An interesting video from
Chris Niccolls from the
The Camera-Store for those of you who are interested in camcorders.
I will be taking up video in 2012, but it will be incorporated with
'stills' photography - the expected Panasonic GH3 Micro 4/3rds camera is
my hot favourite for purchase!
Photographers will instantly recognise 'THAT LOOK' at 2.48 minutes into
the video and the often made statement at 7.52 minutes - "Don't ignore
me".
Over at
Dpreview, Andy Westlake has
released his review of the Sony NEX-7 digital camera which is well worth
reading. He used the Carl Zeiss-branded E 24mm F1.8 lens (also known as
the SEL24F18Z) but also consider that for similar money as the NEX-7
with it's APS-C digital sensor and the Carl Zeiss 24mm lens you can
purchase a Canon 5D MK II DSLR with it's 35mm 'Full Frame' digital
sensor and an excellent Canon 50mm f1.4 USM lens - food for thought!
He wrote - "When the NEX-7 was first announced, it looked as though
Sony had gathered together a set of enthusiasts' wish lists and built a
camera to exceed them all. From the compact 'rangefinder style' body
with its built-in electronic viewfinder, through the high resolution
sensor offering 24MP stills and Full HD 60p video, to the
triple-control-dial interface, it ticked all the right boxes on paper.
There's little doubt that the NEX-7 is one of the most exciting cameras
of 2011" -
Read More
What Digital Camera Video Review -
The latest 'rumour' from
4/3 Rumours has Fujifilm purchasing
the troubled Olympus manufacturer. Somebody is likely to snap it up (My
Blog 18th October -
Olympus Shares Plummet) I cannot
see how Olympus can move forward otherwise?
I have been following the reviews on the new Sony NEX-7 digital 'mirrorless'
camera which are quite impressive, especially the image quality from
it's APS-C digital sensor.
To get the most out of the NEX-7 you really have to go for a 'PRIME'
lens and the one that stands out from the crowd is without a doubt the
Sony 24mm F1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* lens which delivers a '36mm field
of view' when fitted to the camera.
Out of interest I priced up the
Sony NEX-7 and the
Sony 24mm F1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* lens
combo which came to the princely sum of £1,897.00 vat
inclusive in the UK. These are pre-order prices but I reckon they will
remain like that until after Christmas. The combo is reasonably compact,
lightweight and certainly offers an excellent solution for photographers
who desire a more compact camera which can deliver good image quality.
I have already decided that I will not be purchasing the NEX-7 and the
Zeiss Sonnar lens as a second camera system for general and casual use.
The main reason being that any camera system that I purchase in the
future (except the Panasonic GH3 for my Lumix 100-300mm Zoo lens)
must have a 35mm 'full frame' digital sensor.
These days, the price of an excellent APS-C DSLR camera is very
attractive and many cost much less than the new Sony NEX-7 camera.
However, a 35mm 'full frame' digital sensor DSLR is also attractive,
especially if it is a 'first time' investment you are making into a
combo with the added possibility of purchasing extra lenses at a later
stage.
When it comes to an investment in 35mm digital 'Full Frame' the body of
the camera will initially be the most expensive item as the trick is to
reduce the overall 'first purchase' by purchasing a cheaper lens but one
that can still deliver excellent image quality. Out of curiosity, I
priced up a
Canon 5D MK II DSLR and the pancake
Voigtlander 40/2 Ultron SL II lens
which comes with a hood and a macro lens adapter - the combo came to
£1,970.00 vat inclusive in the UK. The manual focus Voitlander Ultron 40mm lens keeps
the combo's overall size and weight down.
The Voigtlander 40mm lens on the 'full frame' Canon delivers a true 40mm
'field of view' with the minimum of extension distortion, including the perceived distances between objects in the scene and
their relationship with each other. It has far less
'extension distortion' than the Zeiss on the Sony NEX-7 as the Zeiss
Sonnar has a native 24mm focal length and a wider viewing angle. Even
although the NEX-7 digital sensor crops and pulls in the 'field of view'
to 36mm the lens maintains that 24mm focal length.
