Sony NEX-6 is Amazon's Deal of the Day

SORRY! for not getting this posted earlier.

On the good side, I finally got a solid night's sleep. On the bad side, I overslept. I hope I don't cause anyone to lose out (Amazon's Deals of the Day frequently run dry before the end of the day).

[UPDATE #3, 11:45 a.m. Wed., Apr. 30th: Surprisingly, all the prices from yesterday are still showing at both sites. So maybe this is a true closeout rather than just a 24-hour deal. —Ed.]

The Sony NEX-6, which has been my main camera for the past year or so and which I still really like, is Amazon's Deal of the Day today for only $525.

Currently the #1 camera bestseller on all of Amazon, which means they're going fast.

That's with the 16–50mm power zoom lens. The body only is listing on Amazon for $705 as of this writing.

B&H Photo has the body only for only $499, pretty much in line with Amazon's sale price for the kit. [UPDATE: Between posting this and checking the link, the price dropped to $479.]

[UPDATE #2: B&H Photo has now matched Amazon's price for the kit.]

I might add that these cameras were designed to be easier than usual to use, so they make good gifts for family members who are less than fully girded with geekery in the gadgetry department. On the bad side, note that the selection of Sony E-mount lenses is still relatively slim and a bit of a hodgepodge*.

Also, before you drop the cha-ching, you might want to compare it to its replacement, the 24-megapixel A6000.

Mike

*For example, the two lenses I use are the Zeiss 24mm, which has a near Leica-like premium price of $898 (it was over $1,000 when I bought mine), and the Sigma DN 60mm, which can go stride for stride with the Zeiss—and is a screaming bargain at $239. One caveat about the sleeper Sigma: it features Sigma's unique magnetic autofocusing, so when the camera is turned off and the lens doesn't have power, the focusing unit clunks back and forth inside the lens like something that's broken loose in the hold of a sailboat. An unfortunate side-effect for a lensmaker that's still fighting an historical perception of questionable quality. But don't let it bother you. It's the way it's supposed to be.

Original contents copyright 2014 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Eduardo Cervantes: "Since I bought mine over a year ago, my Canon 6D stays home unless it is for comissioned work. I paid full price and now I can say that for the current discount price, I'm thinking on getting a second body to convert to IR. Nice capable little camera. I only took this camera with 16–50mm on my trip to Cuba last year. Never missed my 6D."

Comments

[Ricardo Silva Cordeiro]

I've been watching this NEX6 price drop and I don't feel at ease with it. I already have four cameras and can't find any rational reason to add a NEX system to my gear list.

It all started when I saw some samples from the Zeiss Vario-Tessar 16-70mm f/4 zoom for the NEX system. It seem to deliver images with the a real Zeiss signature and with a extremely versatile focal range.

But I'm already extremely pleased with the Fujinon 18-55mm zoom on my Fuji X-Pro1, it would be absurd to get a NEX camera just to play with that Zeiss lens... and that's a bummer.

[Bryan Geyer]

Re. Sony A6000---I don't understand the technical limitation that causes this (and similar new digicams) camera to exhibit such relatively slow (1/160th sec.) max. sync. speed. Why is this?

If you're ever going to shoot casual near-portraits in full sun it's essential to use some flash fill (to reduce excessive contrast ratio), and slow flash sync. then becomes a limiting (and annoying) exposure impediment. The old top-of-the-line standard for film cameras was 1/250th sec. flash sync. Why do these new digital wonders regress?

[David Bennett]

Mike,
You posted something a few days/weeks ago about the Nex-6, and that prompted me to take a look at one in a local camera shop.

The EVF seemed very contrasty and poor quality. I looked at DPReview's review of the camera and they liked the EVF a lot.

I have the VF2 viewfinder on a little Olympus E-PM1 and it is very good.

And I believe you have or have used one of the Olympus OM models, so I wonder what you think of the EVF compared to the Nex-6?

[sneye]

It has been my impression that the Sigma DN 60mm, while impeccably sharp, is a bit low in contrast. This attribute confers a somewhat 'flat' rendering compared to e.g. certain Zeiss lenses or even to the equivalent Olympus. High sharpness is a good thing if the image is cropped to a substantial extent. High contrast though (combined with soft, oblique lighting) can produce rather true-to-life, '3D' results. This effect is evident even in small prints and on-screen display.

[Andre]

In response to David's question above, while I haven't tried the more recent OM models I did compare the NEX-6 (which I ended up buying) to the OMD-EM5. I don't recall there being much to choose from between the finders of the two cameras. Both were a huge step above the electronic viewfinder of my old GH1, and neither exhibited some of the odd "smearing" problems of the GH3 when the eye is slightly off-center.

Perhaps there was a problem with the viewfinder of the particular camera you looked at, or perhaps the settings had been messed with.

[David Bennett]

Thanks, Andre,

In googling around the Web, I came across this:

[UPDATE: I forgot to mention that several readers have sent in the same tip given here by Daniel: "To reduce the contrast of the EVF, switch to Portrait style and crank the contrast to its minimum. It doesn't affect the basic RAW file but does give a viewfinder image with greater dynamic range." I didn't discover (or try) this in my five days with the camera, as I shot mostly with the viewing screen, but it's definitely worth trying to open up the shadows of the EVF view. —Ed.]

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2013/04/sony-nex-6-review-conclusion-part-ii.html

[Joe]

I know the knock on the nex system is the native lens lineup, but when they get it right, they *really* get it right.

The new FE55 is a spectacular lens on the crop bodies. Though the touits are considered overpriced by some, the new macro coming out also looks wonderful.