Sony NEX-6 vs Pentax K-3

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Sony NEX-6 vs Pentax K-3

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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.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-3 Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-3 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-3.
Compare Pentax K-3 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-3 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A6000
Compare NEX-6 vs A6000

Succeeded by the Pentax K-3 II
Compare K-3 vs K-3 II

Compare SONY A6000 vs PENTAX K-3 II

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Differences

Sony NEX-6 advantages over Pentax K-3

Bigger pixels
~ 4.78 vs 3.91 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
42 mm vs 77 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
469g vs 1240g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.73x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Wider angle kit lens
24 mm vs 27 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens
Faster JPEG shooting
9.7 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.8 fps vs 7.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Pentax K-3 advantages over Sony NEX-6

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Fast startup
~0.90 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.
K-3 test data on DxO Mark NEX-6 test data on DxO Mark

1,216 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

560 vs 360 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
203 mm vs 75 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
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
0.14 vs 0.26 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
24.4 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
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Bigger JPEG buffer
75 vs 12 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
24 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
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
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
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

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-3 User Reviews

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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

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Buy the Pentax K-3

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm Lens

All K-3 Deals

Review Excerpt

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

Top-notch image quality; Great ergonomics in a compact body; Unique on-demand low-pass filtering; Broad sensitivity range; Large and bright viewfinder for an APS-C camera; Dual card slots; Optional Wi-Fi remote control
AE Lock button is poorly located; Below-average battery life for a DSLR; Rather dated-looking menu system; Requires a different battery grip accessory than its predecessors; Less third-party support than some rivals
Read our Pentax K-3 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-6

Sony NEX-5N

$549
APS-C

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$700
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony NEX-6 vs Sony NEX-5N

Pentax K-3

Sony NEX-5N

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$700
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Compared to 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

Pentax K-3

Sony NEX-F3

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$600
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Sony NEX-F3

Compared to Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-6

Sony NEX-5R

$549
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Higher effective ISO

$499
APS-C

Less expensive
Touchscreen

Compare Sony NEX-6 vs Sony NEX-5R

Pentax K-3

Sony NEX-5R

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

$499
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Sony NEX-5R

Compared to Nikon D7100

Sony NEX-6

Nikon D7100

$549
APS-C

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

$750
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony NEX-6 vs Nikon D7100

Pentax K-3

Nikon D7100

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$750
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7100

Compared to Nikon D7200

Sony NEX-6

Nikon D7200

$549
APS-C

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

$1021
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony NEX-6 vs Nikon D7200

Pentax K-3

Nikon D7200

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1021
APS-C

Fast startup
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Pentax K-3 vs Nikon D7200

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