Another 'full frame' combo solution is the
Canon 5D MK II DSLR and a
manual/auto focus
Canon 50mm f1.4 USM lens which
delivers excellent image quality and displays a 'native eye' view with
neither extension or compression distortion as the native 50mm 'field of
view' is the closest to the human eye view of the scene. This
combination costs £1,823.00 vat inclusive in the UK.
I suppose that compactness and weight play an important part but there
is another area that very few photographers 'take onboard' when
purchasing a compact camera and lens - if it has to go in a bag to be
carried around, then it has to be watched when you put it down at a bar,
restaurant or anywhere for that matter where it could be stolen. The
size is then no longer an issue (unless it is a 'Pro' 35mm DSLR or a
Medium Format digital camera) only the weight of the combo around your neck
or in your hand becomes the real issue and if you can live with that,
the Canon 5D MK II 'full frame' combo suddenly becomes a very attractive
'alternative' investment to the Sony NEX-7 combo.
I recently decided that I would not be investing in the new Sony NEX-7 'mirrorless'
compact system camera
with
its APS-C sensor and interchangeable lenses. I moved all the data that I
had collected and written about in my Blog to my
Sony NEX article.
I think the Sony, especially the NEX-7 is a great compact camera but I
had made to much of an investment in a Micro 4/3rds compact system to
abandon it and re-invest in the NEX series.
For those photographers who are interested in reading more about the
Sony NEX-7 and 5N cameras and lenses, there is an interesting article
starting over at
Luminous Landscape that is worth
following - it will also be on Twitter.
In December 2009, I wrote, "I
have always desired a small and light digital camera for everyday use.
Ideally a 'Hybrid Version' of the Leica M7
Rangefinder 'Film' Camera and the Nikon FM3a SLR 'Film' Camera with the
same small and lightweight lenses."
Back then the nearest to it was a Panasonic GF1 Micro 4/3rds
'mirrorless' digital camera that could take small and lightweight inter-changeable lenses.
It was not the 'Full Frame' sensor similar to the 35mm 'Film' plane of
the M7/Nikon FM3a but it was seriously more capable than a compact
camera with a fixed lens and it shot 'RAW' image files. I made the investment in the GF1 and even
purchased a few Micro 4/3rds lenses. I eventually hated the external
'clip on' viewfinder.
When
the Sony NEX-7 'mirrorless' digital camera with inter-changeable lenses
appeared, with
it's compact
size,
body viewfinder and a 24MPixel APS-C sensor, I
thought it might prove a logical step up.
Before I even considered the reviews, I immediately recognised the
limitations of the Sony E mount lenses and I had no intention of ever
adapting the Sony Alpha lenses. The
only real choice for an E mount was the manual focus
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA Lens
which to be fair is a serious bit of kit.
Perhaps in time, some fast 'prime' auto focus lenses will appear?
The NEX-7 reviews are starting to appear and so are the image
samples. Make no mistake,
if you are considering a Sony NEX-7, it is
a serious little camera and excellent value for the money but it falls
short (just) of the image quality that is delivered by it's sister
camera, the Sony NEX-5N which unfortunately has no in-body viewfinder.
I am
comparing camera jpeg image samples at ISO:3200 and both cameras have been tested
using the same lens - please visit
Imaging-Resourceand use their
Comparometer. The
Imaging-Resource comparometer has
always proven accurate when I have cross referred it's findings. I also
checked the NEX-7 out against the Panasonic G3 Micro 4/3rds camera.
A new Micro 4/3rds
Panasonic G3 camera costs £464.95
from
WareHouse Express and
it also has an in-body
100% viewfinder but a greater choice of
prime and zoom lenses than the Sony, especially for video.
The G3 is about half
the price of the NEX-7 which is £998.00 on pre-order in the
UK from
WareHouse Express.
