Sony NEX-6 Hands-on Preview

18.05 | Label: Sony NEX-6 Hands-on Preview

Preview based on a pre-production NEX-6 with firmware v.01

When it entered the mirrorless market with the NEX-3 and NEX-5 back in 2010, Sony, along with Panasonic and Olympus, saw vast potential to attract the millions of compact camera users who wanted better image quality but without the bulk of a DSLR. Today, however, as the smartphone market continues to erode compact camera sales we see camera makers increasingly turning their attention to a smaller - but potentially more eager - group; enthusiasts who want a lighter, more compact DSLR alternative, but still demand the level of customization and camera control to which they've grown accustomed. As such, we've seen high-end offerings like the Sony NEX-7, Olympus OM-D E-M5, Panasonic DMC-GX1 and Fujifilm X-E1, which in both price and feature set are aimed well beyond point and shoot upgraders.
With the announcement of the NEX-6, Sony appears to be refining the high-end concept by merging the technology and user controls of the NEX-7 with the connectivity of the NEX-5R. In essence, the NEX-6 combines the hallmarks of an enthusiast-oriented offering - control dials and a viewfinder - with Wi-Fi functionality and camera apps. Quite oddly, though, for a camera that makes an obvious effort to accommodate smartphone owners, Sony has removed the touchscreen operation found in recent NEX-5 iterations.
The NEX-6 and NEX-7 are so similar not only in appearance but specification (save the latter's 24MP sensor) that after even a cursory glance, a fair if not obvious question is surely, 'Is the NEX-7 still relevant?' The NEX-6 offers the same stunning 2.3 million dot OLED EVF, a built-in flash, 1080p60 video, and even adds an exposure mode dial and (finally) an ISO standard hotshoe connection in addition to enhancements Sony introduced in its recent NEX-5R announcement.
The NEX-6, like the NEX-5R, uses a modified sensor with pixels devoted to performing phase-detection to provide a hybrid autofocus system. The phase-detection pixels are used to determine depth information about the focus target, which means the camera has to perform less hunting. Sony is the fourth manufacturer (following Fujifilm, Nikon and Canon) to go down this route, with the potential of faster focus, improved continuous focus performance and better autofocus in movie shooting. We're very keen to get our hands on a production-ready camera and examine its performance in our in-depth review.
And as with the NEX-5R, the NEX-6 has built-in DNLA-compliant Wi-Fi and on-camera apps. While the app collection is rather limited at announcement, Sony has made clear it plans to expand offerings in the near future. And the possibility of enhancing your camera's current capabilities through user-friendly app downloads, as opposed to firmware updates is one that could be worth the wait. As it stands, you can can push images from the NEX-6 to an iOS or Android smartphone, or straight to Facebook (or Sony's PlayMemories site) across a Wi-Fi network. You can also use your smartphone as a remote viewfinder/trigger.
Sony NEX-6 specification highlights

16.1MP CMOS sensor
2.3 million dot resolution OLED EVF
ISO 100-25600
Control dial
Dedicated Fn button
'Quick Navi' display
Multi interface hotshoe (supports standard contacts and proprietary connector)
Wi-Fi for connection via Wi-Fi networks or to smartphones
Proprietary in-camera apps
Built-in flash (GN 6)
Electronic First Curtain shutter
1080p 60p HD movies in AVCHD (50p on PAL region models)

Compared to the NEX-7
There is precious little other than sensor size (16mp versus 24MP) and price to separate the NEX-6 from Sony's flagship NEX-7. If you have no need for output beyond 16MP and are willing to trade the NEX-7's Tri-Navi control interface and external mic socket for a mode dial, Wi-Fi connectivity and a Quick Navi menu, you can get the NEX-6 with a co-announced 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS power zoom for an attention-grabbing MSRP of $US 999. In discussions with us, Sony has acknowledged it expects the NEX-6 to have a direct impact on sales of the higher-priced NEX-7.

The NEX-6 is virtually indistinguishable from the NEX-7, being marginally taller only due to its protruding mode dial. It has more gently rounded edges along its top plate and lacks the metal construction of Sony's flagship model, but is still a solid-feeling camera.


Both cameras incorporate the same 3 inch LCD and OLED EVF. Button layout is very similar, with differences only in the placement of the movie record button (which has been much-criticized on the NEX-7). The NEX-6 has two control dials (versus three on the NEX-7) and a mode dial. It also lacks an AF/MF switch. The NEX-6 is shown here with the included rubber eyepiece cup.

Along the top plate there is little meaningful distinction between the cameras other than the dial arrangement. Yet the small power zoom kit lens, which covers nearly the same focal length range as the older 18-55mm lens on the NEX-7, offers a much more compact package.

E-mount power zoom 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens
Alongside the NEX-6, Sony introduces the E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS power zoom lens. This eight-group/nine-element optically-stabilized lens offers a minimum focus distance of 0.25m at its wide end and accepts 40.5mm filters. Collapsing to just under 30mm when powered off, the lens is easily the most compact E-mount optic available outside of Sony's E 16mm F2.8 Pancake lens. Impressively, this new lens is only slightly deeper than Panasonic's PZ 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 OIS power zoom, while offering a usefully-wider field of view at the wide end (24mm versus 28mm equiv.) although settling for a bit less reach at the tele end (75mm versus 84mm equiv.).

The Sony E-mount E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS power zoom lens

With an all-black finish that matches the NEX-6, the plastic and metal construction of the PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS feels pleasingly solid in hand. A long slider placed along the left side of the lens barrel offers an ample, knurled platform with which to easily zoom the lens. The throw of the slider is rather short, offering no variable speed zoom capability. It does though make for smooth and relatively quiet zooming during video recording, which is really the whole point of a power zoom.
What we really appreciate, however, is the dual-function control ring at the front of the lens barrel. In AF modes it is used to manually zoom the lens. With a double-ridged platform, the ring is wide enough for a sure and comfortable hold and offers a pleasingly smooth action that allows for precise focal length adjustments. Unlike the single-speed zoom slider, you can increase the speed of the zoom by rotating the ring more quickly. On our pre-production unit, however, this produces much more audible motor noise than using the power zoom slider.
Switch the camera to MF mode and this same ring automatically controls focus instead, with zoom control operated by the slider. Based on initial impressions we much prefer Sony's ring/slider design over the dual lever approach in the Panasonic 14-42 power zoom, where we can never tell by feel whether we're about to zoom or focus the lens.
While the Sony lens is of a focus-by-wire design, the action is dampened just enough to approximate a 'feel' of connection to the lens elements with responsive operation. And with MF assist enabled, an initial turn of the control ring brings up a magnified scene view for focus confirmation.

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).