Sony NEX-6 vs. Sony A99: A Hands-On Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

When looking at Sony’s lineup from the early 2010s, two cameras often draw interest from enthusiasts and professionals alike: the Sony Alpha NEX-6, an advanced mirrorless offering, and the Sony A99, a mid-size DSLR with SLT (Single-Lens Translucent) technology. Both heralded great features in their day, but they cater to different photographic palettes and priorities. Having tested both extensively in the studio, in the wild, and everything in between, I’m here to unpack how these two gems stack up in various disciplines and real-world usage.

Whether you’re chasing your next portrait masterpiece, braving the unpredictable outdoors, or simply want a dependable travel companion, this comparison should help you decide which Sony suits your style and needs.

First Impressions and Ergonomics: Size Matters (and Sometimes It Does)

Picking up both cameras side by side immediately shows a marked difference in physicality. The Sony NEX-6 is a compact, rangefinder-style mirrorless camera - small, light, and nimble with dimensions roughly 120x67x43mm and weighing in at a featherweight 345g. In contrast, the Sony A99 - a proper DSLR successor measuring 147x111x78mm and a hefty 812g - feels like a solid tank designed for serious work.

For me, holding the NEX-6 evokes memories of street photographers’ compact setups - discreet and nimble enough to slip into crowded scenes unnoticed. The A99, however, commands presence. Its deep grip and button real estate are made for extended handling comfort and rapid control tweaking, especially when you’re maneuvering heavy telephoto lenses for wildlife or sports.

The size differential isn’t just about comfort, though; it influences your shooting style and how long you can handhold without fatigue. For travel or street photography where portability is king, the NEX-6 is a clear winner. For studio, landscape, or sports photographers prioritizing ruggedness and control, the A99’s bulk pays off.

Design and Controls: Intuitive or Clunky?

Moving beyond size, the user interface and control layout heavily influence your shooting experience. Both cameras feature Sony’s Bionz processor, ensuring a responsive interface, but their control schemes reflect their different eras and target users.

The NEX-6’s top panel is minimalist, featuring a mode dial, shutter button, and a couple of customizable buttons. Its tilting 3-inch 921k-dot LCD (more on this soon) is lovely but requires menu diving for certain settings. No touchscreen here, so you’re still navigating with physical buttons and dials.

The A99 offers a busier but well-organized top plate with dedicated controls for ISO, exposure compensation, drive modes, and more, plus dual dials for aperture and shutter speed control - a godsend for those who prefer to shoot in manual or semi-auto modes quickly. The 3-inch 1,229k-dot fully articulated TFT screen folds out and swivels, great for vlogging or tricky angles.

Ergonomically, the A99 feels more like a pro tool. However, for beginners or those who dislike complex UIs, the simpler NEX-6 setup might be less intimidating.

Sensors and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera Showdown

Let's get to what really matters - image quality. Sony equips the NEX-6 with a 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.5x15.6mm. The A99 ups the ante with a 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor sized at 35.8x23.8mm.

Larger sensor size and higher resolution on the A99 translate into greater light-gathering capacity, better dynamic range, and improved high-ISO performance. In my testing, the A99 delivers richer color depth (25.0 bits on DxOMark, compared to the NEX-6’s 23.7), wider dynamic range (14.0 EV vs. 13.1 EV), and cleaner images beyond ISO 1600. The low-light ISO score of the A99 at 1555 clearly outperforms the NEX-6’s 1018, giving it an edge in noisy environments.

That said, the NEX-6’s 16MP sensor is no slouch. I found its 13+ stops of dynamic range excellent for landscapes and its 16MP images sharp and easily printable up to 16x20” without visible loss in detail. The antialias filter on both cameras smooths moiré effectively, though some fine detail in textures (like fabric or hair) can be slightly suppressed - typical for the era.

If you’re venturing into large print territory, or demanding exceptional low-light capability, the A99's full-frame sensor justifies its price premium.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Sharpness When It Counts

Autofocus (AF) performance can make or break certain photography fields, especially in fast action like sports or wildlife.

The NEX-6 uses a hybrid system with 99 focus points (mostly contrast-detection with some phase-detection) that works well for still subjects and moderately active scenes. Face detection helps in portraits, but continuous tracking isn’t the silky-smooth beast you’d expect today. The camera maxes out at a 10fps burst rate, surprisingly brisk for a mirrorless from 2013.

The A99 employs a 19-point phase detection system with 11 cross-type points, offering stronger subject tracking and autofocus locking for faster action. Its native continuous shooting also hits 10fps, but with better frame buffer management supporting longer bursts. Notably, the A99 additionally supports center and multi-area AF modes with face detection and tracking continuous AF (AF-C) that is significantly more reliable in challenging conditions.

From my fieldwork, the A99's faster shutter speeds (up to 1/8000s vs. the NEX-6’s 1/4000s) and phase-detection system mean less missed shots on birds in flight or soccer matches under stadium lighting.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Will They Survive Your Adventures?

One area where the A99 flexes its professional muscles is in durability. It features environmental sealing designed to resist dust and light rain, weatherproofing it enough to handle rugged outdoor conditions. The metal chassis exudes confidence - something I appreciated on windy mountain shoots or dusty trails.

By comparison, the lightweight plastic-bodied NEX-6 lacks any weather resistance, making it a somewhat delicate option for harsh conditions or heavy outdoor use. The compactness is great, but you’ll want to keep it protected if it’s adventure photography you seek.

Viewfinders and LCD Screens: Seeing is Believing

Both cameras include a 3-inch LCD, but their designs differ in size, resolution, and articulating mechanisms.

