Alex-Davies
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ElizabethS
A couple of weeks ago, Sony invited me to a preview of some of their new cameras coming this fall. On display were two new DSLR’s – the A65 & A77 - and the NEX-7 & NEX-5N mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (which I will refer to as ILC’s in this article). Today I am going to preview the NEX-5N, which at the moment is the only model that has been confirmed to be coming to Future Shop, on November 4th. Sony also sent me a review unit of the camera, and I should have my hands-on impressions of the camera posted on the Tech Blog soon.
Traditional DSLR’s have followed the format set before SLR's went digital – large-bodied cameras with a bulky mirror system inside to reflect the light up to an optical viewfinder. In the past couple of years there have been a few interchangeable lens camera systems designed to break out of this mould, and bring many of the advantages of full-sized DSLR’s to a smaller form factor. Up until recently the Micro Four Thirds camera system, used in cameras by Panasonic and Olympus, has been the most successful. However one of the main compromises made with the Micro 4/3 format is that the image sensor is smaller than the APS-C one found in other DSLR’s. A smaller sensor means that it captures less light and consequently has lower performance in low-light.
Then last year Sony released their NEX series of ILC cameras, the NEX-3 and NEX-5. Both these cameras offered all the benefits of a full-sized APS-C sensor in an extremely compact body. They were well received, hailed as innovative, and well priced, cameras with excellent image quality. However they weren’t flawless, so Sony went back the drawing board to address some of their issues, resulting in this year’s models - the NEX-C3 and NEX-5N. Since they do use Sony’s own E-mount lens system the selection of lens was initially quite slim, so along with the updates to the cameras, Sony has also expanded their lens selection.
As the name denotes, the NEX-5N is not a completely new model, but more of a refinement of the first-generation NEX-5. The body is basically the same, but internally there have been quite a few important upgrades. While some may be disappointed that they didn’t make any changes to the body, it’s definitely a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don't fix it’. The most two most important internal changes from the NEX-5 are the new Exmor 16.MP sensor, and the touch screen interface.
While the NEX-5 had a large screen and minimal amount of buttons, it still required you to use buttons and a click-wheel to navigate the camera’s functions. Nothing beat dedicated dials and buttons, in my opinion, but in order to keep the size down something has to give - at least with the capacitive, tiltable, touchscreen you can navigate directly to needed functions a lot faster.
The new sensor promises better image quality, with higher-resolution, and a higher AUTO ISO limit (up to 3200). The Bionz image processor can now shoot at to 10 FPS (up from the NEX-5’s 7FPS), and there is a new electronic first curtain shutter, that reduces shutter lag to the point of where Sony can claim that it is ‘the world’s fastest’ among ILC’s.
Introduced in the NEX-C3, there are also some new in-camera picture effects. While I think many of these are superfluous, and are better created in Photoshop afterwards, some of them are very useful. The 'Auto HDR', 'Sweep Panorama', and 'Handheld Twilight' modes combine multiple shots together, digitally in the camera, to produce some amazing images. The Twilight mode is especially impressive, making it practical to shoot in some very challenging low-light conditions, without the use of a tripod or flash.
Another area that has been upgraded is the movie mode, something that a lot of people are using their DSLR’s and ILC’s more and more for. The NEX-5N can now shoot in the AVCHD ver.2 format at 1080/60p. In combination with the Sony Alpha LA-EA2 A-mount lens adaptor, which also allows the NEX-5N to use its bigger brother’s faster phase detect auto focus, the 5N can be quite a serious movie making tool. Sadly one aspect of the first generation NEX series has carried over – there is still no external microphone port, or manual audio controls. The only option for higher quality audio is the optional propriety Sony NEX Stereo microphone, or to record the audio separately, and add it when editing the video afterwards.
The last stand-out feature of the NEX-5N for me, but sadly optional too, is the attachable XGA OLED ‘Tru-Finder’ (FDA-EV1S) viewfinder. While shooting with the large LCD works most of the time, having a viewfinder adds a lot of versatility, especially when shooting outside when it is too bright to see the screen properly. The OLED screen of the Tru-Finder is amazing, and is almost as good as a traditional optical viewfinder, quite a feat for something electronic.
My overall impressions of the NEX-5N, from the short time I spent with it at the event, are very positive. If you are looking for a compact interchangeable lens camera, whether you are stepping up from the compact camera world, replacing an older entry-level DSLR, or looking for a B-camera to support your high-end DSRL rig, I would seriously take a long look at the NEX-5N.
The NEX-5N will be coming to Future Shop on November 4th for $799.99, and the kit comes with an 10-30mm zoom lens. For more info, and to pre-order, check out the product page here.
The optional FDA-EV1S OLED viewfinder with be $400 (wow!), and the LA-EA2 mount adaptor is $450.
The optional ECMSST1 Stereo mic is already available from Future Shop here for $149.99.
Lastly the expanded lens selection now includes a 55-210mm F4.5 Telephoto zoom (MSRP $400), a Carl Zeiss 24mm F1.8 prime ($1000), and a 50mm F1.8 prime ($400).
As mentioned at the beginning of this post Sony did send me a NEX-5N to play with for a week, so check back soon for my full review.
For full specs check out the dpreview.com article here.
A slideshow of pictures of the NEX-5N from the event I attended:
Official Sony promotional video about the NEX-5N:
