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Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-6 Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Released April 2017
  • New Model is Sony A9 II
Sony NEX-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Refreshed by Sony A6000
Photography Glossary

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-6 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Sony A9 versus Sony NEX-6, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are built by Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the A9 (24MP) and NEX-6 (16MP) and the A9 (Full frame) and NEX-6 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The A9 was released 4 years after the NEX-6 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the A9 matches up versus the NEX-6 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony NEX-6

 A9 NEX-6 
RevealedApril 2017March 2013More modern by 50 months
Screen resolution1440k921kSharper screen (+519k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Sony A9

 NEX-6 A9 

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony NEX-6

 A9 NEX-6 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Sony A9 comes with exterior dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") having a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) and the Sony NEX-6 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Compare the Sony A9 versus Sony NEX-6 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the A9 vs the NEX-6.

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the A9 and NEX-6 is 65 and 85 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-6 top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The image here should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A9 and NEX-6.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A9 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony A9 will render greater detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher A9 should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-6 sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A9 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Portrait photography camera
83
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony A9 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-6 Street photography highlights
79
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
offers focus by touch
environment proof
great ISO range (51,200)
78
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (345 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-6 Sports photography features
86
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high max frames per second (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery (650 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
66
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Sony A9 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Travel photography camera
73
better than average battery (650 shots)
environment proof
supports bluetooth
offers focus by touch
good resolution (24 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
75
lighter than competition in class (345g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A9 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Landscape photography camera
85
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment proof
better than average battery (650 per charge)
2 card slots
75
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A9 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-6 Vlogging advice
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic support
display isn't selfie friendly
32
includes face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (345 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone support
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Sony A9 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony NEX-6
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Alpha NEX-6
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A9 Sony Alpha NEX-6
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2017-04-19 2013-03-25
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.6 x 23.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 847.3mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 51200 25600
Max boosted ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 693 99
Lens
Lens support Sony E Sony E
Number of lenses 121 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,440k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45�
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 3,686k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 20.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash settings Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 673g (1.48 lb) 345g (0.76 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 92 78
DXO Color Depth rating 24.9 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 13.1
DXO Low light rating 3517 1018
Other
Battery life 650 photographs 360 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FZ100 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 2 1
Retail cost $4,498 $365