Canon 90D vs Sony A6700: Hands-On Comparison of Two APS-C Powerhouses

When it comes to APS-C cameras that speak to enthusiasts craving serious image quality, solid autofocus, and versatile handling - Canon’s venerable 90D and Sony’s freshly minted A6700 are two heavyweights worth a serious look. I’ve spent weeks diving deep into both, pushing their sensors, autofocus, video chops, and ergonomics through the kinds of real-world tests that photographers actually face every day. This isn’t about specs on paper alone; it’s about what these cameras bring to actual shoots across portraiture, landscapes, wildlife, sports, street, macro, astrophotography - plus video and travel - and how they stack up for professionals and advanced hobbyists alike.

If you’ve been caught between Canon and Sony on the APS-C battleground, buckle up. With personal experience covering thousands of cameras, I’ll help untangle the noise and guide you toward which one stands tallest for your photographic passions.

The Battlefield Setup: DSLR Meets Mirrorless

Before we plunge into image quality or autofocus wizardry, let’s quickly orient ourselves to the fundamental difference here. The Canon EOS 90D is a mid-size DSLR launched back in 2019, sporting that classic optical pentaprism viewfinder and a robust, somewhat old-school DSLR body. On the flip side, the Sony A6700, released in mid-2023, is a sleek rangefinder-style mirrorless camera embodying the shift toward smaller, electronic-viewfinder (EVF) centered systems.

Because body type influences everything from handling to lens ecosystems to battery life, we should start with that tactile, ergonomic foundation.

Physically, the 90D is noticeably larger and heavier at 701g compared to the A6700’s svelte 493g. That weight difference isn’t just about bulk - it's about grip, balance, and how the camera feels in hand over long shoots. The 90D delivers a very traditional crop-DLSR heft with plenty of body real estate and a deep grip primed for large lenses. The Sony, meanwhile, is much more compact, favored by mirrorless fans for easy portability and quick handling.

Control Layout and User Interface: Old School Intuition vs Streamlined Mirrorless

I’m one of those photographers who values buttons and dials the way some people value morning coffee - essential and non-negotiable. Both cameras feature fully articulated 3-inch touchscreens with identical 1040k-dot resolution, a nod to modern usability.

The Canon 90D’s control layout reflects its DSLR roots: more buttons, dedicated dials, and a top info LCD panel. The optical viewfinder coupled with physical controls gives near-instant access to settings without fumbling through menus. It’s a dream for shooters who prefer tactile control and glanceable feedback.

The Sony A6700’s minimalist layout embraces mirrorless simplicity. The electronic viewfinder boasts a sharp 2.36M-dot OLED display with 0.71x magnification, richer for previewing shots in low light and simulating exposure in real-time. The touchscreen enhances navigation fluidity, though fewer direct buttons means some settings live deeper in menus - something I found a small adjustment curve if you’re used to DSLRs.

Neither camera has illuminated buttons - a minor gripe when shooting in dark venues - but overall, both interfaces feel mature and thoughtfully designed for different shooting philosophies.

Sensor, Image Quality, and ISO Performance: More Pixels or Better Efficiency?

Here’s where things get juicy. The Canon 90D rocks a 33.0MP APS-C CMOS sensor (22.3x14.9 mm) while the Sony A6700’s sensor chips in at 26.0MP APS-C BSI-CMOS (23.5x15.6 mm). Despite having fewer pixels, the Sony’s backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor design typically boosts light gathering efficiency - a difference that shows up in image quality tests.

From my lab measurements and daylight shooting, the 90D’s higher megapixel count gives it an edge in sheer resolution and cropping flexibility, making it a go-to for landscape photographers longing for extreme detail or commercial photographers craving large prints. The Sony’s sensor, though lower resolution, excels in high-ISO noise control and dynamic range thanks to newer chip tech and optimized processing.

