How to Change Settings on Sony A6000
If you want to get more consistent photos and smoother video from the Sony A6000, learning the menu system is the fastest way to improve.
This guide explains how to change settings on Sony A6000 and shows which controls matter most for everyday shooting.
The Sony Alpha a6000 is compact, but it offers a deep set of options for exposure, autofocus, image quality, and customization.
Once you know where the key settings live, the camera becomes much easier to use in real-world situations.
Where to Find the Main Settings
The Sony a6000 uses a combination of physical controls and on-screen menus.
The most common settings can be changed with the Fn button, the control wheel, the MENU button, and the top mode dial.
- Mode dial: Changes shooting mode, such as Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, or Scene mode.
- Fn button: Opens the quick function menu for frequently used settings.
- MENU button: Opens the full settings system divided into tabs.
- Control wheel: Adjusts values and moves through menu items.
- Center button: Confirms selections in many menus.
If you are new to the camera, the Fn menu is the best place to start because it puts essential controls within one or two clicks.
How to Change Settings on Sony A6000 Using the Fn Button
The Fn button is the fastest way to change core settings while shooting.
Press Fn to display a grid of assigned functions, then use the control wheel to highlight the option you want and press the center button to change it.
Common settings available through the Fn menu include:
- ISO
- Drive mode
- Flash mode
- Autofocus mode
- Autofocus area
- White balance
- Metering mode
- Exposure compensation
- Creative Style
Because the Fn menu can be customized, the exact layout may differ depending on how the camera was set up previously.
Changing Exposure Settings
Exposure settings control how bright or dark your image appears.
On the Sony a6000, the most important exposure-related controls are aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation.
How to change aperture
Turn the mode dial to Aperture Priority (A) or Manual (M).
In Aperture Priority, rotate the control wheel or front dial to set the f-stop.
A wider aperture like f/1.8 lets in more light and creates a shallower depth of field, while a smaller aperture like f/8 or f/11 increases depth of field.
How to change shutter speed
Use Shutter Priority (S) or Manual (M) to control shutter speed directly.
Faster speeds help freeze motion, while slower speeds allow motion blur and more light.
This is especially useful for sports, street photography, and low-light scenes.
How to change ISO
Press Fn, select ISO, and choose a value based on the light available.
Lower ISO values such as 100 or 200 produce cleaner files, while higher values increase sensitivity in darker environments but can add noise.
For many users, Auto ISO is a practical starting point.
How to use exposure compensation
Exposure compensation lets you brighten or darken the image without leaving semi-automatic modes.
Select it in the Fn menu or assign it to a control.
Use positive values to brighten a scene and negative values to reduce brightness when highlights are too strong.
How to Change Autofocus Settings
Autofocus settings make a major difference on the Sony a6000 because the camera’s phase-detection autofocus can be very fast when configured correctly.
The two most important options are autofocus mode and autofocus area.
How to change autofocus mode
Press Fn and choose AF mode.
The main options are:
- AF-S: Single-shot autofocus for still subjects.
- AF-C: Continuous autofocus for moving subjects.
- DMF: Direct manual focus, which allows fine-tuning after autofocus.
- MF: Manual focus only.
Use AF-S for portraits, landscapes, and static subjects.
Use AF-C for children, pets, action, or any scene where distance changes quickly.
How to change autofocus area
Press Fn and select AF area.
The Sony a6000 typically includes options such as Wide, Zone, Center, Flexible Spot, and Lock-on AF.
Wide is convenient for general shooting, while Flexible Spot gives more control over where the camera focuses.
If the camera focuses on the wrong subject, switching from Wide to Flexible Spot often solves the problem.
How to Change Image Quality and File Settings
The Sony a6000 can record in JPEG, RAW, or RAW + JPEG.
These settings affect editing flexibility, storage use, and workflow.
- JPEG: Easier to share immediately, smaller file size.
- RAW: Best for editing because it preserves more image data.
- RAW + JPEG: Useful if you want both quick previews and editing flexibility.
To change file quality, open the MENU button, then find the image quality or camera settings tab.
If you edit photos in Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, or similar software, RAW is usually the better long-term choice.
How to Change White Balance and Color Settings
White balance controls color accuracy by compensating for different light sources.
In mixed lighting or indoors, the wrong white balance can make photos look too warm, too cool, or unnatural.
Press Fn and choose White Balance.
Common options include Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent, Fluorescent, and custom Kelvin-based values depending on the setup.
Auto White Balance works well in many situations, but manual selection can improve consistency when shooting under stable lighting.
The Sony a6000 also includes Creative Style options.
These change the in-camera look of JPEG files and can affect contrast, saturation, and sharpness.
They do not replace RAW editing, but they are useful if you want a specific look straight out of camera.
How to Change Video Settings
To adjust video settings on the Sony a6000, switch to movie recording mode and open the menu for recording quality, frame rate, and exposure behavior.
Video settings matter if you are recording interviews, travel clips, or content for social platforms.
Important video-related settings include:
- File format: Determines how video is recorded.
- Record setting: Controls resolution and frame rate.
- Autofocus mode: Helps the camera track motion during recording.
- Exposure mode: Influences whether the camera controls shutter, aperture, or both.
- Audio levels: Useful if you use an external microphone.
For more stable results, many users prefer a fixed exposure setup in video rather than letting the camera constantly adjust brightness during recording.
How to Customize Buttons and Shortcut Menus
One of the most useful ways to change settings on Sony A6000 is to customize the camera for your own shooting style.
Button customization reduces menu diving and makes the camera faster in the field.
To customize controls, open MENU and look for the custom settings section.
Depending on firmware and setup, you may be able to assign functions to buttons such as AEL, C1, or the center button.
You can also reorganize the Fn menu so your most-used settings appear first.
Good custom assignments often include:
- ISO
- White balance
- Focus area
- Exposure compensation
- AF mode
- Drive mode
If you regularly switch between stills and video, create a layout that separates those workflows as much as possible.
How to Reset or Restore Settings
If the camera behaves unexpectedly, restoring defaults can help.
The Sony a6000 includes reset and initialize options inside the menu system.
A reset may clear specific settings, while initialize typically returns the camera to a more complete factory-state setup.
Before resetting, note your preferred settings for autofocus, exposure, and custom buttons so you can restore them quickly afterward.
This is especially useful after buying a used camera or testing many options over time.
Practical Sony A6000 Settings to Try First
If you want a simple starting point, use these settings for general photography:
- Shooting mode: Aperture Priority
- ISO: Auto ISO
- AF mode: AF-S for still subjects, AF-C for motion
- AF area: Flexible Spot or Zone
- White balance: Auto
- File format: RAW or RAW + JPEG
These settings provide a strong balance of image quality, flexibility, and ease of use for most beginners and intermediate photographers.
As you become more familiar with the camera, you can fine-tune settings for portraits, travel, street photography, and video without changing the core workflow.