First week with an NEX-3
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kshapero
South Florida Man
I wonder how much do you really gain using Leica Legacy glass like a 35 lux with IS. I would think little. I can shoot wide open on an M6 at 1/8 sec or even sometimes at 1/4 sec. Could I shoot at a slower speed with IS on an M4/3?
wintershrooms
Member
I've had a NEX-5 for a short while but haven't had much opportunity to take it out shooting yet. I got the Voigtlander adapter from CameraQuest. I mainly use the CV Nokton 50/1.1 on the NEX-5, though I've tried it out with my collapsible Summicron 50/2 and my Summilux 35/1.4.
The tiny little NEX-5 body is dwarved by the beastly 50/1.1, but together they're a comfortable pair. I love the combo. Because of sensor science I don't fully understand, the shallowness wide open isn't like what you'd get from using the lens on a Leica M body. However, you can still get pretty sweet results. One particularly spectacular flickr photostream has featured a number shots using this combination: http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&w=44290369%40N08&q=sony&m=text.
I've posted one photo so far with the NEX-5 and 50/1.1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintershrooms/5155740237/. More to come -- especially after this weekend. I'll try to take some with the 35/1.4 to show some comparison.
As for video: I have the new firmware but I haven't figured out all the controls, especially for optimizing video, but when I shoot 1080p at low light, I get beautiful shallow depth of field. In brighter light, I think the frame rate quickens to compensate for exposure and the results aren't as "cinematic."
It's fun to experiment with this camera and I haven't been hampered by the menu system so far. Hope you all enjoy yours! Keep posting more photos!
Oh, one last thing: The kit zoom (18-55) is seriously lacking in quality; I had never taken a shot with barrel distortion before and didn't fully comprehend what the term meant until I saw an image I took at the wide end. It could almost pass for fish-eye! I would have bought the camera without a kit lens if I could. Because I had to choose, I figured I'd buy it with the zoom instead of the pancake because I thought it might be handy to have a zoom lens, especially if I hand my camera off to family or friends to use, and since I have M lenses to serve as primes. Now I kind of regret not trying the pancake.
The tiny little NEX-5 body is dwarved by the beastly 50/1.1, but together they're a comfortable pair. I love the combo. Because of sensor science I don't fully understand, the shallowness wide open isn't like what you'd get from using the lens on a Leica M body. However, you can still get pretty sweet results. One particularly spectacular flickr photostream has featured a number shots using this combination: http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&w=44290369%40N08&q=sony&m=text.
I've posted one photo so far with the NEX-5 and 50/1.1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintershrooms/5155740237/. More to come -- especially after this weekend. I'll try to take some with the 35/1.4 to show some comparison.
As for video: I have the new firmware but I haven't figured out all the controls, especially for optimizing video, but when I shoot 1080p at low light, I get beautiful shallow depth of field. In brighter light, I think the frame rate quickens to compensate for exposure and the results aren't as "cinematic."
It's fun to experiment with this camera and I haven't been hampered by the menu system so far. Hope you all enjoy yours! Keep posting more photos!
Oh, one last thing: The kit zoom (18-55) is seriously lacking in quality; I had never taken a shot with barrel distortion before and didn't fully comprehend what the term meant until I saw an image I took at the wide end. It could almost pass for fish-eye! I would have bought the camera without a kit lens if I could. Because I had to choose, I figured I'd buy it with the zoom instead of the pancake because I thought it might be handy to have a zoom lens, especially if I hand my camera off to family or friends to use, and since I have M lenses to serve as primes. Now I kind of regret not trying the pancake.
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douglasf13
Well-known
Aye, the NEX kit zoom is actually very good for a basic kit zoom...but it is still not going to measure up to high end lenses. I do believe that Lightroom 3 has built in correction for that lens (at least I know it has it for the 16mm.)
As for hand holding NEX, although it doesn't have a mirror, it has a very robust shutter to deal with 7fps, and, since it is a live view camera, the shutter has to close/open/close/open for every shot, so it is still a little violent. I would say "handhold-ability" is a little better than a DSLR, but not quite to actual rangefinder levels.
As for hand holding NEX, although it doesn't have a mirror, it has a very robust shutter to deal with 7fps, and, since it is a live view camera, the shutter has to close/open/close/open for every shot, so it is still a little violent. I would say "handhold-ability" is a little better than a DSLR, but not quite to actual rangefinder levels.
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Ronald_H
Don't call me Ron
Personally I think they started with the zooms and the 16mm to give users something decent on the extra wide end. If you use FF lenses on an APS-C camera you are going to miss that. Still, a fast 40-50mm equivalent is eagerly awaited here...
douglasf13
Well-known
I agree. While a 24mm (equiv.) lens isn't my #1 choice for a walk around prime, it gives the NEX system a unique advantage. Hopefully, they release more lenses soon.
kxl
Social Documentary
Agreed, but in the meantime, I make do with the digital zoom interpolation option available with the 16mm (up to 10x). In fact, I set my Soft Key B for that "zoom" option.
sper
Well-known
Well after spending a pretty enjoyable week wiht the NEX-3 I've encountered a bit of a problem. Actually a pretty big problem. I was updating the software from my iMac and everything was going fine until I got the the 'run' stage. At that point my monitor got darker and it told me to restart in four or five languages. The camera is now pretty much unrepsonsive. I recharged the battery, leaving it out for hours and still nothing.
After trying to re-run the update I still get the same problem. It's a huge pain because it's only borrowed. I even redownloaded the software to see if I could figure this out.
If anybody has a solution for me please let me know!
P.S. I am counting this as a fluke. I still plan on getting one of these in the near future.
After trying to re-run the update I still get the same problem. It's a huge pain because it's only borrowed. I even redownloaded the software to see if I could figure this out.
If anybody has a solution for me please let me know!
P.S. I am counting this as a fluke. I still plan on getting one of these in the near future.
ampguy
Veteran
hub
Crazy French
What I don't understand is why do camera manufacturers require a specific software to do that. To upgrade by Canon I only need to put the firmware on the flash card. Why doesn't Sony (or Olympus) do that? It would cost them much less.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Just got a NEX 3. Is it me or does this body seem a little too breakable? Should I trade up to the NEX 5 with the Magnesium alloy body?
los
Established
no focus assist w/ adapter?
no focus assist w/ adapter?
i tried a summitar? 35mm with adapter on my nex-3 and the focus assist magnification setting wouldn't work. is there a setting i missed or does the adapter have to be a certain make. i have a coyo adapter.
no focus assist w/ adapter?
i tried a summitar? 35mm with adapter on my nex-3 and the focus assist magnification setting wouldn't work. is there a setting i missed or does the adapter have to be a certain make. i have a coyo adapter.
kxl
Social Documentary
kshapero
South Florida Man
I am using 2 of them as we speak with great results.
ampguy
Veteran
not sure
not sure
I've handled both, and the build quality didn't feel substantially stronger on the 5 (I did remove and mount lenses on both), but I did significantly notice the smaller size of the 5, in the hand.
not sure
I've handled both, and the build quality didn't feel substantially stronger on the 5 (I did remove and mount lenses on both), but I did significantly notice the smaller size of the 5, in the hand.
kshapero
South Florida Man
After 2 weeks the NEX 3 is a keeper.
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