Sony NEX Series Cameras ??

[bigdazzler]

I know at least one member here has got one and has posted some what seem to be very impressive images. Ive also had a look though the flickr pools and this thing seems to be producing really really great photos.

I was thinking about a G11, but I am now seriously thinking about one of these for my new travel camera.

The obvious advantage for me, using Sony DSLRs, is the interchangeable lenses and the availability of the NEX E-mount to DSLR A-mount adapter. Unfortunately for the time being though, no AF on A-mount lenses when using the adapter. There is a firmware update rumoured which will fix this though.

So .. does anyone else have one, or used one ?? Interested in all thoughts.

[bigdazzler]

oops ... sorry mods,

Please move this to gear talk

(Very tired this morning .. been up watching Germany get beat )

[I @ M]

Please move this to gear talk

Done

[bigdazzler]

Cheers mate. Still asleep.

[Boo53]

Bigdazzler

I'd also be interested in other's opinions.

I'm contemplating buying something like this for my wife as a present

Ok - that's the excuse, she'd be lucky to take 1 happy snap per holiday, but when we go bushwalking she can't carry a heavy pack because of arthritis so I have to carry a lot of her gear & 1-2kg of camera (A300 + lenses) all ads up.

One of the cameras in this style would suit and also when back in civilization the interchangeabilty of the lenses would be a +

John R

[bigdazzler]

yep Im approaching this purely from a travel perspective mate. My FF A850 is big and heavy and a PITA to travel with. I just lugged it around Thailand for 3 weeks and I would have loved something more compact but with large sensor IQ ..... enter the NEX

Something you should know though .... your A-Mount lenses for your A300 wont fit directly onto the NEX. You will need an adapter (about $200) to use your current lenses on the NEX body. And at the moment when using the adapter, you will only have manual focus at your disposal.

The NEX uses an E-Mount system, as opposed to the Sony Alpha DSLR range of lenses which is A-Mount.

[Boo53]

BD

Yes I'm aware I'll need an adapter, but most of its use when bushwalking would be landscapes so the small zoom would suit, just nice to be able to use the others occasionally.

John R

[bigdazzler]

BD

Yes I'm aware I'll need an adapter, but most of its use when bushwalking would be landscapes so the small zoom would suit, just nice to be able to use the others occasionally.

John R

Absolutely. The 16mm pancake will be perfect for that stuff.

Im thinking in terms of using my portrait lenses, like my 50 1.4 and CZ85 1.4 on it as well. That would be a nice little kicker

[bigdazzler]

Well no-one ever accused me of being slow off the mark ......

[Boo53]

Ok

That post was 6:21 and its now 6:44 so I'm guessing there's at least 40 or so shots now been taken for review, so what do you think of it

John R

[bigdazzler]

batteries are on charge mate ...

[arthurking83]

Well no-one ever accused me of being slow off the mark ......

.....

LOL!

Just like the Borg say... resistance is futile!


well done, and hope to see some cool images from you're new toy.

[bigdazzler]

AK ... first impressions are fantastic mate. Gonna be great for travelling.

[arthurking83]

I'm curious as to the carry-a-bility factor. obviously smaller and easier than a DSLR. But it's not pocket-able, as in slip into the top pocket of a shirt or whatever.

How big is it in your hand?

From what I've seen IQ is more than good enough, so those specs wouldn't bother me.

I'm just trying to justify to myself.. if nikon brought out something 'similar' with the ability to attach F-mount lenses via an adapter.. would I get one?
(probably not.. I'd still wait for the D700s )

[bigdazzler]

Yea it is probably ok with the pancake on, if you got big-ish pockets, but you wont fit it in a pocket with the 18-55. It could be a touch smaller I suppose, but it will be a lot easier than lugging around my A850 thats for sure.

Excuse the dirty iPhone picture ..

[Jules]

How do you find the handling Daz? From the photos, it doesn't exactly look as though it's been ergonomically designed. Have you tried any of your A mount lenses yet? Looks like it could be a bit front-heavy.

[bigdazzler]

Only got it late yesterday Jules so havent had a good play just yet.

It feels ok in the hand, but if youve got super fat fingers you might feel a little cramped on the shutter button side, toward the bottom of the body. Its OK for me, just.

A little front heavy with the zoom on, but fine with the pancake. I suppose thats to be somewhat expected. The upside is that the zoom has a VERY good build quality, almost feels CZ like Definitely not plasticcy like the A-mount kit lenses.

Wont be buying the A-Mount adapter for while yet .. gonna hang in there and see what they do about this rumoured firmware update to fix the AF and TTL issue first.

Might be fun to stick the 70-200 on it down the track, with the crop sensor, for sport and stuff

[bigdazzler]

One thing that is bugging me ... this thing takes two types of cards, an SDHC or a Memory Stick Pro Duo. Now thats a good thing, but theyve put them in the one card slot !! So you can still only run one card at a time. I suppose the idea was to keep the chassis as small as possible .. or something.

I have CF and MS dual slots on the big camera, and that is very handy.

I have about 30GB worth of Sandisk CF memory already, which is obviously no good to me here, and I have one 4GB MS. So Ive just ordered 2 x 8GB Lexar Pro MS from Cheap Chips, so im all sorted for memory now. 20GB of MS should do me, even for video when im travelling.

Now ... to go find a 49mm CPL ... It never bloody ends ....

[Boo53]

[/QUOTE]Now ... to go find a 49mm CPL ... It never bloody ends .... [/QUOTE]

That's one of the first things I noticed when you put up the photo. 49mm Dia, another set of filters

John R

[arthurking83]

I'd be curious to know how well the CPL works too.

One thing I have noticed with the D300 in Lv mode is that the effect of the CPL is masked when viewing the scene via Lv mode.
Using the vf is a much more visual representation of how the CPL affects the scene.

Different when using a GND tho. Adding the GND(or any number of combinations of them) to the lens instantly transforms the image on the review screen to one that actually makes sense. The dynamic range of the review screen in LiveView mode is not acceptable for use as a visual guide.
it's strange tho that the review screen can accurately represent the image once the shot it captured, but not whilst in Lv mode.