Steve Huff - GXR vs NEX-7

[Matus]

Just a heads up on a short, but to my opinion interesting comparison on how these two cameras handle wide angle lenses - it seems that Ricoh wins in this department thanks to its dedicated sensor.

NEX-7 -vs- GXR

 

[kanzlr]

I wonder how the NEX-5N stacks up, at I read that it does that MUCH better than the older 5. So I wonder why the 7 doesn't. On the other hand, the 5N has a completely different sensor than the 7.

still, such a micro lens array like the 5N is said to have would benefit all NEX, as sony could design non tele centric lenses easier that way.

 

[kbg32]

Interesting to see. Especially the color differences between the two systems as well.

 

[Matus]

Some NEX-5N and GXR comparison shots can be seen HERE - using Heliar 12/5.6 and VC 28/3.5

 

[bwcolor]

Happy to see that I should keep my Fujifilm X100 for the wider side of things.

Two things come to mind. First, Sony will be coming out with two pancake lenses in 2012. One can only hope that the quality is better than what they now have. Secondly, January to February will give us the specs on the new Fujifilm 'X' camera. You can bet that Fuji will market a camera with quality lenses when compared to Sony's E-Mount offering.

I would not consider the GXR until it has either an optical viewfinder, or top notch EVF.

 

[EthanFrank]

To me, this entire test in invalid. He says up front that he forgot his good M-TO-NEX adapter at home, so he had to use a cheap wobbly one that gave him out-of-focus shots. Not a fair comparison to a mount designed for M lenses, then.

 

[cosmonaut]

I have noticed with my Nex 5n the WB is slightly off. I adjust this easily in Lightroom. I think that is what Steve is seeing not that the Sony has less IQ. Also all digital images needs sharpening, some more than others. When shooting Raw the camera isn't going to sharpen the image, so to say one camera is sharper than the other is pointless to me.

 

[Bugleone]

Is there any real point to this sort of 'test'?

Also Huff seems to be lightweight (if keen) reviewer,......there are different exposure levels in some of the pairs, such as the restaurant where the NEX 7 looks to be a couple of stops underexposed compared to the GXR......Surely a reviewer of any real calibre would have seen and adjusted for this(?)

 

[silverbullet]

Even the M9 which needs no adapters delivers the nasty color shift at the edges with wide angle lenses from 24mm down to 15.
This is well known for more than 1 year, but nothing happens. So a bad adapter is only a cheap excuse, sorry. Why people don't get it that for the delicate register of M lenses only a special design can solve this?
The M9 is more sensitive due to the full frame sensor with farer edge to backlens distance. It's only a bit physics, not magic.....

 

[Matus]

Also Huff seems to be lightweight (if keen) reviewer,......there are different exposure levels in some of the pairs, such as the restaurant where the NEX 7 looks to be a couple of stops underexposed compared to the GXR......Surely a reviewer of any real calibre would have seen and adjusted for this(?)

Not that I would have any reason to defend Steve or his approach, but he states often that he exposes as the camera measures. He is trying to show what actually comes out in real life. Sure - if you find the photo underexposed, you can take a second one (if you notice on location) and you may adjust in PP. But I thing the point was to show how these two cameras handles the scene and what kind out output they produce and to say which is better.

For the difference in sharpness - do not forget that GXR M-mount has no AA filter. It must produce sharper (per pixel) image. And - as live view peaking was used to focus, I would not expect any focus shift or something with the NEX (because of the adapter, or am I wrong here?). Would you consider NEX-7 output unsharp if you did not see the GXR image before?

 

[GaryLH]

I maybe misunderstanding something here... But he appears to have done a retest... Between the Nex 7 versus the 5n with the 15mm using the better nova flex adapter and the 5n still did better. Cut and paste from one of Steve's comments below.


Steve Huff says:
October 28, 2011 at 9:48 am
Just tested both using the NOVOFLEX adapter. The 5n and 7 – The 7 had shift, the 5n did not. Disappointing!

