Sony NEX-5
Encyclopedia
The Sony NEX-5 is a digital camera
launched on 11 May 2010 . It is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
with the body of a common point-and-shoot camera but with the sensor size and features of an APS-C
-sized digital single-lens reflex camera
. Its major competitors in the market is the micro 4/3
standard created by Panasonic
and Olympus
and a few low end Canon, Nikon
, and even Sony Alpha A-mounts. The NEX-5 shoots 14.2 megapixel stills and has a 7 frame/s
continuous shotmode . It has the capability to shoot 1920x1080i at 60 frame/s in AVCHD
or 1440x1080p at 30 frame/s in MPEG4. The NEX-5 was replaced by the NEX-5N in August of 2011.
1080/60i HD. On the still photo front there is a 7 frame/s continuous shot. The DSLR APS-C
sized sensor has an ISO
sensitivity up to 12,800.. The camera software has special features like twilight mode and sweep panorama. The latter lets the photographer sweep across a city-sky line or similar long view and have the photos automatically stitched into a JPEG image on camera.
use a new lens mount system developed by Sony
for NEX series and known as the Sony E-mount. Initially, there were three available lenses: an all-purpose 18–55 mm lens, an ultra wide pancake 16 mm lens, and a wide range 18-200 mm E-mount lens.
With the post-November 2010 firmware version 3 installed, and by using the (roughly 200 USD) Sony LA-EA1 adapter, the NEX series of cameras is able to electronically control the aperture and autofocus of Sony SSM/SAM A-mount lenses, and control the aperture of the other Sony/Minolta A-mount lenses with manual focus only. The (roughly 400 USD) Sony LA-EA2 adapter will also support autofocus with screw-drive A-mount lenses.
Other, often inexpensive third-party mechanical tube adapters are also available. These third-party adapters enable the use of Canon FD-mount, Canon EF-mount (without aperture control), Contax G, M42 screw mount, Minolta SR-mount (MC/MD), Leica M and screw mount, Nikon F-mount (non-G), Pentax K-mount (non-DA), T2 screw mount and Minolta/Konica Minolta/Sony A-mount lenses. The E-mount flange register is so short that it is possible to mount 45mm or longer-focal-length non-focusing enlarging lenses on the NEX body, with the use of an intermediate focusing helicoid behind them.
Certain third-party Canon EF, Nikon F and Pentax K mechanical adapters also provide circular control rings that provide some mechanical control of the aperture of Nikon G, Pentax DA and Canon EF lenses. Canon EF, Nikon G and Pentax DA lenses do not have a mechanical aperture control ring on their lens barrels.
The definitions are:
C: Not compatible with Eye-Fi
function (NEX-3C and NEX-5C only)
A: Supplied with E 2,8/16mm (SEL-16F28)
D: Supplied with E 2,8/16mm (SEL-16F28) and E 3,5-5,6/18-55mm OSS (SEL-1855)
H: Supplied with E 3,5-6,3/18-200mm OSS (SEL-18200)
K: Supplied with E 3,5-5,6/18-55mm OSS (SEL-1855)
B: Body color is black
N: Body color is gold (NEX-5D/N, Japan only)
P: Body color is pink (NEX-3D/P, Asia only)
R: Body color is red
S: Body color is silver
T: Body color is brown (NEX-3D/T, Asia only)
50i: 50 frames interleaved model
60i: 60 frames interleaved model
For example, NEX-5CK/B 50i is a NEX-5 supplied with E 18-55mm zoom lens, not compatible with Eye-Fi function, body color black, and with 50i (not 60i) video support.
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
launched on 11 May 2010 . It is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
Mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
A mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera is an emerging class of digital system cameras, intermediate between compact digital cameras and digital single-lens reflex cameras . They are characterized by a no-mirror design and an interchangeable lens mount...
with the body of a common point-and-shoot camera but with the sensor size and features of an APS-C
APS-C
Advanced Photo System type-C is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the Advanced Photo System "classic" size negatives...
-sized digital single-lens reflex camera
Digital single-lens reflex camera
Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....
. Its major competitors in the market is the micro 4/3
Micro Four Thirds system
The Micro Four Thirds system is a standard created by Olympus and Panasonic, and announced on August 5, 2008, for mirrorless interchangeable lens digital cameras and camcorders design and development...
standard created by Panasonic
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
and Olympus
Olympus Corporation
is a Japan-based manufacturer of optics and reprography products. Olympus was established on 12 October 1919, initially specializing in microscope and thermometer businesses. Its global headquarters are in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, while its USA operations are based in Center Valley, Pennsylvania,...
and a few low end Canon, Nikon
Nikon
, also known as just Nikon, is a multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include cameras, binoculars, microscopes, measurement instruments, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication, of which...
