Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-6: A Hands-On Comparison for Camera Enthusiasts and Professionals

As someone who has spent 15+ years in the trenches testing hundreds of cameras - from rugged compacts to full-frame beasts - I’m often asked how different models stack up in real-world use. The Nikon 1 AW1 and Sony NEX-6, both announced in 2013, represent distinctive approaches in mirrorless photography. The AW1 screams adventure-ready ruggedness, while the NEX-6 blends advanced imaging features with a refined control layout. Today, let’s unpack how these two fare head-to-head across various photography disciplines, and which might suit your needs best.

Right off the bat, the Nikon 1 AW1 (left) and Sony NEX-6 (right) have distinct physical presences. The AW1’s chunky, utilitarian build contrasts with the sleeker, more traditional mirrorless form factor of the NEX-6.

Design and Handling: Rugged Versus Refined

If you prioritize durability on your shoots - think beach, mountaintop, or poolside - the Nikon 1 AW1 makes a compelling case. It’s waterproof, shockproof, and weather-sealed, built to shrug off elements for active photographers. With dimensions at 114x72x37 mm and weighing 356g, it’s surprisingly compact given its protection. The solid grip is reassuring, although somewhat blocky ergonomics may not please everyone.

The Sony NEX-6, by contrast, is an advanced mirrorless camera designed more for studio, street, and travel use. It measures slightly larger (120x67x43 mm) but is marginally lighter at 345g. The camera feels well balanced in hand with a tasteful grip and an intuitive button and dial layout.

Sony NEX-6’s top controls include a dedicated mode dial and dual control wheels, facilitating swift exposure adjustments crucial for demanding shooting scenarios. The Nikon 1 AW1 opts for a simpler setup geared toward ease of use in challenging conditions rather than speed.

While the AW1 offers basic external controls to prioritize ruggedness and ease, the NEX-6’s design invites more granular manual control, which I appreciated during intricate exposure adjustments - especially in street and portrait photography.

Screen and Viewfinder

Both cameras sport 3-inch LCDs with 921k-dot resolution. However, the NEX-6’s screen tilts up 90° and down 45°, vastly improving framing versatility for low or high-angle shots. The AW1’s fixed, non-touch TFT LCD feels limiting in comparison.

The inclusion of a bright 2.4 million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) on the Sony is a game-changer for precise composition and exposure reviews, particularly under bright daylight. Nikon’s AW1 has no viewfinder, relying solely on the LCD. In my field tests, this made a significant difference for quick subject tracking and battery conservation.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensor Discipline vs. APS-C Punch

At the heart of imaging lies the sensor system, the most crucial differentiator here.

The Nikon 1 AW1 uses a 1-inch, 13.2 x 8.8 mm CMOS sensor with 14 megapixels. While respectable, this sensor area (116.16 mm²) is significantly smaller than the Sony’s 23.5 x 15.6 mm APS-C sensor boasting 16MP and an area over three times larger (366.60 mm²).

This size gap manifests prominently in image quality and dynamic range. The Sony’s APS-C sensor delivers noticeably richer color depth (23.7 bits vs 20.2), higher dynamic range (13.1 EV vs 10.9 EV), and superior low-light performance with an ISO rating tan up to 25600 native, more than four stops of gain over the Nikon’s top native ISO 6400.

Testing side-by-side under mixed lighting, the Sony’s files show greater tonality retention in shadows and highlights, smoother gradations, and less noise at ISO 1600 and above. The AW1’s images start to show an early drop-off in shadow detail and color vibrancy when pushed.

While the AW1’s smaller sensor results in more limited depth-of-field control (thanks to a 2.7x crop factor), it does excel in situations where ruggedness and reach are essential. The 2.7x crop factor also means telephoto lenses extend reach effectively.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed and Accuracy in the Field

Autofocus (AF) systems can make or break an experience, especially in dynamic shooting - sports, wildlife, or street.

