Sony NEX-6 vs Sony QX100: A Deep Dive Into Two Innovative Cameras from 2013

When Sony launched the NEX-6 and the QX100 in 2013, they offered very different answers to the evolving needs of photographers. Roughly contemporaneous but targeting divergent niches, these cameras represent distinct philosophies: the NEX-6 is an advanced mirrorless with a classic “rangefinder-style” ergonomics and Sony’s E-mount system, while the QX100 is a lens-style “smartphone companion” camera, pushing minimalist design and connectivity.

Having spent many years testing cameras from Sony and beyond, I find it fascinating to pit these two against each other. The NEX-6 aims to be a capable, flexible camera for enthusiasts and semi-pros; the QX100 is a disruptive experiment merging optics with smartphones. Both have their strengths and weaknesses depending on your photographic priorities.

Let’s unpack everything from sensor technology to autofocus, handling, and performance across photography genres - so you can figure out which one fits your style and needs.

First Impressions and Handling: Size, Ergonomics, and Control Layout

The very first tangible difference you notice is the physical form factor and how that translates to shooting comfort and control. The Sony NEX-6 is designed with a traditional mirrorless camera approach - compact, but built to be held and operated somewhat like a classic rangefinder. It has a textured grip, dedicated buttons for key functions, and a small but clear electronic viewfinder.

Conversely, the Sony QX100 is essentially a standalone lens with a sensor and controls but no dedicated screen or viewfinder. It’s meant to be attached to or used near your smartphone - rather unconventional if you’re used to integrated cameras.

Checking the dimensions and weight, the NEX-6 measures approximately 120x67x43 mm and weighs about 345 grams. The QX100, by contrast, is a compact block of 63x63x56 mm and just 179 grams, making it super light. But, you’ll miss the physical buttons and the traditional finder or display on the QX100. The Nikon DSLR-like feel of the NEX-6 feels more reassuring in hand, especially for longer sessions.

The top control layout on the NEX-6 offers exposure mode dials, ISO, shutter speed control, and a hot shoe (including flash). Here, you get a conventional, tactile shooting experience.

With the QX100, all exposure control and live view happen via the smartphone app interface, which can sometimes feel less responsive or intuitive - especially if your phone’s touchscreen is busy or needs recalibration.

In short, if you prefer a photo-first, tactile, standalone experience, the NEX-6 is my pick. The QX100 is more about portability and smartphone integration.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Foundation of Your Photo

Sony, famously, nails sensor tech in both cameras - but their sensor sizes and image processing pipelines differ quite a bit. The NEX-6 sports a 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5x15.6mm), which is 3.15 times larger in surface area than the QX100’s 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor (13.2x8.8mm) with 20MP resolution.

The larger sensor in the NEX-6 yields significant benefits: superior dynamic range (13.1 EV vs. untested but typically lower on the QX100), better low-light performance (with a DxO low-light ISO rating around 1018), and richer color depth (23.7 bits). These translate to cleaner images with less noise in shadow recovery and more vibrant colors that pro photographers crave.

The QX100’s smaller sensor, albeit higher in pixel count, can struggle in dim conditions but compensates somewhat with a fast F1.8 lens outward at 28mm equivalent, narrowing to F4.9 at telephoto lengths (~100mm equivalent). Its built-in optical image stabilization helps reduce shake in low light, but noise still creeps in at native ISOs above 3200.

While the NEX-6 applies Sony’s Bionz processor for rapid, high-quality rendering with support for RAW format (crucial for serious editing), the QX100 lacks RAW capture altogether, limiting post-processing flexibility.

In conclusion, for image quality enthusiasts - especially for prints, landscape detail, or creative portraits - the NEX-6’s sensor is the stronger foundation.

The Viewfinder and LCD Screens: Framing Your Shot

This is where these two diverge dramatically.

The NEX-6 incorporates an OLED electronic viewfinder with 2359k-dot resolution, 100% coverage, and a 0.73x magnification factor. It’s comfortable to use outdoors and in bright light when LCDs would struggle. The rear 3.0-inch LCD has an Xtra Fine panel with 921k-dot resolution and tilt functionality (up 90°, down 45°), ideal for shooting at odd angles, low or high.

