Sony A6400 vs FX30: Which Mirrorless Marvel Fits Your Photography Adventure?

Navigating the sea of Sony’s mirrorless cameras can feel like a quest worthy of Indiana Jones - and two of the most talked-about contenders making waves are the Sony A6400 and the Sony FX30. Though both hail from Sony’s advanced mirrorless family and share some DNA, these two are dialed into distinctly different creative ambitions. Having spent months hands-on with each - scraping the sensor dust off countless shoots across portrait studios, rugged landscapes, and buzzing sports events - I’m here to break down how these cameras truly perform in every arena that matters. Whether you care more about pixel-peeping landscapes or silky smooth cinematic video, this comparison aims to put real-world nuance to the specs and marketing catchphrases.

Let’s jump right in by sizing these cousins up - literally and figuratively.

Getting a Feel for It: Ergonomics, Size, and Handling

Before I start flinging specs at you, here’s the thing: how a camera feels can make or break your shooting experience. I’ve lost count of times I’ve abandoned promising photo outings because a sensor felt like a beast in my hands or controls were a labyrinth of confusion.

Now, the Sony A6400 is a compact, rangefinder-style mirrorless weigh-in at 403 grams, measuring roughly 120×67×50 mm. The FX30 bulkier at 646 grams and measuring 130×78×85 mm, feels like you upgraded to a DSLR heft - more presence in your grip but less stealth on the street.

If portability tops your priority list - say, for street or travel photography - the A6400 shines. It slips comfortably into a jacket pocket or small bag without feeling like you’re lugging half your gear closet. The FX30, by contrast, feels like you’re packing a cine rig more than a mirrorless camera - which isn’t surprising, given its video-centric design.

The control layout also reflects this ethos. The A6400’s top plate is streamlined, blending essential dials and buttons for quick access - it’s intuitive, almost minimalist, but without sacrificing customizability.

Watching the FX30’s top view reveals more bulk but fewer dedicated controls - it’s clearly built for efficiency in video workflows where touchscreens and external monitors often take over.

So ergonomically: A6400 wins on everyday shooting ease and spontaneity, FX30 plays to the cinematic creator stepping into a more complex workflow.

Power Under the Hood: Sensor and Image Quality

Now let’s pop the hood and talk about the engines driving these cameras - starting with the sensor tech and image output, the bedrock for any serious photographer or hybrid shooter.

Both cameras sport APS-C sized sensors of 23.5 x 15.6 mm, but crucial details make all the difference:

• The Sony A6400 uses a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor with a conventional design and includes an anti-aliasing filter - offering a well-balanced approach to sharpness and moiré control. Its color depth scores (DxOMark) are very respectable, clocking in with a 24.0-bit color depth, dynamic range around 13.6 stops, and a low-light ISO score near 1431. These numbers translate into rich skin tones and a pleasing tonal gradation when shooting portraits or landscapes.

• The FX30 ups the ante with a 26-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor, optimized for video and higher ISO performance, though DxOMark testing is yet unavailable. The backside illumination feeds light more efficiently to the sensor’s photodiodes - great news for low-light scenarios and night shooting.

In practical shooting, the FX30’s sensor grants more latitude in shadows and punchier video capabilities, especially at high ISOs. However, for stills, the A6400’s more proven sensor delivers sharper stills with better dynamic range handling on tricky daylight scenes.

The slight bump in megapixels on the FX30 (26MP vs. 24MP) won’t be instantly noticeable unless you print billboard-sized panoramas or need aggressive cropping.

What You See is What You Get: Displays and Viewfinder Usability

A camera’s rear screen and viewfinder shape your composition workflow - and here, the two Sony models diverge starkly.

The A6400 comes equipped with a 3-inch tilting LCD boasting 922k dots and an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36-million dot resolution and 0.7x magnification, covering 100% of the frame.

This EVF is sharp and contrasty enough for autofocus precision, accurate framing, and reviewing images in bright sunlight - a must-have for mirrorless purists who rely on eye-level imaging, especially for portraits or wildlife.

In contrast, the FX30 has no built-in EVF. Its 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen offers a crisper 2.36-million dots and true selfie-friendliness - tailor-made for vloggers or run-and-gun videographers who shoot from odd angles or want easy client monitoring.

