Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony NEX-6

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony NEX-6

Leave Feedback

35mm 864.0mm²
22.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Mark III Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 5D Mark III.
Compare Canon 5D Mark III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5D Mark III conclusion.

APS-C 366.6mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony NEX-6 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the NEX-6.

Succeeded by the Canon 5D Mark IV
Compare 5D Mark III vs 5D Mark IV

Succeeded by the Sony A6000
Compare NEX-6 vs A6000

Compare CANON 5D MARK IV vs SONY A6000

Buy From

Differences

Canon 5D Mark III advantages over Sony NEX-6

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 6.25 vs 4.78 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark NEX-6 test data on DxO Mark

2,293 vs 1,018 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

950 vs 360 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.26 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
22.3 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bigger JPEG buffer
63 vs 12 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
18 vs 10 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony NEX-6 advantages over Canon 5D Mark III

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
NEX-6 test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark

13.1 vs 11.7 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
42 mm vs 76 mm
Thinner
Faster JPEG shooting
9.7 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.8 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read NEX-6 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 5D Mark III

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm f/4 lens
Kit with 24-70mm Lens

All 5D Mark III Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony NEX-6

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 16-50mm and 55-210mm Lenses
Kit with 16-50mm Lens

All NEX-6 Deals

Review Excerpt

Superb still and video image quality; Powerful, fast, and accurate AF system with loads of cross-type points, loads of configurability and great frame coverage; Rugged, weather-sealed body with great control layout and user-interface configurability.
Dynamic range is limited by noise in deep shadows; Somewhat heavy-handed noise suppression and sharpening at default settings. (Shooting RAW avoids both.); No AF illuminator.
Read our Canon 5D Mark III Review

Very good image quality; More consumer-friendly control setup than NEX-7 but more advanced (actual Mode dial) than step-down models; OLED EVF and 3-inch tilting LCD monitor provide viewfinder flexibility; Fast and decisive AF on stationary subjects, and good continuous AF on normal moving subjects; Full HD 1080p video recording at up to 60p.
Hybrid AF system speed and accuracy still lags somewhat behind higher-end DSLRs; Wi-Fi features still rudimentary (join the club); LCD is not a touchscreen; User interface foibles.
Read our Sony NEX-6 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D

$2079
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 6D

Sony NEX-6

Canon 6D

$549
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$1499
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Sony NEX-6 vs Canon 6D

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2079
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$2099
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony NEX-6

Canon 5D Mark IV

$549
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$2099
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Sony NEX-6 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Sony A850

Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A850

$2079
35mm

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$2219
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A850

Sony NEX-6

Sony A850

$549
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$2219
35mm

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony NEX-6 vs Sony A850

Compared to Nikon D800E

Canon 5D Mark III

Nikon D800E

$2079
35mm

Bigger pixels
More cross-type AF points

$2212
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon D800E

Sony NEX-6

Nikon D800E

$549
APS-C

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$2212
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Sony NEX-6 vs Nikon D800E

Compared to Sony NEX-F3

Canon 5D Mark III

Sony NEX-F3

$2079
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$600
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-6

Sony NEX-F3

$549
APS-C

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$600
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Sony NEX-6 vs Sony NEX-F3

Compare Other Cameras?