A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Sony NEX-7 vs A6000

The Sony Alpha NEX-7 and the Sony Alpha A6000 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in August 2011 and February 2014. Both the NEX-7 and the A6000 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Sony NEX-7
versus
Sony A6000
Sony NEX-7   Sony A6000
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
24 MP – APS-C sensor 24 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60i Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-16,000 ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200)
Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots) Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0" LCD – 921k dots 3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
10 shutter flaps per second 11 shutter flaps per second
430 shots per battery charge360 shots per battery charge
120 x 67 x 43 mm, 400 g 120 x 67 x 45 mm, 344 g
logo
Check NEX-7 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check A6000 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha NEX-7 and the Sony Alpha A6000? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

ad

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Sony NEX-7 and the Sony A6000 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The A6000 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, white), while the NEX-7 is only available in black.

Size Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A6000
Compare NEX-7 versus A6000 top
Comparison NEX-7 or A6000 rear

In this particular case, the Sony NEX-7 and the Sony A6000 have exactly the same width and height, and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. However, the A6000 is markedly lighter (14 percent) than the NEX-7. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the NEX-7 nor the A6000 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Sony E-Mount Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The power pack in the A6000 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

scroll hint
Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony NEX-7 120 mm 67 mm 43 mm 400 g 430 n Aug 2011 1,349ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A6000 120 mm 67 mm 45 mm 344 g 360 n Feb 2014 599ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X100 126 mm 75 mm 54 mm 445 g 300 n Sep 2010 1,199ebay.com
4.
 
Sony A6400 120 mm 67 mm 50 mm 403 g 410 Y Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
5.
 
Sony A6300 120 mm 67 mm 49 mm 404 g 400 Y Feb 2016 999ebay.com
6.
 
Sony A5000 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 269 g 420 n Jan 2014 449ebay.com
7.
 
Sony A5100 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 283 g 400 n Aug 2014 549ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A3000 128 mm 91 mm 85 mm 411 g 470 n Aug 2013 329ebay.com
9.
 
Sony NEX-6 120 mm 67 mm 43 mm 345 g 360 n Sep 2012 999ebay.com
10.
 
Sony RX1 113 mm 65 mm 70 mm 482 g 270 n Sep 2012 2,799ebay.com
11.
 
Sony NEX-5N 111 mm 59 mm 38 mm 269 g 460 n Aug 2011 699ebay.com
12.
 
Sony NEX-C3 110 mm 60 mm 33 mm 225 g 400 n Jun 2011 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-3 117 mm 62 mm 33 mm 297 g 330 n May 2010 599ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-5 111 mm 59 mm 38 mm 287 g 330 n May 2010 699ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The A6000 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 56 percent) than the NEX-7, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the A6000 is 1 percent bigger. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the A6000 uses a more advanced image processing engine (BIONZ X) than the NEX-7 (BIONZ), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Sony NEX-7 and Sony A6000 sensor measures

Even though the A6000 has a slightly larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 24 megapixels. This implies that the A6000 has a lower pixel density and marginally larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 3.90μm for the NEX-7), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. In addition, the A6000 is much more recent (by 2 years and 5 months) than the NEX-7, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The A6000 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Sony Alpha NEX-7 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 16000. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A6000 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-51200.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

NEX-7 versus A6000 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony NEX-7 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i24.113.4101681
2.
 
Sony A6000 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.113.1134782
3.
 
Fujifilm X100 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/30p22.912.4100173
4.
 
Sony A6400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.013.6143183
5.
 
Sony A6300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.413.7143785
6.
 
Sony A5000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.813.0108979
7.
 
Sony A5100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.812.7134780
8.
 
Sony A3000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.712.8106878
9.
 
Sony NEX-6 APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i23.713.1101878
10.
 
Sony RX1 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p25.114.3253493
11.
 
Sony NEX-5N APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i23.612.7107977
12.
 
Sony NEX-C3 APS-C 16.0 4912 3264720/30p22.712.2108373
13.
 
Sony NEX-3 APS-C 14.0 4592 3056720/30p22.112.083068
14.
 
Sony NEX-5 APS-C 14.0 4592 30561080/60i22.212.279669
padding

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the A6000 provides a faster frame rate than the NEX-7. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the NEX-7 is limited to 1080/60i.

ad

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the NEX-7 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the A6000 (2359k vs 1440k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Sony NEX-7 and Sony A6000 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

scroll hint
Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Sony NEX-72359 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
2.
 
Sony A60001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
3.
 
Fujifilm X1001440 n2.8 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
4.
 
Sony A64002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
5.
 
