Sony a6400 vs Sony a65: read noise comparison

Input-referred read noise at base ISO: Sony a6400 3.3 e⁻ (ISO 100), Sony a65 3.9 e⁻ (ISO 100).

Dual gain: Sony a6400 ISO 400, Sony a65 none.

Sony a6400

The Sony a6400 (ILCE-6400) was measured at 31 ISO settings from ISO 100 to ISO 102400. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 1.41 DN, or 3.3 electrons at the sensor. A second gain (dual gain) kicks in at ISO 400, cutting input-referred read noise by about 1.2 stop. From ISO 6400 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 25600 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 36,443 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 230.

Sony a65

The Sony a65 (SLT-A65V) was measured at 9 ISO settings from ISO 100 to ISO 16000. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 3.39 DN, or 3.9 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 400 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 3200 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 18,205 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 110.

Sony a6400 vs Sony a65 read noise table

ISO	Sony a6400	Sony a65
100	1.414	3.387
125	1.682	–
160	2.028	–
200	2.532	5.736
250	3.031	–
320	3.811	–
400	2.042	9.714
500	2.445	–
640	3.031	–
800	3.784	17.877
1000	4.790	–
1250	5.897	–
1600	7.311	36.002
2000	9.126	–
2500	11.236	–
3200	14.320	72.505
4000	17.753	–
5000	21.857	–
6400	21.706	112.206
8000	27.096	–
10000	32.223	–
12800	41.643	224.411
16000	52.710	278.204
20000	64.000	–
25600	80.449	–
32000	80.449	–
40000	99.044	–
51200	121.938	–
64000	150.123	–
80000	186.108	–
102400	237.207	–

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