NEX-5N Not For Me

B

bwcolor

Veteran
Local time
2:07 AM
Joined
Jul 26, 2009
Messages
2,346
Location
S.F. Bay Area
View My Gallery
I've limited experience with the camera over the last few days, but was not impressed with the 5N.

First, the sun, the rear LCD and my eyes did not play well together. I know that I could purchase the EVF, but then I'm approaching the cost of an NEX-7.

Next, I was impressed with the touch screen and Sony did a good job of making controls available on such a small camera, but once again, I'm thinking of the NEX-7 and the greater direct control.. tri-nav.. or whatever they call it.

I was hoping to use the NEX-5N for video, but wasn't able to produce smooth fluid motion. I played with the shutter speed..etc., but it just wasn't going to happen. The answer is yes, my camera did have the motion click during video. Does the Sony fix stop working the day after the warranty runs out?

The 18-55mm kit lens worked fine if you set it at f/8.0 and mid-zoom range. Auto-focus was faster than my X100 and the focusing is a rather quiet affair. The shutter sound of the camera was loud compared to the X100, but not objectionable.

I tried the camera with just a couple of 'M' lenses. Results looked good on this front. The Leica 90mm APO ASPH really felt well balanced in my somewhat large hands and the images were really sharp and contrasty. The Zeiss 21mm compact looks like it has promise.

I love the X100 skin tones, but the NEX-7 seemed a bit plastic.. these are RAW > DNG > Aperture. I can't imagine that this is a fair statement. I'm sure that more time with the camera would solve this issue. I just tossed the images into Color Effex Pro 4 to tone things down a bit. The end result was more to my liking, but didn't do any of this with the X100 (Sony previous generation sensor).

High ISO was really great. This makes the use of Auto-ISO useful. I was setting the camera to shutter priority, setting the 'M' lenses to the desired aperture, camera body to shutter speed and the camera would choose ISO. Exposure compensation and Exposure lock can be programmed to be just a button away when using legacy lenses.

Another bright point was color contrast peaking. I really liked this feature and equally hated using it on the rear LCD. EVF is a must when using peaking when the sun is out and about.

I used two adapters.. The Fotdiox Pro 'M' Leica adapter works great with perfect infinity. Their Contax/Yashica adapter was horrible. The lens would rotate in the mount +- 5 degrees.

Once I decided to ship it back, I just packed it up. I didn't want to scratch anything.

The NEX-7 is still on order, but in the back off my mind is the vapor-ware from Fuji, Leica and the Sony NEX-9. I guess that I'm relatively happy with what I have... might just wait to see how the future develops. The digital future really looks bright. I just might limit my film to slide and b&w.
 
Last edited:
soo.....you wanted an EVF, but too expensive.

and....you are worried the video fix will not last.

therefore the 5n is not for you?

First, I think having to send the camera in for the vid click issue IS reason enough to return it instead.

However that's a teething issue.

You did not have the camera long enough for a serious assesment, but obviously you did spend considerable time with it.

I also am waiting for the 7 and glad I don't have to deal with the clicking.

Love to have a 5n though 🙂
 
Not quite..

Perhaps, I failed to mention that I'm helping my seven year old with her photographic interest and what first attracted me to the 5N was the smaller size with regards to her hands. I thought that this camera might eventually be a good camera to help her transition from point and shoot. She has been using a small DSLR, which is huge in comparison to her hands. Given Amazon's great return policy and the glowing review on DPreview, I thought that I would give the camera a try.

What is too expensive is spending money on a camera that doesn't deliver features that I require and it doesn't take much time to figure this out. This is the same reason that I didn't buy the M9, except that I wasn't expecting the M9 to shoot video.

I thought that I could handle using just the external LCD screen, but contrast peaking/magnification was impossible to use when in the sun and I need to be able to manually focus. I sometimes shoot with an external viewfinder with my 21mm on a 35mm rangefinder. I'm not thrilled with having to attach a viewfinder.. so I purchased an R4A with an internal 21mm viewfinder. Given that with EVF, the NEX-7 is minimally more expensive and has more direct external control/internal EVF makes this a better value for me. I also use external fill flash a good bit and NEX-5 with EVF won't allow for this.