When you compare both cameras (remember G3 is not the 'expected' 2012 premium version Micro 4/3rds GFX1
camera) - up to ISO:800 they have very similar image quality in relation to noise
and strangely in some 'parts' of the ISO test images the G3 is ahead and
in others the NEX-7. I suspect that with 'RAW' file post processing the
image quality differences would show (if any) very little advantage to
either camera for up to A3 sized prints. For 100% full size image
comparisons, the NEX-7 has a 1 to 1.5 stop advantage over the G3, it
starts to pull ahead at ISO:1600 for image resolution and at ISO:3200 it
has clearly left the G3 behind.
Would I replace my Micro 4/3rds camera and lenses with a Sony NEX-7
system and my
answer is no. The overall re-investment for a NEX-7 body and the Sony E
mount lenses is just not worth it.
I have
always been keen to invest in a Zeiss ZM or Leica M 'manual focus' 50mm lens but the Leica M9 digital rangefinder camera
is not the 'full frame' sensor direction that I want to take. A compact
FF camera with an electronic viewfinder in the body and 'live view' is
desirable for my digital 'street' and general photography.
Currently I am waiting for the announcement of the new Fujifilm 'mirrorless'
interchangeable lens camera and I am hoping for a 'full frame' sensor
variant of their X100 camera. It is 'rumoured' that it may have a M
mount as standard - which I doubt, it is more likely to be some sort of
Fuji adapter?
I have always said that there is a serious shortage of
compact 35mm 'full frame' digital sensor cameras, in fact so short that
there is only one - the Leica M9.
In 2012, if that Fuji style M 'FF' camera does not appear then what is
the answer?
The APS-C sensor Leica M8 rangefinder is not my
solution. The NEX 5N
'mirrorless' APS-C camera has phenomenal image quality at ISO:3200 with it's
16Mp digital sensor but lacks that all important body viewfinder. The
NEX-5N
sibling the
NEX-7 with it's 24Mpixel APS-C sensor has all the right bits in
the right places for manual photography and can be fitted with an M
adapter to accept the Leica M or Zeiss ZM manual focus lenses.
I checked out an Novaflex M adapter for the NEX-7 and came up with these
links -
My main wrinkle going with an APS-C sensor is the 1.5x crop which on a
50mm lens delivers a 75mm 'field of view'. This in real terms means that
I would have to go for a 28mm lens to deliver a 42mm 'field of view'
which is nearest to the 50mm that I desire.
If I was going 'Full Frame' my FINAL lens choice would have been either
the
-
both of which deliver excellent image quality and would be an excellent
match for using with an electronic viewfinder and live view technology.
With the NEX-7 APS-C 1.5 crop camera, I am looking at the
Leica 28mm f2 ASPH Summicron-M lens and this is not a lens that I really want to invest in.
I am quite sure
that the 28mm lens and the NEX-7 camera would make a nice pairing but at
what cost -
* NEX-7 Body £998.00
* Novaflex Adapter £139.00
* Leica 28mm f2 ASPH Summicron-M Lens
£2,671.20(more than twice the cost of either 50mm lens choices)
The total cost is £3,808.20 without adding a spare battery/memory or
delivery charges!
However the real cost is that the 28mm lens and the NEX-7 APS-C camera are substitutes,
a 'half-way house solution' which falls short of my original
aspiration!
One of these days a manufacturer is going to make that elusive 'Full
Frame' digital sensor M mount camera with a NEX-7 'style' viewfinder and live view
technology, then release it for a sensible price, sit back and clean up!
Kai over at
DigRev
has released a video on the Sony NEX-5N
'mirrorless' camera.
He confirms my findings on the 2nd October -
"I
also checked out the new Sony SLT A77 DSLR at ISO:3200 but it fails to meet the
standard of the NEX-5N sensor and that is a pity because the A77 has an
APS-C 24 mega pixel sensor similar to the NEX-7 which is the camera that
really intrigues me with its manual controls and body viewfinder. I am
looking forward to checking out the NEX-7 image samples when they
appear".
I also checked out the new Sony SLT A77 DSLR at ISO:3200 but it fails to meet the
standard of the NEX-5N sensor and that is a pity because the A77 has an
APS-C 24 mega pixel sensor similar to the NEX-7 which is the camera that
really intrigues me with its manual controls and body viewfinder. I am
looking forward to checking out the NEX-7 image samples when they
appear.
