So I really went to work this past weekend comparing the new Sony A6000 vs my Nex-6, which is now the old model, and on sale @ amazon for only $519 (Click Here) I compared image quality in the real world and Lab, did some focus testing, and created a cool illustration which shows both cameras head to head!
I also received the full frame e-mount 70-200mm f/4 OSS G lens which I’ve been really wanting to try out! So far it’s absolutely awesome on the A6000 and full frame mirrorless A7r Reviewed Here >> in my opinion!
I used the new SEL70200g lens in a really hard head to head focus test with Layla riding her bicycle and the results are clear. The A6000 performed better than the Nex-6 in continuous focus mode in that situation. I also did extended af testing with the A6000, and Sandy the dog, which really illustrates how good the af system is when at a little distance and the subject is moving slower.
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Sony A6000 vs My Nex-6
Image Quality Testing
For all intensive purposes the image quality difference between the A6000 and Nex-6 is a wash in my opinion. Yes the higher resolution A6000 sensor offers more detail and can also be cropped in more if necessary, but if your posting images on the web or looking at the full res images in Lightroom for example, they look about the same. 100% crops you can see a closer view and therefore more detail, but that will only translate into better prints if you’re printing really large. So, talking real world here it’s not much difference. The Nex-6 is awesome and the A6000 is a little better thanks to the extra resolution, but as far as High ISO, Color, and, Dynamic range wise, they are about the same.
Check out this real world flower scene from the deck taken with both cameras from about the same spot using the same 18-105mm f/4 OSS G Lens.
Real World – f/4, 105mm
Nex-6
A6000
Lab Scene @ F/8, 105mm
Nex-6:
A6000:
High ISO – Auto White Balance
I honestly can’t tell the difference between the two other than a slight red caste to the Nex-6 image, so the A6000 technically has a slight edge in the High ISO/ Auto ISO testing in my opinion.
Nex-6 @ ISO 25600 – Click Photos!
A6000 @ ISO 25600:
A6000 vs Nex-6 – Breakdown Illustration
In other news/ deals:
If you are looking for the best E-Mount lens quality, then the current Zeiss Touit Promotion (Click Here) might be worth considering! $200 Off on the 32mm f/1.8 Touit lens which I reviewed Here >> and $200 Off the ultra wide angle 12mm f/2.8 Touit lens which I reviewed Here >>
Both these lenses are amazing in build quality and optical quality as you can see from the sample photos in the detailed reviews above. $200 off is really a killer deal and investing in a quality focal length that you always use makes sense in a lot of cases. I could totally see picking up that 12mm wide angle if your into Landscape/ HDR Photography and want tack sharp corners with little distortion shooting raw quality! The 32mm Touit would be better for street shooting, but is also wide enough for a lot of general uses and really fast @ f/1.8! If you really want to go for it purchase both these Touit lenses together and save $800!! That means it will cost only $919 US for both Touit lenses if purchased together (Click Here)
Nex-6 w/ the 16-50mm powerzoom pancake lens @ Amazon for only $519 (Click Here)
Closing Remarks
So what I learned in the past few weeks comparing and testing the A6000 vs my Nex-6 is that the A6000 has some really nice improvements over the Nex-6. For starters the camera is a nicer design than the Nex-6 and the wheel on the top right is no bad at all if you’re coming from a Nex-6. They are very similar in position, only the A6000 has a two smaller dials spread out horizontally as apposed to the stacked Nex-6 design. I honestly like this better after using it for a while.
Although the AF performance on the A6000 is much better than the Nex-6, it’s still not DSLR good. Left to right motion is one thing, but back to front at close range is just not realistic with the hybrid sensor AF technology according to my tests. I tried several really hard situations where my Canon 5D Mark II or the Sony alpha A57, A77, A99 would have successfully focused in. The A6000 could not do it for the most part. Layla on a swing for example was to fast for the A6000 to track. At distance, left to right is pretty easy, and back to front is pretty good. The Nex-6 can also do this with practice, but not at the same hit rate as the A6000. The really fast depth of field shift style focusing is just not up to the same level as the cameras with a mirror in the real world. Slower speed movement at a distance is possible with very good success as we saw in the CameraStoreTV video and also in the Sandy running sequences.
So, basically you have the next generation mirrorless camera technology from Sony in several areas.The video is much better due to the way it sampled and the BionzX processor power. The High ISO testing reveled very similar results in both color and dynamic range when taking raw photos, but low light video is much better on the A6000 regardless.
Coming from the Nex-7, a downgrade from the killer tri-navi design, but a better video button position and internal hardware. I am pretty confident Sony will come out with a higher end APS-C E-Mount camera at some point, but this is good enough for the current market considering the full frame e-mount camera line is what they are thinking I guess. I also heard rumored that a even cheaper full frame “A5000 like” camera might be coming out next? After that perhaps a new Nex-7 or better APS-C camera.
That is it for now and sorry I have been so busy the past week or so. Work and day to day chores this time of year are taking up more time than normal 😉 Please feel free to ask questions and share your thoughts below in the comments area 😉
Jay
