
Review Summary
2012-04-29T21:00:00
GREAT PRODUCT AND SUPER SIZE/WEIGHT, ESPECIALLY FOR OUTDOORSMAN. REMOTE SHUTTER RELEASE IS A MUST, AS IS A TRIPOD OR SOME TYPE OF STABILIZATION FOR SHOOTING VIDEO. YOU DO NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THIS CAMERA, BUT IT WILL MAKE YOU LEAVE YOUR BIG DSLR AT HOME.
tak
2010-08-15T21:00:00
I purchased the Sony NEX-5 with 16mm f2.8 and it's hard for me to imagine getting great results out of it without some manipulation in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR). The chromatic aberrations (CA) of the 16mm are so noticeable, particularly one-third in from the edges, especially if you're a "pixel-peeper" as I am, or do 16x20 inch prints, that it would be disturbing and annoying for some users who demand high quality. And if you enjoy shooting high-contrast subjects like I do it's vexing to see that using the RAW (Sony's proprietary ARW format) conversion with Sony's Image Data Converter Sr still produced a burnt-edge look to extreme highlights bordered by mid-tone tonalities (such as patches of bright sky next to leaves in shade); it was never a smooth transition. I did get outstanding results by shooting JPEGs at fine with in-camera Sharpening, and further manipulating in Adobe Camera Raw which easily corrected the CA. The 16x20 test prints were very sharp. (In-camera setting for Sharpness was +3, Contrast -1.) Contrast and color were excellent. All photos were taken in Aperture Priority; I've yet to use the camera on AUTO. I've noticed that the image-stabilization is NOT as good as the Olympus E-P2 although I did play with the Hand-Held Twilight and was impressed with the sharpness and lack of "noise" (grain). It may be that since Sony image-stabilization "Optical SteadyShot" is only built into a select number of lenses that the 16mm is one of those without. Another annoyance is going through menus just to change ISO or change from Autofocus to Manual. But the camera is really designed for people who want automation, not advanced photographers. The 16mm lens is very sharp in the center and soft in the corners even at f6.3, which according to many independent tests such as dpreview is the best correction for CA. It's still a bit disappointing at the edges. Apparently Sony does not do software/in-camera CA correction as does Panasonic with their G2 or G10 or Olympus. But in terms of a light-weight super compact (it's noticeably smaller than the Panasonic GF-1 and the Olympus E-PL1), high quality, APS-C sensor camera with a wide-angle lens, (producing 1080 HD video to boot!) the Sony NEX-5 with 16mm is amazing and hard to beat.
RICHARD R.
Sony E-mount interchangeable lens digital camera
Sony E-mount
Sony E-mount lens, (Sony a lenses when used with LA-EA1 lens adaptor)
1.5x
Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor (23.4 X 15.6mm)
Charge protection coating on Low-Pass Filter and electromagnetic vibration mechanism (Power off or Manual)
BIONZ image processor
Approx. 14.6 megapixels
Approx. 14.2 megapixels
RGB primary color filters
Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo/PRO-HG HX Duo media
SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card
JPEG (Standard, Fine), RAW, RAW+JPEG
L (14M): 4592 X 3056
M (7.4M): 3344 X 2224
S (3.5M): 2288 X 1520
L (12M): 4592 X 2576
M (6.3M): 3344 X 1872
S (2.9M): 2288 X 1280
sRGB, AdobeRGB
AVCHD / MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC (H.264))
AVCHD: 1920 x 1080/ 60i (59.94i Interlace) Approx. 17Mbps (Average bit-rate)
MP4 HD: 1440 x 1080/ 30p (29.97 Progressive) Approx. 12Mbps (Average bit-rate)
MP4 VGA: 640 x 480/ 30p (29.97 Progressive) Approx. 3Mbps (Average bit-rate)
Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC
Contrast AF
25 points
Single-shot AF, Continuous AF, Direct Manual Focus, Manual Focus
Multi Point AF (25 points), Center Weighted AF, Flexible Spot AF
0 EV to 20 EV (at ISO100 conversion with F2.8 lens)
Magnified display for precise manual focus
Predictive Focus Control, Focus Lock
Built-in, LED type
Easy-to-understand Graphic Display and on-screen Help Guide User-friendly function menu
80 expert advice shooting tips
Horizontal Panorama Size:
- Wide 23MP (12,416 x 1,856), 226° (16mm focal), 201° (18mm focal)
- Standard 15.2MP (8,192 x 1,856), 149° (16mm focal), 133° (18mm focal)
Vertical Panorama Size:
- Wide 12MP (5,536 x 2,160), 151° (16mm focal), 135° (18mm focal)
- Standard 8.4MP (3,872 x 2,160), 106° (16mm focal), 94° (18mm focal)
Yes, (Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure difference Level (1-6 EV at 1.0 EV step), off)
6-image layering
Off, Auto, Child Priority, Adult Priority
Off, Slight, Normal, Big
49 Segment metering from CMOS image sensor
Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
0EV-20EV, (at ISO 100 equivalent w/ f/2.8 lens)
+/-2EV (in 1/3 EV steps)
iAUTO, Program Auto (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter priority (S), Manual (M)
Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports action, Sunset, Night portrait, Night View, Handheld Twilight