At this point on a forum a fire fight would normally start over the
validity of Imaging-Resources Comparometer and all I can add - is that
ever camera I have ever checked out on it has proven it to be accurate.
This little
camera even wipes the floor with a Pentax K5 and the Nikon D7000 DSLRs
at ISO:3200.
The ideal sections to check are the pattern on the red cloth, the
Proportional Scale but the results are pretty conclusive wherever you
look on the images, although the D7000 holds up very well on the red
cloth pattern. Perhaps the lens on the NEX-5N was exceptional and the
exif data shows it to be a
Minolta AF 100-300mm
F4.5-5.6 APO (D) or a Sigma Lens.
In any case I
am impressed with the NEX-5N
but I have a feeling that in reality 16
mega pixels is probably the limit on an APS-C sensor if you want
'optimum' image quality from camera jpegs at ISO:3200.
Its a pity the NEX-5N sensor was not in the NEX-7 body!
I have never really shown any great interest in
the Sony NEX Series of 'mirrorless' cameras until the Sony NEX-7
appeared.
I
hunted around for NEX-7 image samples but without much success, so I had
a look at the NEX-5N and visited a few websites.
Over at
Imaging-Resource, I read the start
of their review on the NEX-5N and compared their ISO:3200 image samples
with the Canon 5D MKII DSLR on their
Comparometer. The 16Mpixel sensor
of the NEX-5N held up really well, it fact it seemed to deliver a
clearer image.
I downloaded the images and did a bit of post processing, especially on
the 5D image, which came up really well but to my eye the NEX-5N had the
edge! It might well prove a different story with 'RAW' image samples and
post processing but even so, the NEX-5N jpegs are the best I have seen
from an APS-C sensor for a long time.
Review Summary: Sony's thin and light NEX-5N has the same basic form
as its predecessor, but sports a new 16.1-megapixel sensor that's
capable of capturing up to 10 frames per second and Full HD video at
60p. A new touchscreen adds a few new functions, and the NEX-5N
continues the line's excellent image quality.
The Sony NEX-5N is not my camera of choice but
seeing those image samples, I must admit that if the NEX-7 image samples
hold up as well as the 5N then the Sony NEX-7 could prove to be a most
excellent compact camera.
A short Sony NEX-5N video review at
Cnet and another review + video
from
Cnet
The Sony NEX-5N and the Sony 18-55mm zoom lens can be pre-ordered from
WareHouse Express in the UK for
£599.00 vat inclusive and delivery extra. The camera is expected to be
released for sale around October 2011.
Sony NEX-7 'First Impressions Report'
- Luminous Landscape!
Luminous
Landscape have posted their 'First
Impressions Report' on the Sony NEX-7 'Mirrorless' camera
with its APS-C digital
sensor.
Their website reads -
"The NEX-7 truly appears to be the photographic equivalent of a
Pocket Battleship.
It's small and light enough to be carried all day in one hand, yet has
the image quality capabilities of a much larger camera.
With its very bright and high resolution electronic viewfinder it
surpasses the eye level viewing of most APS-C DSLRs, with their small
tunnel-vision viewpoints – though as mentioned, shadows do block up in
the viewfinder in high contrast situations".
You have to admire
the 'Gear Forums' for tenacity and aspiration as currently doing the
rounds is the debate on
whether
the next NEX 7 upgrade, the NEX 8 will in fact have a Sony 'full frame'
digital sensor that can mount Leica M lenses?
Most of the Leicaphiles have already dismissed the debate as silly, how
could a NEX 8 compete with a Leica M9 rangefinder camera?
Sony has enough 'clout' to make a dedicated NEX-M just to accommodate
all the Leica M film camera users who dream about a 'cost effective' way
of mounting all those nice M lenses on a 'full frame' digital body,
never mind all those photographers with Leica, Voigtlander, Zeiss M
lenses sitting in the cupboard.
