The sexy EVF corner of the NEX-7 (Click here to preorder).
Let’s start from a fact. The NEX-7 gets more preorders than the A77 at Amazon (Click here to see the rankings…with both NEX-7 preorder options inside the top 20!). There was not one single day the A77 was preordered more than the NEX-7! The curious thing about that is: Sony definitely focused their marketing campaign mainly on the A77. De facto there are plenty of A77 previews and image samples around the web. You can find RAW image samples, youtube videos, previews and even first full ISO tests and reviews! On the opposite there are absolutely ZERO reviews, image samples or NEX-7 video samples about the NEX-7. And it’s a bit surprising that most of the photo websites are really enthusiast about the NEX-7 (without having it even fully tested it!):
Imaging Resource (Click here) wrote about the NEX-7: “We obviously can’t conclude a whole lot from a camera that we’ve only seen in barely-functional prototype form, but what we’ve seen looks tremendously impressive. We do have a good idea of what the NEX-7’s image quality will be like,d though, because it uses the same 24.3 megapixel sensor and advanced Bionz processor that we’ve already shot a fair number of test images with in the A77. Sony claims that the A77’s image quality “approaches that of full-frame cameras”, and we found that indeed to be the case when we compared image samples against those from [shoplink 3032 ebay]Sony’s earlier A900 full-frame SLR[/shoplink]. That same level of imaging prowess in the NEX-7’s super-compact body can’t help but be a huge hit.”
ePhotozine (Click here) said: “The NEX-7 is an exciting product that gives manual controls, dials, and buttons, on the camera. These are physical, real buttons, that you can press and feel. Even more than this they are customisable to give you the control you want. Without doubt this is the highest specification mirrorless camera available yet.“.
I summed up some of the key features the reviewer liked. And here is the question for you (you can select more answers!):
[poll id=”69″]
Thansk for your answers! And pelase drop me a message if you find some NEX-7 review! Thanks! UPDATE: The sum of the votes is not 100%. Example, percentage like 34% near one of the answers means that 34% of all voters selected that specific answer.
NEX-7 and Zeiss lens preorder links:
Sony NEX-7 body only at Amazon, Adorama, Jessops UK and Sonystore.
Sony NEX-7 with 18-55mm lens at Amazon, BHphoto (notification only) and Sonystore.
Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 E-mount at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto (notification only) and Sonystore.
More NEX-7 links:
Sony NEX-7 : retour sur l’interface tri-navi (Focus Numerique).
NEX-7 preview at Cameralabs (Click here).
NEX-7 at Photographyreview (Click here).
NEX-7 Preview at Photographyblog.
Sony NEX-7 high-end APS-C mirrorless camera first look at Dpreview.
Sony SLT-A77 & NEX-7 Hands-on First Look at Photoxels.
ALL Preorder links:
Sony A77 with 16-50mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, Jessops UK and Sonystore.
Sony A77 body only at Amazon, Adorama, Jessops UK and Sonystore.
Sony A65 with 18-55mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto (notification only), Jessops UK and Sonystore.
Sony A65 body only at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto (notification only), Jessops UK and Sonystore.
Sony NEX-5N with 18-55mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto, Jessops UK and Sonystore.
Sony NEX-5N at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto, and Sonystore.
Sony 50mm f/1.8 at BHphoto (notification only), Adorama and Sonystore.
Sony 55-210mm E-mount at Amazon, Adorama, Bhphoto (notification only) and Sonystore.
160 Responses
It’s a revolution!
would love to see some leica lenses samples on nex7!
The whole array of Nex cameras is DISFIGURED and made UNBALANCED by the lack of a sensible (= comparably small) lens, except for SEL 16 mm (which is certainly not an all-purpose lens). Sony badly needs to develop a collapsible 16-48 mm. lens, i.e. something comparable to the new Panasonic x vario PZ 14-42.
Until then, the whole Nex array looks pointless and, in a way, ridiculous. And this is particularly true for the top-tech Nex 7. It BADLY NEEDS OPTICS PEER TO IT, i.e. TO THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF HIGH-TECH PORTABILITY !!! With such an addition this camera would be an immense success, in spite of its cost.
Looks pointless? Then why the high number of sales in Japan and many parts of the world?
Because many, like me, like the idea of a quality portable camera able to shoot in very low light without a flash…. so they buy a Nex with a 16mm, but end up regretting it any time some zooom is really needed.
Others, I suppose,carry it around with a 18-55 on. But – handling it clumsily – they will often wonder whether a nice BALANCED Slr, with a nice VF, would have been a better choice…. Ok, the NEX 7 now has a VF. But no gain in balance, and price quadrupled….!!!
As for carrying a Nex around with multiple SEL objectives, to me that’s pure nonsense: real portability and fast-shooting in every environment require ONE all-round lens.
@marcus
Ha! Ha! Ha! How cluless you are!!!
to solve your problem, you need m43 😀
You should try going on a long vacation or hiking a few miles in the mountains before making comments like these. I will take the NEX with 18-55mm combo over the A700 with zoom lens on any well-lit day. What is the big fuss about not having small lenses? The zoom lens is actually the part that I grip with my other hand, so it works out great.
It was so liberating the last time I went out with the NEX. I felt so sorry for all the other tourists with their huge Nikons and Canons. There IS a reason for getting the NEX over an SLR/SLT. It is lighter and more portable. I don’t think Sony ever made a claim to these NEX’s being “pocketable”. Also, most people will only own one camera.
Mike, you sold me.
