Sony NEX-6 Hands-on Preview

by Shawn Barnett and Mike Tomkins
Posted 09/12/2012

This is the Sony I've been waiting for. Not just the camera, but the company. They are back in fighting form, and what's more they seem to be having fun. Sony wasn't sure the NEX-7 would be quite the smash hit it clearly was, even at its higher price point, but that smash hit told them there was a market for a small mirrorless camera with an electronic viewfinder and an extra dial for a slightly lower price point. Hence we have the Sony NEX-6: a camera that's about the size of an NEX-7 complete with pop-up flash and electronic viewfinder, but with a simplified interface and a 16.1-megapixel sensor instead of 24.3. It also has a real Mode dial, dog-gone it, and that's a welcome change.

Between the NEX-6 and the NEX-5R, Sony has developed two cameras that hit me just about right. Stick a hot shoe on the NEX-5R and I'm happy; barring that, I'm drawn to the NEX-6 with its physical Mode dial. I might even use the electronic viewfinder.

Of course, there's a whole lot more to the Sony NEX-6 than those few elements. First, Sony's added its Fast Hybrid AF system, which combines contrast detection with 99-point phase-detection autofocus. It's reassuring to see that 11 x 9 array of autofocus points on the screen (both EVF and LCD, of course). Next, it can shoot 10 frames per second at full 16.1-megapixel resolution while track-focusing, keeping moving subjects in focus. The NEX-6 also records Full HD movies at 60p -- no small feat -- and it has Sony's new Multi Interface Shoe, which not only supports standard flashes, it integrates 21 additional pins for adding accessories to the camera. Finally, Sony integrated a WiFi radio for easy transfer of images either directly to social media or to tablets and cell phones for editing and uploading from there.

And because it's a Sony, it has a huge selection of extra features that users have come to expect. Things like Sweep Panorama, Auto Portrait Framing (a crazy idea that actually seems to work), Auto HDR, and Focus Peaking function, just to name a few. Pricing is expected to be US$850 body-only, and US$1,000 with the new 16-50mm Power Zoom lens, expected to ship in November.

Physically, the NEX-6 reminds me a lot of the NEX-7. It's almost exactly the same size, measuring 4.7 x 2.6 x 1.7 inches (120 x 67 x 43mm) and weighing 12.2 ounces (345g) with battery and card (but without lens).

With a more workman-like appearance, the Sony NEX-6 has less glitz and more down-home practicality than the NEX-7. It isn't homely, but it's not headed out for dinner and dancing in the city. Sony softened the corners and spatter-painted the surfaces. All the major features are right where you'd expect them, though: the infrared port on the grip, a good feel to the grip, an AF-assist lamp, lens release button where it should be, left and right microphone holes flanking the lens, and that relatively large APS-C sensor.

Sony's new 16-50mm Power Zoom lens lets the NEX-6 fit more comfortably into jacket pockets and bags, and is a welcome addition to the line. The overall profile of the NEX-6 is a little thicker behind the lens mount. Whereas the NEX-7 used Minolta's old proprietary hot shoe, Sony's new Multi Interface Shoe appears on the NEX-6, making it compatible with upcoming intelligent accessories as well as standard non-dedicated strobes. The EVF's rubber eyecup is also noticeably larger on the Sony NEX-6, and it's softer so it'll do less damage to glasses. I have to touch my glasses to the eyecup to see the whole scene, but I can see the whole thing without jamming my glasses into my eye socket. Right of the hot shoe is the pop-up flash, which springs up quickly, hanging over the Sony logo. Sony seems to have settled on putting the Power switch around the shutter button on its latest NEX cameras, and the Function button is also becoming standard. Finally, the Mode dial features PASM, fast access to Scene modes and Sweep Panorama, as well as the two Intelligent auto modes. It's stacked above the Control dial I appreciate so much (it really does make me happy, because cameras like the NEX-5 and NEX-3 relied too much on soft controls to make important changes).

Sony's wholesale switch to the use of D-rings for camera straps is unfortunate thanks to their tendency to rattle in video recordings, but someone apparently decided it was necessary. I should also note that I found the gap between the lens and grip a little tight.

Function over form rings true again when looking at the back. Comparing this to the NEX-7 is like being introduced to the high-school jock's bookish little brother: the family resemblance is there, but the emphasis on appearance is different. Handsome as I find the NEX-7, I'm happy with bookish if it gets me the photos I want in a practical way. The diopter correction dial is a little harder to activate thanks to the large rubber eyecup, but it's possible. The pop-up flash button is mechanical, not electronic, which I prefer in a camera like this. The Playback button does not power-up the camera, which makes sense considering the type of power switch employed. The AEL button is not switchable as it is on the NEX-7, but that's easy to live with; I'm just happy it's there. The standard soft buttons flank the top and bottom right corners of the LCD, their purpose changing with the mode or menu. Note that the LCD is not a touchscreen, but I didn't miss it.

Three of the four buttons integrated into the Control wheel bring up smart, fast adjustment menus on the right side of the screen, while the DISP button cycles through the various display options.

All in all, the Sony NEX-6 strikes me as a just-right answer to the enthusiast's need for a more affordable mirrorless camera. It has faster autofocus that can track a subject while firing off 10 frames per second, an electronic viewfinder, an articulating LCD screen, more physical control dials than anything but the NEX-7 -- less complexity than the NEX-7 -- and has a high-quality 16.1-megapixel sensor that Sony says is optimized for better low-light performance. I think I'd also appreciate the USB charging function, making it easier to charge while on the road. WiFi adds even more value to the NEX-6, allowing easy uploads direct to social media and transfers to tablets and phones. And adding the 16-50mm retractable Power Zoom lens makes the Sony NEX-6 smaller and easier to bring along as well as easier to afford.

We've enjoyed playing with the pre-production model, and can't wait to get our hands on the shipping version!

 

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