The Nikon 1 AW1 features 135 autofocus points combining contrast and phase-detection metering. What’s impressive is its blistering continuous shooting speed at 60 frames per second (fps), an absolute cardio-pounding rate you rarely see in entry-level mirrorless cameras. This makes it ideal for subjects in erratic motion, like kids, pets, or sports amateurs.

The Sony NEX-6 offers 99 AF points with hybrid phase and contrast detection, trading off supreme speed for more refined focus accuracy under varied lighting. Its max burst speed is reasonably fast at 10 fps, sufficient for most photography needs, including casual sports and wildlife.

Though the AW1 edges out in raw speed, I found the NEX-6’s AF tracking more reliable for maintaining focus on moving subjects in lower light or cluttered backgrounds, aided partially by its EVF usability.

Both cameras include face detection but lack animal eye AF, defaulting to manual override or broader AF point selection for close-up wildlife. Interestingly, neither have in-body image stabilization (IBIS), meaning vibration control relies heavily on lens stabilization or steady hands.

Photo Genres and Use Case Evaluations

Let’s unpack how these cameras serve across major photography types:

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh

Portraiture demands pleasing skin tone rendition, precise eye detection, and depth-of-field control for creamy backgrounds.

• Nikon 1 AW1: Due to the smaller sensor and crop factor, achieving shallow depth of field is trickier. Bokeh is less pronounced, often appearing crisper and busier. Skin tones are generally accurate but lean slightly colder under artificial lighting. Its face detection works well in bright conditions.

• Sony NEX-6: The APS-C sensor shines here, offering smoother bokeh, richer color fidelity, and excellent eye-detection AF (though no dedicated eye-AF). Portraits from the NEX-6 have a natural warmth and flattering tonal nuances, making it a better choice for portrait enthusiasts.

Landscape: Dynamic Range and Resolution

When landscape photographers seek expansive tonal ranges and rich details, sensor size and dynamic range dictate results.

Sony’s 16MP APS-C sensor with 13.1 stops dynamic range fries the competition here. I found its RAW files capable of pulling back shadows and recovering highlights impressively in post-processing. Resolution at 4912x3264 pixels also provides good print size flexibility.

Nikon’s 14MP 1” sensor offers a good starting point but can reveal noise artifacts in shadow recovery attempts, limiting post-processing latitude.

Nikon ups the ante with environmental sealing and ruggedness, allowing for riskier outdoor ventures. You won't worry about sudden rain showers or splashes with the AW1, a big plus for adventure photographers.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Frame Rate

Wildlife and sports photography demand fast, accurate AF and high burst rates.

• Nikon 1 AW1’s continuous burst at 60 fps is staggering, unmatched at this price and category. It can capture fleeting action sequences with remarkable reliability, perfect for fast-moving wildlife like birds in flight or kids’ sports.

• Sony NEX-6’s 10 fps burst is good but pales next to Nikons’ extreme speed. However, the NEX-6’s tracking AF accuracy and superior low-light performance allow it to keep pace and lock focus in demanding situations where speed alone isn’t enough.

Build-wise, the NEX-6 lacks weather sealing, so rigorous outdoor sports can threaten its internals.

Street and Travel: Discreteness and Portability

For candid or street photographers, discretion, size, and quick responsiveness are key.

The Nikon 1 AW1’s robust build looks more like an adventure utility camera, possibly drawing unwanted attention in delicate street environments. Its lack of an EVF and fixed screen reduce shooting flexibility.

In contrast, Sony’s rangefinder-style mirrorless design is sleek and unobtrusive, with a lovely tilting screen and EVF, enabling effective eye-level shooting. At 345g, it’s light enough for travel without fatigue.

Battery life also favors the Sony here (360 shots vs 220), critical for extended travel shoots without frequent recharging.

Macro and Night/Astro Photography

Neither camera is specialized for macro, but let’s be candid:

• Nikon 1 AW1 lacks focus stacking and post-focus modes, limiting macro precision. The lens ecosystem includes some close-focus options but nothing exceptional.

