Sony a6700 Accessories: What to Buy First

Start with a way to charge the battery, because Sony includes neither a charger nor a USB-C cable with the a6700. After that, add a spare NP-FZ100 battery, an SD card rated V90 if you want the top video modes, and an external microphone, then add a cage and a better lens when your shooting calls for them.

The order to buy a6700 accessories

This guide is built from published reviews and Sony's own help guide, not from hands-on time with the a6700. I shoot on a Sony FX3 and own a Canon 5D Mark II and Mark III, so where the FX3 makes a useful comparison, I point it out.

Priority	Accessory	Why it is on the list
1	Charger (Sony BC-QZ1) or USB PD cable	No charging option comes in the box
2	Spare NP-FZ100 battery	Rated approx. 550 to 570 shots under CIPA testing
3	UHS-II SD card, V90 for top video	Single SD slot, and V90 is needed for the best video options
4	External microphone	Built-in mic judged acceptable only for some situations
5	Cage	Adds mounting points and grip for rigging
6	Better lens	The Digital Picture does not recommend the kit 16-50mm

1. A charger or a USB PD cable

This is the one accessory you cannot skip. Fstoppers points out that Sony gives you neither a battery charger nor a PD USB-C cable to charge the battery in the camera. The Digital Picture says you will need the Sony BC-QZ1 Battery Charger or a cable supporting USB PD.

The two options solve different problems. A USB PD cable charges the battery inside the camera through its USB-C port. A dedicated charger lets you top up one battery while you shoot with another, which starts to matter as soon as you own a spare.

The Digital Picture also reported that its a6700 kit with the E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens did not even include body or lens mount caps. If you plan to change lenses away from home, add caps to your list.

2. A spare NP-FZ100 battery

The a6700 runs on Sony's NP-FZ100, the same battery used by many other recent Alpha models. PetaPixel notes that moving the SD slot to the side of the body is what let the grip fit this larger Z-type battery. Sony rates it at approx. 550 shots through the viewfinder or 570 shots on the LCD under CIPA testing.

Real-world numbers tend to be higher. The Digital Picture says battery life usually exceeds CIPA ratings, and dramatically exceeds them in continuous shooting modes. PetaPixel estimated that 550 CIPA-rated shots translate into roughly double that in real use.

A spare still earns its place. It covers long event days, video sessions, and the hours a single battery spends on the charger.

One handling note from The Digital Picture: the battery door is spring-loaded, but the lock switch is not, so you have to slide it into the locked position after you close the door.

For more on backup power across brands, see Best Spare Batteries for Canon, Sony & Nikon.

3. A memory card that matches how you shoot

The a6700 writes to a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card and supports the fast UHS-II standard, but not CFexpress Type A. With one slot there is no redundancy, so a single card holds every file from your shoot.

That is a real difference from my FX3. Videomaker notes the FX3 has dual slots that take either SD cards or CFexpress Type A. On the a6700, SD is the only option.

When you need a V90 card

Fstoppers says you need a V90-rated memory card to record in the best available video options, and that a slower card works without problems if you do not need that quality. The a6700 records oversampled 4K up to 60p and offers 4K 120p with a 1.6x crop.

If those video modes are why you bought this camera, buy V90. If you mostly shoot photos, a fast card is a comfort rather than a requirement. Either way, check the card label for UHS-II and the video speed rating before you buy, including the SanDisk card below.

Lossless compressed RAW stretches your card

The a6700 offers Sony's lossless compressed RAW, which The Digital Picture says delivers a significant file size reduction over uncompressed RAW while keeping full image quality. PetaPixel noted the a6700 was the first Sony APS-C camera to get this format. Smaller files also read and write faster to cards and drives.

For help sorting out card ratings, read How to Choose the Right Memory Cards and Memory Cards: SD vs CFexpress.

4. An external microphone

Fstoppers' reviewer recorded with the built-in microphone and found it acceptable for some situations, but concluded that an additional microphone should be the first investment. If you film anyone talking, treat audio as a higher priority than a cage or a new lens.

The camera gives you more than one way to connect audio. Fstoppers lists a microphone jack and a headphone jack, and notes the hot shoe carries multi-function connectors. Use the headphone jack to hear what you are actually recording.