Mike sums it up perfectly, the NEX series is a great travel companion. My NEX 5 is so beaten up with scratches and dents and yet it soldiers on. The quality of photo takes is exactly the same as the day i pick it up. Granted it’s not a “tough” camera but it’s cheap, so it’s expendable to me. I cant imagine getting a dent or scratch on my A850.
When the NEX 7 lands here, I’ll be one of the first one to pick it up.
lol, how clueless can you be.
I love my nex 5 with my 18-200mm lens.
I feel totally comfortable using it.
Was looking at warehouseexpress earlier, already the 6th best selling in the “Interchangeable Lens Camera” section: http://www.warehouseexpress.com/interchangeable-lens-cameras/b3189
I imagine it has something to do with having a real hot shoe.
Pure marketing
24 mp is the key
To me it’s a waste of time , a waste of computer resource , a waste of HD’s space
This is not only pointless but even a drawback
I can’t see a single reason to use such an high resolution
The only reason could be some inkjet printing , but I’m using much sophisticated and higher quality prints which doesn’t need so many mp
At this time I don’t think this is a mature system
m4\3 is way better , with better balanced body and lenses , better quality lenses , grater choice
It’s a no match for me
yeah… using WA FLs for normals and normals for portraits… and then wondering, why those photos look flat and without depth…
m4/3 – no, thank you.
been there, tried it, moved on, to the biggest sensor size able to adapt SERIOUS optics, not those modern plastic toys
Are M43 fanboys still here ? I thought they are still in hiding in their basements.
: )
Sony did an amazing work with these releases. It will keep us talking for a yer till the NEX/SLT FF blows up the competition again.
It’s your fault , not the camera
My pictures aren’t flat and without depth
Modern plastic toys?
You don’t know what you’re talking about
I’m using glasses like Zeiss (100 f2 or 21 Distagon) , Nikkor primes (28 f1.4, 24 pce , 85 f1.4) and bigger format glasses
Well I’m using even some m4\3 lenses such Voigtlander 25 f0.95 , 12 f2.0 Zuiko, 20 f1.7 , 45 Leica Elmarit Macro and these lenses are very good lenses
You say m43 is way better , with better balanced body and lenses , better quality lenses , grater choice
and later you say I’m using glasses like Zeiss (100 f2 or 21 Distagon) , Nikkor primes (28 f1.4, 24 pce , 85 f1.4) and bigger format glasses
Well all those lenses will balance way better on a Nex-7 and if you use so many big lenses where is the big advantage using a tiny m4/3 body?? Of all lenses you listed there is only two lenses that do the tiny m4/3 body just and thats the Olympus 12 f2.0 Zuiko and Panasonic 20 f1.7.
Whant tiny lenses on a Nex…usa small and good MF-lenses + adapter…MF works like a breeze on a Nex thanks to the peaking function.
It’s better to invest on something that is not as big “now” but will definitely be bigger rather than investing on something that is big enough “now”, lens-wise, but have absolutely no potency of getting any bigger.
Those 100 lenses of yours is garbage if your sensor has never be any bigger.
M4/3 has reached its peak. Admit it already..why, oh, why it is almost 3 years from the first g1 to the latest and some people say greatest e-p3 and yet the sensor has never changed? Yet they charge a lot more than our 5D killer, the NEX-5N.
+1
This idea that a DSR/SLT can’t use alt glass is so WRONG. m4/3 and E-mount are NOT the only mounts that can uses old lenses. I run M42 and Leica R lenses with Super Steady Shot on the Sony A55 all day long. Both M42 glass and the adapters they need, are relatively inexpensive, for the quality one gets.
For anyone out there who doesn’t know, your Sony or Minolta MA-mount camera can also use the following types of lenses/mounts; T2 mount, Zeiss Contax, Kodak Ektar, M39 mount, Voigtlander and some Medium Format lenses. See the Leitax.com site for details:
http://www.leitax.com/Leica-lens-for-Sony-cameras.html
I agree.
NEX-7 is “dressed to impress”. They put anything in that small body that anyone could possibly ask for (or that has been asked for), and make all specs and numbers look impressive on the data sheet.
This is partly a good thing:
-> lots of manual controls, but nothing “bulky” standing out on top.
-> EVF, but again not in that “bulky” style of DSLR and GH2, so you can easily ignore if it you don’t like it
All this adds to the sex-appeal of the NEX7. Add to that a lot more specs and features (APS-C, 24mpx, peaking etc.)
I guess the marketing division figured that it’s a lot easier to impress “prosumers” (which buy and especially pre-order in big numbers) with body specs than with lens specs. While you can claim hundreds of impressive “numbers” for a single body, for lenses it comes down to 3: focal lengh, aperture and pricetag (yet, I know its not that easy, but on datasheets it IS!).
So, prosumers read the specs and pre-order NEX7 even before they can stop to close their mouth again. Maybe some waited for quite a while to upgrade from their “consumer” products and NEX7 makes a big jump here no matter how good IQ will be exactly.
Professionals, which are the “target market” for the A77, compare the A77 improvements over their (already good) equipment before buying it. And while the list of “nice features” of the A77 is long, the “real improvements” are hard to judge right now. Especially if you have an older A-mount camera, it might suffice to buy the 16-50mm lens (which looks amazing) and wait to buy the A77 after the first, or second, pricedrop.
No fanboy
I’m a professional photographer and I need to work fast and easily
24 mp, as I said before , it’s a waste of time
So this is not a professional camera by any mean
When I need an high pixel count is for highly specific works (art reproduction, for example) , then I’ll rent a medium format , and some of the best lenses in the world , and I’ll get an image quality out of reach for such small format
For street or scene works (I’m working in cinema) , or wedding works such kind of high resolution is useless
You don’t have to shoot full resolution. But if you did, and combined full res with panoramic stitching, your medium format rental fees would decrease in direct relationship to the vast amount of lenses the NEX system can accommodate effortlessly.
