Release of Sony NEX5 and 3 cameras 11 May 2010

[alphaomega]

Please note that there is a full review on Imaging Resource here
http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1273554059.html
Looks like Sony have managed to get a lot into a body smaller than the Pana/Oly micro 4/3 units. Great image quality apparently and best in class video.
Not sure I will invest in one of these because of limited lens availability and lack of an optional EVF. Not keen on just an optical one for 16mm lens only.
No need for video so I think that my next purchase will be A550 when the body only price touches on £400 or thereabouts here in UK. This is not a criticism as this appears to be quality products with particularly the video features leaving competition huffing and puffing way behind Sony. Note also the proposed camcorder using E lenses and 14Mp new Exmor used in NEX5/3.
My pocket camera requirements will be covered adequately with my Panasonc LX2 and LX3 for quite some time. Maybe when they need to be replaced, the NEX range will have a wider lens line-up to satisfy my requirements.

[alphaomega]

Above I stated that my next camera would probably be the A550 when I could get one at around £400 here in the UK. Well, as said so done. I actually found a body only for £430 delivered and placed an order without a second thought.

[roysmith]

I saw the review. On paper they look great! Very good image quality, nice features, magnesium body, really small and light.... but they're UGLY. Even more than my Sigma DP2 which is not a nice looking camera btw

[David Kilpatrick]

Note the following issues: the microphone uses a dedicated connector, no 3.5mm jack. The same interface is used physically to attach the finder, flash etc. There is no stabilistion for the wide angle lens (16mm) at all. Results so far look pretty good, I have almost filled card.

We have had a well organised but disappointing day photographically, with the weather letting us down (plain dull) and some of the transport being far from ideal - two hours locked inside a catamaran with no access to the deck AT ALL and filthy windows (like being on a bus) is not what photographers needed.

Also, the file srtructure saved to Memory Stick is very obscure. The video files use a structure almost as a bad as a DVD with loads of folders and linked files, in place of simple single data files. There are half a dozen folders on the card. I am going to have to find out which files are essential and how to play/edit them.

David

[bfitzgerald]

Surprised at how big the mount is (might as well just kept the A mount!). The body is small very small even, but the lenses look disproportionately large and cumbersome on such a tiny body.
The lack of AF with lenses, no minolta hot shoe means there is no real compelling reason for A mount users to look at this v rivals. Unless of course it's amazing IQ and video wise.

[David Kilpatrick]

I was unable to use an Alpha mount adaptor although I had lenses with me. I can only comment that from JPEGs, as I can not yet process raw, quality is poor with substantial chromatic fringes and very soft corners on the 18-55mm, and a sharper result with better geometry from the 16mm, but still strong CA and not all that stunning sharpness with Fine JPEG at a range of ISO settings.

I would not rush out to buy one on this basis, or at least not with the 18-55mm. The 18-200mm is a very large lens and out of proportion to the body. The 16mm is good, but not totally flat, and I don't like have an unstabiised combination.

No images will be posted until I can study them on my big iMac at home. I think some look pretty good but all would have better on the Alpha 550 (and I do have some comparisons). The new lenses are made at a brand new Sony factory in Thailand.

David

[David Kilpatrick]

OK, here is one sample -

http://www.photoclubalpha.com/wordpress ... -Fjpeg.jpg

It is a dusk exposure at ISO 200 taken using the 16mm at f/8 to improve corner sharpness and reduce CA, 1/8th second exposure supported on a parapet - Sony press launch dinner.

A similar shot at ISO 1600 has, in my opinion, some extreme noise reduction smudging in the JPEG but NR had not been disabled.

David

[bfitzgerald]

Not really that impressed with that sample a 16mm prime should be much better IMO. Imaging resource have some samples up from this lens and the kit. They seem to comment about soft corners and not overly impressive optics.
The performance of the 16mm prime looks very "hmm kit lens ish" That should be blindingly sharp esp stopped down.

[pakodominguez]

OK, here is one sample -

http://www.photoclubalpha.com/wordpress ... -Fjpeg.jpg

CA visible without pixelpeeping, and some flare too...
No pics with daylight?
Why couldn't you use the E to A adapter?
did you tried the fish eye adapter?

[pakodominguez]

bucolic footage sample with the NEX5 and different lenses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSjdobj0IQ

[pakodominguez]

Alpha NEX series camera features (or a easier way to understand a press release)
http://www.sony.net/Products/ilc/E-seri ... res01.html

[Javelin]

will it release without the lens attached ?

[KevinBarrett]

I sure would like to see some more official specs on those lenses... aperture blades? maximum magnification? The 18-200mm shows a close focus of 0.5m on the lens itself, but plenty of 200mm optics focus as close as that, and offer wildly different reproduction ratios.

[pakodominguez]

will it release without the lens attached ?

Yes -I read somewhere that, but I don't recall where: too much information the last 48 hours

[pakodominguez]

will it release without the lens attached ?

Found it!

from this page: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NEX5/NEX5A5.HTM