Sony A390 vs Sony NEX-6: A Deep Dive Into Two Generations of Sony APS-C Cameras

Choosing your next camera is a pivotal step, whether you're refining your photography craft or stepping up to more advanced gear. Today, we’re comparing two Sony models from different eras - the Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 (A390) and the Sony Alpha NEX-6 (NEX-6). Despite sharing the APS-C sensor format, these cameras differ in design, technology, and practical performance. Our hands-on experience with both will guide you through their strengths and trade-offs across real-world photography disciplines.

Let’s explore which camera fits your creative journey best.

Eyeing the Cameras: Size, Design, and Ergonomics

The Sony A390 is a classic compact DSLR, whereas the NEX-6 embraces mirrorless innovation with a rangefinder-style body. Let’s focus on their physical presence in your hands and usability - a crucial factor when working long hours or carrying gear around.

Sony A390:

• Dimensions: 128 x 97 x 86 mm
• Weight: 549 g
• Traditional DSLR bulk with pronounced hand grip
• Tilting 2.7-inch LCD screen (230k dots), helpful albeit modest in size and resolution

Sony NEX-6:

• Dimensions: 120 x 67 x 43 mm
• Weight: 345 g
• Compact, lightweight mirrorless form factor with a minimalist design
• Larger 3-inch tilting LCD screen (921k dots) with sharper display and wider tilt range

Ergonomics insights: The A390 feels reassuringly solid and familiar, especially if you’re used to an optical viewfinder DSLR. Its heft helps with stability during handheld shooting. Meanwhile, the NEX-6’s compactness means less fatigue on travel shoots but might challenge those who prefer a deeper grip. The advanced tilting high-res screen on the NEX-6 offers better live view framing flexibility.

Viewing the World: Viewfinder and Screen Technologies

A camera’s user interface and framing options shape your shooting flow. Let’s compare the viewfinders and LCDs in detail.

The A390’s optical viewfinder delivers a natural, lag-free experience, though limited coverage and no overlay information. It works well in bright daylight and helps with battery conservation. The NEX-6’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) shines with 100% coverage and rich detail, including exposure preview and focus peaking – an indispensable aid for precision manual focusing.

The NEX-6’s higher-resolution screen also makes composing challenging angles more effortless, a critical advantage in street or travel photography.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Sensor characteristics often tell the biggest story about image quality and capabilities. Here’s where newer technology usually leads to visible gains.

The A390’s CCD sensor was solid at its time, particularly good at color depth and handling midrange ISO values. However, the NEX-6’s modern CMOS sensor drives a significant leap - higher resolution, better noise handling, extended dynamic range, and vastly improved high ISO performance. The NEX-6’s native ISO range extended to 25600 unlocks versatility in low light and night photography that the A390 simply can’t match.

In practice, this means:

• Smoother shadows and preserved highlight details on the NEX-6
• Cleaner images at ISOs above 1600, beneficial for indoor, wildlife, and sports shooting
• Wider editing latitude, crucial for landscapes and professional workflows

Both cameras support RAW, but the NEX-6’s files inherently provide more data, making it preferable for serious post-processing.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Precision, and Tracking

Autofocus is the backbone of capturing decisive moments, especially in action-oriented photography like wildlife or sports. Let’s break down the contrast.

The A390 relies solely on a traditional nine-point phase detection system, adequate for beginners and casual shooting but limited in subject tracking and accuracy in live view or video. The NEX-6 incorporates a hybrid autofocus system with 99 focus points - far denser and combining phase and contrast detection.

From our testing:

• NEX-6 AF is notably faster and more accurate, especially in live view and low-contrast environments
• Better face-detection success rate supports event and portrait photography
• The NEX-6’s autofocus performs admirably with moving subjects under challenging light, making it a stronger wildlife and sports companion
• The A390’s AF is reliable for static subjects and beginner use but can struggle with erratic motion

Continuous Shooting and Shutter Performance

Burst speed influences your ability to capture sequences during fast action, which is important for sports and wildlife enthusiasts.

