Recent years have seen some very cool Sony cameras: the first full-frame compact camera, the RX1, as well as the first full-frame interchangeable-lens compacts, the a7 and a7R. In the midst of all that full-frame hoopla, the APS-C-format NEX-6 debuted to relatively minor fanfare, although its fans...

Despite small annoyances, the Sony Alpha 6000 is a great overall camera for more advanced photographers who want something smaller than a dSLR, especially if they need the continuous- shooting speed.

The Sony Alpha 6000 has seriously fast continuous shooting for the money, and its design improves upon its predecessor's already excellent one; Plus it's got an extensive feature set.

The movie record button remains annoying, and while it delivers excellent photo quality, it's not best-in-class in low light; It's also slow on startup.

This review was first published in the June 2014 issue of Practical Photography - download back issues here .

A superb mid-ranger that puts the "compact" into compact system camera

Incredibly fast; accurate autofocus; Tiny; lightweight and sturdy; Big; clear electronic viewfinder; Impressive still and video quality

No in-body image stabilisation

As the mirrorless, interchangeable-lens camera market continues to grow, it's more difficult to make a decision about which camera to purchase. Other new mirrorless models, such as the Olympus OM-D E-M10 ($799 with lens) and the Samsung NX30 ($1,000 with lens), also offer solid feature sets and...

Fast continuous shooting and autofocus; Compact body; Multiple custom control options; Above-average image quality; Excellent low-light performance

Vast array of camera settings may be overwhelming; Noise reduction can be excessive; Clunky adjustment of focus point selection

Hits a home run for quality, performance, features and price

The a6000 brings Sony's latest interface improvements and enhanced JPEG processing to a well-featured, competitively-priced mid-range camera. Its stand-out features are its comprehensive video controls and continuous autofocus performance unprecedented at this price.

24 megapixel APS-C sensor is one of the best in its class; Small body with generally well placed controls; Very fast continuous shooting; Class-leading continuous autofocus; Excellent level of control over video (including manual exposure; High quality; responsive viewfinder; Electronic...

Flash exposures often misjudged; No In-camera Raw conversion option; Noise reduction can be a bit heavy-handed; No touchscreen; No electronic level gauge; Battery life feels low (though provided charge percentage info helps judge remaining life; Specifying an autofocus point can be cumbersome; Lens...

The a6000 is one of the best value cameras released in recent years. In our opinion CSCs are generally overpriced, but this camera offers exceptional image quality, focusing, shooting speed and connectivity for a very modest price-tag.

An NEX by any other name...

Let's begin with big compliment on delivery and customer service: Bought this camera on 3 May, received on 6 May, light speed! Customer service was really good and efficient, thanks guys. Pros The camera itself is even more compactable than I expected.