Sony A63002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
6.
 
Sony A5000none n3.0 / 461 tilting n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
7.
 
Sony A5100none n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
8.
 
Sony A3000202 n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
9.
 
Sony NEX-62359 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
10.
 
Sony RX1optional n3.0 / 1229 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
11.
 
Sony NEX-5Noptional n3.0 / 920 tilting Y 1/4000s 10.0/s n n
12.
 
Sony NEX-C3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s n n
13.
 
Sony NEX-3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
14.
 
Sony NEX-5optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the NEX-7 and the A6000 write their files to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A6000 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the NEX-7 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

ad

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha NEX-7 and Sony Alpha A6000 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony NEX-7Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
2.
 
Sony A6000Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Fujifilm X100Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
4.
 
Sony A6400Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YYY
5.
 
Sony A6300Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
6.
 
Sony A5000-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
7.
 
Sony A5100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
8.
 
Sony A3000Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Sony NEX-6Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
10.
 
Sony RX1Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
11.
 
Sony NEX-5NYstereo / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Sony NEX-C3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Sony NEX-3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
14.
 
Sony NEX-5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
padding

It is notable that the NEX-7 has a microphone port, which is missing on the A6000. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Both the NEX-7 and the A6000 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The A6000 was replaced by the Sony A6300, while the NEX-7 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the NEX-7 and A6000 can be found, respectively, in the Sony NEX-7 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A6000 Manual.

ad

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Sony NEX-7 better than the Sony A6000 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.


Advantages of the Sony Alpha NEX-7:

  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (2359k vs 1440k dots).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.73x vs 0.70x).
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (430 versus 360) on a single battery charge.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2011).


Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha A6000:

  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (0.4 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (BIONZ X vs BIONZ).
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/60i).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 56g or 14 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (56 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 5 months of technical progress since the NEX-7 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A6000 is the clear winner of the contest (11 : 5 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

NEX-7 05:11 A6000

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony NEX-7 and the Sony A6000 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the NEX-7 or the A6000 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

scroll hint
Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony NEX-75/5+ +..81/1004.5/55/5 Aug 2011 1,349ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A60005/5+4.5/580/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2014 599ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X1003/5....75/1004/55/5 Sep 2010 1,199ebay.com
4.
 
Sony A64004/5+4/585/1004.5/54/5 Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
5.
 
Sony A63004.5/5+..85/1005/55/5 Feb 2016 999ebay.com
6.
 
Sony A50003/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 449ebay.com
7.
 
Sony A51004.5/5+....4.5/55/5 Aug 2014 549ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A30003/5+....4/54/5 Aug 2013 329ebay.com
9.
 
Sony NEX-65/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 999ebay.com
10.
 
Sony RX15/5....79/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2012 2,799ebay.com
11.
 
Sony NEX-5N3/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2011 699ebay.com
12.
 
Sony NEX-C33/5+ +..74/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-3......70/1004.5/54/5 May 2010 599ebay.com
14.
 
Sony NEX-53/5+ +..71/1004.5/54/5 May 2010 699ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

logo
Check NEX-7 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check A6000 offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

~
    loader
    ad

    Specifications: Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A6000

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Sony NEX-7 Sony A6000
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date August 2011 February 2014
    Launch Price USD 1,349 USD 599
    Sensor Specs Sony NEX-7 Sony A6000
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.4 x 15.6 mm 23.5 x 15.6 mm
    Sensor Area 365.04 mm2 366.6 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.1 mm 28.2 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.90 μm 3.91 μm
    Pixel Density 6.57 MP/cm2 6.55 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60i Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 16,000 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 100 - 51,200 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 81 82
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 24.1 24.1
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.4 13.1
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1016 1347
    Screen Specs Sony NEX-7 Sony A6000
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.73x 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2359k dots 1440k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 921k dots 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Shooting Specs Sony NEX-7 Sony A6000
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 11 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy150 000 actuations100 000 actuations
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Sony NEX-7 Sony A6000
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port no MIC socket
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Body Specs Sony NEX-7 Sony A6000
    Battery Type Sony NP-FW50 Sony NP-FW50
    Battery Life (CIPA)430 shots per charge360 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 120 x 67 x 43 mm
    (4.7 x 2.6 x 1.7 in)
    120 x 67 x 45 mm
    (4.7 x 2.6 x 1.8 in)
    Camera Weight 400 g (14.1 oz) 344 g (12.1 oz)
    logo
    Check NEX-7 offers at
    ebay.com
    logo
    Check A6000 offers at
    ebay.com

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Sony NEX-7 vs Sony A6000