• Sony A390: 3 fps continuous shooting
• Sony NEX-6: 10 fps continuous shooting

The NEX-6’s burst rate is over three times faster, offering superior coverage for critical moments and better chances to nail perfect frames. In addition, shutter speeds max out similarly at 1/4000s, but the NEX-6 benefits from electronic shutter options for silent shooting (though limited), useful in street and wildlife environments where stealth matters.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither model offers environmental sealing or notable weatherproofing. Both are vulnerable to dust and moisture, so plan accordingly if you shoot outdoors frequently.

• The A390 has a robust DSLR chassis with reassuring grip and physical dials/buttons for quick access.
• The NEX-6 feels solid despite its lightweight shell, though its minimalist design lacks extensive physical controls (though offset by customizable buttons).

In a studio or controlled shoot, both are stable and reliable. For rugged use, consider protective outerwear or cases.

Lens Ecosystems and Compatibility

Sony’s interchangeable lens mount significantly influences your creative flexibility.

• A390: Sony/Minolta Alpha mount (A-mount) with 143 available lenses
• NEX-6: Sony E-mount with 121 native lenses (including Sony and third-party options)

The A-mount system benefits from a long history and vast selection, including many quality legacy lenses and telephotos, which is advantageous for portrait, sports, and wildlife photography - especially given native optical image stabilization on some lenses and full DSLR ergonomics.

The E-mount, designed for mirrorless, offers increasingly broad lens options with a focus on compact primes and modern optically stabilized zooms, ideal for travel, street, and video workflows. You can also adapt A-mount lenses via a converter, but with extra bulk and potential AF compromises.

Recommendation: If you already own A-mount glass, the A390 keeps you in that ecosystem. If you’re future-proofing and want mirrorless benefits, the NEX-6’s ecosystem is more modern and quickly growing.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Handling

The A390 includes sensor-shift stabilization - a valuable asset when using non-stabilized lenses. This support aids handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds.

The NEX-6 skips in-body stabilization, relying on lens-based Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilized lenses. If you invest in OSS lenses, you’ll often get superior results versus sensor-shift, especially at telephoto lengths.

For low-light shooting:

• The NEX-6’s higher max ISO of 25600 and superior noise control make it the obvious choice.
• The A390’s ISO ceiling is 3200, more restrictive in dim conditions.

Video Capabilities

The A390 lacks any video recording functionality, which significantly limits its appeal in multimedia workflows or casual video capture.

The NEX-6 supports full HD recording at multiple frame rates (1080p up to 60fps), with AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats. While not a fully professional video rig, it offers surprisingly capable footage for vlogging, interviews, and YouTube content. Its tilting screen is helpful for self-framing, though no microphone or headphone inputs impose limitations on audio control.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery endurance can make or break long shooting days.

• A390: approx. 230 shots per charge (CIPA standard)
• NEX-6: approx. 360 shots per charge

This difference is notable, with the NEX-6 offering over 50% longer typical usage despite its EVF and larger screen consumption, thanks to efficient CMOS and power management.

Both cameras use single SD card slots compatible with broad formats, but the NEX-6 supports SDXC, giving you access to higher capacity cards - vital for video and burst shooting.

Connectivity and Extras

Wireless features are absent on the A390. The NEX-6 steps forward with built-in Wi-Fi, enabling image transfer and some remote capture capabilities (via apps), tailoring it more towards today’s connected workflows.

Both cameras support USB 2.0 and HDMI for tethered shooting or playback on external displays.

Real-World Photography Discipline Insights

Let’s break down which camera excels by genre, incorporating hands-on observations and technical specs.

Portrait Photography

• Sony A390: Accurate color rendering and pleasing skin tones thanks to the CCD sensor; optical viewfinder helps compose naturally. Lens choice wide with A-mount primes for creamy bokeh. However, slower AF and modest ISO cap limit shooting in diverse lighting.
• Sony NEX-6: Sharper, more detailed images with better dynamic range, enhanced face detection AF for crisp, in-focus portraits, and flexible exposure controls. Smaller form factor makes portrait sessions less cumbersome.

