Review of Sony Alpha NEX-5

[BananaDiver]

the panoramic shot function - does it have max shutter speed?

i mean, based on the sony ads i've seen on the NEX cameras, it seems to be taken at high speed.

Erm... Not really sure about the max shutter speed but you are right... The shots were all shot at high shutter speed in the shop at OP, so should be at quite a high ISO... The nice guy just demo it and I'm impress with how it auto stitches the sequential shots... Processing speed is pretty fast... It's a fun camera

 

[eow]

In the panaromic mode, the aperture and not shutter will not be fixed.
The camera will choose different combination of iso, shutter speed and aperture accordingly to the scene.
at night, the camera will automatically increase to higher iso to increase the shutter speed to at least 1/60 for hand held shot

 

[BananaDiver]

In the panaromic mode, the aperture and not shutter will not be fixed.
The camera will choose different combination of iso, shutter speed and aperture accordingly to the scene.
at night, the camera will automatically increase to higher iso to increase the shutter speed to at least 1/60 for hand held shot

oh i see... that means in panaromic mode... the shutter/aperture/ISO is in auto mode?

 

[Rurouni]

Just to confirm for those who have tried the NEX5:

i. No dedicated AE function in the soft menu? Exposure lock only on half press of shutter?
ii. For video, understand that with E-mount lens everything is set automatically, but if using A-mount lens, is aperture fixed at maximum opening when mounted?
iii. Will old manual lenses made for A mount work? (like the shoot w/o lens function on the m43 cameras)
iv. Do brands like Sigma with A-mount work with the adapter?

Thanks!

 

[airconvent]

I got to hold it for a while evening at OP.. Think the guy should be also from CS?
Really nice and small camera... Though small, the grip is easy to hold... And one thing I like is the tilting screen and panaromic shot function... The innovative "smile" function that triggers the shutter makes this a fun camera

I will like to thank the guy for showing and explaining the specs and functions to me... finally see something I like from Sony...

You mean its already available at OP? :bigeyes: I don't think he is in CS. He probably checks out the Chinese websites instead. I will pop by SLS later to check it out at OP. Need the camera by first week of Jun. I thought it would be available at PC Show but seems the official availability is later part of June? I wonder how OP managed to get their sets so early. Thanks for the tinker.

 

[tarandip]

Seems like there are lots of loan sets in singapore, spotted at cathay , now op ,clubsnap and alphadslr forums also has them. I would love to see some samples with the adaptor and cz 24-70 fitted.

 

[boombox]

You mean its already available at OP? :bigeyes: I don't think he is in CS. He probably checks out the Chinese websites instead. I will pop by SLS later to check it out at OP. Need the camera by first week of Jun. I thought it would be available at PC Show but seems the official availability is later part of June? I wonder how OP managed to get their sets so early. Thanks for the tinker.

Called them... they dun carry it... it was a passerby who had it...

 

[BananaDiver]

You mean its already available at OP? :bigeyes: I don't think he is in CS. He probably checks out the Chinese websites instead. I will pop by SLS later to check it out at OP. Need the camera by first week of Jun. I thought it would be available at PC Show but seems the official availability is later part of June? I wonder how OP managed to get their sets so early. Thanks for the tinker.

Nope... OP does't have a set... It's a friendly gentleman that has it... he's just a passerby...

 

[davel]

In the panaromic mode, the aperture and not shutter will not be fixed.
The camera will choose different combination of iso, shutter speed and aperture accordingly to the scene.
at night, the camera will automatically increase to higher iso to increase the shutter speed to at least 1/60 for hand held shot

since sweep panorama is shot in 7fps, does this mean that "Speed Priority" -can- vary the exposure for every frame? and sony just didnt want to implement it?

 

[eow]

since sweep panorama is shot in 7fps, does this mean that "Speed Priority" -can- vary the exposure for every frame? and sony just didnt want to implement it?

where u get the idea it 7fps for pano mode?
speed priority is the same as A550.... only the first shot count

 

[ed9119]

it is FAST but i dont think it was 7fps .... 4-5 fps from rough estimate

anyway pano images uploaded on Page 2 Post 34

IF moving persons/things/vehicles are caught when doing pano, the stitching will show 'slices' of the moving object

 

[ed9119]

Brought the camera out to Little India and Thieve's market today

32

at near maximum ZOOM the image remained crisp and clean
33

WITHOUT fill in flash
34

WITH fill in flash
35

 

[ed9119]

This camera is a street photographer's delight......... no noticeable shutter lag and focuses + meters in a snap..... these 3 images below were spontaneous "see and GRAB" quickies

36

37

38

 

[ed9119]

The flip out LCD was bright and clear out in the afternoon without any difficulty in seeing

Feedback: LCD was fairly easy to pull out and felt safe and sturdy despite its (LCD) very slim profile

It allowed discreet waist or low level composition and shooting (#39 and #40 below were shot at belly level)

without fill in flash..... shooting at widest 18mm (27mm equiv) focal length.......... I was THAT close to the subject
39

with fill in flash
40

with a regular DSLR..... I would have needed to guess and shoot....... with the NEX-5 ....... I could kneel or squat comfortably , flip up the screen , compose and shoot... image as is and uncropped on Everything Auto mode
41

This fella knew I was walking around with a camera shooting but was VERY comfortable with me taking his pic as I did not get into a typical photographer's stance (raise DSLR to eye and taking a few sec. to adjust/compose) to shoot him....... composed and shot at waist level
42

 

[theRenaissance]

Lovely! Im sold! hahah such an attractive alternative for street photography - upfront and in action! (L)

 

[kendedes]

aaaawwww! Sony really released an EVIL!!!!! :thumbsup:

Street photography is my passion..n this will complete my a700 perfectly...thanks for the review..

 

[silvergetz]

Any test on light fall off, CA, macro functions?
Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[ed9119]

Again I must say how much I really like the Panorama function and the way the camera executes it ....... go Pano mode, keep the finger depressed on the shutter button and do a left-right sweep while continuing to hold the shutter release button down .......... and suddenly i have default Ultra Wide Angle !!!!

BUT must remind again THAT any thing that is driving by/ running by will spoil the pano.... see the 2nd pic below (#44)

I can imagine going to Time Square in NY, the pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China or the Grand Canyon and doing a sweeping panorama with this camera

43

Notice the guy's face and the 'judder' with the car......he was walking left-right quickly and car was driving right-left while I was doing the Pano sweep ha ha ha ... looks like a scene straight out of Matrix....
44

 

[ed9119]

Any test on light fall off, CA, macro functions?
Thanks for sharing with us.

no sorry brother....... I'll leave that to the technical experts ...... I'm not into shooting charts and controlled situations.

I will give real-world user feedback ..... so far liking it

 

[airconvent]

The picture did compare it with a EZlink card... You don't own this card? :think:

Not that. I know visually how small it is but visualising it and holding it in your hand is entirely different. The photos may show how big the grand canyon is but you can't "feel" it until you see it in the flesh. I guess I am just hinting for someone to let me touch it...:bsmilie:

no sorry brother....... I'll leave that to the technical experts ...... I'm not into shooting charts and controlled situations.

I will give real-world user feedback ..... so far liking it

Thanks for the photos. They look pretty decent enough. I presume the Nex 3 and Nex 5 will perform exactly alike as their difference is more on accessories and HD recording ?