Sony introduced the Alpha NEX-6 in November 2012. It comes with a price tag fit in between the flagship NEX-7 and the mid-range NEX-5R. The NEX-6 has the excellent XGA OLED viewfinder as the NEX-7 and the fast hybrid focus system, and wireless as the NEX-5R. So is it worth the extra SGD 250 than the NEX-5R without the 180 degrees flip-able LCD touchscreen? Or pay SGD 500 more to get the more convenient Tri-Navi design, solid metal-built body, and the higher 24 mp resolution NEX-7?
Pros & Cons
16.1 MP APS-C CMOS sensor
Great XGA OLED viewfinder
Solid-body build, comfortable hand grip design
Lightweight (approx. 345g including battery and memory card, without a lens attached)
Hybrid focus system(phase-detection & contrast detection) for faster and more accurate AF
Convenience control dial design (not as good as the Sony NEX-7 Tri-Navi design, but still great)
Quick graphical navigation menu display
Low battery life (approx 340~380 images with LCD screen; reduce to 230~ 280 if mix with EVF and some camera settings tweaking)
No way to turn off the wireless
Not 180 degrees tilt-able
Need the Sony Entertainment Network account to install the free-apps
No memorable self settings function is available
The text-based menu design is not so intuitive; it is not that bad but could be better
Look & Feels
Although the Sony NEX-6 body does not have a metal build body like the Sony NEX-7, you would not feel it cheap. When I first looked at it, I thought it would sound like a cheap plastic body when I knocked at it? But at the time I tried it, wow! It is a solid build, lightweight, and would not feel cheap at all (maybe some of you do). The improved design of the handgrip makes it comfortable to hold in hand for a whole day trip.
Sony Alpha NEX-6 – Front View without lens attached
Sony Alpha NEX-6 – Front View with SELP1650 kit lens attached
