Sony Nex-5N

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Hi All,

New to the forum, looks like a lot of knowledgable people about so hope you can help me out with my next camera purchase.

I recently came across the Sony Nex 5 and was quite taken with it. A bit about what I use my cameras for, I am an architecture student and use it for photographing models I make, project sites and one reason I like the sony is its ability to take panoramic pictures, which I would regularly. I go on a lot of uni trips and so a small form factor is important too. I like the 16mm pancake lens sony does.

For the last 6-8 years I have been using a panasonic lumix fz20 which is well out dated and I need a new camera. i recently played with a canon 550d and didn't really like it. Its a bit bulky for me. Another this I just noticed today is the sony does not have a viewfinder, now I have hardly ever used the one on my digital camera so thought this shouldn't bother me, but keep reading how poeple say the VF is so important...I don't see why. I'm not a professional, just need a good camera to take good quality shots.

Do you think the Sony is a good choice, or could you recommend something along these lines that also can take panoramic shots?

Thanks for reading and look forward to some replies! :)

Mo.
 
You can by the oled viewfinder for the nex5n, it's not cheap but if it's anything like the nex7's viewfinder ( which I'm sure it is ) then it is excellent. I sold up my 40D & 24-105l so I could by the nex7 & zeiss 24mm. The image quality of the nex sensors with good glass is unbeatable on crop sensors
 
Sony Nex 5 or the 5N? the 5N is newer and accepts the electronic viewfinder.

The sweep panoramic mode is a major selling point for the modern Sony cameras, i also think the inbuilt HDR and DRO can help with architectural stuff (especially interior photographs). Another pro for the NEX is your main photographic subject, as it doesn't move. The current Sony NEXs and lenses aren't great for capturing fast moving objects but for landscape/architectural stuff the focusing is perfect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JulyTvLVnBY&feature=related

Excuse the cheesy advert but it's the only way I describe the DRO/HDR settings.

I've never cared much for viewfinders (optical or electronic), I'm very happy using the rear screen. For some photographers using a viewfinder is something to help them steady the camera against themselves, others probably use them when the sun is shining directly on the rear screen making it difficult to see (for moments like that, I bought a £2 hood that shields the sun from the screen)

The Sony NEX range is in no way a replacement for a compact camera, the body and lens wont fit in a shirt pocket for example. That doesn't mean they aren't more portable than a conventional DSLR, for me the obvious difference from my last full sized DSLR to the Nex is having the NEX in one jacket pocket with the 16mm lens, and having the 18-55mm kit lens in my other pocket. There was no way my last DSLR and lenses could be transported this way. Another thing is the weight of the camera and lenses, you really don't feel it in your backpack.

BUT like all cameras, you should try it out in a shop first.
 
this chap http://www.dkloi.co.uk/?page_id=19 has been using Sony Alphas for a few years & is now using a Nex-7 - he seems happy.
The in-camera panorama only works in jpeg & you can achieve better results like Daniel Oi's in RAW with a tripod, appropriate head & software (some is even available free).
 
Thanks very much for the replies guys! I did play with it briefly in a shop and that's when I was taken with it.

I've been so used to looking at the LCD screen that having no vf doesn't bother me, but at least you can buy one if ever it is needed.

I'm hoping to get the 5N with the 16 mm lens and will probably get the 18-55 too. If I got the body only what would be a good lens to get? I do like to do close ups of my models.

Thanks again for the replies! :)
 
What sort of models are you shooting? People models or smaller version of bigger thing models? If it's the latter then perhaps a macro lens might be useful. To be honest, the Nex AF lens range is not brilliant...I found the 16/2.8 too wide for normal usage and the 18-55mm is not particularly good IQ wise. There is the 24/1.8 Zeiss, but it's expensive. Sigma have just released some primes however, could be interesting to see how they pan out. Personally I shoot manual focus lenses, and you could get a decent manual focus macro lens for around £100.00 + the cost of an adapter.
 
The models are small scale of concept designs for architectural projects for uni. The macro is something I am interested in having so its something I will need to have a look for too, do thanks for the heads up.

I will have a look at those lenses you mentioned.

Thanks for the reply! :)

Mo.
 
Hi Manualfocus-g,

about these sigma lenses, could you maybe point me in the right direction, i have been having a look but cant quite find what im supposed to be looking for :s would really be appreciated!

Thanks.
 
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Thanks for the links Heidfirst :thumbs:

I noticed on the specifications for these lenses that they have minimum 20 and 30 cm distance for focusing. What can I buy to add on or a different lens for close up/macro shots? The sigmas are well priced too, so thats good!

Thanks.
 
You could buy screw in close up filters for cheap macro, or even buy extension tubes for the Sigmas, although they won't let you use AF or change the lens aperture.

Better still, buy an old manual focus macro lens and adapter. There's loads of old macro lenses about e.g. micro Nikkors about, or even new unused lenses e.g. http://www.ffordes.com/product/11092014410281

Other things you could do is buy a cheap manual focus lens non-macro lens and adapter and add extension tubes. Or use a reversing ring.
 
I was just looking at the 'Sony 30mm f/3.5 Macro E Lens for NEX'

Would there be any sense in buying that lens? Ffordes has one of these for £140. Or are all the sony lenses no good?

I've got a lot to learn! I know about the extension tubes but the reversing rings seem pretty explanatory but never used one.

Just as a side note...I was looking at the NEX 7, is it really worth the price? The more info you guys are giving me the more seriously I'm thinking about getting a decent bit of kit, as I will probably stick with using it for the next good few years again like my last one.
 
