NEX-6 rear dial assignment and adapters

[3dit0r]

Guys,

Couple of questions, if I may, for owners of NEX-6 cameras:

- Can the rear dial now be assigned to exposure comp, or other function when the camera is in A or S priority mode? I know in early reviews (not production firmware, iirc) this could not be done- one still had to press down on the bottom of the dial to change the function of the top wheel. Did this get changed, as I can't find any recent references?
- When using adapted lenses (C/Y Zeiss in my case) how does live view/the EVF respond when in M, A or S before the shot is taken? Does it attempt to simulate the actual exposure at the aperture set on the lens, or what?
- As an extension of the above question: if anyone has used studio flash, or similar with an adapted lens, what happens? Do you just get black in LV/EVF before exposure as the camera is attempting to simulate but doesn't have an aperture to read from?

Many thanks in advance! Looking to upgrade from 5N and just want to know exactly what I'm getting in return 😉

James

 

[Shac]

James - I think I can answer some of your Q's
1 - I'm pretty sure not. The rear dial is "used up" with fixed functions. I believe only the front function button is programmable/assignable. Pressing down on the rear wheel allows you to alter exposure compensation only. The top wheel's function can't change as far as I know. Let's see if anyone else has a better idea
2 - yes it responds.
3 - not tried

I upgraded from a 5n to the 6 (tho' kept the 5N as well) - really pleased with the 6's handling and menus

Hope this helps a bit

 

[3dit0r]

Thanks Shac, appreciated!

Are you on the latest Firmware (don't know if this functionality might have been updated)?

It's very odd to me that the rear dial isn't, or can't be, set to exposure comp when in A or S- when in Manual, iirc from a quick play in a shop, it controls shutter and the top dial controls aperture? I assumed Sony, now it is a 2-dial camera, would have made some sort of sensible use of it when in Aperture or Shutter priority modes- the top dial controlling those, respectively, and the rear dial for instant exposure compensation. I couldn't get the rear dial to do anything, and checked online to see if reviewers had had the same problem (or if it was just me missing some setting). It turned out there were a lot of complaints about this in the early reviews, so I wondered if it was something Sony had fixed via firmware on current models. It seems not!

It's not a deal breaker on the camera, but seems a waste, and a little crazy you have to still press down before getting the wheel to do comp on what is otherwise such a customisable camera! If I were a conspiracy theorist, I'd say it was deliberately crippled so as to still provide enough of a difference between the 'tri-navi' on the 7 😉 I'd buy a 7 control-wise, but value better ISO performance more than resolution (I've never found myself wanting more than 16 or so *good* megapixels, but often want to hand-hold in poor light).

Anyway, that's great about the LV/EVF. I bet you're enjoying your 6, and fully understand why you kept the 5N too- great little camera 🙂 did you have the accessory EVF for it? Using any rangefinder lenses on them?

(If anyone knows about the studio flash, please chime in!)

Best

James

 

[Shac]

James - I'll check when I get home today and let you know. Meanwhile if I understand you correctly the rear dial does allow exposure com - pres the bottom of the dial and then either keep pressing the bottom or the top, or use the upper wheel, to change the setting.
As I said I really prefer the 6 over the 5N b/c of the way it feels in the hand, the way it operates, etc. The 5N is smaller and without the external EVF (which I've also kept for now) plus one of the small CV wides, makes for a v. pocketable rig
David

 

[3dit0r]

Hi David,

Thanks, I appreciate it! If you could confirm whether the rear dial can be set to automatically become exposure comp in either A or S mode that would be great - I *think* it behaves like the 5N otherwise, i.e. I think you have to press downward on it to make it a temporary exp. comp. dial? Just seems this press could be unnecessary? To be honest I'll probably use it mostly in Manual, but sometimes those other modes with comp are useful when you have to shoot quick!

I always intended to buy an EVF for my 5N, but have been frustrated a couple of times by it's lack of standard ISO flash hotshoe, which prevented me from using it in studio settings, so that plus the ergonomic upgrades on the 6 (which you're clearly appreciating too) mean that it's very likely I'll simply upgrade to the 6 rather than spend more adding an EVF to the 5N. I take your point about the 5N being rather pocketable, though. If I can afford to keep it as a 'carry anywhere' in the pocket cam, I might 🙂

Best,

James

 

[3dit0r]

Sorry for a random question- can you only charge the NEX-6 battery inside the camera? Or can you purchase a Sony battery charger for it? Just read about this but can't seem to find much detail...

Best,

James

 

[rodl]

You can charge the battery with the charger designed for the other NEX cameras. IMO, not providing a separate battery charger is a Sony cheapout. I would have been happy to have the price $10 - $15 higher to have one included.

As for your question about how the exposure compensation works on the dial, I suspect the reason that you have to push down on the button is to keep from accidentally changing the setting by rotating the dial when you didn't intend to.

 

[3dit0r]

Thanks, yes I suppose it could be to prevent accidental exp. comp. although the same could be said for either dial in Manual mode...

Good news about the battery charger, but yeah, does seem a little 'cheap' to not provide an external charger, especially given how quickly the batteries drain on the NEX cameras... Oh well, it's still a lot of camera for the money, I think, so I'm not too hard on them for that!