Canon’s DIGIC 8 processor manages sneaky good color rendition and skin tones, but the Sony’s more recent sensor + processor combo pushes ISO up to a native 32,000 and boosted ISO as high as 102,400, outperforming Canon’s max boosted ISO of 51,200 with cleaner files. This cleaner high-ISO performance becomes critical for low-light, wildlife, and astrophotography - a domain where noise is the enemy.

So, for stunning portraits with flawless skin tones or landscapes with rich highlight-to-shadow detail, 90D’s resolution shines. For challenging lighting and cleaner night shots, the A6700 leans ahead.

Autofocus: Number Crunching and Real-World Speed Tests

Autofocus technology has become one of the biggest battlegrounds for digital cameras. The Canon 90D uses 45 cross-type phase-detect AF points, all effective and reliable. The Sony A6700 dazzles with 759 autofocus points, covering near 100% of the frame.

Here’s where Sony flexes real muscle: the A6700 has refined animal eye AF (not available on Canon’s 90D), face detection backed by 759 points, and notably faster tracking in continuous AF modes. When shooting wildlife or sports, I found Sony’s system consistently held focus on fast-moving subjects, even birds in flight or erratic athletes on the field. Canon’s focusing was solid and dependable, but lagged behind under rapid-fire conditions or erratic movements.

In live view mode, Canon relies on a hybrid AF (phase + contrast), but Sony’s BSI-CMOS sensor and advanced processors confer extra speed and accuracy, especially in video autofocus tracking.

For static subjects like portraits, both cameras do well detecting faces and eyes, but Sony’s animal eye AF gives nature shooters a significant leg up.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Ruggedness Without the Overkill

Both cameras advertise environmental sealing to handle dust and moderate moisture, but neither claims full waterproofing. The Canon 90D maintains a seasoned DSLR toughness with a polycarbonate plus aluminum alloy body, while the Sony A6700 reinvents robustness in a lighter, more compact package.

Given my shooting outdoors in dusty deserts and damp forests, both performed admirably, although the 90D felt a tad more reassuring for really rugged conditions when paired with weather-sealed lenses. The Sony’s smaller size demands more care handling under heavy rain or severe environments, but both rank as solid for everyday outdoor use.

Handling and Ergonomics: Which One Works for Long Days?

Ergonomics is inextricably tied to personal preference - but here’s what experience reveals: The Canon 90D’s heft and deep grip make it a steady companion for long shoots, especially with heavy telephotos. The larger body balances lenses better and reduces fatigue when toting gear all day.

The Sony A6700’s lightness lends itself beautifully to street, travel, and run-and-gun shooting - quick draw, nimble, and unobtrusive. Being significantly smaller, it slips into shoulder bags or even larger pockets more easily, appealing to hybrid shooters looking to combine photo and video work on the go.

Viewfinder and Display: Optical Precision vs Electronic Versatility

If you’re old school or come from film, the Canon 90D’s optical pentaprism viewfinder is a delight: a clear, zero-lag view with 100% frame coverage, fine for composition and watching scenes unfold organically. However, it lacks exposure simulation or focus peaking.

Sony’s A6700 delivers a full electronic viewfinder (EVF) at 2.36M dots resolution with real-time exposure preview and overlays - a blessing for video shooting and tricky lighting where you want prior feedback. EVFs can have slight lag or artifacts in low light, but the A6700’s EVF is among the best in this regard.

The fully articulated 3-inch screens on both cameras support touch, flippable for selfies or waist-level shooting. Canon’s screen is fully articulated; Sony’s articulation aligns with its mirrorless compact ethos.

Lens Ecosystem: Canon’s Massive Legacy vs Sony’s Modern E-Mount

One of Canon 90D’s biggest strengths: compatibility with Canon EF and EF-S lenses, including 326 native lenses spanning prosumer primes to niche specialty optics. You can mount almost any Canon DSLR lens ever made, plus many third-party options, as well as superb USM autofocus motors.

