro camera, the Sony a6000 is pretty impressive. Agree with us? Get the Sony a6000 now!	Have you decided on this camera? Get the Nikon D7000 now!