Sony NEX-6

The NEX-6 is a compact mirrorless camera Sony launched in 2012. It measures 120 x 67 x 43 mm, weighs 345g, and pairs a 16.1-megapixel APS-C sensor with a Bionz processor, so the sensor format comes in a body that is easy to carry.

The Sony E mount lets you build a set of interchangeable lenses, and an electronic viewfinder plus a built-in flash mean you can frame and light shots without extra gear. WiFi is built in as well.

Owning one involves some compromises. There is a single card slot, the battery is rated at 360 shots, and the body has no weather sealing, which suits fair-weather, carry-everyday photography more than demanding assignments.

The optics earn a good 61, placing the NEX-6 around the middle of cameras in our database. The APS-C sensor format is a relative strength in this assessment, while resolution, ISO range and shutter speed earn fewer points. A Bionz processor handles the image processing.

Autofocus draws on 99 points, and the camera can shoot at up to 10 frames per second. That burst figure is a maximum rather than a sustained-speed promise, so it is best for short bursts, catching a fleeting expression or a passing cyclist.

In-body stabilisation is a real help for handheld work. It reduces camera shake at slower shutter speeds, so static subjects in dim rooms stay sharp without pushing the ISO as far. The sensitivity range runs from 100 to 25600 when you do need more speed.

The 1/4000 second maximum shutter is a constraint in bright light, where wide apertures may overexpose, and a neutral density filter can help. The Sony E mount keeps lens options open for whatever you shoot.

Video is a modest part of this camera, and the score of 43 reflects that. Full HD is the maximum resolution available, and 24fps is the highest frame rate. Those limits suit casual clips, family footage and web sharing rather than fast action, which typically benefits from higher frame rates.

Recordings are made in AVCHD or MP4, so the camera offers a choice of file formats for your footage. The right option depends on how you plan to store and use the files.

There is no built-in timelapse function, so interval shooting needs an external timer or patient manual work. Slow motion is also out of reach, since the frame rate tops out at 24fps.

The 3-inch LCD carries 921,000 dots and tilts, which makes waist-level and overhead framing far easier than a fixed screen would. It is not a touchscreen, so settings change through buttons and dials rather than taps.

WiFi is built in, though there is no Bluetooth and no GPS on the body itself, so the wireless feature set stays simple.

A built-in flash covers fill light when you carry nothing else, and the camera also accepts an external flash when you need more power. The modest score of 41 comes down to the basics: there is no weather sealing, so keep rain and dust away from the body.

Storage and battery is the weakest area, and the limited score of 21 reflects real trade-offs. A single slot takes SD, SDHC and SDXC cards or Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo, so you carry your full capacity in one card and have no second slot for overflow or copying.

The NP-FW50 battery is rated at 360 shots, and that figure is not a guarantee of real-world endurance. Heavy use of the viewfinder and screen can run it down faster, so a charged spare is sensible for a full day out.

There is no USB charging. The battery needs its own charger, so build mains time into your routine between shoots rather than planning to top up from a laptop or power bank.