But lacking a viewfinder is a double-edged sword; it drains battery faster, and on bright days, composing only via the LCD can be a hassle.

I often find myself instinctively reaching for the EVF on the A6400 during street and wildlife shooting, where stability and precision matter. The FX30 accommodates a neat external EVF solution, but that adds weight and complexity.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: Speed That Counts

Autofocus (AF) prowess and continuous shooting prowess are critical in genres like sports, wildlife, and event photography.

• The A6400 offers 425 hybrid AF points (phase + contrast detection), covering much of the frame, coupled with real-time eye and animal eye AF tracking that’s snappy and reliably locks focus.

• The FX30 boasts 759 phase-detection points, reportedly even faster and more responsive, designed to keep up with rapid video subject shifts and high-motion shoots, although it lacks contrast AF altogether.

Both cameras max out around 10-11 frames per second (FPS) in burst mode - 11 for A6400 and 10 for FX30, which is plenty fast for most action photography needs without gulping battery life.

I tested continuous shooting with moving subjects and was impressed by the FX30’s video-inspired focusing system in maintaining steady lock during fast panning shots - ideal for wildlife and sports videographers who occasionally snap stills.

However, the A6400’s AF feels more versatile in mixed-use: chunkier focus coverage and reliable eye detection gave it the edge in portraiture and street photography.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Ready for the Elements?

When shooting outdoors - landscapes, wildlife, or events - camera toughness and weather sealing become non-negotiable.

Both models have environmental sealing, protecting entry points from light rain, dust, and humidity. But neither is fully weatherproof, so don’t bring them surfing without a protective housing.

Sony’s decision to maintain durable magnesium alloy builds in both cameras contributes to their robustness, but the FX30's larger, more blocky chassis provides a sturdier grip foundation - an advantage on long gimbal sessions or slapdash handheld shooting in tricky conditions.

In the field, I took both to urban rainstorms and dusty trails - both shrugged off the conditions without hiccups, but the FX30’s ergonomics and grip felt more confidence-inspiring over extended shoots.

Lenses and Mount Ecosystem: What Glass Can You Attach?

Both cameras use the Sony E-mount with a 1.5x crop factor, opening access to a robust ecosystem.

• The A6400, with over 120 compatible lenses, benefits from Sony’s matured APS-C lineup plus various third-party options. Many compact primes and zooms optimize its balance of size and performance, making it a favorite for travelers and enthusiasts.

• The FX30 taps into an even broader set of 187 lenses, including full-frame glass - handy for golf cart loads of cinema lenses or specialized optics in video productions.

Lens adaptability is a significant factor here. The A6400’s APS-C tilt towards still photography means lighter, faster lenses optimized for that sensor size, while the FX30’s compatibility invites more heavy-duty cine lenses - great if you’re serious about cinematic quality at wide apertures.

Video Capabilities: The Showstopper

This is where the FX30 shines the brightest - clearly a video-first camera.

It shoots 4K UHD video up to 120p at 280 Mbps with advanced codecs like XAVC HS and H.265, supporting smooth slow-mo and rich detail. It also features sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization, essential for handheld video without a gimbal, alongside headphone and mic ports for monitoring and capturing audio in all but the most stripped-down setups.

The A6400 shoots 4K at a max 30p up to 100 Mbps - perfectly fine for casual videography but no match for the FX30’s pro-grade capabilities.

If video is your bread and butter - perhaps you’re a wedding filmmaker, YouTuber, or hybrid shooter wanting cinematic flair - the FX30 is hard to beat at its $1799 price point. It packs nearly all the video tools you'd pay big bucks for in a cinema camera, albeit with compromises like no internal EVF.

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping You Shooting Longer

Shooting all day requires reliable power and ample storage.

• The A6400 uses the older NP-FW50 battery, delivering around 410 shots per charge. Not terrible, but expect to carry spares if you're shooting extensively.

• The FX30 features the more modern NP-FZ100, rated at 570 shots - a significant improvement, especially appreciated during long video shoots where power demands spike.

Storage-wise, the A6400 offers a single slot compatible with SD cards (UHS-I), while the FX30 impresses with dual slots supporting SD and the faster CFexpress Type A cards, favored by videographers for high bitrate 4K recording reliability.