Now I’m not suggesting the NEX can replace EVERY alternative format, but it does give one the power to come very close in the palm of the hand. But if you like the medium format or large photo systems, I understand. I’d wager there will be an incredible amount of it up for sale within the coming year at very very good prices. I’d wager the NEX system will be directly responsible for those good deals on big used cameras.
Until the day a true binning will be reality , it will be useless don’t shooting full resolution
And, BTW, I always shoot RAW mode
No APS-C can come even close to a 24X36 camera
A medium format can do things an APS-C camera can never dream of , no matter how many pixel it brings on its sensor
Quality it’s not related to mp count only
And, excuse me, but you cannot think you can get a good image quality beyond a specific pixel density
There are several reason Hasselblad chose to get the 200 mp goal with a moving sensor , and keeping the pixel size at the old same level
One of these reason is called “diffraction”
No photographer who knows what’s doing would sell even a 24X36 camera for an aps-c
A medium format is another planet, I think you don’t know what you’re talking about
At the moment I’m shooting with several different cameras Each one is better suited for a specific work
But a smaller format camera can never do a bigger format’s work , no way
You can never control such small pdc , you won’t use that pretty lenses , no way , etc, etc
Wait, you’re a professional and image quality is not important to you? Really?
IF your computer cannot handle 24mp images, it is because you are running windows or linux. That’s the problem.
For video footage, taking a HD image out of a 24mp image should produce higher quality than taking it out of a 16mp image. %50 more pixels to dither down for the final image will produce better image quality at HD resolution.
Replace APSC in your post with M43 and Medium Format with APSC.
You’ll be amazed how well most of your post still holds true.
Just As APSC cant replace Medium format or even FF, M43 is no competition to APSC as well. But reading your 2nd post here – “m4\3 is way better , with better balanced body and lenses , better quality lenses , grater choice”
Wouldnt be the same argument hold merit for APSC Vs Medium Format too ?
Either way – make up your mind about these things.
Liza , try to handle 2500+ images per day @24 mp
It’s something different to handle 20.000 pictures\year
BTW I do use only Mac Pro (and Macbook Pro while I’m travelling) since ten years or so
For video i’m using a cracked GH2 , I think it’s a really good camera…..
Federico said “No APS-C can come even close to a 24X36 camera… I think you don’t know what you’re talking about”.
Friend, I’ve over 70 published full page fashion editorials to my credit. More than 20 magazine covers shot with a 6MP APS-C Canon 30D.
You can check my web site here: http://www.ctphotographx.com
I own an extensive printshop with 54″ HP Printers and 44″ 12 Color Canon IPF8000. I even have a 13″ Kodak/Imation Matchprint Commercial Proofer. I certainly do know what I’m talking about, having sold plenty of 40×40 Canvas Giclee’s shot with a 6MP APS-C Camera.
Your comments are contradictory… first saying you don’t need 24mp from an APS-C, but readily admitting to sometimes needing at 200MP Medium Format rental. Is it so black or white with you? Your jobs only require 16MP OR 200MP, but nothing in between?
My MacBook PRO will extract 2500 RAW 24MP images and convert to anything you want in about an hour, and make a web proof gallery at the same time. It’s really not that big of a deal.
@ Liza 🙂
“IF your computer cannot handle 24mp images, it is because you are running windows or linux. That’s the problem. ”
Windows and Linux can handle all that and more, if you didn’t Know mac Os is base on BSD, which is Unix Same as linux
mac is just an over rated and over priced computer
Why don’t you stop whining and go make some pics. You’re not interested so bugger off and stop pretending you’re cool.
@123 +1
Mac.. is a wrapper around Linux XD
Hurray to true programmers :p
I use Windows for the games, else I lived through college on Linux XD
Yup another one brainwashed by apple and their cult of “I’m a mac and I’m cool” without realising current mac is powered by intel and nvidia/amd. The only major difference is the BIOS. BTW I have a $600 PC(hackintosh) that run OSX Leopard faster than the current MBP(which i also own, and I’m typing this post on an MBA).
You do realized that 64bit PS were supported by windows 1st before mac right? So if anything your statement should be,
“IF your computer cannot handle 24mp images, it is because you are running OSX not Windows. That’s the problem.”
I’m not trying to instigate a mac vs PC war, just saying stop trying to prove one is better than the other or you’ll end up looking very Very stupid on the internet.
I agree.
The target market for the a77 are Professionals, and we know that more megapixels do not equal better images.
Any idea how to become involved in future Sony product development focus groups?
Fredrico you say 24mp is a problem when handeling 2500 + images per day…well you dont need to shoot in 24mp…you can shoot with the Nex-7 in 12mp(4240 x 2832)if handeling many 24mp files is a problem.
Can you downsize RAW files?
You wish I know.
While I’m a m43 user, I don’t fully agree. The NEX7 is arguably the best mirrorless camera right now; if it had a touchscreen, I think it would be perfect. Even the NEX5 that I’ve used is quite nice, and the NEX5N is even better than it.
And the 24MP is not that big since there are cameras in the market that are already close (60D) to or above (5DmkII) 20MP. Besides, harddrives are cheap these days. I guess, a pro will think of that as an undesirable overhead.
That said, having the best body doesn’t make a system. As a compact system camera, the NEX is still behind m43. Until the NEX7, you couldn’t even use a ‘real’ flash because none had a hotshoe; but now, you’ll have to spend >1000USD to have access to one.