• Sony NEX-6 enjoys a more diverse lens selection, including some sharp, affordable macro primes.

Night and astrophotography largely hinge on sensor noise control and ISO performance.

Sony’s ability to shoot at ISO 25600 and its expanded dynamic range provide clear wins under starry skies or low-light scenes, producing cleaner images with less grain.

The Nikon’s maximum native ISO 6400 and earlier noise onset restrict its night usability. Both cameras, however, lack dedicated astro features like bulb modes with long exposures and intervalometers without add-ons.

Video Capabilities

Neither camera targets videographers, but mild usage is possible.

• Nikon 1 AW1 records full HD 1080p at 60i and 30p with MPEG-4 and H.264 compression. It offers slow-motion modes up to 1200 fps in lower resolutions, cool for creative effects.

• Sony NEX-6 supports 1080p video at 60 and 24 fps in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats, delivering slightly better image quality and more robust codec options for editing.

Neither offers microphone or headphone jacks, nor in-body stabilization for smooth handheld video. The Sony’s tiltable screen aids composing while filming.

Professional Reliability and Workflow

For working pros, file format support, workflow integration, and reliability matter.

Both offer RAW capture - critical for maximum post-production flexibility. Sony edges the Nikon on RAW file size and depth, offering more data to work with.

Sony’s extensive E-mount lens lineup (121 available lenses) dramatically improves versatility, including premium glass from Zeiss and third parties. Nikon’s 1-mount lens system is niche, with only 13 lenses, mostly primes and a few zooms, restricting creative freedom.

The Nikon’s USB 2.0 and optional wireless connectivity contrast with Sony's built-in Wi-Fi, facilitating quicker image transfer and remote control on the NEX-6.

Technical Summary: Strengths and Weaknesses at a Glance

Putting It All Together: Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Nikon 1 AW1 if…

• You’re an outdoor adventure photographer needing a camera that can get wet, dropped, and knocked around.
• Ultra-fast burst rates (60 FPS) for subjects with unpredictably rapid motion is a priority.
• You prefer a straightforward, rugged camera without bells and whistles.
• Portability with protection beats resolution or lens flexibility in your shooting.
• You shoot mostly casual or action snaps rather than highly detailed portraits or landscapes.

Choose Sony NEX-6 if…

• Image quality is paramount - richer colors, deeper dynamic range, and better high ISO performance.
• You want versatility and control: EVF, tilting screen, and a more classical mirrorless experience.
• Your photography spans portraits, landscapes, street, and moderate sports.
• You demand access to a large lens ecosystem, especially for creative prime lenses and zoom options.
• You value battery life and wireless connectivity for travel and remote shooting.
• Video recording quality matters, or you’d like more editing-friendly codecs.

Final Thoughts: Experience-Backed Recommendations

Reflecting on my extensive testing background, it’s clear that the Nikon 1 AW1 is a niche rugged camera optimized for specific adventure and action photography use-cases. It’s less suited for those prioritizing image quality above all else or who require a versatile system for multiple genres.

The Sony NEX-6 remains a compelling choice as an advanced mirrorless workhorse for enthusiasts searching for a balance between image quality, control, and portability. Its superior sensor, EVF, and lens options lend it a longer lifespan and broad usability - qualities I consistently look for when advising clients who want their gear to grow with their skills.

Neither is perfect, and both show their age in 2024, but in their contexts, their strengths shine through clearly.

Nikon 1 AW1 screen back Sony NEX 6 front Sony NEX 6 screen back

If ruggedness and action bursts top your must-haves, the Nikon 1 AW1 is your comrade through rain and rough terrain. But if you want an imaging powerhouse with room to expand, the Sony NEX-6 will reward your creative ambitions far beyond its age.

Whichever you choose, may your next photographic adventure be richly rewarding! And if you have questions on specific lenses or settings, drop me a line - I’m always here to help unpack these devices from an experienced, practical perspective.

Happy shooting!