The Sony A6700 is capable of shooting up to a maximum of 11 fps (frames per second) continuously using both its mechanical and electronic shutter when shooting in Hi+ Drive Mode.
However, 11 fps is only possible when shooting in Compressed RAW, JPEG or HEIF file formats. If you shoot in Lossless Compressed RAW then the fps drops down to 7 fps with the electronic shutter and 5 fps with the mechanical shutter.
Sony A6700 Forum & Facebook Group
If you are looking for further help and advice on the A6700 or would simply like to share your photos and videos, then please head over to our friendly APS-C Forum. If you prefer Facebook then I also run the Sony A6700 + A6600 Shooters Group.
Max FPS by File Type
| Image File Type | * FPS |
|---|---|
| Compressed RAW | 11 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW | 7 |
| JPEG Extra Fine | 11 |
| HEIF 4:2:0 | 11 |
| Compressed RAW + JPEG Extra Fine | 11 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW + JPEG Extra Fine | 7 |
| Compressed RAW + HEIF 4:2:0 | 11 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW + HEIF 4:2:0 | 7 |
Buffer & Maximum Burst
The maximum number of shots you can take before hitting the buffer is determined by the A6700’s buffer size but also the memory card that you choose to use.
There is a big difference between a fast UHS-II card, a slower UHS-II card and a UHS-I card.
Let’s take a look at some of the results from my Sony A6700 Memory Card Guide where I tested 23 cards in-camera to see how they perform.
Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II – 64GB
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
- Read speed (label speed): 300 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 299 MB/s
In-Camera Speed & Buffer Test Results
When shooting compressed RAW the in-camera write speed is around 230 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting in Hi+ drive mode with the electronic shutter. Note this drops from 11fps to 7fps when shooting lossless compressed RAW.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Compressed RAW (30.6MB) | 91 | 3.85 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (35.8MB) – 7fps | 376 | 2.98 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) | Over 1000 | Under 2 sec |
| HEIF 4:2:0 (11MB) | Over 1000 | Under 2 sec |
| Compressed RAW (30.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) | 28 | 4.36 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (35.8MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) – 7fps | 27 | 3.23 |
Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II – 64GB
The Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II memory cards are one of the fastest and most affordable cards you can put in the A6700. They are typically around 40% cheaper than Sony’s SF-G Tough cards with practically the same performance.
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V90
- Capacities: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
- Read speed (label speed): 300 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 290 MB/s
In-Camera Speed & Buffer Test Results
When shooting compressed RAW the in-camera write speed is around 227 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting in Hi+ drive mode with the electronic shutter. Note this drops from 11fps to 7fps when shooting lossless compressed RAW.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Compressed RAW (30.6MB) | 84 | 3.73 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (35.8MB) – 7fps | 248 | 2.73 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) | Over 1000 | Under 2 sec |
| HEIF 4:2:0 (11MB) | Over 1000 | Under 2 sec |
| Compressed RAW (30.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) | 28 | 4.28 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (35.8MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) – 7fps | 22 | 3.35 |
Sony SF-M UHS-II – 64 GB
Sony’s SF-M Series are identical to the SF-M Tough Series just without the added toughness so they cost a little less.
- Bus speed: UHS-II
- Video speed class: V60
- Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
- Read speed (label speed): 277 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 150 MB/s
In-Camera Speed & Buffer Test Results
When shooting compressed RAW the in-camera write speed is around 145 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting in Hi+ drive mode with the electronic shutter. Note this drops from 11fps to 7fps when shooting lossless compressed RAW.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Compressed RAW (30.6MB) | 47 | 5.72 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (35.8MB) – 7fps | 35 | 4.00 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) | 53 | 3.43 |
| HEIF 4:2:0 (11MB) | Over 1000 | Under 2 sec |
| Compressed RAW (30.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) | 24 | 7.01 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (35.8MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) – 7fps | 19 | 5.24 |
Kingston Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I – 64 GB
- Bus speed: UHS-I
- Video speed class: V30
- Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB (SDXC)
- Read speed (label speed): 170 MB/s
- Write speed (label speed): 90 MB/s
In-Camera Speed & Buffer Test Results
When shooting compressed RAW the in-camera write speed is around 79 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting in Hi+ drive mode with the electronic shutter. Note this drops from 11fps to 7fps when shooting lossless compressed RAW.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Compressed RAW (30.6MB) | 35 | 10.43 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (35.8MB) – 7fps | 21 | 6.58 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) | 33 | 6.25 |
| HEIF 4:2:0 (11MB) | 54 | 3.52 |
| Compressed RAW (30.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) | 22 | 12.64 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (35.8MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (21.3MB) – 7fps | 16 | 9.72 |
Summary
If you want to shoot at the maximum fps then you need to be shooting in Compressed RAW, JPEG or HEIF file types. If you shoot in Lossless Compressed RAW the fps will drop to 7 fps with the electronic shutter and 5 fps with the mechanical shutter.
If you want to shoot the maximum number of shots before hitting the buffer and also clear the buffer as quickly as possible, you’ll want to use a fast UHS-II memory card.
I’d recommend the Kingston Canvas React Plus V90 UHS-II (B&H Photo | Amaozon) card due to its amazing performance and great price. The Sony SF-G Tough card is slightly faster but it’s also more than double the price!
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