Then there is still the lack of small and quality lenses, where the only decent lens is the Zeiss 24/1.8 but it’s still too big. If you have a few and don’t’ mind using m-mount lenses, then great. But personally, I like using my small native lenses (like the 9-18mm and 20/1.7) more so than the vintage lenses I’ve owned.
Maybe I’ll buy the NEX7 and use my vintage lenses on it while waiting for more E-mount lenses. However, I’m happy w/ my E-PL2 + VF2 + native lenses for now. Even though the IQ is not as good, it is certainly good enough and my photog buddies with FF body seem to like my photos. Even my cousin end up buying an old GF1 + 20/1.7 as a backup, but ended up using that more than his usual 5DmkII + 35/1.4 for street shooting.
ALERT!!! “they” are all around!!
You should add a vote choice — dissatisfied with some aspects of the a77 — so either going with nex-7 or waiting to see the full frame timeline/release date.
If anyone had asked me 3 weeks ago about getting the a77… i would have said 95% yes, i will be first in line at the sony store. Now after seeing the details, I’m at 25% (will reserve final judgement until i can hold the a77 in my hands and shoot a few test shots for myself). At the moment, it just feels like in the IQ – iso in particular – of a77 is not a big enough improvement over my a550 to justify the upgrade. I use my camera professionally and NEED industry leading iso performance.
Now I’m really curious to see what the next full frame is going to look like. Really hoping it’s released sooner rather then later.
+1
You use an a550 professionally and don’t think the a77 is an improvement?? LOL!
No offence intended, but the a500 is little more than a toy camera. I had one, then upgraded to an a580. Cheap plastic build quality, autofocus is very “meh” and the high ISO is nothing special. Tiny, awful dark viewfinder too.
The a580 is much better. More solid build quality, autofocus is much more sensitive in low light, and the high ISO is great. The viewfinder is still terrible though.
And the a77 steps it up EVEN more. Weather sealing, much more advanced autofocus, and the high ISO will be at least as good as the a580. And at least the viewfinder is larger, bright and 100%
I think you’re being too negative and paranoid. To say that it hardly constitutes an improvement over an a550 is almost insulting! The a77 will trounce the a550 in every aspect, no problem.
I am hoping the a77 will trounce the a550 in every aspect! I just have not seen that in the IQ of the current RAW samples. Once final production cameras are proven to be a major improvement over the a550, I’ll get one.
I agree with your assessment of the a550… but was very hard to justify the small upgrade to the a580 (have been investing in glass)… This is why i have been holding out for the a77…
ISO performance is the most important improvement i’m looking for…
Robby, you can always look at the a850.
Despite what people say about bad low light performance, the advantage of full frame and 24mp means you still get incredibly detailed images at iso3200.
I sold my a500 and upgraded to an a580. It’s a much nicer camera overall. I expect the jump to a77 would be even bigger. And don’t forget, TWICE the resolution of your a500 will definitely give better performance. You’re just capturing a much larger sheer amount of data. Once you resize, the noise goes away.
FF will be “topest”.
Sorry but right now I have no high hopes, sounds too much like the marketeer for the 77.
It is ticking all the right boxes, to a broader audience than the a77, or any other full size dslr from any maker. It has ability to use peoples old beloved lenses that have been collecting dust. Now people can bring them back and see what the old quality built manual lenses can do on a 2011 digital sensor. Its fascinating to people and also brings value back to hard earned money from years past. The design is very versatile with the dials and customization, people wanted that on the earlier nex cameras, but instead made do with what was offered. In other words, people were buying the nex cameras ‘in spite’ of the user interface, not because of it. The attraction to use old lenses was so great, people bought anyway. Now, the nex-7 is truly what most people wanted in the first place. The a77 will sell well, but naturally has a smaller pool to sell to, that’s why the nex-7 is outpacing the a77 in pre-orders. That’s my onion . How about you?
Hi Emarsh! Thanks for adding your thoughts. I modified the poll.
Interesting, as being a youngster I’ve been focusing on the niche market (Jap teens in particular) instead of existing photographers.
But yes, A77 may appeal to current photographers. NEX 7 appeals to both current and wannabe photographers.
Of course my argument is not strong enough because they could’ve gone with a NEX 5N. In the meantime, I know some guy with rich parents who got the best camera he could, played with it and showed it off, took pictures for a year, then got bored and stopped using it.
Its because Sony does not listen to ME! no, im not crazy, and i’m serious (ok maybe im abit crazy afterall)
There is a H U G E demand for a compact-yet capable camera and system
people who use DSLR’s are sick hogging their 10-pound system everywhere they go because they just want to take some nice pictures
The problem is that sony does not realize this – they still think like canon/nikon – that a high quality system should be a DSLR,
thats why they emphesize the SLT over the NEX, and THATS WHY they did not invest in NEX LENS selection and why the lens Quality(IQ, size) and selection is so bad.
Sony targeted the NEX mostly to P&S market,
they need to wake up and discover that there is a HUGE market that despite 3 years of mirrorless cameras no one have yet produced a DSLR quality mirrorless system!
The situation is absurd, the products are a mess and look like this:
Best Body:………..NEX-7 (by far)
Best Sensor:………NEX-5N
Best Lens Selection:.Micro Four Thirds
Smart Lens selection:Samsung NX system (16mm 20mm 30mm Pancakes)
Panasonic need a new sensor, Sony needs 2 more pancakes and stop thinking that its costumers are so stupid that will prefer lower quality sensor only because it has more numbers in megapixels
Couldn’t agree more.
lol! Such a nice summary.
