Sony Alpha NEX-6 Black

A pocketable 2012 relic with a decent sensor and quick burst, but the autofocus and build quality will frustrate you. Buy it cheap or skip it entirely.

The 10fps burst speed is the headline act here, and it's still respectable even by today's standards. But the autofocus is where reality sets in. Our database puts it in the 35th percentile for AF, which means it's mediocre at best. The hybrid phase and contrast detection system was clever for 2012, but it hunts in low light and struggles with fast, erratic subjects. The 16MP sensor sits at the 73rd percentile, so image quality is solid in good light, but the video specs are a weak spot at the 23rd percentile. 1080/60p in AVCHD format feels ancient now.

Stacked against modern mirrorless cameras like the Fujifilm X-H2S or Canon EOS R6 Mark III, the NEX-6 looks like a museum piece. Those cameras have vastly better autofocus, video, and build quality. Even a used Sony a6000 or a6000-series body will run circles around the NEX-6 for not much more money. The Nikon Z9 and Panasonic S5 II are in a completely different universe, so don't even bother comparing. If you want a cheap, compact Sony with a viewfinder, the a6000 is the smarter buy.

There's no price listed here, but on the used market these go for pocket change. If you can grab one for under $150, it's a fun little stills camera for street photography or as a backup. Pay more than that and you're better off putting the money toward a used Sony a6000, which fixes most of the autofocus problems.

The Sony NEX-6 is a weird little time capsule. Back in its day, this thing was a pocket rocket with a 16MP APS-C sensor, 10fps burst, and a built-in OLED viewfinder. In 2024, it's a used-market curiosity that still takes decent photos but gets absolutely smoked by modern mirrorless cameras in autofocus, video, and build quality. The one thing to know: it's a fun, compact stills camera if you find one cheap, but don't expect it to keep up with anything made in the last five years.

If you're looking for a modern hybrid camera for video or fast action, this isn't it. Go get a used Sony a6000 or a6000-series body instead. If you need good low-light autofocus or weather sealing, the NEX-6 will drive you nuts.

The NEX-6 was a great little camera in 2012, and it still takes decent photos if you're patient with the autofocus. But the build quality is rough, the video is dated, and the AF is mediocre. Buy it only if you find one dirt cheap and you know exactly what you're getting into. Otherwise, save up for a used a6000.