 

[Matus]

Garry - thanks for pointing this out - I would have never looked in the discussion again. This also supports the results (crops) that were posted over at DPreview (I linked them above) - the 5N did not show any obvious color casts.

 

[bwcolor]

Even the wide Biogons looked OK on my short lived 5N. So, are we just talking color cast and vignetting in the corners, or is there a sharpness issue with the NEX-7 and quality wide lenses? I guess that time will tell.

 

[segedi]

It must be nice for Sony to have all of these beta testers so they can figure out what to do with the first firmware patch : )

 

[stompyq]

Had a chance to try out the GXR, 5N and NEX-7 yesterday at PDN expo. My god how can anyone compare these?? The NEX-7 was much much better than the other two. And frankly how can anyone even call the 5N a serious camera? Felt more like a toy to me. The GXR felt much more fiddly, slow and difficult to use than the NEX-7. I was personally very impressed with the NEX-7 and almost wonder if I should get it in place of my X100.

 

[Hatch]

Hmmm, must be my failing eyesight, but I like the NEX colours better.

Except for the fringing 🙁 or was it 😱

The 7 sensor was probably too far along to implement all the changes made to the 5 N.

We'll probably see an updated NEX 7 within the not too distant future.
Maybe they'll use the need to relocate production as an opportunity to release an improved NEX 7.

 

[paulcurtis]

I would add that what i found most unusual was the colour cast of the CV15. I have a Nex 5 and a CV12 and have not experienced anywhere near that level of cast. That one thing now worries me as i was going to grab me a NEX7 next, whether it has the offset lenses that the 5N offers.

cheers
paul

 

[Adanac]

It must be nice for Sony to have all of these beta testers so they can figure out what to do with the first firmware patch : )

They might be able to deal with vignetting and colour cast (a "corner fix" menu option would be nice!) but if sharpness and detail suffers in the corner, there is no software fix for that.

Good on Steve for posting a follow up.

NEX-5N - good sensor and implementation, imperfect control capabilities and lighter weight body; missing built in EVF

Ricoh GXR - missing EVF but handles M glass with aplomb. Maybe a let down in higher ISO shooting. Good image quality < 3200 ISO.

NEX-7 - gets all the body and EVF stuff very right and focus assist seems to be the best out there for manual glass but seems like it may not be usable with rangefinder glass despite Sony getting it right in that department with the 5N.

Leica M9 - gets somethings very right, price very wrong, at least for me.

A disappointing state of affairs for M glass owners unwilling to pay up for a M9 who are looking for a decent body that will have some real life span in it.

If Ricoh came up with some updates, better EVF ideally integral to a new body, I'd be a buyer of the body and a M Mount. And if they brought out a full frame M module, I'd buy that too.

If Sony brings out a fix for the 7 with respect to M glass, I'd be a buyer of a 7N but at this point am very close to cancelling my 7 pre-order.

Use the 5N for the interim? Or sit on hands and spend no new funds until the coast is clear.

Still missing my X100.

 

[segedi]

If Sony brings out a fix for the 7 with respect to M glass, I'd be a buyer of a 7N but at this point am very close to cancelling my 7 pre-order.

I'm close, but will keep unless the delay becomes too much. In teh meantime, I've just made a trade for GXR, A12 M and VF-2. Huff's review left me even more impressed with the GXR than the NEX-7.

 

[eleskin]

M8 NEX 5n combo?

M8 NEX 5n combo?

With all my doubts enhanced by the lackluster review of M glass on the NEX 7 I am coming down to the conclusion that a superior solution is to continue using my M8 in most lighting situations and when I need high ISO in dim conditions, I will use a NEX 5n. This would work well in that the 5n body is small and can fit in my M8 kit bag without taking up room. I do not even think I would need the evf option in that In dim light the LCD should be good enough.