Sony NEX-6 Review
I usually start a review of a camera like this straight after brekky, while I’m fresh, with an uncluttered mind.
But sometimes it seems I would have been better off by kicking off with a cluttered mind!
So I pick up the NEX-6. Hit the power button. Look in the LCD. Looks awfully dark. What’s up? Go the finder menu and hit the factory reset button. No better. Look in the menu for the PASM options. None there!
Oh! Oh! Dumbo missed the legibly inscribed, external PASM settings on the top mode dial. Just like most other cameras, but unlike the two most recent mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that passed through my hands, the Canon EOS-M and Sony’s NEX-5R, which tucked these vital options away in the finder menu and touch screen respectively.
With the NEX-6 many will appreciate the easy access to external exposure controls like these.
Cosmetically, the camera looks gorgeous, simply garbed in black with legibly labelled external controls. It feels good too, thanks to a prominent speed grip. With the review f3.5/16-50mm review lens attached, it is almost pocketable.
Sony NEX-6 Features
The power and Function buttons are mounted on a front sloping deck that falls naturally to an operative forefinger.
As I mentioned, the mode dial carries the PASM choices plus iAuto and Superior auto exposure options, plus scene modes (nine in all) and Sony’s excellent sweep panorama. Set lower and on the extreme right corner is the video record button: later, when out shooting, I found this location to be a damned nuisance!
At the rear there is the replay button, flash pop up, AEL (to fix the exposure); the four way control wheel carries ISO, display options, single/continuos shooting and exposure compensation. There are three more, unlabelled near-invisible buttons: two assignable ‘soft keys’ and the central control wheel.
The CMOS captured a maximum image size of 4912×3264 pixels, or 42x28cm as a print.
Movies at Full HD res of 1920×1080 pixels can be shot in either AVCHD (full res) or MPEG4 (at two lower res settings).
The camera is furnished with full Wi-Fi access. This allows relatively simple wireless stills and video transfers to smartphones or tablets running the supplied PlayMemories Mobile (Windows only) app. Images can also be transferred wirelessly to a networked computer or viewed wirelessly on any DLNA-compatible TV.
Thankfully, the NEX-6 has a vari-angle LCD screen, tiltable to 90m degrees upwards or 45 degrees down.
Sony NEX-6 ISO Tests
A very clean performance all the way to ISO 3200. By ISO 6400 very slight rise in noise. Still very useable at ISO 12800 in terms of quality, sharpness and lack of visible noise. Noise up at ISO 25600 but still useable with the right subjects.
Sony NEX-6 Review Verdict
Quality: slightly above average.
Why you’d buy the Sony NEX-6: easy to use; access to a reasonable range of lenses.
Why you wouldn’t: no touch screen operation; the memory cat\rd slot is fiddly to deal with.
If you don’t need the image size of the NEX-7, this could be an ideal choice. Good one!
Sony NEX-6 Specifications
Image Sensor: 16.1 million effective pixels.
Metering: multi zone, centre-weighted, spot.
Lens Mount: Sony E-mount.
Exposure Modes: iAuto, Program AE, shutter and aperture priority, manual.
Effective Sensor Size: 23.5×15.6mm CMOS.
35 SLR Lens Factor: 1.5x.
Shutter Speed (stills): 30 to 1/4000 second and Bulb. Flash sync: 1/160 sec.
Continuous Shooting: up to 10 fps.
Memory: SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo cards.
Image Sizes (pixels): Stills: 4912×3264 to 2448×1376.
Movies: 1920×1080 (AVCHD), 1440×1080 and 640×480 (MPEG4).
Viewfinder: 7.5cm LCD screen (921,600 pixels).
File Formats: JPEG, RAW (Sony ARW 2.3), JPEG+RAW, AVCHD, MPEG4.
Colour Space: sRGB, Adobe RGB.
ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 100 to 25600.
Interface: USB 2.0, HDMI mini, Wi-Fi.
Power: Rechargeable lithium ion battery, DC input.
