Engadget (Click here) posted the full Sony NEX-5R review and I agree with their conclusions when they write: “Picture and video quality, even at higher ISO settings, was stellar. The camera’s exposure was typically spot-on, and we never found a need to venture beyond the automatic white balance setting, with each shoot yielding accurate results. We’ve had some issues with past NEX models when shooting in tungsten or vapor light, but we were quite pleased with the images here. ”
Like any other company sometimes Sony makes bad products and sometimes Sony makes very good products. And few of you will disagree when I say that the NEX-5R falls in the latter category. When it comes down to analyze the features you get for the price you can hardly find any other mirrorless camera that can match it!
Along the RX100 this is my favorite camera of the year. And for you?
Sony NEX-5R in Stock status and price check at: [shopcountry 14168]
Slide through the NEX-5R auctions on Slidoo.com.
35 Responses
At some point I just got lost – there’s so many of these NEXes and so very few differences between them that I just don’t feel like there’s any reason to remember it all.
There are 4 nexes 3 5 6 & 7
Quite simple I think
I can see where the confusion comes in when you look at the:
5 / 5N / 5R
The naming logic is a bit weird.
Yeah because he was only talking about current models…
It seems to be this review was paid by Sony. Engadget wrote about stellar AF perfomance but real owners said that it’s not true.
You prefer the nex 5r rather than the nex 6?
For the price, I’d agree. There is a $200 upgrade cost savings over the 6, and you can get the viewfinder for $250. So for that extra $50, you get the touchscreen (probably helpful when typing with the wifi uploading especially), a smaller body, and the 180 degree flip screen. The only thing you lose is a traditional hot shoe.
There are a few more differences than that:
New multi shoe which enables mounting accs
Use EVF and flash together
Built in flash
Takes accs such as XLR add on
Mode dial
AEL button
Quick Nav interface
Mic input? (Not 100% sure about this one)
Oh and there is a NEX-6 bundle with 16-50mm, at this stage there is not for 5R. This bundle is a couple hundred cheaper than buying individually. Which makes the 6 cheaper I you actually buy the 16-50mm & EVF for a 5R.
Unless you really must have touch screen or the slightly smaller size, then the 6 is better value, especially as a ‘primary’ camera (ie your main camera).
“As a primary” or working backup camera, NEX-6. Paired as a walkaround camera, the 5R. You basically hit that it depends on your intended use of the camera and how much extra gear within the system you’ll plan to buy. If I switch to an A99, then the NEX-6 is an ideal. If I stay with Nikon gear, I don’t want to buy any extra Sony gear beyond lenses that I have to. So basically, they both have distinct markets and probably both equal value depending on what your use will be.
I got my 5R from Amazon last week, but before I even opened it I learned that the wi-fi Smart Remote feature won’t work with the current versions of either Android or iOS. So rather than wait, I think I’ll return it now, wait for them to issue an update to their app and maybe then buy it again at a lower price. The remote shutter was the main reason I bought it, but it won’t work on my Android phone or my iPad.
It is working with ios 6 and Android 4. It hangs, have connection problems, download problems and so on. But it works. Or better say it works this way.
Like the comment above, many people feel that IQ qualities of 5R are not too better (if even that) than 5n that it is worth selling 5n. People wishing for 5R will likely want either the phase detect AF (which apparently makes a small difference according to others not engadget) and the extra dial to change exposure settings.
I would not sell the 5n for a 5R. I don’t think the 5R is such a camera that made the 5n seem like the ‘inferior’ product you mention, Admin. NEX 6, on the other hand, is a true product worth upgrading too if I wanted to go that way but I already have my 5n with EVF and the 7 is giving me amazing photos with denoise or neat image at ISO 3200.
Even Ken Rockwell admits: “I’m impressed: the Sony NEX-5R …”!
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/00-new-today.htm
The whole Sony family is going strong and stronger. I’m glad I’m in.
A RX100 for everyday P&S, a RX2 (sic!, EVF as a must) for street&night shooting and the latest Nex bodies, lenses and adapters and special tools (extreme wa, fisheyes, teles, macros, bellows, etc. from all kind of brands) for all other jobs.
ken???? really???? 🙂
What ken says is meaningless.
Not anymore 🙂
lol, why? Because he suddenly changes his mind and likes 5R? C’mon, don’t be the same hypocrite he is.