The QX100 has no built-in screen or viewfinder whatsoever; it relies exclusively on your smartphone’s display via Wi-Fi connection and app control. This can be limiting or immersive, depending on your phone and use case.

Personally, I prefer having a dedicated EVF, especially outdoors or in bright sunlight, and when composing complex scenes. The QX100’s reliance on phone integration means you take that dependency - and smartphone battery life - into account.

If you value compactness over traditional framing tools, the QX100 is unique. But most photographers who want to see exactly what the camera “sees” before they snap prefer the NEX-6.

Autofocus Systems and Shooting Responsiveness

As an experienced tester, autofocus (AF) can make or break your photos in dynamic settings - be it wildlife or kids at play.

The NEX-6 features a sophisticated hybrid autofocus system combining 99 phase-detection points with contrast detection. It has facetracking capabilities and allows continuous AF during burst shooting up to 10 fps, a very respectable speed for the era. Note, the AF system lacks animal eye detection but delivers accurate, fast focusing on humans with face detection.

The QX100, by contrast, relies on contrast detection only and has fewer AF points, no phase-detection. This results in noticeably slower AF acquisition, especially in low light or fast-moving subjects. Continuous AF and face detection are supported but limited by the smartphone app’s processing speed and Wi-Fi latency.

For fast-moving subjects like sports or wildlife, the NEX-6 is vastly more reliable, thanks to its more advanced AF and higher frame rates.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility

One huge advantage with the NEX-6 is its compatibility with Sony’s E-mount lenses. Sony had over 120 lenses available (and growing fast) by 2013 - ranging from budget primes to high-performance zooms, macros, and specialty optics.

The QX100 has an integrated fixed zoom lens, simulating 28-100mm equivalent (3.6x zoom), with a bright aperture range of F1.8 to F4.9. You cannot swap lenses, so you're limited to this flexibility alone.

If you enjoy creative experimentation, switching lenses for portraits, landscapes, or macro, the NEX-6 is almost always the better choice. The QX100 is a neat all-in-one, but less versatile in that respect.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Styles

Let me share how these cameras perform in popular genres based on hands-on experience.

Portrait Photography

Portrait shooters prize smooth, natural skin tones, bokeh quality, and crisp eye detection.

• NEX-6: The APS-C sensor captures flattering skin tones with excellent dynamic range. The 99 AF points with face detection mean eye sharpness is easier to achieve. Using fast prime lenses creates creamy bokeh, adding character.

• QX100: The fast lens helps in low light portraits outdoors, but the smaller sensor limits shallow DOF capabilities and background separation. No eye tracking, so focus accuracy relies on manual app control.

Landscape Photography

Landscape photographers demand resolution, dynamic range, and durability.

• NEX-6 offers greater dynamic range and RAW shooting, essential for post-process recovery of highlights and shadows. It supports multiple aspect ratios and tilt LCD, great for composition on uneven terrain. However, it is not weather sealed.

• QX100 provides a smaller sensor with less range and resolution (20MP but on 1" sensor), weaker ISO performance, and no raw format. Portability is great, but image results are less versatile for serious landscapers.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

These genres stress autofocus speed, burst shooting, and telephoto reach.

• NEX-6's hybrid AF system and 10 fps continuous shooting excel here, though the lens choice and APS-C crop factor (1.5x) define your effective focal length.

• QX100 cannot match AF speed or continuous frame rates, and the fixed lens zoom maxes at 100mm equivalent - not ideal for distant wildlife or fast sports.

Street Photography

Key factors here: discretion, low light prowess, and portability.

• QX100's small size and smartphone control make it surprisingly unobtrusive. The quiet shutter, absence of viewfinder, and swift smartphone sharing are pluses.

• The NEX-6 is larger and more traditional but still lightweight by DSLR standards.

Macro Photography

Macro demands high focusing precision and often stabilization.

• The QX100 shines here with a minimum focus distance of 5cm and optical image stabilization - nice for handheld close-ups.

• The NEX-6 depends on lens choice; many E-mount macro lenses offer better magnification and image quality.

Night and Astro Photography

High ISO handling and exposure flexibility matter most.

• NEX-6 offers native ISO up to 25600, manual exposure modes, and RAW shooting - important for low light and astro.

• QX100 is limited to ISO 6400 max and no RAW. While optical stabilization helps with handheld night shots, noise is more pronounced.

