• APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000
  • 35mm 858.0mm2
  • 24.5 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

Buy From

Differences

Sony A58 advantages over Nikon Z6

  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 700 vs 380 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    83 mm vs 70 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Lighter weight
    731g vs 1175g
    Lighter weight
  • Less shutter lag
    0.13 vs 0.20 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)

Nikon Z6 advantages over Sony A58

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.94 vs 4.31 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,299 vs 753 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.3 vs 12.5 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Newer
    7 years vs 13 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More dots on screen
    2100k vs 461k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.80x vs 0.57x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.5 vs 20.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    12.0 fps vs 4.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    47 vs 8 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    12.0 fps vs 4.8 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    35 vs 6 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    204800 vs 16000 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
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • 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
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A58

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon Z6

Review Excerpt

  • Improved 20.1-megapixel resolution; Impressive image quality, especially for its price; Fast and decisive autofocus (in most conditions); Very good battery life; Good video quality (Full HD 1080p, though it doesn't support 60p frame rate).

  • Plastic lens mount; Slower burst mode speeds and shallower buffer than A57; LCD no longer fully articulating; Mediocre kit lens; Electronic instead of an optical viewfinder may be a turnoff for some.

  • Great image quality; Terrific high ISO performance; Fast AF speeds; Eye AF; Swift 12fps burst shooting; In-body image stabilization; High-quality 4K video; Robust build quality; Familiar Nikon design.

  • Single XQD card slot; Default high ISO NR a bit strong; No 4K 60p; 1/200s x-sync speed; Limited native lens selection (at this time).

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A58
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
Nikon Z6
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $1396
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Nikon D5200

Sony A58
Nikon D5200
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $590
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Nikon Z6
Nikon D5200
  • $1396
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $590
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Fast startup

Compared to Canon T5i

Sony A58
Canon T5i
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $539
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Nikon Z6
Canon T5i
  • $1396
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $539
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compared to Sony A7 III

Sony A58
Sony A7 III
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $1748
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Nikon Z6
Sony A7 III
  • $1396
  • 35mm
  • Top deck display
  • More dots on screen
  • $1748
  • 35mm
  • NFC
  • Higher effective ISO

Compared to Canon EOS R

Sony A58
Canon EOS R
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1499
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Nikon Z6
Canon EOS R
  • $1396
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1499
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • More telephoto lens reach
Compare Other Cameras?