Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Sony Alpha NEX-6 vs Sony NEX-7

Sony Alpha NEX-6

87

vs

Sony Alpha NEX-5

68

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-6

Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.71x
Light sensitivity
High ISO
25,600 ISO
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
 

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
 

differences

Advantages of the Sony NEX-6

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,018 ISO vs 796 ISO
Help
The NEX-6 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Overall image quality Better image quality 78.0 vs 69.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Focus points Significantly more focus points 99 vs 25
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The NEX-6's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Startup delay Less startup delay 200 ms vs 1000 ms
Help
5x less delay when turning on
Color depth Better color depth 23.7 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.5 more bits of color
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 257 ms vs 670 ms
Help
2.6x less delay when taking photos
True resolution Higher true resolution 16 MP vs 14 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.1 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Battery life Longer battery life 360 shots vs 330 shots
Help
Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 10 fps vs 7 fps
Help
More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Sony Alpha NEX-6 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-6

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 120x67x43 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.7"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Sony Alpha NEX-6 Sony Alpha NEX-6
87 vs 68
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-6.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
NEX-6:921k dots
NEX-5:920k dots
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
NEX-6:13.1 EV
NEX-5:12.2 EV
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Color depth Good color depth Help
NEX-6:23.7 bits
NEX-5:22.2 bits
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
NEX-6:200 ms
NEX-5:1000 ms
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Weight Is slightly heavier
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 with 18-55mm lens

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Canon EOS M

Canon EOS M

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $599 with 22mm lens

Touch screen Has a touch screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Screen resolution Has a significantly lower resolution screen
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$674 with 14-42mm lens

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature

Sony Alpha NEX-6 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Samsung NX300

Samsung NX300

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$699 with 20-50mm lens

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Supports 24p No 24p support
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Fujifilm X-E1

Fujifilm X-E1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$799 - $1,000 body only

$1,199 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Thinner
Viewfinder size Much smaller viewfinder
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$924 - $1,080 body only

$1,024 with 14-42mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder
Autofocus Slower autofocus

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Much more lenses available
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$495 - $730 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Startup delay More startup delay
Continuous shooting Shoots slower

appearance

Sony Alpha NEX-6 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-6 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 0 comments