Sony’s E-mount lens system numbers fewer at 199 lenses native to APS-C format, but growing impressively fast. The lens ecosystem strongly favors mirrorless-optimized optics with the latest coatings, autofocus motors, and image stabilization.

Nonetheless, Canon’s EF/EF-S mount legacy beats Sony’s E-mount lens breadth straight-up, especially for specialized lenses like tilt-shift or cinema primes.

Burst Speed and Buffer: Action Shooters Take Note

The 90D and A6700 both push 11 fps continuous shooting - a solid frame rate for wildlife and sports. However, Sony edges out in buffer depth and sustained shooting: while Canon’s buffer clears slower with JPEG + RAW, the Sony manages rapid writes to UHS-II cards, enabling longer bursts without choking.

For fast-action photographers, that buffer endurance could be a deciding factor.

Image Stabilization: The Sony’s Built-In Advantage

Canon 90D lacks sensor-shift image stabilization, relying on lens-based IS when available. Sony’s A6700 has sensor-based 5-axis stabilization built-in, a significant boon for handheld shooting across photo and video.

This stabilization notably improves sharpness when using non-IS lenses or shooting in low-light handheld circumstances, a win that encouraged me to pick up my A6700 for event photography where tripods aren’t welcome.

Video Capabilities: 4K at 30 vs 4K at 120

Videographers, listen up. The Canon 90D records 4K UHD up to 30p at 120 Mbps using MPEG-4 H.264, with reliable audio support through mic and headphone jacks. It’s solid but not groundbreaking - no 10-bit internal or high-bitrate codecs, and an 8-bit 4:2:0 color profile that might frustrate serious editors.

Sony A6700 steps into the ring with 4K at 120p at 280 Mbps, using advanced XAVC HS 10-bit 4:2:2 internally, coupled with superior codec options (H.265/HEVC). This opens doors to slow-motion and cinematic grading rarely available in APS-C body price points.

Both cameras have mic and headphone jacks for audio monitoring, but the A6700 has faster USB 3.2 Gen 2 data transfer versus Canon’s standard USB.

For those prioritizing video workflows, the Sony is clearly farthest ahead.

Battery Life and Storage: DSLR Stamina vs Mirrorless Efficiency

One common DSLR advantage: battery life. Canon’s LP-E6N battery delivers ~1300 shots per charge, a marathon compared to mirrorless norms.

Sony’s A6700 uses the NP-FZ1000 battery, rated for approximately 570 images, less than half the endurance of the 90D. This manifests in field use as more frequent battery swaps or a need for external power solutions.

Storage-wise, both cameras use SD cards, but Sony supports Memory Stick Pro Duo alongside SD, and both sport UHS-II card compatibility for fast transfers.

Price-to-Performance: Value in 2024 APS-C Choices

At time of writing, the Canon 90D body is priced around $1,200 USD, while the Sony A6700 body runs about $1,400 - a $200 premium for the mirrorless tech and newer sensor architecture.

Canon’s offering comes down to classic DSLR dependability, superior resolution, and impressive battery life for the price, with a lens ecosystem that’s hard to beat for breadth and affordability.

Sony’s investment gains you superior autofocus, modern video specs, in-body stabilization, and more advanced sensor design - but at the cost of slimmer battery life and somewhat higher entry price.

Discipline-by-Discipline: Which Camera Wins Your Genre?

Let’s break down who should consider what by photographic specialty:

Portrait Photography

• Canon 90D: Higher resolution aids finely detailed skin textures; pleasing natural skin tones from DIGIC 8; strong autofocus face/eye detection but no animal eye AF.
• Sony A6700: Animal eye AF broadens possibilities for wildlife portraits, with clean high-ISO, excellent color science. 26MP still more than enough detail, though less than 90D.

Recommendation: Choose Canon for classic studio or commercial portraits; Sony if you shoot animals or want more AF automation.

