Upgrade Guide
Sony NEX-6→Sony A5000
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The A5000 improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most NEX-6 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the A5000
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Resolution20MP vs 16MP (+4MP)
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Battery life~420 shots (CIPA) vs ~360 shots (CIPA)
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Generation2 years newer (2014 vs 2012)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | NEX-6 | A5000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.8 | ||
| Street | -1.1 | ||
| Travel | -0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.7 | ||
| Documentary | -0.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | -1.7 | ||
| Landscape | +0.4 | ||
| Wildlife | -1.5 | ||
| Casual | -0.2 | ||
| Food | -0.1 | ||
| Macro | -0.1 | ||
| Architecture | +0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | NEX-6 | A5000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £125 used | £78 used | |
| Released | 2012 | 2014 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16.1MP APS-C sensor | 20.1MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 20MP | ↑ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/60 | Full HD 1080 (60i / 25p AVCHD), 1440×1080/30p MP4 | |
| Autofocus | Fast Hybrid AF: 99-point phase-detect + 25-point contrast, face detection | 25-point contrast AF with face detection | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens OSS) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 10fps (3fps with AF) | 3.5fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~360 shots (CIPA) | ~420 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 345g (with battery and card) | 269g (with battery) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 2.36M dots, 100%, 1.09x | None (rear screen only) | |
| Screen | 3.0" LCD, 921k dots, tilts 90° up / 45° down | 3.0" 180° flip-up LCD, 460k dots | |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / Memory Stick slot | Single SD slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See NEX-6 and A5000 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the A5000 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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