Upgrade Guide
Sony SLT-A65→Sony NEX-6
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the SLT-A65. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the NEX-6
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
-
Generation1 year newer (2012 vs 2011)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution16MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
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 | SLT-A65 | NEX-6 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.3 | ||
| Street | +1.9 | ||
| Travel | +1.4 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.3 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Documentary | -0.3 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.3 | ||
| Landscape | -0.5 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.2 | ||
| Casual | +0.8 | ||
| Food | -0.2 | ||
| Macro | +0.8 | ||
| Architecture | -0.4 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.4 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | SLT-A65 | NEX-6 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | — | £125 used | |
| Released | 2011 | 2012 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C CMOS | 16.1MP APS-C sensor | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/60 | Full HD 1080p/60 | |
| Autofocus | 15-point phase-detect AF (3 cross-type) via the translucent mirror, full-time in live view and video | Fast Hybrid AF: 99-point phase-detect + 25-point contrast, face detection | |
| Stabilisation | In-body stabilisation | No IBIS (lens OSS) | |
| Burst Rate | 10fps (8fps with continuous AF) | 10fps (3fps with AF) | |
| Battery Life | ~510 shots (CIPA) | ~360 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 622g (with battery) | 345g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 0.5", 100% coverage, 1.09x | OLED EVF, 2.36M dots, 100%, 1.09x | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilt-swivel LCD, 921k dots | 3.0" LCD, 921k dots, tilts 90° up / 45° down | |
| Mount | Minolta/Sony A | Sony E-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD / Memory Stick slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See SLT-A65 and NEX-6 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the NEX-6 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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