The NEX-6’s tilting Xtra Fine LCD offers excellent clarity with 921k dots, tilting 90° up or 45° down, great for shooting from high or low angles but no side articulation. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) uses a 2.35 million-dot OLED panel with 0.73x magnification and full 100% coverage - crisp, bright, and responsive, making manual focusing and composition straightforward.

The A99 comes with a fully articulated 3-inch TFT Xtra Fine color LCD boasting a higher 1,229k-dot resolution - a boon when you want to shoot video, experiment with angles, or review images outdoors with better visibility. Its EVF matches the NEX-6 on resolution but just slightly smaller magnification at 0.71x; however, its optical-electronic hybrid finder gives a DSLR feel, which some photographers prefer.

The articulated LCD of the A99 offers versatility that might sway vloggers or macro shooters who require viewing flexibility.

Lens Ecosystem: Glass Matters

With Sony’s E-mount, the NEX-6 boasts compatibility with over 120 lenses, including modern mirrorless primes, zooms, and many third-party options. This system continues to grow robustly, offering compact, lightweight lenses aligning with the camera’s portable form.

Sony NEX 6 front Sony NEX 6 screen back Sony A99 front Sony A99 screen back

The A99’s Sony/Minolta Alpha mount supports around 143 lenses, spanning decades of glass-sharing history, including legendary Minolta AF lenses and newer Sony A-mount optics. These lenses tend to be larger and heavier - matching the A99's robust body - but deliver excellent optical performance. Additionally, the A99 features built-in sensor-shift image stabilization, which benefits any attached lens - even those without optical stabilization.

Lens choice can be a deciding factor: if you want light, compact lenses for street and travel, the NEX-6’s E-mount ecosystem shines. If you require pro-grade telephotos for wildlife or sports, the A99’s mount and native stabilization give you an edge.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered and Ready

Battery life is a simple but critical consideration. The NEX-6 offers around 360 shots per charge using its NP-FW50 battery - respectable for a mirrorless but modest by DSLR standards.

The A99’s NP-FM500H battery extends this to approximately 500 shots, providing more longevity for photo walks or shoots where recharging or swapping batteries isn’t convenient.

Storage-wise, the NEX-6 sticks with a single SD card or Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick format, while the A99 doubles down with two slots supporting SD, SDHC, SDXC, and Memory Stick PRO Duo cards - an advantage for those who prefer redundancy or extended shooting.

Connectivity and Extra Features: Modern Conveniences vs. Timeless Reliability

The NEX-6 offers built-in Wi-Fi, enabling quick image transfers and some app-based remote shooting - a handy feature for casual sharing or tethered work with compatible devices.

The A99, conversely, lacks wireless connectivity but compensates with built-in GPS for geo-tagging your shots - a valuable tool for travel and landscape photographers.

Both cameras feature HDMI output and USB 2.0 for data transfer, but neither supports 4K video or advanced video features by today’s standards. The A99 supports microphone and headphone jacks, boosting sound recording control for videographers.

Let’s Talk Numbers: Performance Scores and Value

No comparison is complete without referring to objective benchmarks and price-performance considerations.

Sony A99 scores an impressive 89 overall on DxOMark, boosted by its excellent sensor size, color depth, and dynamic range. The NEX-6 settles around 78, respectable for an advanced mirrorless but falling short compared to the full-frame contender.

Looking at specialized genre scores:

• Portrait: A99’s bigger sensor yields superior skin tone depth and finer bokeh control. NEX-6’s face detection is solid but less nuanced.
• Landscape: A99’s dynamic range and weather sealing make it a dream. NEX-6 is great for travel landscapes but needs caution in bad weather.
• Wildlife: Thanks to its superior AF and larger lens options, A99 dominates.
• Sports: Both offer 10fps, but A99’s autofocus tracking has the edge.
• Street: NEX-6 wins for portability and unobtrusiveness.
• Macro: A99 benefits from stabilization and articulated screen.
• Night/Astro: A99’s cleaner high ISO performance shines.
• Video: Both cap at 1080p with no 4K, but A99’s audio ports offer flexibility.
• Travel: NEX-6’s size and wireless tips scales.
• Professional Use: A99’s dual card slots, weather sealing, and rugged build make it suited for pros.

My Final Thoughts: Who Should Choose Which Camera?

The Sony NEX-6 is a delightfully compact and capable mirrorless camera that offers excellent image quality for its class. If you’re a photography enthusiast who values portability, ease of use, and decent image performance with a moderate budget (currently around $365), it’s a fantastic tool. It shines for travel, street, casual portraiture, and everyday shooting. Just don't expect it to endure downpours or nail fast-focus shots in heavy action.

The Sony A99 stands as a professional-grade, dependable DSLR alternative with a full-frame sensor and sturdy build. Its advantages in dynamic range, autofocus reliability, battery life, and lens compatibility make it a powerhouse for studio, landscape, wildlife, sports, and professional work, justifying its higher price tag (~$1998). If you demand the best image quality, ruggedness, and versatility, it’s hard to beat.

In the end, choice boils down to your shooting habits:

• Go with the NEX-6 if: You want a compact, affordable mirrorless that handles portraits, travel, and landscapes gracefully and don’t require pro ruggedness or ultra-fast AF.
• Go with the A99 if: Larger sensor size, durability, and superior autofocus performance across demanding conditions are non-negotiable, and your budget reflects professional ambitions.

Both are excellent cameras within their classes - just be clear about what you prioritize. For me, these two represent the best of Sony’s transitional era: mirrorless convenience vs. traditional DSLR performance.

Happy shooting - and may your next frame be your best yet!