kshapero
South Florida Man
NEX 3 with CV Nokton 35/1.4 SC
pvdhaar
Peter
Looks like a splendid combination for shallow DOF and low light shooting.. and I've been contemplating the NEX for mounting my CV lenses on as well.
But there's one thing I never consciously realized, and that's that there isn't a place to put and external finder on the NEX, is there? Do you miss it, or can you wing it with just the LCD on the back?
But there's one thing I never consciously realized, and that's that there isn't a place to put and external finder on the NEX, is there? Do you miss it, or can you wing it with just the LCD on the back?
dexdog
Veteran
An external finder would be nice, but I would not consider it essential. Easy enough to focus and frame using the LCD on the back. I have tried out my NEX 5 with any number of lenses from 180mm to 15mm, and had no difficulties.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Yes this was a concern of mind. I live in South Florida where it is very sunny. As a test before I bought it (The local Ritz Camera reopened, thank you Ritz) I took a NEX out at about 2 PM, hot sun shinning. Tried it out with the sun at my back pointing right at the LCD, no problem. One bit of advise though, keep the LCD clean of smudges or better yet get an LCD protector (good idea anyway) because it keeps the smudges down. I feel NO need for any kind of EVF or OVF.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Didn't work out?
pvdhaar
Peter
Thanks for answering! That takes away at least one of my worries.
There's one other thing that's not entirely clear to me at this point; I hope you don't mind me asking..
If you use a manual lens, then can the NEX still measure the exposure?
Or do you need to shoot manually and nail the exposure by the sunny16 rule or with trial and error?
dexdog
Veteran
The camera will measure the exposure in manual mode, and you even have the choice of several metering modes. In manual mode, set the aperture on the lens and use the click-stopped thumbwheel on the back to select shutter speed. The display shows EV values in approximately 0.3 increments, so dialing in the exposure that you want is very easy. This is how I have been using mine with various LTM lenses.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Manual lenses work in either aperture preferred or manual. The NEX not only measures the exposure but lets you see the changes on the LCD, in say exposure or even bokeh as you adjust the aperture ring. Sweet.
kshapero
South Florida Man
I tossed and turned about whether to get the 3 or the 5. Video is new to me so that was a non issue. The primary other difference are the bodies, being construction and shape.
The 3 is a poly something or other and the 5 is magnesium alloy. I went with the 3, cheaper in price, but seemed just as solid. It is a tiny bit bigger than the 5 and was a better fit for my average sized man hands.
BTW notice I picked up the half (or one third) leather case. Really nice.
douglasf13
Well-known
NEX-5 and Voigtlander lenses:
I have the Metabones, very impressed with the build quality.
I got the NEX5, although the 3 would be equally good for my purposes.
jja
Well-known
What lenses are you using on it? I'm considering the Nex 5, if only for the magnesium construction.
Bruin
Noktonian
Only the front plate of the NEX5 is magnesium alloy, not the back. Also note that the handgrip shape is different on the two - the 5 protrudes more and the 3 is wider and shallower. This made more of a difference to me than the size difference of the cameras.
nightfly
Well-known
Am I the only one who thinks it's silly to mount these (relatively) big heavy lenses on this tinee, tiny camera?
How are the out of camera colors on this compared to the Olympus EP1/2? The Olympus photos I've seen posted seem to have a nice, sorta film like look straight out of the camera.
How are the out of camera colors on this compared to the Olympus EP1/2? The Olympus photos I've seen posted seem to have a nice, sorta film like look straight out of the camera.
Yes?
M lenses aren't usually big/heavy, tho.
The Olympus does a great job but I prefer the larger sensor and higher ISO capability of the Sony. The colors are excellent.
kshapero
South Florida Man
M Mount lenses are not big heavy lenses and fit in the hand just right with the NEX. As I mentioned I am using the CV 35/1.4 SC and a Leica Elmarit 90/2.8. I did find the Nikon lenses somewhat top heavy but others may differ. And again for me the NEX 3 was a better fit, again others may differ.
douglasf13
Well-known
The better high ISO and 1.5x crop factor is why many of use chose NEX over m4/3 with these lenses. As for color out of camera, there are a multitude of jpeg settings, if that's an issue for you.