Sony NEX-6 vs Sony A58

Below, we will be analyzing the Sony NEX-6 and Sony A58, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are built by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-6 (16MP) and the A58 (20MP) is pretty comparable and they feature the exact same sensor sizes (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The NEX-6 was introduced 8 months prior to the A58 which means that they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the NEX-6 grades vs the A58 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Alpha NEX-6 and Sony SLT-A58. The whole galleries are available at Sony NEX-6 Gallery and Sony A58 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Sony NEX-6 features exterior dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs) whilst the Sony A58 has sizing of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") and a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Analyze the Sony NEX-6 and Sony A58 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the NEX-6 compared to the A58.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-6 and A58 is 85 and 68 respectively.

Generally, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor measurements merely by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the NEX-6 and A58.

As you can see, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Sony A58 to produce more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The older NEX-6 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.