Lets not forget all those photographers who use Leica, Zeiss and
Voigtlander M lens versions on Micro 4/3rds cameras!
Joking aside, a Sony 'full frame' sensor NEX-FF variant with
professional E-Mount AF FF lenses would make a lot of sense. If the NEX
system is to be taken seriously as a semi-pro or even a pro compact and
lightweight system then that is the way to diversify their range,
especially when I read about the semi-pro X route that Panasonic is
leading and the prices of their new 'rumoured' X (L style) lenses.
For those that say, Sony should just stick with their 'full frame'
sensor DSLR, I agree it seems like a good idea but (Sony) innovate and
diversify when you have the muscle to do so, or someone else will beat
you to it!
Serious 'Pre-Order' Dosh for a Sony APS-C Camera System?
The brand new Sony NEX 7 APS-C 'mirrorless' digital
inter-changeable lens camera is now available for pre-order in the UK
from
WareHouse Express
The cost
for the body is £999.00 Retail (Vat Inclusive) and £1,149.00 with the
black 18-55mm zoom kit lens.
Still, for the camera and zoom lens at £1,149.00 it is a lot cheaper
than a Leica M8 and it has an electronic 100% viewfinder, live view LCD
and autofocus to boot!
Ah, but what about the image quality, surely it cannot compete with the
M8............well this new
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA Lens might take care of that?
The
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA Lens is expected to retail at $999
in the US and £650 in the UK and that takes a NEX 7 plus a Zeiss Sonnar
to around £1,649.00. The M8 body alone is around £1,200-£1,600 second
hand.
Apparently this brand new Sonnar lens is just the start of Zeiss plans
to build more in the E Mount for the NEX series of cameras.
For NEX 7 full
specifications and more images, visit the
Sony Web Site
and
a
link for
Sony E-Lenses for the NEX 7 camera.
The
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA Lens has been announced.
This is an E mount lens and cannot be used on a A mount camera.
Designed for the Sony NEX E-mount camera,
official Sony part number
SEL24F18Z -
A manual focus
lens (no autofocus)
A 36mm 'field of
view' on the Sony NEX 7 digital camera
The
perfect wide-normal lens with a f1.8 aperture
Maximum magnification ratio is 1:4
It has 8 elements in 7 groups
The minimum focus distance is 0.16 meters or
6.3 inches
The filter diameter is 49mm
The overall dimensions are 63mm (2.5")
diameter by 65.5mm (2.6") long
It weighs approximately 225 grams of 0.5 lb
The lens will approximately cost $999 and will
be released in December 2011
At 2.6" long by 2.5" diameter with a 49mm
filter size, this lens is fairly compact and weighing in at 225g it is
reasonably
lightweight.
Having read as much material as I have access to, I am fairly sure that
this is a manual focus lens. This lens is not (as yet) on the Amazon UK
website.
To pre-order visit this
Amazon.com link - "This is the
first Carl Zeiss® lens to be released in the Sony E-mount lineup,
employing the legendary “Sonnar” optical design for standout image
dimensionality and presence. A spherical lenses located on either side
of the aperture effectively compensate for distortion, while an ED
element suppresses chromatic aberration. The overall result is excellent
corner-to-corner sharpness even with the aperture wide open, for
impressive overall resolution"
The NEX 7 'Mirrorless' APS-C digital camera and the Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*
E 24mm f/1.8 ZA Lens could make a winning combination and especially for
'street' photography.
I think that the Sony
NEX 7 will catch a lot of attention from photographers seeking an APS-C
digital sensor
camera with inter-changeable lenses that is smaller than
a DSLR?
On it's own with the existing Sony E-Mount lenses it isn't very much to
write home about but with this new generation of E-Mount Zeiss lenses
which are emerging, then the NEX 7 does offer something special!
It weighs just 415g for the body without battery
and lens and the size with a width
of only 119.9m (4.7"), height 66.9m (2.6") and depth 42.6m
(1.67"),
it certainly delivers on the right size and weight.
The NEX 7
matches the size of the
Panasonic GF1 Micro 4/3rds camera and
includes a built in electronic
viewfinder with 100% view.