Specialized Genre Performance: Picking Your Perfect Match

How do these cameras behave in the wild (or studio)?

• Portrait Photography: A6400 nails skin tone rendering and eye detection autofocus, aided by its EVF and tilting screen. The FX30’s autofocus is top-notch but video-first; it lacks an EVF, making framing a tad trickier.

• Landscape: Both APS-C sensors manage beautiful dynamic range; the A6400’s slightly better color depth and proven sensor edges out. However, FX30’s 5-axis stabilization is handy for video landscapes.

• Wildlife: FX30’s burst autofocus and frame rate align perfectly with fast-moving subjects, but A6400’s eye tracking and compact size benefit stealthy shooters.

• Sports: FPS rates are clutch on both; FX30’s autofocus system is leaner for constant tracking in video, while A6400 offers a slightly higher frame rate.

• Street Photography: A6400’s diminutive size, EVF, and near-silent electronic shutter (up to 1/4000s) make it ideal. FX30’s size and lack of EVF weigh it down.

• Macro: Both manage decent close focusing, but neither features dedicated macro focus bracketing or stacking. Stabilization benefits go to FX30, especially in video macros.

• Night/Astro: FX30’s backside sensor and higher frame rate specs give it an edge. But the A6400 remains respectable with ISO performance and manageable noise.

• Video: No contest - FX30 outclasses A6400 with frame rates, codecs, stabilization, and audio options.

• Travel: A6400 wins for packability and battery efficiency; FX30 shines if video narrative is the goal.

• Professional Work: FX30’s dual card slots, build, and codecs fit pros seeking pro video workflows better, while A6400 suits pros needing a high-quality still shooter on the side.

Sony A6400 front Sony A6400 screen back Sony FX30 front Sony FX30 screen back

Value for Money: What Are You Getting for Your Bucks?

The Sony A6400 retails around $898, representing a sweet spot for enthusiasts and semi-pros wanting a reliable APS-C mirrorless with excellent autofocus and image quality, without breaking the bank. It balances strong stills performance, a versatile lens ecosystem, and modular usability.

The FX30’s $1799 price tag more than doubles A6400’s, but it’s a targeted investment - video-centric pros and hybrid shooters get a compact cinema camera with unparalleled 4K 120p, advanced codecs, and professional audio inputs baked in.

If your primary need is stilled-focused photography with occasional video, the A6400 remains the nimble champion. But if you crave cinematic video performance with solid stills as a bonus, the FX30 is a compelling, future-forward choice.

Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Pick?

The Sony A6400 and FX30 are both excellent cameras - just built for different players on the creative chessboard. Here’s how I’d break down the decision if we were chatting over coffee in the photo lab:

• Choose the Sony A6400 if...

  • You want a compact, lightweight body optimized for excellent stills and fast autofocus.
  • Your photography leans toward portraits, landscapes, street, or wildlife, where portability and EVF matter.
  • You shoot casual/moderate video but prioritize still image quality.
  • Budget is a consideration, and you want a versatile everyday tool.

• Choose the Sony FX30 if...

  • Video is your main craft, and cinema-quality 4K at high frame rates is non-negotiable.
  • You need robust 5-axis stabilization and professional audio connectivity.
  • You shoot hybrid, but with a clear lean toward motion content.
  • Dual memory slots and longer battery life are critical for your workflow.
  • You’re comfortable managing a more substantial, less discrete rig.

A Final Personal Note

I’ve lugged both cameras on hikes in the Rockies, shot indie interviews with the FX30’s cinematic color reproduction, and swapped between the two for wedding days where split-second AF made or broke moments. Neither is perfect, but both deliver incredibly strong performance for a modern APS-C mirrorless camera.

I encourage anyone weighing these options to think beyond specs - consider your photography style, shooting environments, and post-production habits. And if possible, try holding them yourself. Sometimes, the camera that “feels right” wins the day over the one with the flashiest feature list.

So whether you’re lighting up portraits with the precise eye AF of the A6400 or capturing dynamic cinematic storytelling with the FX30, you’re embracing the future of mirrorless in a way only Sony’s adaptable E-mount can deliver.

Happy shooting!

Article images were carefully selected to illustrate key physical distinctions, sensor and viewfinder tech, sample output, and genre-specific performance scores to help you visualize the nuanced differences described here.