Steve Huff - GXR vs NEX-7

[Peter^]

now after reading all this I don't know what to do.....

If I go ahead and buy a NEX 7 as a digital backcap for my RF glass, will I be terribly disappointed?

 

[Hatch]

now after reading all this I don't know what to do.....

If I go ahead and buy a NEX 7 as a digital backcap for my RF glass, will I be terribly disappointed?

I'd try it out first.
From your sig i'd guess you like wide's.
So it might be an issue.

Me I use RF and SLR lenses both.
I'm hoping it's limited to RF wide's (if it's a real problem) and that I can use my wide SLR lenses instead.
But here's hoping it's something else.

I love the fact I can slip some RF lenses into a coat pocket without really noticing they're there.

Caused a bit of a panic on holidays when I thought I'd lost my elmarit 90. LOL

 

[bwcolor]

now after reading all this I don't know what to do.....

If I go ahead and buy a NEX 7 as a digital backcap for my RF glass, will I be terribly disappointed?

You are a lucky man. Unless you have already ordered the NEX-7, you don't need to worry, because you won't be able to obtain one for a long time. If you have ordered, it will fetch a good price on the used market.

 

[Bugleone]

That's the strength (and weakness) of the internet,.....everyone can have a voice and set themselves up as a reviewer, despite a complete lack of 'reviewing skills'.......

With stuff like photo equipement is vital to NOT listen to anyone without those essential skills.

 

[Peter^]

That's the strength (and weakness) of the internet,.....everyone can have a voice and set themselves up as a reviewer, despite a complete lack of 'reviewing skills'.......

With stuff like photo equipement is vital to NOT listen to anyone without those essential skills.

ooookay, has anyone found a review of the NEX 7 from someone with those skills?

 

[claacct]

You are a lucky man. Unless you have already ordered the NEX-7, you don't need to worry, because you won't be able to obtain one for a long time. If you have ordered, it will fetch a good price on the used market.

I'm not so sure about that, because a lot of potential Nex7 buyers have to sell their X100s first before they can buy a Nex 7 with a clear conscience.

 

[silverbullet]

When SONY releases. NEX-M adapter, then I will believe SONY intended the NEX to be a M lens platform.

The GXR seems the obvious choice for M lens owners. Maybe the tragic flood will give SONY some time to improve M lens compatibility via firmware image correction. Of course this is unlikely to solve edge smearing with short focal length M lenses.

I'm sure this will NEVER happen! Why?
Sony's goal is to sell as much E-lenses as possible. This is their target and not target VC, Contax or Leica lens users. We all know that those high pixel pitch cams have a heavy PP in-camera. (See Oly/Pana).
How should Sony ever get the spagat between own lens-corrections and parallel to this a correction with lenses which are not connected electrically. Those who like to have a rangefinder-look-alike cam as the NEX7 with RF glass should buy a X100 with the disadvantage of a fixed lens......

Don't waste money when your RF lenses are the main reasons for the NEX.

 

[Adanac]

I'm not so sure about that, because a lot of potential Nex7 buyers have to sell their X100s first before they can buy a Nex 7 with a clear conscience.

LOL!

I've already sold my X100 and my conscience is clear. My compact camera bag is also empty, which is one downside of being proactive.

 

[peterm1]

May I use this as an opportunity to ask a related question?

I have recently bought an NEX 5. While I like the system overall, I have not been impressed with the E lens' image quality.

The reviews I have read indicate that both main lenses are sharp(ish) in the centre but very weak in the outer part of the image. In fact I have found to date - only a week or so - that most images from either lenses are pretty unimpressive - period! In fact I cant see any I think jump out as good although some are adequate (if I lower my expectations). Lots of image softness and lack of detail (I am used to shooting Leica and Nikon so admittedly the bar is high, but even my Lumix LX3 is much sharper than the images I have seen from my Sony camera.

So I am trying a few things. Like using aperture priority so I can control the aperture and shoot at f5.6 and above. Also using a single centre AF point so I can control where the camera is focusing and also trying shooting RAW in the hope that (like the Leica) part of the issue is the JPG processing in camera. I also updated firmware to V4.

Supporting the idea that it may not be the lenses alone, I did read that Huff reported that the NEX 5N images are better with the same lenses on the NEX 5 (and one would hope the same applies to the NEX 7.)

Has anyone any experience with the 5N compared with the 5. I doubt very much of course that anyone has yet tried a & given that only a few have been made availabel to reviewers. Alternatively has anyone had better results with any of the above techniques?

I am buying an M-NEX adapter and will try Leica glass on this body but of course I still will need the autofocus E lenses from time to time.

 

[uhoh7]

Peterm1: well I've seen sharp samples from the kit zoom, not like a summicron but pretty decent. Forget the reviews, they are worse than meaningless. There are copy differences. The 5n is a much better camera than the 5, which I've had for year. You should post up some samples and start a "kit zoom " thread here. Compare it with your LTM or M glass on the nex. The 16 is OK except corners. Both better on 5n.