Yes: (Auto, Level 1-5, off)
Yes (AE Lock with focus lock)
Auto, 200 to 12800
Long exp.NR: (On/Off, available at shutter speeds longer than 1 second)
High ISO NR: (Auto/Weak)
Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, B/W
Adjustable: Contrast (-3 to +3 steps), Saturation (-3 to +3 steps), Sharpness (-3 to +3 steps)
Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Setting the color temperature, Custom
2500 - 9900 k with 19-step Magenta / Green compensation
Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type
Single-shot, Continuous, Speed Priority, Self-timer, Continuous Self-timer, Bracketing; Remote Commander
Continuous (2.3fps)
Speed Priority (7fps)
2-sec. or 10-sec. delay, (single, continuous 3 or 5 frames)
1/4000 - 30 seconds, bulb
1/160 seconds
JPEG (unlimited to card capacity)
RAW (8 shots)
RAW+JPEG (5 shots)
3" TFT TruBlack LCD (921,600 pixels)
Up: Approx. 80 degrees, Down: Approx. 45 degrees
Auto (-2 to +2 step sunny weather)
100%
Yes, (Constant AF Live View)
Exposure Compensation, WB, Creative Style
Yes (On/off)
Yes (On/off)
Brightness: Auto Manual, Sunny Weather
Display Color: Black, White, Blue, Pink
Wide Image: Full Screen, Normal
Smart accessory terminal (HVL-F7S Flash Supplied)
Pre-flash TTL
Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear sync., Slow sync., Red-eye reduction
+/-2EV,1/3EV steps
FOV coverage up to 16 mm (in the focal length)
Approx. 4 sec
7 (in meters at ISO 100)
3 frames, 1/3, 2/3EV steps selectable
Dual memory card slot:
- Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo/PRO-HG HX Duo media
- SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card
HDMI (TypeC mini)
USB2.0 Hi-speed (mass-storage, PTP)
Yes, via HDMI with compatible BRAVIA HDTV
Yes, with BRAVIA Sync enabled HDTV and HDMI cable
Yes, via USB
PMB (Picture Motion Browser) 4.3.01 Image Data Converter SR 3.1 Image Data Lightbox SR
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional/Windows XP SP2/Windows Vista/Mac OS X(v10.1.3) or later
InfoLitium NP-FW50,7.2V
Approx. 330 images (CIPA standard)
32 - 104 degrees F (0 - 40 degrees C)
SEL16F28
E-mount 16mm F2.8
Sony E-mount
5 groups, 5 elements (1 aspheric surface)
24mm
83°
7 blades (Circular aperture)
F2.8
F22
0.073x (APS-C)
9.4" (0.24m)
49mm
Yes (Stepping motor)
N/A
Excellent
Yes
No rotation
Metal
Aluminum
2-7/16 x 7/8" (62x22.5mm)
2.5 oz (70g)
Approx 4-3/8 ® 2-3/8 ® 1-9/16" (110.8x58.8x38.2mm) (W/H/D); 15/16" (24.2mm) excl grip & lens mount
Approx. 8.1 oz (229g) (excl battery & media)
Approx. 10.1 oz (287g) (w/battery & media)
027242797468










Sharp 16mm but CA
By RICHARD R.
I purchased the Sony NEX-5 with 16mm f2.8 and it's hard for me to imagine getting great results out of it without some manipulation in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR). The chromatic aberrations (CA) of the 16mm are so noticeable, particularly one-third in from the edges, especially if you're a "pixel-peeper" as I am, or do 16x20 inch prints, that it would be disturbing and annoying for some users who demand high quality. And if you enjoy shooting high-contrast subjects like I do it's vexing to see...
View full Review
GREAT PRODUCT!
By tak
GREAT PRODUCT AND SUPER SIZE/WEIGHT, ESPECIALLY FOR OUTDOORSMAN. REMOTE SHUTTER RELEASE IS A MUST, AS IS A TRIPOD OR SOME TYPE OF STABILIZATION FOR SHOOTING VIDEO. YOU DO NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THIS CAMERA, BUT IT WILL MAKE YOU LEAVE YOUR BIG DSLR AT HOME.
Get the performance of a DSLR, in about half the size and weight with the Sony Alpha NEX-5 interchangeable lens camera. Enjoy Full HD 1080/60i movies, astounding low-light pictures, continuous shooting up to 7 fps, incredible panorama shots and Live View on a tilting 3.0-inch LCD.
Unlike conventional DSLR models, the "mirrorless" construction of the NEX-5 reduces the thickness of camera body to just about an inch at its slimmest point (excluding grip and mount portions). The NEX-5 is constructed from magnesium alloy. It offers a newly developed 14.2 megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor. About 60 percent larger than the sensor in micro four-thirds cameras, this sensor is key to the exceptional image quality, extremely low image noise and creative defocus background effects that are familiar to DSLR users.
The NEX-5 is the first Alpha camera featuring Sweep Panorama. With this feature capturing large group shots is as easy as press-and-sweep. Sweep Panorama mode lets you capture breathtaking shots up to 226-degree horizontal or 151-degree vertical shots.
Ideal for everyday shooting, the low-profile E 16mm F2.8 lens minimizes bulk, allowing the camera to easily be carried in a coat, pants pocket, or purse. This lens' creative possibilities can be expanded even further by the VCL-ECU1 Ultra Wide Converter which provides a 12mm view and VCL-ECF1 Fisheye Converter that delivers impressive curvi-linear distortion.
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