Sony NEX5 First Impressions

[angeloks]

Well, I've been playing with my NEX5 for a few weeks now. I got it with the 16mm lens. In addition, I have the 21mm Kobalux, 50mm Millenium Nikkor and the 12mm Heliar. I ordered LTM adapters from "Bokkeh.com". It is a great little kit!

As I posted earlier, I loved my EP1. I actually got pretty good results using Leica glass and the kit lens. Making a quick comparaison between the Oly and the NEX, the DR and high ISO are better on the latter. I like the high resolution LCD. It is also great for waist level shooting. The 1.5x crop factor is still nicer than 2.0x (not quite an M8). It is also a tad smaller than the EP1, lighter... On the other hand, I miss the IS with legacy glass, the build quality was better on the EP1. The new NEX firmware fixed the interface issues.

Overall, the NEX is a relatively cheap digital alternative to the M8/M9. Obviously, I miss the optical finder, I keep putting the camera right in from of my eyes... The lack of shoe on the NEX is a bit disapointing... As some said before, using it with wide angles indeed causes color shift in the corners (see picture 7), but the corners are staying sharp unlike with the Oly. As a side note, I'm lazy and I shoot in JPEG. I know that the Oly JPEGs are pretty nice. I must say that I don't see much difference with the NEX. Maybe, the colors are not as punchy, but nothing PS cannot fix...


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ADDED :

With the NEX, I don't mind shooting up to 1600 ISO (where I used to limit myself at 800 on the EP1). The results are pretty neat. Here are 2 samples, 1600 and 800 ISO (I put the links to the original files).

Also, shooting at 3200 ISO is very acceptable when compared to the Oly, but obviously you notice a significant drop in IQ (I don't have any samples at hand, I'll get some online later). Above 6400 ISO, it can be OK for some party shots or for a grainy B&W effect, but nothing else really. It's no D3s...


1600 ISO, f3.2, 1/50s

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1412/5116305063_e86bc73257_o.jpg


800 ISO, f4.5, 1/160s

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1086/5100118011_1838ee3c74_o.jpg

 

[ebino]

edit: thanks.

 

[angeloks]

edit: thanks.

Sorry, my bad !

 

[ebino]

Sorry, my bad !

no problem.

can you talk about ISO performance. Do you have any shots from 1600 ISO and higher.

 

[angeloks]

no problem.

can you talk about ISO performance. Do you have any shots from 1600 ISO and higher.

Added to top post...

 

[ebino]

thanks julien, those are great shots btw.

at 1600iso that image is 'really' clean. very impressive. thanks once again.

 

[vidgamer]

Sometimes anti-motion blur can reduce the noise with some of the advantages of high iso. (Although, when there is a lot of movement, the normal high iso approach is better.). High iso seems really good, although the jpegs seem to get a lot of nr. Unless I'm doing something special, I generally go with auto iso, which tops out at 1600. Unlike my previous cam, the colors don't get dark and washed out like with my previous camera.

 

[Xherion]

Thanks for the impressions angeloks, i have basically the same findings as you.

Used 15mm heliar on NEX5, color shifting on edges is there, but definitely no corner smearing.
DR and high ISO is really good, one of the best APS-C sensor to handle high ISO currently, i shoot at 1600 ISO regularly with good result.

Only thing i missed from my DSLR is the optical vf and phase detect autofocus, but of course with legacy glasses, the latter is a moot point.

Anti motion-blur, handheld twilight mode, sweep panorama, auto HDR, those are 4 highly usable features of NEX5 that were not mentioned often.
Only wished Sony released a full-frame NEX7.

These are shot using ISO1600 IIRC:


Dempsey Hill Sep'10 - 21 by xherion, on Flickr


Dempsey Hill Sep'10 - 12 by xherion, on Flickr


Dempsey Hill Sep'10 - 14 by xherion, on Flickr

 

[Tad Wolf]

Anti motion-blur, handheld twilight mode, sweep panorama, auto HDR, those are 4 highly usable features of NEX5 that were not mentioned often.

can you use these features with Leica lenses

 

[j_newy]

Only wished Sony released a full-frame NEX7.

I'm waiting for this too. It seems like sony is onto a real winner with the Nex5 as is! I would love one for some old lenses, however I might wait for the Nex6/7 to come out then the Nex5 will be cheap as 😀 I mean better value... hahaha

Also GREAT photos Angeloks!!!!! 😀

 

[Nokton48]

Overall, the NEX is a relatively cheap digital alternative to the M8/M9. Obviously, I miss the optical finder, I keep putting the camera right in from of my eyes... The lack of shoe on the NEX is a bit disapointing...

If you have a Nex-5, Here is a not too expensive cold shoe. I've heard it dosen't fit the Nex-3 (DRAT!). Hoping my Nex-3 body arrives in the post today!

http://www.adorama.com/JTN5CSBK.html