I pre-ordered a 7 only 2 weeks ago or less.

I have skopars, 21, 28 and 35 which all shift colors and smear a touch on the original 5. The 15 is a problem lens as many have noted--the M9 still shifts colors with it a bit I think.

The 5n is shooting so well and I'm late anyway, so i think, maybe i will change. I call and get phillipines. OMG, what will this girl know. "I need to talk with someone in the states", I say.
Oh, no no, she says, I can help you. I give her the order number. "it will ship on 11/11" she declares.
"Oh come on," I say, "there are floods and the manufacturing is delayed. There will be only a few cameras."
"Don't worry", she says, "you are on priority list. It will ship."
Not much I can say after that except thanks. I can't believe I will get one--meaning I don't think it'll happen.

I'd not think twice and just wait, but I also bought the 2yr "accident" thingy for an extra 149 I think--since I drag them into the backcountry. So I'd loose that in resale.

I suppose by the time they sadly inform me its not coming "for long time", the 5n will be out of stock 🙁 Oh well.

 

[Adanac]

According to Rob Skoech who posted his insight from a Sony Canada meeting on DPReview, yesterday IIRC, Sony doesn't yet know how the allocations will be decided.

No doubt your instincts are correct - the lady in the Philippines sounds like the person I talked to awhile back, country unknown, who was certain my pre-order would be filled too.

If it is a script they are reading from I hope there is some basis in fact... at least for the Sony Style orders. They ought to know at the press of a few keys how many pre-orders they have on file in North America and should know by now how many cameras are available in total.

My guess is that the debate over allocation probably has more to do with the retail channel than direct sales. I'd like to think that Sony values customers who want a direct relationship with the company just a little more. Ok, that's just the lie I am telling myself to feel hopeful I'll get one of the few that are available.

Then again, I wouldn't build a factory in a region prone to flooding so my thinking probably isn't aligned with Sony's! (Or Nikon or Honda or ...)

 

[Adanac]

I suppose by the time they sadly inform me its not coming "for long time", the 5n will be out of stock 🙁 Oh well.

I've had that same thought. If the 5N becomes unobtainium, I might buy a GXR and M mount module... I don't want to be compact cameraless much longer.

 

[whitecat]

I had an NEX 5 in my hands. It weighs about 0 0z's. cheap plastic.

 

[Bugleone]

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sony_nex_7_first_impressions.shtml

This is one of the best review sites on the web (although not everyone gets to be pleased here) with a history and reputation for concise and careful revie methods. This NEX7 review is of a pre-prod specimen and since 'LL' has placed reviews of all the NEX models so far we can be sure that a detailed NEX7 review of a production camera will follow.

 

[Adanac]

Re the 5N, I am aware that it's construction isn't likely to appeal to me and I'm hoping not to have to go there. At the same time the GXR body is probably due for a refresh and it isn't supported in Canada at all so buying into it has caveats even if it is built like a tank. Decisions decisions.

Re Michael Reichmann's Luminous Landscape, I hope he puts some of his other Leica M mount glass on a NEX-7, soon, in addition to re-running that flawed comparison he did between the Zeiss E 24/1.8 and the Leica Summilux 24mm. Probably by the time LL puts out a review the camera will have been in the hands of end users... there'll be plenty to talk about then.

 

[peterm1]

I had an NEX 5 in my hands. It weighs about 0 0z's. cheap plastic.

I thought it odd that you should think that. I am a lover of heavy , strongly built cameras - being a long time user of Nikon and Leica both of whom build substantial bodies and lenses. My immediate impression on picking up an NEX 5 was to be pleased with how sturdy it felt in my hand.

 

[uhoh7]

I thought it odd that you should think that. I am a lover of heavy , strongly built cameras - being a long time user of Nikon and Leica both of whom build substantial bodies and lenses. My immediate impression on picking up an NEX 5 was to be pleased with how sturdy it felt in my hand.

+1

The difference between magnesium and plastic should be obvious even to the skeptical.

The build of the nex 5 has been widely praised from the begining. The 3, that's another story.

I'm not saying the 5 is weatherproof or super tough. But I have done some testing..

😉

 

[Adanac]

I guess I should hold off judgement until I hold one in my hands then, if I need to go there. Am still going to take delivery of the NEX-7 and see how it fares the M testing.

Now that I think about it, I've killed one Nikon SLR and one Contax SLR over the years, both while backpacking or mountaineering, but haven't killed any "cheaply" built digital cams ... yet.

 

[uhoh7]

Check out comments on Huffs review. I got him going now. 🙂 It's about halfway down where he finnaly replies.

I need some backup!!

 

[rxmd]

Check out comments on Huffs review. I got him going now. 🙂 It's about halfway down where he finnaly replies.

I need some backup!!

Well he doesn't really say anything. He says that if you want solid tests, wait for someone else to do them, which is an admission of sorts, but honest; and that people using Leica lenses on NEX are a minority, which is true. Other than that, he apparently doesn't have much to say and "backup" isn't going to change that.