, and even Sony Alpha A-mounts. The NEX-5 shoots 14.2 megapixel stills and has a 7 frame/s
Frame rate
Frame rate is the frequency at which an imaging device produces unique consecutive images called frames. The term applies equally well to computer graphics, video cameras, film cameras, and motion capture systems...
continuous shotmode . It has the capability to shoot 1920x1080i at 60 frame/s in AVCHD
AVCHD
AVCHD is a file-based format for the digital recording and playback of high-definition video....
or 1440x1080p at 30 frame/s in MPEG4. The NEX-5 was replaced by the NEX-5N in August of 2011.
Features
For its size the NEX-5 is a feature full product. It has many features found only in SLR cameras but also some that are normally only found in point and shoots. The body of the NEX-5 is made out of a magnesium alloy that separates the NEX-5 from the less expensive polymer NEX-3. Also different from the NEX-3 is video quality. The NEX-5 can shoot in AVCHDAVCHD
AVCHD is a file-based format for the digital recording and playback of high-definition video....
1080/60i HD. On the still photo front there is a 7 frame/s continuous shot. The DSLR APS-C
APS-C
Advanced Photo System type-C is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the Advanced Photo System "classic" size negatives...
sized sensor has an ISO
Film speed
Film speed is the measure of a photographic film's sensitivity to light, determined by sensitometry and measured on various numerical scales, the most recent being the ISO system....
sensitivity up to 12,800.. The camera software has special features like twilight mode and sweep panorama. The latter lets the photographer sweep across a city-sky line or similar long view and have the photos automatically stitched into a JPEG image on camera.
Lenses
The NEX-5 along with its sister, the NEX-3, and also the Sony Handycam NEX-VG10Sony Handycam NEX-VG10
The Sony Handycam NEX-VG10 is a large sensor interchangeable-lens video camera made and distributed by Sony. It uses Sony E-mount camera lenses that were first used on the Sony NEX-3 and Sony NEX-5. It is capable of shooting in 1920×1080 full high definition using a large APS-C sensor. The video...
use a new lens mount system developed by Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
for NEX series and known as the Sony E-mount. Initially, there were three available lenses: an all-purpose 18–55 mm lens, an ultra wide pancake 16 mm lens, and a wide range 18-200 mm E-mount lens.
With the post-November 2010 firmware version 3 installed, and by using the (roughly 200 USD) Sony LA-EA1 adapter, the NEX series of cameras is able to electronically control the aperture and autofocus of Sony SSM/SAM A-mount lenses, and control the aperture of the other Sony/Minolta A-mount lenses with manual focus only. The (roughly 400 USD) Sony LA-EA2 adapter will also support autofocus with screw-drive A-mount lenses.
Other, often inexpensive third-party mechanical tube adapters are also available. These third-party adapters enable the use of Canon FD-mount, Canon EF-mount (without aperture control), Contax G, M42 screw mount, Minolta SR-mount (MC/MD), Leica M and screw mount, Nikon F-mount (non-G), Pentax K-mount (non-DA), T2 screw mount and Minolta/Konica Minolta/Sony A-mount lenses. The E-mount flange register is so short that it is possible to mount 45mm or longer-focal-length non-focusing enlarging lenses on the NEX body, with the use of an intermediate focusing helicoid behind them.
Certain third-party Canon EF, Nikon F and Pentax K mechanical adapters also provide circular control rings that provide some mechanical control of the aperture of Nikon G, Pentax DA and Canon EF lenses. Canon EF, Nikon G and Pentax DA lenses do not have a mechanical aperture control ring on their lens barrels.
Model Definitions
The complete model number of NEX-3/5 series may include letter(s) at end.The definitions are:
C: Not compatible with Eye-Fi
Eye-Fi
Eye-Fi is a company based in Mountain View, California that produces SD memory cards and SDHC cards with Wi-Fi capabilities. Using an Eye-Fi card inside a camera, one can wirelessly and automatically upload digital photos to a local computer...
function (NEX-3C and NEX-5C only)
A: Supplied with E 2,8/16mm (SEL-16F28)
D: Supplied with E 2,8/16mm (SEL-16F28) and E 3,5-5,6/18-55mm OSS (SEL-1855)
H: Supplied with E 3,5-6,3/18-200mm OSS (SEL-18200)
K: Supplied with E 3,5-5,6/18-55mm OSS (SEL-1855)
B: Body color is black
N: Body color is gold (NEX-5D/N, Japan only)
P: Body color is pink (NEX-3D/P, Asia only)
R: Body color is red
S: Body color is silver
T: Body color is brown (NEX-3D/T, Asia only)
50i: 50 frames interleaved model
60i: 60 frames interleaved model
For example, NEX-5CK/B 50i is a NEX-5 supplied with E 18-55mm zoom lens, not compatible with Eye-Fi function, body color black, and with 50i (not 60i) video support.
External links
- SonyStyle product description – official Sony website
- Sony UK product presentation – official Sony UK website
- DP Review (Digital Photography Review) – June 2010, an in-depth review of the two cameras
- Pop Photo Review – May 2010 review