FULL REVIEW of the Sony NEX3 and NEX5 micro APS-C compacts

[996GT2]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/sonys-nex3-5-cameras-priced-june-release-date-leaked/

14.2 MP APS-C sized sensor, 720P/1080i HD video, 7 FPS continuous shooting

A 16mm f/2.8 pancake will be offered

Update: Dpreview previews are out:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1005/10051102sonynex.asp

FULL REVIEW at Imaging Resource (including comparisons to GF1, E-P1, T1i, D5000)

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NEX5/NEX5A.HTM

 

[ElFenix]

they moved IS to the lens, i guess to make the body even thinner?

that pancake isn't very pancake-y



http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...hotography-school.com/sony-nex-3-review&cad=h

 

[corkyg]

Putting IS in the lens makes sense to me. Not all lenses require it, especially primes below 100mm.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Putting IS in the lens makes sense to me. Not all lenses require it, especially primes below 100mm.

I'll have to disagree with you there. I enjoy getting sharp shots at 1/10s @ 50mm.

The Sony NEX3 really does look like a P&S with a barrel attached to it.

 

[jpeyton]

I'd buy one.

 

[jpeyton]

 

[Koing]

This is reminiscent of the F707, F717 and the other F8xx or so...apart from it having interchangeable lenses. Funny thing is the image got worse from F717 to the F8xx or so due to the pixel sizes being so small...

http://dpreview.com/news/1005/10051102sonynex.asp

Looks fairly pancake-ish to me...

Koing

 

[jpeyton]

Looks fairly pancake-ish to me...

Agreed. Although compared to how thin the body of the camera is, I can see how some people think the lenses are bigger than normal.

+1 for Sony making metal-bodied lenses (even the kit lens has a metal body).

 

[ElFenix]

Agreed. Although compared to how thin the body of the camera is, I can see how some people think the lenses are bigger than normal.

+1 for Sony making metal-bodied lenses (even the kit lens has a metal body).

yeah i had no idea how small the body was at the time.

 

[randomlinh]

not a fan of the aluminum-y lenses. but if they introduce a 30 and 60 pancake, I would take a serious look at it. I do wish they had a standard hotshoe though, stupid connectors.

the lack of buttons has me a bit worried it's too menu driven for me, but I certainly commend them on what they've done. even if i hate sony, heh

 

[996GT2]

Dpreview link:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1005/10051102sonynex.asp

 

[ElFenix]

not a fan of the aluminum-y lenses. but if they introduce a 30 and 60 pancake, I would take a serious look at it. I do wish they had a standard hotshoe though, stupid connectors.

the lack of buttons has me a bit worried it's too menu driven for me, but I certainly commend them on what they've done. even if i hate sony, heh

i love the metal-look lenses. looks kind of like the old chrome plated leica glass


sony's brand names are ridiculous.

Sony NEX-5 vs. Canon Rebel T2i

It's with this comparison to a very small digital SLR that you can really start to see the advantage of the Sony NEX-5, an SLD with an APS-C-sized sensor inside. With the pentamirror removed from the equation, as well as the full, four-fingered grip, Sony can obtain a much lower overall height.

people actually put 4 fingers on a rebel grip? i think i used 2. no wonder everyone complains about it, they're doing it wrong.

 

[996GT2]

people actually put 4 fingers on a rebel grip? i think i used 2. no wonder everyone complains about it, they're doing it wrong.

Haha, if you put 4 fingers on the grip, and your thumb is on the back of the camera, how do you press the shutter button?

But I totally agree. I can barely fit all my fingers on my 40D's grip when I don't have a battery grip attached. Granted, I do have big hands, but I shudder at the thought of going back to a Rebel-sized grip.

 

[jpeyton]

Awesome image quality; the Imaging Resource test images show that at ISO 3200, it keeps up quite well with the big boys (T2i, D90) and is noticeably better than other mirror-less cameras.

The price is ultra-competitive as well. I don't see how Olympus can get away with charging hundreds more for their PENs once these come out.

I could imagine carrying around a NEX5/16mm all the time.

 

[996GT2]

Awesome image quality; the Imaging Resource test images show that at ISO 3200, it keeps up quite well with the big boys (T2i, D90) and is noticeably better than other mirror-less cameras.

The price is ultra-competitive as well. I don't see how Olympus can get away with charging hundreds more for their PENs once these come out.

I could imagine carrying around a NEX5/16mm all the time.

The only problem I see is that 16mm is too wide to be a general use lens (it's 24mm equivalent), and f/2.8 is rather slow for a prime lens. Taking portraits or candid shots with a 24mm equivalent lens would be rather awkward, not to mention you can't really get much background blur out of such a wide lens.

Kind of interesting that Sony made the 24mm equiv lens the kit lens, when all the other companies are releasing mirrorless cameras with 40mm or 50mm equivalent lenses. Panasonic has the 20mm f/1.7, Olympus has the 25mm f/2.8, and Samsung has the 30mm f/2.

Something like a 30mm f/2 pancake would be a better combination with the 1.5x APS-C focal length factor of the NEX-5.

 

[jpeyton]

The only problem I see is that 16mm is too wide to be a general use lens (it's 24mm equivalent), and f/2.8 is rather slow for a prime lens. Taking portraits or candid shots with a 24mm equivalent lens would be rather awkward, not to mention you can't really get much background blur out of such a wide lens.

Kind of interesting that Sony made the 24mm equiv lens the kit lens, when all the other companies are releasing mirrorless cameras with 40mm or 50mm equivalent lenses. Panasonic has the 20mm f/1.7, Olympus has the 25mm f/2.8, and Samsung has the 30mm f/2.

Something like a 30mm f/2 pancake would be a better combination with the 1.5x APS-C focal length factor of the NEX-5.

Actually I see your "flaw" as one of Sony's strengths. Like you said, everyone has a fast prime in the 40-50mm range. Having a 24mm (equivalent) f/2.8 prime is unique and fun to shoot with. Here are a couple of 24mm f/2.8 shots on my D700:

 

[ElFenix]

i'd like a 35 mm equivalent lens. classic street photography length.

 

[Narmer]

I never thought I's see the words 'Sony' and 'competitively priced' in the same sentence.

 

[996GT2]

I never thought I's see the words 'Sony' and 'competitively priced' in the same sentence.

NEX-3 + 16mm Pancake for $550 is not badly priced at all IMO. A Lumix LX3 will run you around $400, and the Sony has a sensor that's about 10 times bigger.

 

[foghorn67]

omg. Finally a vacation camera I can afford. I couldn't justify the micro 4/3rds at all.
I was thinking about a used *ist Pentax with a pancake.

 

[mooncancook]

I never thought I's see the words 'Sony' and 'competitively priced' in the same sentence.

Actually some of their stuff are not so badly priced. I bought my last laptop from Sony because a similarly configured Dell or HP cost more. Of course some of their stuff can be rediculoursly priced.

Anyways I'm excited about this. They are up for preorder on sonystyle already. Finally those Sony rewards points I accumulated can be put to use

 

[AkumaX]

not bad, pretty competitively priced. articulating screen, and 'pocketable' w/ the pancake (for short periods of time). i wonder how much for the A-mount converter?

 

[996GT2]

not bad, pretty competitively priced. articulating screen, and 'pocketable' w/ the pancake (for short periods of time). i wonder how much for the A-mount converter?

You lose AF with the A mount converter, even on SSM lenses.

 

[jpeyton]

I'll be looking hard at a NEX-5/16mm for $650. The extra $100 is worth it for a smaller mag-alloy body and 1080/60i AVCHD video.

 

[ElFenix]

fred miranda forum goers think the 16 mm looks soft