Dimensions: 120x67x43 WHDmm.
Weight: 345 g (inc card and battery).
Price: Get a price on the Sony NEX-6 (Body Only) or the Sony NEX-6 with 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens or the Sony NEX6 with 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens and 55-210mm Lens.
14 Responses to “Sony NEX-6 Review” - Add Yours
February 24th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
You guys list “no touch screen” as a negative. I see it as a positive. I look for cameras that do not have a touchscreen and avoid them. A well designed camera does not use them.
February 25th, 2013 at 12:47 am
I agree with timgrey I think touchscreens are a nuisance especially for a small screen.. Physical buttons on the camera work great!
February 25th, 2013 at 9:39 am
I tend to agree with you on the touch screen. But so many cameras have such a confusing mix of external controls and viewfinder options the touch screen is an easy way out.
February 25th, 2013 at 7:27 pm
This is the best NEX body to date. By the way, via commonly found and very inexpensive adapters, this camera, along with the entire family of NEX bodies, accepts more lenses than any other body ever made. Limited lens selection is NOT a factor here.
February 26th, 2013 at 11:46 am
So…. just like the review of the 7, no mention of what the EVF is actually like?
February 27th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
Wow, those high iso images are impressive… opens wallet
February 27th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
I am a Sony shooter. Very much invested! I love the features of the NEX however I found no documentation on how the A mount lenses perform with the A to E adapter. Is there any loss in light or quality? I shoot with an A500 and so much want either the NEX 6 or the A77.
Take a look at some of my interesting pics taken with my current Sony A500 camera here:
http://flickriver.com/photos/djkj/popular-interesting/
Cheers!
KJ
February 28th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
The ISO is quite impressive, even at 12800. It would be fun taking this camera out for a bit of experimental night shooting!
March 4th, 2013 at 12:30 am
“Slightly above average”?? Give us all a break, Barrie.
March 11th, 2013 at 10:27 pm
I sold my Nikon D5000 and switched to an NEX-6. It takes excellent photos but retains the size of a compact camera. It really is great!
March 21st, 2013 at 2:01 am
I am not the least surprise if someone would trade their cameras or handycams to Sony. With Sony Nex series, photography enthusiast will be keen to get their hands on this . Have you read about the latest Sony Nex VG30? It offers to fulfill the need of a cinematic expression and at a reasonable price too.
March 23rd, 2013 at 2:11 am
Im looking at the NEX 6 and the Olympus OMD. The Olympus has a smaller sensor and is a lot less sexy, but has a touch screen you can shut off and on. The Olympus does not do as well in video but has a superior stable of lenses. Neither camera has a external mic jack. Both have come out with external mic periferals that work through the proprietary connections but the Sony one is better. The Olympus is priced much higher than the Sony and Im leaning towards the Sony. But they are pretty close.
April 8th, 2013 at 8:07 am
RE: Bazman comments on March 23, 2013
Will you please describe in detail exactly the equipment you mention in your statement:
” Both have come out with external mic periferals that work through the proprietary connections but the Sony one is better.”
I’d buy the NEX 6 now if it had an external mic input. Some of what I wish to use the “NEX X” for is video work.
Thanks,
April 30th, 2013 at 11:28 pm
I own a NEX-6 and have found four major defects which have let me down .
The first is the location of the Movie button. It is hard to locate and turn on – usually needs to visually locate as groping for it wastes time and when it comes to turning the movie off – it definately needs removing your eve from the ELV to locate the movie switch – at the expense of interupting the flow of the movie. Unfortunately Sony has bowed to critics and located the Movie button away from accidental operation – however, it has completely destroyed this facility by a stupid button location which I doubt has been seriously trialled pre manufacture.
The second is a failure to provide a choice of an Aspect Ratio of 4:3 which is incomprehensible.
The third is the menu system which leaves “hanging” explanations which obscure other menu options.
The fourth is the necessity to press the focus button to get the camera to actually select a change to the mode selector – like a double manual acknowledgement.
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