The very poor man's M8

[kshapero]

Had a great time last night at an engagement party with my NEX 3 and CV 35/1.4. A beautiful pair. Intrigued by the upcoming Zeiss E-Mount 24/1.7.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Is that what makes it a very poor man's M8?

 

[kshapero]

Digital and an M mount lens. Voila!!

 

[richardhkirkando]

Poor man's M-mount digital TLR!

 

[jsrockit]

Why not just call it a NEX with CV lens?

 

[pvdhaar]

Why not just call it a NEX with CV lens?

Great pun, but also a fair question all by itself..

And for a serious answer, we may have to go back to just before the RD-1 was introduced. There was a lot of talk here on RFF on whether a digital M platform was possible at all. Loads of people wanted one, and Leica maintained that it was fundementally impossible. Epson showed that it was, but when the RD-1 got introduced, there was a bit of sticker shock. Though some could afford it, most could only continue to hope for an affordable digital M. After that, the M8 came in at even double the RD-1 price. Imagine what that did for morale.. Even a rumour about a Zenit digital was jumped on 'en masse'. Ever seen shark feeding frenzy? Well, it was like that. People really want to shoot their M glass on a digital without having to rob a bank. For a lot of folk, the NEX is precisely that, an affordable digital M-platform for the finest RF lenses that you already have. And not primarily a digital that by some coincidence you can add CV lenses on.

 

[Ronald_H]

For a lot of folk, the NEX is precisely that, an affordable digital M-platform for the finest RF lenses that you already have. And not primarily a digital that by some coincidence you can add CV lenses on.

Yes... but basically it can mount ANYTHING. All of my Nikkors work, even those without an aperture ring (!) and pre-Ai ones too (!).

And it can mount my Summicron DR (try that on a M9) and it will work in the close up range... accurately (!!!).

 

[douglasf13]

Yep, my Perar 35/3.5, Nokton 35/1.4, Contax G 35, ZM C-Biogon 35, Skopar 50/2.5, Nokton 50/1.5, SMC Tak 50/1.4, Contax G 90 and Zeiss Jena 135/3.5 all have an excellent home on the NEX-5. I love this little camera!

 

[Joeys61]

Once the word gets out that this is a valid alternative, image quality wise, demand will pick up for the product. Sales price of M9 or whatever digital Leica may come up with will probably be revisited to remain competitive. Long live competition!

 

[rdeleskie]

I don't think Leica will be revisiting their digital prices based on the NEX. The NEX isn't a rangefinder - doesn't even have a viewfinder or full manual controls - and it isn't full-frame. Besides, Leica isn't about competitiveness, but prestige (and excellence and all that, but you get the point).

That said, I'm glad there is an alternative platform for mounting M lenses, etc. I imagine it will only get better as Sony refines this product through subsequent revisions.

 

[douglasf13]

FWIW, the NEX does have full manual controls, and using it with a lens with an aperture ring is very ergonomic. My Nexviewer is a great viewfinder replacement, and, when the focus peaking comes out, I'd venture to say that it will be as fast as a rangefinder to focus.

 

[paulcamcas]

What is "focus peaking"?

Sounds intriguing. I bought a Nex to use with legacy lenses but didn't like it much so swapped it for an E-P1 which I like very much. Tried lots of lenses with it including the collapsible Sumicron and Elmar that I've used with my M3 for many years - great results. I'm waiting for a 40mm Summicron-C to arrive - should be here tomorrow. I can't wait.

I'm sure my E-P1 doesn't have "focus peaking". It does have plenty of "focus guessing".

 

[douglasf13]

Focus peaking outlines what ever is in focus with a colored line. It is popular in video cameras, and there have been some leaked firmware documents lately showing that it is coming to NEX. It should make the manual focusing on NEX much faster, especially compared to using magnification zoom.

 

[DougFord]

yeah, I think I'm jumping on this bandwagon as well. I have the Zeiss 35mm c-biogon which becomes my >50mm and the e-mount Zeiss 24mm will be my e-35mm lens.
Waiting for the nex-C3. 😛

 

[douglasf13]

Doug, the C-Biogon 35 is just about a perfect lens on the NEX-5, and it has become my main normal lens.

 

[Damaso]

Might we see some of these images?

 

[sper]

I really like the NEX and it is absolutely a poor man's M8. But even with the kit lenses it's fast to use, and great for street. The autofocus is as good as my Pentax K-5, except in low light in which case it is no good at all.