I stopped reading at “You need fill-flash for people photos in just about every light. ”
The guy will always remain clueless.
+1
I laughed when I read that.
I do not agree. You have to read it as: you need fill-flash for people photo’s (that is how I, KR, like them) in about every light. It is his opinion guys, you do not have to agree. And there is a reason why every pro model photographer uses a multitude of flash and lighting techniques in or outside their studios: it makes it easier to create better looking photos with well exposed faces and the right balance between different light sources. Fill-flash can contribute to that by removing shadows and providing light to back-lit faces.
er, thanks for telling my granny how to suck eggs…you do not need fill flash for the MAJORITY of situations, that’s the point and he remains CLUELESS.
I wonder how much better it is than my nex-f3??
So does it come with, or do you have to purchase the flash? My nex-f3 has a built in flash but I don’t see one one this model. I guess am still getting the nex-6.
Autofucus works faster then in 5n. But it feels slower. It really is. Every owner can measure this. It is true. But one more time you’ll feel it much slower then on 5n. But works faster 🙂 At current moment 5r has a lot of small issues with exposure. 5r has huge problems with wifi. The way they designed it is not comfortable. The speed is not better then Eye-Fi. Flexibility and software quality is not even close to Eye-Fi. No reason to buy it for wi-fi transfer. Unfortunatly Eye-Fi is not my sponsor and i can say that it’s useless by itself. But even this slow card is faster then 5r and works in background. You cannot send images to your phone or camera and shoot with 5r. You have to wait!! It’s driving me mad!!! Applications are buggy. But its the feature i’ve selected this model for.
By the way. A99 has a lot of problems as well. Autofocus sucks.
what’s your source? Canonrumors?
Calm down. I know you’re disappointed
http://photorumors.com/2012/10/31/canon-eos-1dx-gets-dxomarked-almost-as-good-as-the-nikon-d3s/
I don’t see the A99 in your link, sorry
My source is a body i’m own
I’m not sure Sony want you to upgrade to the NEX-5R – at least here in the UK you can only buy it bundled with the same old kit lens, although you can have a choice of 3 different colours. (obviously a more important choice!)
There’s no option for body only and no option to buy it with the new pancake zoom.
Most existing owners will already have the kit lens; being forced to pay for another copy doesn’t make it a sensible upgrade in my opinion.
Engadget loves me (and the new NEX-5R too).
“Along the RX100 this is my favorite camera of the year. And for you?”
I am very very tempted to buy the 5R, if it ever comes with the 16-50 instead of the 18-55, or body only. But since I bought the RX100 I have not used my old NEX-5 anymore. Convincing myself the upgrade from 5 to 5R is still worth it has become increasingly difficult.
Bless Engadget; they are not really a reviews site, much less a camera site (I see them more as a convenient product announcement aggregator).
They are seriously suggesting getting a C3 over an F3. Really? The super-duper fast and responsive electronic shutter on the F3 (versus the shockingly slow and clunky mechanical one on the C3) made my upgrade worth-while. Add to that the pop-up, bounceable flash and you have a usable, small and inexpensive camera suitable for most “social” photography.
Meanwhile, Engadget have produced zero evidence on how well the PDAF works in 5R; never mentioned anything about the huge top dial being unusable on shutter or aperture modes; never clarified whether there are any actual differences between the sensors in the £360 F3 vs £570 5R (I think this translates into $300 difference – a lot of money); could not test or show how quickly or otherwise you can upload a photo from the camera (if this core, heavily advertised WiFi feature is not available to test, why post a review at all).
In conclusion, we might as well read Ken Rockwell; at least we can have a laugh.
If Sony would get something like a 300mm f4 prime for NEX, I would be all over it. 🙂 200 f/2.8? <– that would be way sweet! I love most everything about NEXes except the limited lenses. :/ I guess if you only want to shoot under 100mm, you're pretty decently covered. 😐 (Adaptered A-mount lenses don't count).
I own the original NEX 5. I live in a very sunny country and without a viewfinder and just an LCD it is simply a deal breaker for me. The reflection makes focusing a hit and miss 80% of the time. All those improvements over the original NEX 5 are welcome and the NEX lineup is fantastic but In my opinion the NEX 6 is the real winner and I look forward getting my hands on of those very soon.