Landscape Photography

• Canon 90D: Higher 33MP resolution excellent for prints and cropping; DSLR robustness appreciated outdoors; excellent dynamic range even if Sony edge seen at high ISOs.
• Sony A6700: Lower resolution but wider dynamic range and cleaner shadows; lighter for trekking; sensor stabilization irrelevant here.

Recommendation: Canon better for ultimate detail; Sony lighter and more forgiving in tricky light.

Wildlife Photography

• Sony A6700: Clear winner with 759 AF points, fast continuous AF tracking, and animal eye AF.
• Canon 90D: Solid 45-point AF, fast 11 fps burst but less effective tracking.

Wildlife shooters I know lean on Sony’s autofocus tech and lighter body for long lens use.

Sports Photography

• Both cameras tie at 11 fps, but Sony edges with faster buffer clearing and superior AF tracking.
• Canon’s optical viewfinder preferred by purists but electronic advantages for pre-checking exposure with Sony.

Street Photography

• Sony’s small, silent shutter option (max 1/8000s electronic shutter) and lighter weight make it easier for candid work.
• Canon 90D bulkier, louder shutter sound, with optical viewfinder preferred by some.

Macro Photography

• No obvious winner; both rely on lenses for macro capabilities.
• Sony’s built-in stabilization can aid handheld macro shots.

Night & Astro Photography

• Sony’s cleaner ISO 32000 and boosted ISO up to 102,400 offer better noise control.
• Canon 90D’s 33MP may require ISO lowering and longer exposes to maintain detail.

Video Capabilities

• Sony A6700’s 4K 120p, 10-bit color and in-body stabilization is a clear advantage for filmmakers.
• Canon 90D supports up to 4K 30p video, solid but limited codec.

Travel Photography

• Sony A6700’s lighter form factor and fast lens mount system earn points.
• Canon 90D heavier but delivers longer battery life and ruggedness.

Professional Workflow

• Canon’s raw files and EF lens compatibility integrate smoothly with studio and pro workflows.
• Sony’s advanced video and modern sensor better suited for hybrid and multimedia pros.

Real-World Shooting: Sample Gallery Insights

To put theory into practice, here’s a selection of images shot back-to-back on both cameras under varied conditions - portraits, landscapes, street, and low light.

Canon 90D front Canon 90D screen back Sony A6700 front Sony A6700 screen back

Takeaways include:

• Canon’s images show more fine detail and sharper edges in daylight.
• Sony’s files preserve shadows and color vibrancy at higher ISOs.
• Autofocus accuracy favored Sony for fast-moving subjects.
• Color science is close but leans warmer on Canon, slightly cooler and contrasty on Sony.

Conclusion: Which APS-C Camera Should You Buy?

After immersing myself in both cameras over extensive sessions, here’s my boiled-down verdict:

• Canon EOS 90D: Perfect for those who treasure traditional DSLR shooting with an optical viewfinder, crave highest-tier resolution for landscapes or studio portraits, want longer battery life, and benefit from an extensive lens arsenal. It’s a camera for serious hobbyists and professionals comfortable with the DSLR form factor wanting a reliable, comfortable workhorse.

• Sony A6700: Suits hybrid shooters, videographers, and wildlife or sports aficionados who prize lightning-fast autofocus, in-body stabilization, lightweight design, and cutting-edge video specs. It’s a solid pick for photographers whose workflows demand mirrorless versatility and electronic innovations, with a slight battery tradeoff.

In short: Choose DSLR Canon 90D for resolution & traditional handling; Sony A6700 for autofocus prowess, video, and portability.

Both cameras are excellent, but your shooting style, genre, and personal preferences around handling and workflow will tip the scales.

Making your next camera purchase is as much about how it feels in your hands and suits your creative needs as about specs - but with hard data and experience in your pocket, you’re no longer guessing in the dark. Whichever you pick, these two APS-C champs will reward you with months - and years - of fantastic images.

Happy shooting!