I expected to be able to shoot soccer video at my kids games, so smooth motion was a must. That didn't happen and might also be a reason to return the NEX-7. So, the click was not a prime reason for returning the camera. If I liked everything else, I would have sent the camera in for the fix.

I wasn't trying to do a serious assessment, where I could do a general evaluation which might suit others. I thought that DPreview did a pretty good job. I just wanted to determine, early on, if this camera did what I needed to do, or if I needed to return it and try the NEX-7....et.al. I thought that some of what I had to say might be of use to someone contemplating purchasing the 5N. For many, especially those content with using the E-Mount lenses, this might be a smart buy.
 
Last edited:
I hear you, and hope you like n7 better.

If you want really good video with any nex, especially when distances are soccer field size, I'd say you will need the 18200 or the new 55200, otherwise you won't be so happy.

But you have seen the range of the kit zoom so you know that.

I do let my 11 yr old shoot my manual glass with my nex often, and she likes it.

The one thing I would fault you for--and correct me if I'm wrong--is not having a shade, like most all of us own and use in bright sun.

This is not a total fix, for sure, but much better than without.

all this said, the camera you sent back is at the technical tip of the spear in terms of IQ, form factor, and versatility.

The 5n EVF does have one big advantage: you can tilt it.
 
I pre ordered the 7 but went and bought the 5N.
Each to their own but here are some of my impressions.
1. Hated the dreaded go outdoors adjust LCD hassle. Here is how I have tweaked it: I shoot in B/W RAW (so I can change it later if needed) with low yellow focus peaking and the LCD left on Sunny Weather all the time (it washes out in color when indoors, but seems to hold quite well in B/W).
2. Image IQ is awesome even to 6400 ISO.
3. Love the build, solid as a rock.
4. Shutter is so much quieter than the older versions.
More to come.
 
I love my 5n and also pre ordered the 7. It took some getting use to for me to use the 5 but the firmware upgrade and focus peaking really helped. I like them much better than the Pen.
 
Yes, a shade for video is in order, but don't want the bulk for photography and yes, I want a different lens for video.

I've somewhere between twenty and twenty-five cameras and my wife now monitors my purchases, so I need to purchase fewer cameras..I don't think that I could get away with the 5N and the 7.. or the 7 and the 9...without selling the 7. My kids do the monitoring and wife the enforcing.
 
Last edited:
bwcolor said:
Yes, a shade for video is in order, but don't want the bulk for photography and yes, I want a different lens for video.

I've somewhere between twenty and twenty-five cameras and my wife now monitors my purchases, so I need to purchase fewer cameras..I don't think that I could get away with the 5N and the 7.. or the 7 and the 9...without selling the 7. My kids do the monitoring and wife the enforcing.
Click to expand...

somewhere between twenty and twenty-five cameras?

considering the scrutiny, i'd negociate: clean the closet a bit in return for an m9 and n7 🙂
 
Bwcolor

If the primary user of this camera is going to be your daughter, then what about any m43 dslr or m43 w/evf?

Examples

Gf1 w/ evf Or epl series
G1 or gh1 dslrs but get the 14-55 not the default giant zoom that gh1 normally comes with.

The m43 system is really small. The Sony Nex series was trying to target that form factor in their bodies.

A m43 body with either the Pano 20 f 1.7 or 14-55 kit lens is quite small and light.

Gary
 
I don't want an M9. When I decided against purchasing the M9, I went on a buying streak and purchased two or three M9s worth of lenses..cameras.. I had high hopes, but it wasn't for me. Now, the M10, or their new mid-range system might be in order. September of 2012 should be interesting.

No, my daughter isn't yet the primary user. I will let her use her Panasonic P&S and borrow my cameras until I see that she is serious about photography.

and yes.. selling equipment will be a must.. but my film cameras, during this period of bad monetary policy and global unrest, are just about the only things that I own that are appreciating.
 
bwcolor said:
Yes, a shade for video is in order, but don't want the bulk for photography and yes, I want a different lens for video.

