Dpreview (click here) tested the Sony NEX cameras
Olympus E-PL1
Olympus E-PL1
Olympus E-PL1
, Samsung NX-10
Samsung NX-10
Samsung NX-10
Samsung NX-10
Samsung NX-10
Samsung NX-10
Samsung NX-10
Samsung NX-10
Samsung NX-10
Samsung NX-10
Samsung NX-10
and the Canon T2i
1) The NEX images do have slightly less noise than the smaller sensored Olympus E-PL1 but the images do not have much more detail
2) Olympus jpeg engine works better than the Sony engine
3) Very bad handling of the NEX
Overall score:
Nex5 64%
E-PL1 69%
Read the review at: Dpreview
14 Responses
If you compare at 1600 ISO with the DPreview widget, there is hardly any noise advantage for the Sony and still the image from the E-PL1 is significantly sharper.
I think you’re overstating the handling thing – they don’t like the menu system, but they like the actual hardware and how it feels and holds in the hand. While the NEX jpegs don’t look spectacular, its raw output seems better than the m43 stuff, especially at higher isos.
From the review:
….”We could easily see the score increasing by 10 percent if the user interface was re-worked.” ….
I don’t like high ISO from Nex, seems lacking of details. It sure does better with large dark black area, but for area with some lighting (usually the main subject), I like the output from EPL1 and T2i better.
DPR shots are taken in very good studio lighting where all cameras would look at good at high ISO. Look at low light photos or dark areas and Nex has anywhere from 1 to 3 stops better low-light than EPL1. Here is EPL1 and Nex studio photos where lights are low
http://www.focus-numerique.com/test-1077/compact-sony-nex-5-bruit-electronique-12.html
raw output maybe but unfortunately the targeted customers coming from p&s will hardly ever use a raw workflow and also the 16mm lit lense will not be too attractive because each compact already comes with at least 5x zoom 😉
DSLR users will be looking for better controls… I think this camera will be just interesting for gadget kids (or adults;)
Sony shold better be quick with a Nex7 or 9 or maybe 7 of 9 to get at least the trekkies;-)
AK says: Look at low light photos or dark areas and Nex has anywhere from 1 to 3 stops better low-light than EPL1.
I looked at the Focus Numerique samples and I don’t agree at all. There is something fishy about their tests as the NEX sample for iso 800 is actually worse than the one for iso 1600.
Up to iso 800 the E-PL1 is clearly better than the Sony in their samples. At 1600 iso the Sony has a slight edge but nowhere near 1 – 3 stops.
Do this website really have to be a fanboy website where every news that is not m43 labeled need to be a flame post ?
Hi Seb!
Let’s be rational. First,I always told you that I am not a fanboy. Second, I only reported the results from dpreview. The NEX has better High-ISO performance but less good handling and jpeg engine. Please SEB tell me where I told you you a lie or where I “censured” the NEX-5 strenghts.
really Seb the latest thing I want to b is a fanboy!!!
i dont see the flaming in the post. the review does give a very low rating on Ergonomics and Handling… for some reason the rating system has 14 notches instead of 10. so it appears its 2 out of 14 which is about 14%. that’s quite low.
http://dpreview.com/reviews/SonyNex5Nex3/page17.asp
too add: if you think about it, m4/3 has always been flamed for having a “smaller sensor = will have its ass kicked by mirror-less APS-C cams”. but now that such reviews come out, I think posts like these are just “reactionary” stating that so far, the APS-C sensor cams have not done it yet.
I mean every news about NEX (or even samsung) are always turned in way to fact that the m43 are superior (like the luminous landscape review or the roller shutter comparison), like if every new mirrorless system was a threat. What i read in these review is that they are great cameras, exept the menu system (note that they all like the “physical” handling). They are just aimed to a different market.
But yes, i don’t think when you extract two or three sentence in a review you always take the more balanced one. Ignoring the really good build quality for example.
1) NEX is better in ISO performance than m4/3 all ISO samples are 1:1 but NEX has more MPixels!!! Befour comparing the noise downsample the NEX to the resolution of m4/3 ….
Olympus always had a nice package even in 4/3. So even if other camera is better in one other other point is hard to beat olympus.
Atm olympus has big advantige in good jpg engine. If somebody is going to shoot JPG’s olympus (4/3 too) is good and easy can beat ASP-C senzor cameras.
Handling, menu is subject think. Most people have problems to accept new thinks and new way of handling and menu. The good is handling is easy to test in any shop. So go ahead and test it yourself maybe you will like it mutch more than dpreview ;).
The camera compare is somewhat biased, they test the nex with 50 f1/4 (and not with the zoom kit or the 16mm) and the 50mm macro for the pen. And the pen is the winner, of course, the 50mm macro is one of the best lenses available. A more useful side by side test is to compare the camera with the kit lenses.
What really shows the comparator is that the e-pl1 is slightly better than the e-p2 (both test with the 50mm macro).
I prefer the real shot, they are good, the corner softness is less visible. The main problem is not the image quality, but the handling, it’s a p&s camera with interchangeable lenses, with no direct control to aperture or iso. it’s a new concept, not for everybody