Control dial
As well as the exposure mode dial, the NEX-6 also provides a
top-mounted control dial which is placed around its base. This dial and the
rear control dial are the main means by which the NEX-6’s key shooting
parameters are adjusted. The function of two dials depends on shooting mode. It
is likely to be used to navigate the options, or slide through images in the
playback mode. After pressing the exposure compensation button you are able to
adjust the exposure by rotating the dial. The functions of the two dials, top
and rear, in each mode are listed as follows.
Top dial function
·
Program: Program shift
·
Aperture priority: Aperture
·
Shutter speed priority: Shutter speed
·
Manual control: Aperture
·
Panorama: Panorama direction
·
Scene modes: slide through scene modes
·
Intelligent Auto: -
·
Superior Auto: -
·
Drive behind the functional
Rear dial function
·
Program: -
·
Aperture priority:-
·
Shutter speed priority: -
·
Manual control: Shutter speed
·
Panorama: -
·
Scene modes: Slide through scene modes (after leaving the live
view mode)
·
Intelligent Auto: -
·
Superior Auto: -
Exactly as we have seen on the NEX-5R, the problem here is
that Sony has not actually taken advantage of the opportunity to create two
camera dials of the NEX-6. Looking at the table above, it should be noted that
in all modes except the manual control, the upper dial simply takes charge of
the function that was controlled by the rear dial in the previous models. And
annoyingly, the rear dial is just a useless stuff there. The dial functions are
unable to be customized, which is out of luck. We cannot help but feel that it
would mean a great deal to the rear dial to change the exposure compensation
directly in the PAS modes. Instead, you are supposed to do your duty of first
pressing the ‘down’ button on the four-way controller.
Function menu
The NEX-6 inherits the NEX-5R’s specialized function button.
It is placed on the top of the camera to the right of the shutter button.
Six shooting
parameters on the screen
Pressing the 'Fn' button brings you quick access to six
shooting parameters that by default are AF/MF Select, AF mode, AF Area mode,
White balance, Metering mode and Image Effect. However, the function menu is
customizable and for each 'slot', you are able to select among the 16 options
shown in the table below. You will take notice that the last option allows you
to drop to the number of icons displayed along the bottom of the screen. The
sizes of the dark gray border is unchanged, regardless of the number of icons
displayed
These parameters can be attached to the Fn menu
·
AF / MF select
·
AF Mode
·
The AF
·
Face Detection
·
Smile Shutter
·
Auto Portrait Framing
·
Soft Skin Effect
·
Image Quality
·
ISO
·
WB
·
Metering Mode
·
DRO / Auto HDR
·
Image Effect
·
Creative Style
·
Flash Mode
·
Not installing (no function is selected)
Quick Navi menu
Quick Navi menu
With the NEX-6, Sony has reintroduced the 'Quick Navi'
screen that was last seen on its pre-SLT DSLRs. Hidden away as a display option
through the camera menu, you are likely to activate it as one of the
information points that the DISP button slides through. Even on the screen, if
you then press the 'Fn' button you are able to use both of the camera's two
dials to control through the options and choices. This coupled with the
top-mounted exposure mode dial means that you should spend less time in the
camera menu - this is definitely a good thing.
Playback mode
The NEX-6 has the same playback mode as other NEX models,
which makes it relatively unremarkable. It has the basic functions you'd
expect, such as slide shows and image rotation as well as Wi-fi activated
features such as View on Smartphones and Send to Computer (discussed later). If
you wish to have the real editing functions, you will need to download the free
"Photo Retouch 'and' Picture Effect +' applications, though there are not
any options to add Raw files in camera or video editing that an increasing
number of the Sony’s opponents offer.
This image shows
the three pages of information available about an image in playback mode,
indicating exposure data and an RGB histogram.
There are two annoying playback modes that Sony did not
bother to mention in the NEX series cameras. Perhaps the most upset is that the
still images and videos cannot be watched simultaneously. You have to manually
switch between the two (three, in reality, because AVCHD and MPEG4 videos are
separate as well) from the thumbnail screen or the playback menu. It's not that
it does not have the technical ability, because other manufacturers, like
Panasonic, can play everything sequentially.
Another thing that may cause disappointment is the lack of
ability to move from one picture to another while the frame is expanded. This
feature is useful for verifying the images, or checking to see the effect of
things like HDR and D-Range Optimizer. Again, this is quite widespread in the
competitive cameras, and saves time when reviewing a lot of similar images.