I've somewhere between twenty and twenty-five cameras and my wife now monitors my purchases, so I need to purchase fewer cameras..I don't think that I could get away with the 5N and the 7.. or the 7 and the 9...without selling the 7. My kids do the monitoring and wife the enforcing.
Click to expand...

Does that mean they don't check on the number of new lenses 🙂 😀


Gary
 
Last edited:
Btw I had the same experience with fotodiox as bwcolor. Their Leica m pro to Nex adapter was spot on for inf focus, their ltm to Nex was god awful. About 1/5th inch before the inf mark on the lens. Fotodiox also sells a non m pro version as well for the same price as the ltm to Nex.

Leads me to believe u are paying more for quality control versus the cheaper stuff they make.

Gary
 
Now that 7 is no an option for quite a while (or ever as technology not wait and it would be obsolete by the time factory was re-built/re-located), what is the option?
 
First, we don't really know how many cameras were produced before flooding.

Secondly, we don't know how extensive the actual damage to equipment was, nor how long it will take to move equipment and get up and running.

So, come the third week of November, a few folks might actually receive their cameras.

If we are talking a long delay, which seems unlikely, then we benefit from having more information regarding the features of the new Fuji 'X' camera. I've more faith in Fujifilm with regards to producing a great camera than Sony, so all is not lost.
 
I am shooting with a new NEX 5N also. So far I like the IQ and really like the implementation of the MF peaking assist. I use a Hoodman shade in the bright sun and for video (I much prefer an external LCD to any kind of OVF or EVF when it comes to shooting video). It's a $15 solution, but obviously isn't for everyone.
 

Attachments

  • NEX5N with Hood 009.jpg
    NEX5N with Hood 009.jpg
    62.2 KB · Views: 0
I love my NEX-5N. I use the external VF from Sony and have turned the LCD off completely. I use it primarily with my CV lenses, as well as old Nikon, Canon FD and Contax G lenses. The results are excellent. I decided early on that the 7 would be total overkill in MPs and I was concerned about high ISO performance, which is very good with the 5n.
 
Got the 5n yesterday and it seems quite good. There is a bug though (and don't try it). If you put the bottom right softkey to focus area, it would stick to that. (Plug my old Leica 35F3.5, it does change to mag to 4.8/9.x but cannot change back to other options, even if change the setting and it say so.)
 
bwcolor said:
First, we don't really know how many cameras were produced before flooding.

Secondly, we don't know how extensive the actual damage to equipment was, nor how long it will take to move equipment and get up and running.
Click to expand...

Apparently the factory was producing two hundred thousand Alpha and NEX cameras a month at peak; no word on exactly what they were producing before the floods and what may have been shipped out. A statement made by Sony USA seems to indicate that there will be some product shipped but to which countries and pre-order customers only the gods or some computer algorithm on Sony Style knows.

As for damage, it looks very, very, bad:

Flooding at the Sony plant has definitely become worse than was known several days ago:

Bangkok Post : Damage to Bangkadi park put at B30bn

322073.jpg


With 3 meters or more of water infiltrating the plant it seems likely that the lions share of equipment and raw materials and any completed stock are likely toast at this point.

The Thai people are being hit with a double whammy - initial impact and the potential for significant adverse economic impact over the longer term. What sort of negotiations are being held at present to keep these companies there, and can anything reasonably be done to protect workers and plant from this sort of inundation?
 
Just got my Sony NEX 5n today. Using it with my Voigtlander M glass. It works great, except there are a couple of adjustments I had to make:
1. turned OFF the touch screen. Way to easy to hit something when trying to shoot as the camera is so small.
2. Have to learn NOT to try to operate the selection wheel with my thumb while still grasping the camera. Camera is too small to do this, but you will be tempted to try. After 30minutes, you will feel it in your thumb joint.. not good. To adjust things, cradle camera in your other hand first, then push buttons, turn wheels, etc.. as needed with your other (now free) hand.

Joe
 
I'm blown away by mine. with a cv 28/3.5 its tiny, and the quality of the output,especially at over 320 iso, kills my m8.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom