Sony NEX-5N

C

cam1210

Suspended / Banned
Messages
39
Edit My Images
No
Hi All,

I am looking to invest in my first interchangeable lens camera and the NEX-5N has caught my eye. I will happily admit, I'm a sucker for the way it looks as well as the actual camera specs! But I have been encouraged by some very good reviews, particularly IQ at higher ISO.

Now, I want to do some proper research before I buy it because unlike other goods, I always seem to buy a digital camera and then change my mind on what I want (probably because there is so much variety out there).

Firstly, I see that there are two versions, one with two lenses...16mm and 18-55mm and one with just the 18-55mm lens. Will the photos from the wider lens be that much different from the zoom lens at 18mm? ie what does 16mm give me that 18mm does not...is there a marked difference?

Secondly, anyone got one of these and would recommend it or are there other recommended similar cameras? Very keen to get personal recommendations and insight into micro-4/3.

Sorry, I am a beginner to all of this so my questions are probably very basic!

Thanks,

Chris.
 
The 5N is now discontinued in terms of production & replaced by the 5R (with new features etc.). There should be some good buys whilst stock lasts.
The 16mm as well as giving you a wider view (& there are 2 dedicated adapters for an even wider view or fisheye) also goes to f2.8. It's also smaller so the body+lens will fit in a pocket which the body+18-55 struggles to.
 
Thanks for that. I guess in value terms, buying the dual lens kit is better in the long run. I would also be interested in a fisheye adaptor, so even more reason to get the 16mm lens. What advantage does the ability to go to f2.8 mean? Why does the 16mm lens allow this but the zoom does not?
 
F2.8 allow you to have lower depth of field (more background/foreground out of focus) and also shoot in lower light without needing to drop shutter speed as much.

Zoom lenses do exists that allow 2.8 all the way through the range but they tend to cost more because of that (which is why the kit lens doesn't)
 
Yep, if I were a NEX man the 16mm would probably stay on there for good!
 
Only doubt I've got is that it seems to get decent reviews but hardly any mention on this site. If anyone has other recommendations for someone wanting to 'go serious' after years of being an auto snapper, please let me know....
 
The NEX-5N is excellent for what it is but 1 thing about NEX, m4/3 & all other compact system cqmeras is that tracking AF doesn't yet compare to a DSLR for fast moving things like e.g. in that Leeming thread.
Every generation they get better though & close the gap.
 
I had an nex 5, the previous model. I loved it, had the 16mm on there and also used old primes. I swapped for a Fuji x10 as it better suited my needs at this moment in time.

I am still considering changing to nex though and may pick up another one. There was something special about using old manual focus lenses.

I would say its a good choice, never used m4/3 though, so can't comment on that.
 
Thanks for the input. I would never have realised about the tracking AF issue with compact system cameras.
 
heidfirst said:
The NEX-5N is excellent for what it is but 1 thing about NEX, m4/3 & all other compact system cqmeras is that tracking AF doesn't yet compare to a DSLR for fast moving things like e.g. in that Leeming thread.
Every generation they get better though & close the gap.
Click to expand...

Indeed. The 2 weakest points of the Nex system (I have the older Nex 5) is a lack of native (e-mount) lenses and slow AF (compared to a dslr or even to m43). Both of these are being addressed to some extent with the latest models (Nex 5R and Nex 6) and new lens announcements.

A viewfinder would be useful in bright sunlight - there is an external one you can attach (for the 5n, 5R) but it costs £200. :gag: The forthcoming Nex 6 (and current Nex 7) have built in viewfinders, as do some m43 cameras (G3, G5, OMD, GH2).

The 16mm and wide angle convertor are worth getting (the 16mm is only around £100 extra if bought with the camera as part of the twin lens kit, the convertor is around £90 on amazon), the 18-55 kit lens is adequate and the 55-210 zoom (£220) is also useful to have and quite decent. Of the primes the 50mm 1.8 (£220) is good and the 30mm Sigma is nice too and great value at £130 ish. The upcoming pancake zoom and 35mm 1.8 both look promising.
 
I had several m4/3 cameras before going for a nex-5 (the older one), and the nex gives noticably better image quality, presumably because of the larger sensor. The range of lenses is more limited than m4/3 but there is now a reasonable set of Sonys, and with Sigma making a couple of very good primes the options are getting better. I would prefer to have a viewfinder, so may upgrade to the nex-6 when I can afford to as it seems better value than the 5 n or r with addon vf.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top