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manualfocus-g said:
or even buy extension tubes for the Sigmas, although they won't let you use AF or change the lens aperture.
Click to expand...
Tamron have announced tubes for E-mount that will AF etc. but they aren't going to be cheap ...
 
Mo. said:
I was just looking at the 'Sony 30mm f/3.5 Macro E Lens for NEX'

Would there be any sense in buying that lens? Ffordes has one of these for £140. Or are all the sony lenses no good?
Click to expand...
A new Sony E-mount 30mm macro is £190 (WEX).
It's not that Sony lenses are no good (on the contrary I can't think of a real duffer) it's that there are few exceptional, cheap ones especially in E-mount - most of them are the norm for what you are paying.
On the other hand the Zeiss's are as good as you will get & in A-mount so are many of the Gs.


Just as a side note...I was looking at the NEX 7, is it really worth the price?
Click to expand...
If you think it likely that you would add the optional EVF to the 5N then, yes you are probably better off buying the 7.
& yes, the 7 is worth the money although you now have additional options like the Olympus OM-D as well.
But the 7 will show up lower lens quality more than a 5.
 
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That Olympus OM-D looks like a very nice camera indeed! But don't know if I'm getting a head of myself looking at the NEX-7, but saying that I'd rather buy once, if thats possible!

Does the Olympus have more options in the way of lenses?
 
Mo. said:
Does the Olympus have more options in the way of lenses?
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yes, at the moment because micro 4/3 mount has been around for a few years longer than E-mount.
A few years more down the line they probably both will have similar ranges available.

& of course there is still some uncertainty as to the exact future of Olympus.
 
I still like the sony, simply because of its panorama feature, I like it, it would save me lots of time with the amount of panoramas I have to do.

What would be a good lens to match with the NEX-7 if I went with that? I guess I'd need two, one for normal shots and one to do my close up shots, or I could use a tube to convert it for macro shots? I use models of buildings that I make and use these to do photomontages and create mood type drawings that would depict real life, if you know what I mean.
 
Mo. said:
What would be a good lens to match with the NEX-7 if I went with that? I guess I'd need two, one for normal shots and one to do my close up shots, or I could use a tube to convert it for macro shots? I use models of buildings that I make and use these to do photomontages and create mood type drawings that would depict real life, if you know what I mean.
Click to expand...
btw you aren't confusing close focus & macro (1:1 repro) are you?
I don't know how big your architectural models are but I can't really see you wanting to reproduce them at 1:1 ?
& certainly for static models (possibly from a tripod?) manual focus wouldn't be an issue so with appropriate adapters you can use virtually any lens made on E-mount.
 
Mo. said:
I think I may be confusing the two together, what do you mean by 1:1 repro? The models are not huge.
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1:1 means the object is the same size on the sensor as it is in reality.

So something that's 24mm x 16mm will fill an APs-c snesor at 1:1.
 
1:1 repro means that e.g. an object 1cm long will have an image 1cm long on the sensor - exact lifesize reproduction.
 
Ok, so for e.g. the zeiss lens has a repro of 1:4, this means that the 1cm object is 1/4 the real life size on the sensor?? I tried to just do some quick reading on this on the net and I'm even more confused :cuckoo:
 
Ok, so after some more looking around on the net I found this lens which seems a nice match for the NEX-7. I saw some images on a blog someone had taken with the NEX-7 with this lens 'Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F2 ZM'...but my question is, how do I get this lens to fit the NEX-7? I couldn't get enough information from the blog to work this out...as it seems this lens is designed to leica M mount.

Thanks.

EDIT...
Think I found something....like this;

http://www.digitalmediastore.co.uk/..._Type_Lens_on_Sony_EMount_Body__KIW-LMALMEM-D
 
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thanks manual_g. :) starting to get the hang of this now I think! I thought the lens was not too big after seeing a video review of it. It is cheaper than the Sony zeiss 24 one but as you say is only manual focus. Could I use this lens with an adapter to do close up shots? having said that I think I would definitely need a af lens to get the most out the nex7....

From the two of these lenses which would you buy?
 
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No, it's a small lens but the focal length is quite long :lol:

With a minimum focus distance of 70cm, I'm not sure this is what you are going to need. Why don't you start with the kit 18-55mm lens (buy one used if needs be), work out what focal length you find most appropriate for your work, and then go from there? Otherwise you could be spending an awful lot on a system which might not meet you needs.

You can always sell the kit lens on afterwards then, at no loss if you buy a used one.
 
Lol! I thought I missed something lol

Thats a good idea. I think you're absolutely right. That's what I may very well do then.

Thanks for the advice manualfocus_g! And to heidfirst too!
 
Hi Guys,

Quick question, I keep hearing/reading about 'primes' and would appreciate if someone could tell me what these are. Thanks!
 
Thanks for that manual-g.

And guess what, as I'd been obsessing about the 5n so much before, I've been given one as a gift!! I guess this solves my dilemma of which to get now! I think I will be very happy with the 5n, seems it will be sufficient for my needs. Can't wait to play with it. So I suppose all I have to do is maybe buy some lenses.

Thanks for all the help guys.
 
Mo. said:
Thanks for that manual-g.

And guess what, as I'd been obsessing about the 5n so much before, I've been given one as a gift!! I guess this solves my dilemma of which to get now! I think I will be very happy with the 5n, seems it will be sufficient for my needs. Can't wait to play with it. So I suppose all I have to do is maybe buy some lenses.

Thanks for all the help guys.
Click to expand...

Lucky you :cool:

I bought might as a replacement for a Canon 40D and i've never looked back, cracking little camera
 
Thanks :)

Just looking to get a macro lens for the nex now. What lenses are you using?
 
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