Sony is one of the few companies that decided to change their trajectory with the introduction of mirrorless cameras. They launched two full-frame offerings in 2013, and the rest is history. While they are best known for the Alpha series digital cameras, Sony also had a different kind of camera that was working in its favour. And no, it’s not the A99 series, but rather, the NEX lineup. The e-mount cameras have been popular back in the day, and of the various models, this one, perhaps, ruled the most.
The NEX series is an abbreviation for “New E-mount eXperience.” In other words, they were mirrorless APS-C models that paved the way for the Alpha series. The device was thin and long, perfect for anyone who wants an interchangeable camera. However, the NEX 6, a 2012 model, was truly different from the other offerings. We found the camera to be a fusion between the NEX 7 and the previous 5N. In terms of the build, the Sony NEX 6 was quite sturdy. It is also quite slim, measuring just 4.8 x 2.8 x 1.1 inches and weighing 286g.
While ergonomically, the camera is great, the company also added multiple features to make its performance quite rich. The device offers a 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor, can record full HD videos at 30fps, and has 99 AF points. There is also a 2.36million-dot EVF, a 3-inch 921K-dot LCD, and ISO up to 25,600. The camera has a burst rate of 3fps, and comes with HDMI C (Mini) and Micro-USB ports.
What made the device so exciting was also how it performed. The camera had really quick autofocus, which could nail the scene 80% of the time. There is also hybrid AF, which allows you to shoot accurately and also latch on to moving subjects with ease. Only in really low light would the camera have to hunt for the subject. If you were new to photography, then the Sony NEX 6 also had different automatic modes to make your life easy. One of these features would set the exposure, while the other would combine automatic exposure to get better results.
Like autofocus, image quality was also a king in its realm. The camera, when used with good lenses, provided exceptional photographs. The pictures were sharp, they offered plenty of detail, and did not produce grainy images at higher ISOs such as ISO 1600. You also get more details in shadows, which is good if you ever end up shooting underexposed. In fact, you can use the JPEGs right out of the camera, without much editing. The only drawback is the lack of image stabilisation, which could have aided photographers in many ways.
The Sony NEX 6 was a perfect camera for anyone who needed a second backup model or a travel companion. Even today, the camera is available on eBay for $300, which makes it quite a catch. If you were to purchase an APS-C, such as Ricoh or Fujifilm, it would cost you far more. So, this could be a far better option than going after 1-inch sensor cameras.