Mic jack or digital shoe

Sony's help guide explains that a microphone supporting the digital audio interface can send digital audio through the camera's multi-interface shoe, configured in the Shoe Audio Set. menu. When an external mic is plugged into the microphone terminal instead, the camera records from that mic and you cannot set Shoe Audio Set.. A shoe-mounted mic set to analog transmission also locks that menu out.

The shoe route depends on the mic. If the microphone does not support 4-channel recording, you cannot select 48kHz/24bit 4ch, and if it does not support 24-bit recording, the setting locks to 48kHz/16bit 2ch.

For most beginners, a mic in the jack is the simple route. Check the mic maker's spec sheet before you count on digital shoe audio.

A wireless kit helps when you are talking to the camera from a distance or filming someone who moves. The DJI Mic Mini below is a one-transmitter, one-receiver set. Confirm how its receiver connects to your camera before you buy.

5. A cage, if you rig for video

A cage is not a day-one purchase for most people. It earns its place once you start mounting a mic, a light, a monitor or a handle.

The a6700's shape helps here. Digital Camera World notes that the rangefinder-style design, with no viewfinder hump on top, makes the camera easier to use with cages and other accessories.

The ports are another reason to think about protection. The microphone and headphone sockets, USB-C, HDMI and SD slot sit behind three separate small doors, and Digital Camera World's reviewer worried about them getting knocked and snapping off. A cable clamp keeps a monitor cable from tugging on the HDMI port, and the SmallRig kit below is made for the a6700 and includes one for HDMI.

Grip is the other factor. PetaPixel praised the wider grip, and Digital Camera World found it comfortable one-handed with a small lens, but said a larger lens like a Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 would make the camera front heavy. The Digital Picture's reviewer reported a sore hand after a couple of hours with a Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens mounted. A cage with a side handle gives you more to hold with heavier glass.

For comparison, Videomaker describes my FX3 as a cage-free design with multiple 1/4-20 mounting points. The a6700 is a compact body at 122 x 69 x 63.6 millimeters, so a cage is how you add that kind of mounting flexibility.

6. A better lens than the kit zoom

At launch, PetaPixel listed the a6700 at $1,399.99 body only, $1,499 with the Sony PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS, and $1,799.99 with Sony's 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS. Prices may have changed since, so check current listings.

The Digital Picture names the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens as a great choice for the a6700 and does not recommend the inexpensive kit Sony E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS Lens. A small zoom also suits the grip, given how Digital Camera World found the camera most comfortable with appropriately sized lenses.

If you have not bought the camera yet, compare the kit price against buying the body and a better lens separately.

For wildlife and pets

Digital Camera World suggests pairing the a6700 with the Sony 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS for photographers without a full-frame wildlife budget, citing the lens's sharpness and weather sealing. The a6700's subject detection includes Animals and Birds modes, which Sony says are more than 40% improved. To get the most from tracking, see the Sony A6700 Autofocus Guide.

What you can hold off on

The a6700 already has in-body image stabilization of up to five stops, so you can learn steady handheld technique before you spend on support gear. Its fully articulating screen makes it much more suitable for vlogging than earlier models, which means you may not need an external monitor for filming yourself.

Before you add more, read Accessories Beginners Buy Too Early and Sony A6700: Sharp Photos & Steady Video. Once your gear arrives, the Sony A6700 Setup Guide walks you through the menus.

a6700 specs that shape your accessory choices

Item	a6700 detail
Battery	NP-FZ100, approx. 550 (viewfinder) or 570 (LCD) CIPA shots
Charging in the box	None: no charger and no PD USB-C cable
Card slot	Single SD slot, UHS-II, no CFexpress Type A
Card for top video	V90-rated
Audio connections	Microphone jack, headphone jack, multi-interface shoe
Top shoe audio format	48kHz/24bit 4ch with a supporting mic
Other ports	PD USB-C and HDMI
Weight	Just under 500 grams with battery and card
Stabilization	In-body, up to five stops

Buy in the order above and you will have a camera that charges, lasts through a long day, records clean files and sounds right before you spend on rigging or glass.