NEX-7 Review From Steve Huff

[bwcolor]

Here is the Review....


He shoots with what he clearly tells us are the two best E-Mount lenses available.
He shoots with what he has on hand with regard to Leica 'M'. I would have liked to have seen some wide angle 'M' glass, but he tells us elsewhere that he doesn't have any wides.
He provides plenty of examples and full 100% crops.
He tells us how he thinks it stacks up against a range of cameras.
He provides advice as to adapters and memory cards....and yes, I know that he makes money off his links.
He makes it known that he is buying one. I don't read many of his reviews, so I don't know if he always says this, but I tend to believe glowing reviews if the reviewer purchases the item reviewed.
BTW.. he clearly criticizes Sony in three ways. His suggestion that there are two good E-Mount lenses basically says to Sony, your other lenses don't make it, while telling us that there is another Zeiss coming. He also clearly states that Sony would have been better to have stayed with the NEX 5N sensor. Lastly, the Sony RAW converter isn't first class..
Overall, I think that this was a good review.

 

[fotomeow]

thx for the HU on the review: I didnt have time to read the whole thing, which is good b/c it is a nice detailed review. I like that the 24/1.8 is a Sonnar design, interesting! and he goes into detail on the "Tri Navi", which he describes as controlling f, ISO, and EC. What about SS? did I miss something? the 4 main controls I NEED at my fingertips are those 4: f, SS, ISO, and EC ....... so what about the SS? I wonder if you can change the function of one of the dials to SS ..... I will find out later when I finish reading the review later.

But mostly my predicament is that after I put a deposit down to be first in line to get the N7 from my local dealer, I bought an M9. So part of me hopes that the M9 will prevail in usability, and part of me hopes the N7 will surpass the M9 (given the M9 price tag!)

 

[bwcolor]

Your M9 purchase is safe from his criticism. As good as 24MPix is and with the technological advances, he still prefers the M9 for what the M9 does best.

 

[thegman]

I like Steve Huff, but I don't put much credence in his reviews. All the talk of Leica "glow" I find off-putting, and you just get the feeling no camera could ever be better than the M9, until Leica brings out something which they declare to be better than the M9.

 

[uhoh7]

I find it amazing the guy has so few RF lenses lying around. He was going on and on about the original nex, took it on a trip with his M9, but never even tried the M lens he had--or at least he did not mention it.

 

[segedi]

I find it amazing the guy has so few RF lenses lying around. He was going on and on about the original nex, took it on a trip with his M9, but never even tried the M lens he had--or at least he did not mention it.

He claims he is poor so doesn't have wide M lenses. Yet, has an M9 and I think he has a Noctilux as well... to be so poor.

One take away was his recommendation of the Sony 50mm which I might get for the AF.

I put a preorder in for the NEX-7(with both kit zooms for video) last week and after his review, will keep it. Not expecting an M9 for 1/7th the price. Once I get it, will test with the M-mount lenses I have and post results:
Zeiss ZM 25mm f/2.8
Leica 35mm Summarit f/2.5
MS Optical Perar 35mm f/3.5
Zeiss ZM Planar 50mm f/2.0
Leica Summilux ASPH 50mm f/1.4
Leica 90mm Summicron APO APSH
Adapter will be the Hawk Peng macro helicoid - also on order.

Can't wait!

 

[splitimageview]

I haven't read the review yet, but I can tell you the Hawk macro M adapter is fantastic. 🙂

 

[Paddy C]

I find it amazing the guy has so few RF lenses lying around. He was going on and on about the original nex, took it on a trip with his M9, but never even tried the M lens he had--or at least he did not mention it.

He went through some personal/financial upheaval a year or two ago and ended up having to sell a lot of his gear IIRC. He makes his living from the site so I doubt he has much money.

His reviews are decent even if he starts entering Ken Rockwell territory sometimes. He's not a good writer (obviously).

 

[bwcolor]

He claims he is poor so doesn't have wide M lenses. Yet, has an M9 and I think he has a Noctilux as well... to be so poor.

One take away was his recommendation of the Sony 50mm which I might get for the AF.

I put a preorder in for the NEX-7(with both kit zooms for video) last week and after his review, will keep it. Not expecting an M9 for 1/7th the price. Once I get it, will test with the M-mount lenses I have and post results:
Zeiss ZM 25mm f/2.8
Leica 35mm Summarit f/2.5
MS Optical Perar 35mm f/3.5
Zeiss ZM Planar 50mm f/2.0
Leica Summilux ASPH 50mm f/1.4
Leica 90mm Summicron APO APSH
Adapter will be the Hawk Peng macro helicoid - also on order.

Can't wait!

The 90mm APO ASPH looks really good on the 5N, so I think that it will be a keeper with the 7.

 

[segedi]

He went through some personal/financial upheaval a year or two ago and ended up having to sell a lot of his gear IIRC. He makes his living from the site so I doubt he has much money.

His reviews are decent even if he starts entering Ken Rockwell territory sometimes. He's not a good writer (obviously).