Pre-order in the UK from
WareHouse Expressand the cost for the body is £999.00
Retail (Vat Inclusive) and £1,149.00 with the black 18-55mm zoom kit
lens.
Sony NEX 7 Camera Images
- Please click on the pictures
for a larger size.
Sony NEX-7 Specification
-
24MP
(23.5 x
15.6mm)
APS-C
CMOS sensor
'Tri-navi' manual
control system (fixed switches and LCD)
Contrast AF
System - 25 points (multiple point, centre weighted, centre spot
flexible)
10 frames per
second (13 RAW files)
Focus lock
1200 - zone
exposure evaluative metering system (multiple, centre weighted and
spot)
AE button
(exposure lock)
3 Frame
Bracketing
No Sony A-Mount
lens fitting (A - adaptor required)
Sony E-Mount
lenses
No body image
stabilisation (IS in some Sony lenses)
Anti-dust
cleaning system
ISO:100 to
ISO:16000
Built-in 2.4M dot
OLED EVF with eye sensor and 100% view (1.09x magnification on 50mm
lens)
Live View LCD
921.6 Dot + Tilt rear screen
(no rotation)
Electronic
first-curtain shutter (response time 20ms)
Shutter
Speed Range (seconds) - 1/4000 - 30 and bulb
'AVCHD
Progressive' 1080p60 HD movie recording with built-in stereo
microphone
The expected date for
the NEX 7 camera going on general sale is - November 2011.
The
NEX 7 as a Second System
I
use a Canon 5D and L lenses as my main camera system, so for me I will
be considering the Sony NEX 7 camera and lenses as a second system that
would be used mainly for 'domestic and social' photography and therefore
as a 'possible' replacement for my Panasonic Micro 4/3rds lightweight
kit! I presently use 3 lenses with my GF1 camera, the Lumix 20mm,
14-45mm zoom and the 100-300mm zoom lens providing me with a very
lightweight and compact 28mm - 600mm 'field of view' camera system.
The NEX 7 as a GF1 Upgrade Route I guess for any Panasonic GF1 owner (like
me) it boils down to certain criteria that this new NEX 7 should
deliver, for me to consider the camera as a GF1 replacement, rather than
upgrading to the new Panasonic G3 or the expected GF1 X
style camera -
Image quality, especially in low light
at ISO:1600
Manual controls
at least as good as my GF1
Lenses that can match my existing
Panasonic Micro 4/3rds lenses for IQ, compact size and weight?
Cost of body and
lens migration from Panasonic to Sony
Then along comes Panasonic (today) and throws into the 'thought pot'
those
X
style lenses and this 'rumoured' pancake 14-42mm X style zoom lens that
if true, is 'mind boggling'.
NEX 7 Camera Body + E-Mount Lenses +
Street Price
Pre-order in the UK from
WareHouse Expressand the cost for the body is £999.00
Retail (Vat Inclusive) and £1,149.00 with the black 18-55mm zoom lens.