I take Sony’s point of view, but I do feel stupid after reading your post.
EDIT: Good situation, No? Now everyone has something to work on! 😀
The Nex-7 and various lenses is still much smaller than any dslr system, and I’d say the new 24, 30 and 50 are high quality. It would be nice to have some lower quality pancakes, but I’d bet Sigma will fill that hole.
I completely agree (well, it’s simply because no one has listened to all of us until now, not just you). I guess cameras grew in size with the advent of autofocus, but prior to the Nikon F4 there were plenty of high end small film bodies to choose from, but after that camera it seems like the entire SLR industry forgot about us and started making nothing but monster size cameras. That carried right on into the digital era. Suddenly a camera had to be a 3lb brick in order to be considered “pro”. I have never understood why.
Why would a photo journalist want to carry around something the size of a D700 if something the size of a NEX-7 can do the job? I’m happy some people like cameras the size of the A-77, god knows they have plenty of options to choose from. I’m just glad someone finally produced a camera for the rest of us. Hopefully the NEX-7 will be the first of many. Now, I look forward to the Pro PEN, Pro GF, and the upcoming Leica mirrorless camera. Hopefully 2012 will be the year of the high end compact camera.
Eric you raise another point,
You were talking about nikon F and pre autofocus cameras were smaller,
my first camera was 300D, for years i never knew that fillm cameras were so small! infact i love them so much i’m shooting with Canonet QL17 exclusivly right now, and will be shooting with it untill someone would make a camera that would come close to my QL17
(full frame 40\1,7 sharp lens, and its tiny!, oh, and its made in 1973)
The lens in the 7sII is better. Whoops, now I’ve said it.
I sometime shoot with an OM-1 and it’s quite fun; it is barely any bigger than most mirrorless cameras. Similarly, I wish a company would make a digital version of that.
I also agree with your other post above. With the high demand for the NEX7, maybe Sony will finally listen and try to meet the enthusiast’s need for more quality lenses. Hopefully, they won’t be just A-mount lenses with adapters appended.
Perfect summary of current mirrorless system
Except I think Samsung lens are better as well as smarter than micro 43..
Perfect summary of current mirrorless system
Except I think Samsung lens are better as well as smarter than micro 43.
The 18-200 mm along with the upcoming 1.8 50mm for low light situations almost completely satisfy my requirements. I have no desire to buy any lenses beyond those.
I think the only revolutionary features A77 is the AF speed and if you match it with the image quality of NEX cameras it’s far more acceptable.
I love how everyone poops on the Nex 7’s sensor when no image samples have shown up, and no stable Raw converter exists for the few A77 Raw samples that exist.
Clearly some people have time machines and report from the future. 🙂
Even from the future there are disruption in time and space that causes information to not be transmitted fully.
The raw samples from the future may undergo distortion over space and time bends.
What makes the NEX-7 a professional camera?
Surely not the blazing-fast autofocus with tracking ability or the large collection of high-quality lenses.. What is it then?
The NEX-7 is a fantastic camera in its own right and a high-quality, premium item. But professional?
Yes, professional. I’m a 30 year working veteran who has no problems with putting a plastic Holga through the paces. A professional camera is WHATEVER camera that a professional photographer decides to use. Just ask my Polaroid SX-70.
Its pre-ordered a lot, cause its what ppl want.. or as close as it can be.
Ppl want small-ish mirrorless body with best possible performace. Which NEX-7 could be. Given 24 mpix, I kinda doubt it, but it can be quite ok at base ISO (lets say very usable 100-400 ISO).
But what ppl really want is full-frame in same package with reasonable ammount of mpix. Lets say 18 mpix full-frame packed in NEX-7 like body. Um wait.. we already have it. 😀 Sure, but its expensive, we want it cheaper.. 😀
+111111
For the people that always say that Nex are crap because they need other E-mount lenses or so and that adapting is not a key…
Extract from Sony website, Nex-7 features:
“Accepts non-Sony lenses via adaptor:
You can use the camera with a universe of lenses from Canon, Nikon, Leica, Olympus and others. The success of Sony’s NEX series, combined with the ultra-short 18 mm flange back distance has inspired third-party manufacturers to provide lens adaptors. In addition, Sony has disclosed the E Mount specification to Carl Zeiss, Cosina, Sigma and Tamron.”
Have you seen another company write that on their website ??????
Bring us a Nex-7 body with FF sensor and say Yes ! 😉
Since focus peak I didnt even think about using NEX with E-mount lens. 😀 And theres no need to, we have world literally full of possible lens to be used with that. It would be just bit more fun with full-frame NEX. 1.5x is much better than 2x from m4/3s, but 1.3x or no crop is much better..
Still, even if it was just base ISO usable, pair it with Leica 18mm f3.8 ASPH and it will be killer (or any Leica M :D).
@admin Did You miss the “because of 24 is a big number” option on purpose?
U know Sony customers don’t You 🙂
Look at front side of camera, it says
1) sony
2) alfa
3) 24 mpx
It means this information is as important as brand and model from marketing point of view.
Lowest MP / price ratio. :p
NEX7 24/1200$ =0,02
NEX5N 16/600$ =0,266
NEX7 -Lol 0,02mpx per dollar
but NEX5n seems to have best mpx/price ratio and also ISo/price ratio.
but it’s not quality/prize ratio
A65 = 24MP for $899… 🙂
24/900 = 0,026 same as Nex5n 🙂
Sorry for mistake in numbers above.