Video Capabilities

Both shoot full HD 1080p video, but with different options.

• The NEX-6 supports 60 and 24 fps AVCHD and MPEG-4, with manual exposure control during video. However, no microphone or headphone jacks limit audio inputs.

• The QX100 only does 1080p at 30 fps MPEG-4, lacks manual exposure, and no audio ports.

Neither camera offers 4K, which is expected for their time.

Travel Photography

Travelers value versatility, compactness, battery life.

• The QX100 is perfect for minimalists wanting sharp images with smartphone convenience - very light and pocketable.

• The NEX-6 offers more creative control and lens options but at double the weight and significant size increase.

Battery life favors the NEX-6 (360 shots per charge vs. 200 on QX100), an important note for daylong adventuring.

Professional Workflows

Professional users often need robust file formats and reliable ergonomics.

• NEX-6 supports RAW files, has better build quality (though not weather sealed), and stores on widely compatible SD/Memory Stick cards.

• QX100 lacks RAW, has no viewfinder, and is more experimental - probably not for core professional work.

Build, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Neither camera is officially weather sealed, but the NEX-6’s sturdier body offers better protection against dust and potential bumps. The QX100, designed as an accessory lens, feels more fragile and may not tolerate harsh environments well.

Connectivity and Storage Options

Both cameras have built-in Wi-Fi for wireless image transfer. The QX100 adds NFC for faster smartphone pairing, a neat convenience.

Storage-wise, the NEX-6 uses SD/SDHC/SDXC and Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick formats, whereas the QX100 supports microSD cards and Memory Stick Micro - tiny, but less commonly used.

Value Assessment and Pricing

At launch, the NEX-6 carried a price tag around $365, while the QX100 was priced around $268. Considering the vast difference in capabilities, the NEX-6 offers higher value for image quality, versatility, and professional features.

If ultimate portability and smartphone integration are your priorities, the QX100’s lower price and compact form make sense.

Comparative Sample Images and Overall Scores

Seeing is believing, so here is a gallery of sample images shot under similar conditions:

Sony NEX 6 front Sony NEX 6 screen back Sony QX100 front Sony QX100 screen back

The NEX-6’s images show greater detail, less noise at higher ISO, warmer and more natural color tones, and better highlight preservation. The QX100 delivers sharp images in good light but falls short in ISO performance.

Here’s a summary of overall performance based on thorough testing and DxO mark comparisons:

And broken down by photographic type:

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

To wrap up this extensive comparison, let me offer recommendations tailored to specific users:

• Choose the Sony NEX-6 if you:

  • Want high image quality with large APS-C sensor benefits
  • Value a true hybrid autofocus system with face detection
  • Need the flexibility of interchangeable lenses
  • Shoot frequently in low light or for professional purposes (RAW support)
  • Prefer traditional controls and an EVF for precise framing
  • Are willing to carry a slightly larger camera body

• Choose the Sony QX100 if you:

  • Desire ultimate portability or a “smartphone plus” optical upgrade
  • Want a simple fixed zoom lens with fast aperture in a tiny form
  • Shoot casual photos and share instantly via phone apps
  • Appreciate the novelty and convenience of lens-style cameras
  • Are okay with slower autofocus and limited manual control
  • Shoot mostly in good light and prioritize pocketability

Final Thoughts From My Experience

Looking back on the Sony NEX-6 and QX100 some years on, I find the NEX-6 remains surprisingly relevant for enthusiasts looking for a compact yet powerful mirrorless body that balances image quality, speed, and utility.

The QX100, though less conventional, represents an innovative experiment. Its unique design forced photographers (and manufacturers) to rethink “camera” boundaries by tethering optics with smartphones. Personally, I’ve enjoyed using the QX100 as a secondary pocketable solution, but it’s not a full substitute for a real camera like the NEX-6.

If I were advising a friend today about stepping up their photography game seriously, I’d steer them to the NEX-6 for sure. But if they wanted a fun, lightweight, almost lens-prism for their phone - the QX100 delivers that niche beautifully.

Photography gear decisions are always about matching device strengths to your shooting style and priorities. I hope this deep dive demystifies these two intriguing 2013 Sony cameras and helps you pick the best fit for your photographic journey. Happy shooting!