Sony - 16mm
'Pancake Prime' Lens
Sony -
30mm 'Macro' Lens
'Silver
Coloured'
'Silver Coloured'
16mm (24mm
field of view)
30mm (45mm
field of view)
5 Lens groups
with 5 elements
6 Lens groups
with 7 elements
7 blade
circular aperture
7 blade
circular aperture
Filter -
49mm
Filter - 49mm
Aperture f2.8
to f22
Aperture f3.5
to f22
Minimum focus
distance .24m
Minimum focus
distance .095m (Macro 1:1)
Weight 67g
Weight 138g
Length -
22.5mm (0.88")
Length -
55.5mm (2.18")
Diameter -
62mm (2.44")
Diameter -
62mm (2.44")
No Lens Hood
Comes with
Lens Hood
UK Street
Price - £198.99 (average)
UK Street
Price - £229.00 (average)
Sony
- 18-55mm
'Zoom' Optical Steady Lens
Sony
- 18-200mm 'Zoom'
Optical Steady
Lens
'Silver
Coloured' (Also Black Kit Version)
'Silver Coloured'
18-55mm
(27-82mm field of view)
18-200mm
(27-300mm field of view)
9 Lens groups
with 11 elements
12 Lens
groups with 17 elements
7 blade
circular aperture
7 blade
circular aperture
Filter - 49mm
Filter - 67mm
Aperture f3.5
- f5.6 wide on the zoom (f22/f32)
Aperture f3.5
- f6.3 wide on the zoom (f22/f40)
Minimum focus
distance .25m
Minimum focus
distance .03/05m
Weight 194g
Weight 524g
Length - 60mm
(2.36")
Length - 99mm
(3.89")
Diameter -
62mm (2.44")
Diameter -
75.5mm (2.95")
Comes with
Lens Hood
Comes with
Lens Petal Hood
UK Street
Price - £239.99 (average)
UK Street
Price - £659.00 (average)
NEX 7 Manual Controls From the previews I have read and the
Imaging-Resource
is a good one to start with, the manual controls appear more than
adequate and well placed.
NEX 7 Image Quality I am sure that in good time, future reviews will reveal the sensor
image quality. I would expect it to be excellent, after all this camera
will not be cheap in the UK shops and having designed a camera which to
all accounts seems very fit for purpose, it would be remiss of Sony to
mess up the camera's low light capabilities at ISO:1600. However, I will
be checking out the image samples, when they are released, on the
Imaging-Resource
comparometer and in future reviews.
Final Remarks This is a camera that could 'rock' Canon and Nikon, its the right
size, the right weight and its technology is heading in the right
direction. It is a 'defining step' and Sony slowly narrows the gap
between 'mirrorless' and the consumer rated APS-C sensor DSLRs.
The overall cost of moving from my Panasonic GF1 camera and it's 3 x
lenses would not break the bank as I could trade of my Micro 4/3rds kit
but Panasonic will release their expected GF7 to compete or something
similar to match the NEX 7 and that is worth waiting for. In any case
the Panasonic G3 is also a very capable camera delivering great image
quality, with excellent manual controls, a built in 100% viewfinder and
a great deal cheaper.
I would have to 'double check' on the NEX 7 manual controls/LCD
interaction and of course, the image quality but it is the lenses that I
have problems with. There is nothing there in the Sony lens portfolio
that would make me move away from my Panasonic GF1 Micro 4/3rds lenses.
The 'Zeiss' Conundrum I wonder if this 'rumour' about a
Zeiss 24mm Sonnar f1.8 NEX E-Mount
lens is true? If so, Sony could have a winning combination with very
fast optics delivering a 36mm 'field of view' at f1.8 on their new NEX
7. The lens can't be that large as the filter is only 49mm. Could it be
the start of more 'fast' compact primes to come from Zeiss..............more
stuff for the 'thought pot'.
The Sony NEX 7 has set a very nice pace and it will be interesting to
see what Panasonic releases to compete with what is a 'substantial' step
up in mirrorless camera design.
These days, the price of an excellent APS-C DSLR camera is very
attractive and many cost much less than the new Sony NEX-7 camera.
However, a 35mm 'full frame' digital sensor DSLR is also attractive,
especially if it is a 'first time' investment you are making into a
combo with the added possibility of purchasing extra lenses at a later
stage.
body viewfinder and a 24MPixel APS-C sensor, I
thought it might prove a logical step up.
Before I even considered the reviews, I immediately recognised the
limitations of the Sony E mount lenses and I had no intention of ever
adapting the Sony Alpha lenses. T
100% viewfinder but a greater choice of
prime and zoom lenses than the Sony, especially for video.
The G3 is about half
the price of the NEX-7 which is £998.00 on pre-order in the
UK from
Currently I am waiting for the announcement of the new Fujifilm 'mirrorless'
interchangeable lens camera and I am hoping for a 'full frame' sensor
variant of their X100 camera. It is 'rumoured' that it may have a M
mount as standard - which I doubt, it is more likely to be some sort of
Fuji adapter? 
I
had to go back to