I has failed.. Hey but I’m just off by 0,066 right >.>
so tell me, why get a dslr when the likes of nex 7 is par or better? if they can pack such punch in such a small form, why cant they pack even more punch in a larger form, i know dslr has its own pros over nex, in terms of the main focus of picture quality, does it justify the large size of a dslr? what gives
Don’t you know that Sony has been bullied for not having enough lenses? 😛
Because it has everything everybody asked for. More manual controls, built in EVF & Flash, rugged construction, no translucent mirror to eat into some light. In short, it is a complete system. There are no hidden surprises people can complain about.
If it had the NEX5N ISO performance, it would sell even more!
yes, but the NEX-5N is a nice competitor, half the price and the only missing thing is the EVF (if really needed) and maybe the hotshoe, everything else is nearly the same with probably a better iso performance thanks to the 16MP sensor.
So in my opinion the NEX-5N and NEX-7 could be much better selling than the A65 and A77! Sony only has to improve the range of different glasses like Panasonic does and everyone would be happy 🙂
In an ideal world I’d buy the NEX7 and the A77 to replace my A700. Hang on a minute, I could keep my A700 as it’s still a great camera, it’s in good condition and could go on for years yet and buy the NEX7 to go with it.
Is that what’s happening with the NEX7?
The one thing that’s putting me off buying the NEX7 instead of the A77 is the extra cost of collecting E mount lenses to go with it. I’ve all the A mount lenses I need to upgrade to the A77.
Can the Sony 35mm f1.8, Tamron 90mm macro and Samsung 8mm fisheye be used on the NEX7?
Of course they can! The 35/1.8 will autofocus with the original adapter too!
I was 99% certain to buy the A77 but now I’ll have to do some research into buying the NEX7 instead. It would be ideal for camping, backpacking and travel.
What? Samsung has a 16/2.4, 30/2 and 85/1.4 primes. They’re all faster than f/2.8.
Have you seen Utube video of the original Sony adapter struggling to Auto Focus with a modern Sony A-mount lens on a Sony NEX ? It’s painfully long to watch. Back and forth the lens racks for what seems an eternity. The new adapter is lightening-quick, but is basically a mini-SLT… so why not just get a SLT camera in the first place instead of having a SLT hanging off the end of your NEX ?
When Sony starts shipping the promised prime lenses with OSS, then I think the NEX will come into it’s own. The promise of a “Medium Telephoto coming some time in 2012,” -leaves me unsatisfied. Not everyone wants a zoom. Not everyone wants or can to use flash 100% of the time. The 50mm F/1.8 OSS will not come until December. If a forthcoming 70-85mm has F/1.8 AND OSS, well then it’s Party Time ! Even Samsung seems to have forgotten about the need for low-light prime lenses. F/2.8 doesn’t cut the mustard.
What? Samsung has a 16/2.4, 30/2 and 85/1.4 primes. They’re all faster than f/2.8.
Anonymous: The 85 F/1.4 has not been released as far as I can tell. If it does surface at the Samsung NX200 announcement, it will not have OSS (as seen in spy shots and rumor reports). My post was pretty clear about wanting a medium telephoto WITH OSS. Stabilized prime lenses are important to some of us here.
You’re at the same position as me.
And I assume we’re not the only ones.
The existance of the video Image Stabilization and it’s quality – is the VERY important video quality component for the home video. As the most of the shots are done withou tripod.
According to the EOSHD info, the NEX-7 will have same electronic image stabilization in video, like A77 & A65.
And that might become quite an argument in favour of Nex-7 vs Nex-5N. As Nex-5N seems do not have electronic image stabilization and only relies on the in-lens stabilizer.
The electronic stabilization in video mode is needed. Because the in-lens stabilization at the photolenses is not of much use for video. By it’s design it is capable to smooth only low-magnitude hands tremor of the steady camera. But ineffective if the camera is being moved.
There are no much videosamples available at the moment, but some of them seems to indicate that the A77 electronic image stabilization is effective for video. Probably not as good as the one in videocameras, but much better than nothing.
Thanks for that insight about electronic stabilization. On the A77 press junket to Greece recently, you can see on video how steady the A77 is on a moving boat as they film wake-boarders and jet-skiers. While not Steady-Cam smooth, it still is impressive. One can access the video here or YouTube.
It’s easy to understand. There are plenty of competitions to A77 – 7D, 60D, D7000, E5…etc. There is almost none for NEX-7, being an interchangeable lens digital rangefinder with an APS-C sensor. The closest thing would be the $7000 M9.
It’s a pity that mainstream camera manufacturers have been ignoring millions of high performance compact legacy lenses out there, e.g. Nikon Ais, Contax G, other M-mount lenses…etc, which are still in the hands of many many enthusiastic photographers. The image quality of 4/3 has been proved as disappointment to them. Now many, including myself, have high hope on NEX-7 to provide a cheaper alternative to Leica.
What an enthusiast photographer wants is to put a decent sensor inside a conventional film camera body. It simply has taken too long for the camera makers to realise that.
If I would be interested in one of the NEX-7 or a77, I would take the NEX-7 and the new Alpha-adapter. It would give me two cameras in one: An a77 for my A-lenses and a lens holder for Zeiss- and Leica- M-mount lenses.
The NEX-7 goes straight forwardly the mirrorless approach — and does a lot of things right. The a77 is a basically a mirrorless camera in an obsolete housing. Okay, Sony uses the superfluent clearance between lens and sensor for the phase detection AF. But: me personnally, I would prefer to have a mirror there in combination with a high-quality prism as a view finder.