Landscape Photography

• A390: 14 MP resolution adequate; CCD sensor’s color depth assists vibrant nature shots. Tilting LCD screen helps low-angle shots. Weather sealing missing, so caution outdoors.
• NEX-6: Higher resolution and wider dynamic range mean landscapes recover more shadow and highlight detail. Compactness and tilt LCD ease composition. No weather sealing remains a drawback.

Wildlife Photography

• A390: Slower burst and limited AF points restrict fast action capture; A-mount long lenses availability is a plus.
• NEX-6: 10 fps burst and 99 AF points deliver more decisive captures; lighter body easier for extended handheld use.

Sports Photography

• A390: 3 fps rather restrictive; AF system adequate for slow action.
• NEX-6: 10 fps continuous shooting and hybrid AF excel in tracking faster subjects; better high ISO for indoor sports events.

Street Photography

• A390: Bulkier presence less suited for discreet shooting.
• NEX-6: Lightweight and compact; silent shooting modes provide stealth; better low light ISO for evening street scenes.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras rely on compatible lenses; A390’s sensor stabilization aids handheld macro shots with older glass.
• NEX-6’s better live view and focus peaking facilitate critical focusing.

Night and Astro Photography

• A390: Limited ISO ceiling and dynamic range restrict starfield shots and nightscapes.
• NEX-6: Extended ISO and dynamic range provide more scope for astrophotography; long exposures possible.

Video

• A clear victory for the NEX-6, with full HD video and versatile frame rates meeting most creators’ needs.

Travel Photography

• Compactness, battery longevity, and Wi-Fi features make NEX-6 the go-to choice.

Professional Work

• Neither is fully pro-grade, but NEX-6 edges closer with greater sensor quality, faster throughput, and connectivity.

Sample Image Gallery: Real Photos for Real Assessment

To illustrate the described differences, here’s a side-by-side of images shot with both cameras in varied conditions.

Sony A390 screen back Sony NEX 6 front Sony NEX 6 screen back

Notice:

• Sharper details on NEX-6 at base ISO
• Superior noise control on NEX-6 at ISO 1600+
• Color rendition differences - A390’s slightly warmer tones, NEX-6 more neutral and punchy
• Better dynamic range in shadow and highlight areas on NEX-6 photos

Overall Performance Ratings Recap

We scored both cameras on key performance metrics, balancing specs and field results.

Photography Disciplines: Suitability Scores

Highlighting how each camera performs in specific genres:

Who Should Pick Which Camera?

Consider the Sony A390 if:

• You prefer the feel of a traditional DSLR with an optical viewfinder.
• Your budget is slightly flexible near $500 and value solid entry-level DSLR basics.
• You own or plan to use the extensive Sony A-mount lens collection.
• Video is not a priority in your workflow.
• You shoot mostly in well-lit environments or can manage with ISO 3200.

Consider the Sony NEX-6 if:

• You want a compact, versatile mirrorless system with advanced imaging tech.
• High ISO performance, faster autofocus, and video capabilities matter.
• You value connectivity features like built-in Wi-Fi.
• Travel, street, wildlife, or video work features prominently in your photography.
• You seek a future-ready camera with 16 MP sensor aiding professional workflows.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Legacy and Innovation

Both the Sony A390 and NEX-6 offer solid choices within their release contexts. The A390 embodies classic DSLR simplicity with good image quality for amateurs stepping up from point-and-shoot cameras. The NEX-6 stands as a more advanced, mirrorless-focused model, ideal for enthusiasts who want heightened performance and creative freedom.

Exploring your priorities - portability, video use, lens ecosystem, and shooting subjects - will guide you best. If possible, visit a camera store or rental service to handle both models yourself. Seeing how each camera feels and responds in your hands can validate the technical side we have laid out.

Let your photographic journey unfold - whether through the nostalgic viewfinder of the A390 or the nimble, tech-rich body of the NEX-6, both cameras can help capture your story beautifully.

Check out current prices and lenses to complement your choice and dive in with confidence!