He writes like a photo enthusiast, which is why his site appeals to so many. He has photos with his reviews which show the capabilities of the products if not always the artistic possibilities of the equipment. He also makes it a point to let the readers know that it's his opinion. I'm a bit of a fan and follow his site regularly.

Bummer to hear the past difficulties. But he still manages to travel with Seal and shoot his shows. And get his hands on the latest photo gear, if not permanently. He seems to be having a lot of fun, so that's the best measure of wealth!

 

[celluloidprop]

I like Huff - he doesn't claim to be an artist or a documentarian, he's just a guy who gets excited to play with new toys. As a bonus, he's excited for getting to play with them, rather than just fondling the toys.

And, honestly, his photographs aren't bad. Compared to Ken Rockwell, he's HCB. Not going to get a museum show any time soon, but he makes a living (roughly) wandering around taking photos and writing about photography. Nice gig.


re: Seal, I know it was an advertisement for the website he founded (that I can't even remember the name of), but giving away his M9 was pretty awesome. He seems like a good guy for an insanely rich celebrity who goes to bed with Heidi Klum every night.

 

[kbg32]

The M9 is a M9, the NEX is a NEX. One is full frame, the other isn't. I want my M lenses to perform with the qualities they were designed for. Cropped sensors can't do that. Ya can't compare.

 

[jbf]

Whatever, at the core of it all, Steve Huff is no different than Ken Rockwell. He uses reviews and crap people loan him to make money.

His photos are pretty uninspiring to me. I am not saying they are bad. I am just saying they are OK. Which is equivalent to saying he takes the same photos my best friend or grandma with a camera takes.

I also think he doesnt have the best taste in photography he choses to put on his site. But hey, he is doing well, so I applaud him for that.


p.s. this is not an attack on him. just my personal opinion on the type of photos i dont care much fore

 

[EthanFrank]

...and he goes into detail on the "Tri Navi", which he describes as controlling f, ISO, and EC. What about SS? did I miss something? the 4 main controls I NEED at my fingertips are those 4: f, SS, ISO, and EC ....... so what about the SS? I wonder if you can change the function of one of the dials to SS ..... I will find out later when I finish reading the review later...

The beauty of the Tri-Navi system is that it is all the dials are programmable.

 

[Keith]

Why does a pocket camera need a 24 megapixel sensor?

Good review and I don't mind the guy at all ... his enthusiasm is obvious.

 

[bwcolor]

The M9 is a M9, the NEX is a NEX. One is full frame, the other isn't. I want my M lenses to perform with the qualities they were designed for. Cropped sensors can't do that. Ya can't compare.

Of course, but many can't afford an M9.

 

[bwcolor]

Huh??

Huh??

Whatever, at the core of it all, Steve Huff is no different than Ken Rockwell. He uses reviews and crap people loan him to make money.

His photos are pretty uninspiring to me. I am not saying they are bad. I am just saying they are OK. Which is equivalent to saying he takes the same photos my best friend or grandma with a camera takes.

I also think he doesnt have the best taste in photography he choses to put on his site. But hey, he is doing well, so I applaud him for that.

p.s. this is not an attack on him. just my personal opinion on the type of photos i dont care much fore

I don't really get your overt negativity. Is it that you wish that you were given "crap" and you can take photographs that are better than your grandmother? Excellent.. go to it and I'll visit your site.

Personally, I appreciate that someone is out there and willing to make a so so living reviewing cameras and in short order coming up with photographs that might give me some idea as to if I want to buy the reviewed product. I could care less if he is a good photographer, but I would like him to have some analytical ability and I want to believe that he is providing an honest opinion.

 

[jippiejee]

Though he will never completely bash a camera (though his reservations about the Samsung stuff was obvious), I consider him quite sincere. I am sure there'll be other bloggers who, after Sony flew to their homes to deliver the new nex-7, would have been less critical. His blog is the reason that some time ago I returned to my old love, rangefinders.

 

[peterm1]

I have just arranged to buy an almost new NEX 5 mainly for its low light capabilities. Looks like I should have hung out for the NEX 7 or at least the 5N. Not that I need another camera - I ahve plenty already. But a new toy is a new toy.

I am happy enough with Huffs reviews. I never rely too much on any one reviewer in any event. I always tryto read several reviews to compare their conclusions. Then I make my mind up whether something is worth considering. The only thing I would complain about with Huff is that he does what a lot of camera buffs do - his photos are limited pretty much to his family, his pets, his house, his hometown. This is very typical of those who are into hardware rather than photography. At least its better than some sites I have seen where all the photos seem to be of dingy alley ways, garbage bins and TV satellite dishes - to see "how sharp this lens is".

Also Huff at least trys to be objective about his reviews and he stirs up less controversy than Ken Rockwell. Although even KR has his good points too.

 

[fotomeow]

Why does a pocket camera need a 24 megapixel sensor?

Good review and I don't mind the guy at all ... his enthusiasm is obvious.

Agreed on both counts. Re: #1, the article seems to report that Sony had a choice of making it 24 MP with not-as-good-as-it-could've-been high ISO performance VS using LESS pixels with better results at higher ISO's.
If they had a choice, I wish they would've chosen the latter.