So, if I shall give up the advantages of a high-quality OVF, then I want to have all the advantages of an EVF — including the advantages of a shorter registration distance. Just as the NEX-7 does.
So, if one day, Sony will offer a a99 and a NEX-9, I would go for the NEX-9 and Zeiss ZM lenses — or “jump ship” and go for another system with HQ-OVF.
But I still have some hope that Sony realizes that there are folks around in the upper- to high-end market who value the advantages of an HQ-OVF over an EVF.
@RB: “So, if I shall give up the advantages of a high-quality OVF, then I want to have all the advantages of an EVF — including the advantages of a shorter registration distance. Just as the NEX-7 does.”
Well put! I think this line says it all.
The word “professional” is wrongly used here
A professional work that need such high resolution, need a bigger format
The only works that needs this kind of resolution is art reproduction or panoramic
Both of them need tilt & shift glasses and\or bigger format
So this is not , by any means , a “professional camera”
This is a “professional camera” for the non professional user
It strictly depends on what type of professional that we’re talking about. It may not make senses for your particular type of professional work, but it could work for many other types.
Dear Federico,
what are you going to do, are you going to ban the use of more than 16Mpix on an APSC format sensor?
I am quite aware that the professional´s point of view is different from that of a simple amateur like me. What matters for me is the prize of the camera, a reasonable image quality and the easiness of its use in situations where I need it. These situations differ with each user.
The NEX-7 seems to be the right option for me, but other users will have other expectations and will opt for other solutions.
In the end, people will vote by their feet, going to by what suits them best.
No matter if the NEX-7 has a tag of a “professional” or “nonprofessional” camera.
No
But I think we need some time to get higher pixel density and high image quality
We need some time to get better technologies to reach the same or better quality with higher density sensor
I would ask for two different NEX7 cameras
A lower density one and the 24 mp
Simply I’d love the possibility to chose which camera would answer my needs
I would buy the first one right now
+1
I would love a 16/18mp a77 (and would buy it!) — that would solve pretty much every issue.
16mp a77 — call it a75:
ISO/low light – solved
image diffraction – solved
image buffer (smaller raw files == more images in buffer before it’s full) – solved
one SD card – much more useable with smaller image sizes – buffer would clear faster
+1
+2.. and lower price 🙂
ultimate choice
I proposed this 77s yesterday.
Everything is there, so not too hard to make: a 77x (the present one) and the 77s :-).
Dude, there’s something called crop and resize… let me introduce something called Photoshop.
The fact is, a picture taken at 24mp and resized to 16mp is going to look better than one taken at 16mp right off the bat.
You can stick to low res, but I’d much rather have the flexibility. You know Genuine Fractals can only do so much… and I’ve had to use it A LOT!
@AVESTA I tried Photoshop but I found that windows paint fits me better. Have You tried it yet?
The funny thing is that I went for a “professional” shoot with Cannon 5D Mark II… and for fun I changed to NEX5 with Voiglander lenses half way… would you like to guess which pictures made the cut? Yup, NEX5 made it. I want NEX7 because of the 24mp and the viewfinder which combined with high IQ lenses will create very nice stuff. I’m getting NEX5N just for the heck of it because for $600 it’s a steal and my old Nex5 already made me enough $ to buy a new Nex5, Nex7 and A77. I like the small size factor, and I know couple of other pro shooters that want to go this way as well.
Not to mention that the NEX probably focuses better than the 5d2, hehe
I do love small cameras and smaller lenses
If only Sony made a NEX 7 camera with a lower density sensor (the 16 mp one , for example) it would be very tempting
.
I know there’s the Nex5n but it lacks the Nex7’s control system
You’d be more tempted with the NEX-7 because you want a lower quality sensor? Or because your computer sucks? Get the NEX-7 and shoot at lower resolution JPEG. The camera will lower the resolution in camera if you want a lower resolution to work on your camera.
If you want RAW because you want the best image quality, but you’d rather a lower megapixel count…. well, you’ve departed from science, my friend.
The 24megapixel sensor in the NEX-7 will produce better image quality than the 16 megapixel sensor in the NEX-5N. Always, in every situation and in every final resolution. There is no advantage, except maybe cost, to a lower megapixel number.
I’m sorry to say this Liza, but either you haven’t been around for the last week or you don’t don’t have a clue abouy what you are talking about…
Everyone in this site (except for a few dis(mis)informed people) already knows the 16MP sensor from the NEX-5N is much better than the 24MP, and please don’t take my word for it, check it for yourself (should you have enough computer to process RAW).
I’m afraid it’s your science that is departed or at least it’s hiding from common experience.
The man is saying he wants more quality and you tell him to take 16MP JPEGs from the NEX-7??? What kind of nonsense is that?
I’m saying this as I was looking at this camera as definite solution for the next 4-5 years but having TESTED the IQ of the 24MP, I think I’m much better served with the sensor of the NEX-5N. It’s a bloody shame because of all the extras (and I’ve got enough PC myself to chew RAWs).
Don’t get me wrong, the NEX-7 is near perfect but the 24MP sensor was a shot in the foot!
You tested the 24mp sensor?
Where did you get a production model camera????? I’m sure everyone would love to know where you bought one!
And you have the Adobe update for lightroom and ACR to support the raw files already? Maybe I need to update mine?
a) Not needed, the samples from the NEX-5N aren’t final either…
c) No I don’t!
c) Get Capture One 6 instead.
Seriously, even considering a 1/2EV stop gain on the NEX-7, I don’t see any detail improvement over the NEX-5N, what I see is clearly more than 1/2EV more noise, but this is becoming a mute point… there’s been dozens of similar reports around…
My mac pro and my macbook pro sucks?
Well, Liza , suggest my a better computer , thank you
You simply don’t know what does mean working 300-400.000 pictures per year….
Again..true binning isn’t a reality today
So it’s pointless to lower resolution while shooting
You should study some physics and optics laws, Liza
300-400.000 pictures a year!
Respect! 🙂
Let’s say you work 4 hours a day to take pictures and 4 hours to process them. Let’s exclude the weekends, holidays, etc also. You are taking a photo every 10 seconds!
You are a pro! 🙂
Yeah and for every 10 shots that he takes, 11 are keepers 😉
You seem to be certain that the NEX-7 will have lower image quality than the 5N. I don’t think we can know how good it is until there are samples around from raw files, using the best lenses (which seems to mean Leica lenses).
It may turn out to have usefully higher resolution in good light, and be no worse in poor light. Or whatever. Let’s wait and see before insisting that “nobody needs 24 Mpix”.
What I don’t understand is why it took any maker to figure out this is what the market has been asking for (for like the last 300 years)
And I can’t understand why panasonic never did this with their GF-1 camera….
Too bad for them as I’m getting the NEX-7 now
They know what you want. They just want to indulge you one incremental step at a time. For a lot of money.
The reason the NEX-7 is outselling is the fact that it is the first mirror less with integrated viewfinder AND 24mp sensor.
This is, by far, the best sensor to ever appear in a mirror less camera.
The idea that more megapixels do not add anything is absolute stupidity.
Go back to shooting with 1/5 of a megapixel and see how small your files are.
The reality is, while per-pixel the quality of a higher megapixel camera is lower, the per-pixel quality is irrelevant.
The larger number of pixels means far more data to be used to generate your final lower resolution (e.g.: 1024×768) web images.
Or let you blow things up much bigger if you want.
Whatever your final resolution, you get better image quality with 24mp than you would with 14mp or 16mp. %50 more data means %25 more IQ, or whatever.
Chasing megapixels isn’t necessary, especially when there are other defects in the camera…. but when the rest of the camera is well defined, increased megapixels gives you increased quality.
Anyone who says differently is not doing the math or doesn’t understand some very fundamental basics about digital photography.
(And I don’t care how “pro” you are, you might be great artist, but if you don’t understand the technology, then your opinion is nonsense. Science is science, and you cannot argue with the laws of physics and information theory.)
Well you got the first line of your first sentence right… 🙁
The rest is all delusional because there are basics things that you ignore, like sensor photo sensitive area that indeed decreases with resolution. It’s basic maths all right, but it’s not as basic as you think it is.
And I’m not even mentioning diffraction (it’s not basic maths)…
There are too much of people who are tired to bring heavy DSLR along and searching for something smaller but equivalent to DSLR quality.
With the hotshoe and LA-EA2 adapter, now NEX can do almost what DSLR can do.
The Tri-Navi system is faster to control aperture, shutter speed and ISO.
The only one who doesn’t understand digital photography is you , Liza
True binning isn’t reality , today, so it’s useless to lower resolution
There isn’t a technology using these mp , today, except inkjet prints
But, again, I work with higher standards , I print with better technologies , so I don’t care about it
S\n ratio and DR and other qualities depends both from electronics and pixel size
I repeat…the best camera in the world uses the same pixel size in their best camera (the 200 mp hasselblad)
Try to use it and you will learn why your statement are totally wrong
The right pixel density is the key to get the highest image quality
Diffraction and other factors, Liza , are not an opinion.
This is math
Sorry, Frederico, but pixel density isn’t intrinsically tied to sensor quality. In fact, current aps-c sensors have better pixel quality than most MFDB, M9, you name it, because more R&D is put into them. The MFDB sensors just use their size and better supporting electronics to leverage better quality.
Eric Fossum says that each sensor design has a pixel sweetspot, and we’ll likely see pixel counts going way up from here. Considering he is the actual INVENTOR of CMOS, I’d say his opinion on the matter is valid. lol.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1000&message=37409155
Either way, worrying about the difference between 16mp and 24mp is fruitless. You may be a so-called professional photographer, but I’ve been working around professional photographers for a long time, and rarely do they have a deep knowledge of the technology behind their cameras, and that doesn’t really give one an advantage in a technical discussion on the matter.
That is a very illuminating discussion thread at the dpreview forum link you posted. It would profit everyone to read it before posting generalizations about the IQ and DR performance of 16mp vs 24 mp sensors. It may turn out that the superb NEX-5 sensor in the NEX-7 body, with its manual controls, would be ideal, as some people have claimed here, but until I see some hands-on reviews of the NEX-7, I will reserve judgement. Personally, I am interested in a convenient adventure travel camera, one that offers better (i.e., sharper and less noisy) pictures (in RAW format) than my Panasonic P&S superzoom, yet one that isn’t as bulky as my Nikon D7K DSLR, which I would never take with me on a zodiac in rough seas! The NEX-7 may offer me a good compromise, even though 24 MP is not a necessity (over the years I’ve shot 4 MP photos that are perfectly fine for 8 x 10 prints). I’m waiting to see what the reviews say.
Hi Federico, checking at your work it is very nice! what camera do you use I’m new to photography and I’m not sure if I should get a Sony a35 or wait for a a65 I’m interested in portraiture and dog photography thank you
I think that people are waiting to see the final product image quality. Many people (my included) had high hopes for this camera. I think that with the pre production samples we saw, people got worroied that the iq would be inferior because of the 24mpx sensor. I think that everyone is just waiting to see a real review with a production camera to decide.
I suggest not to look at random sample images, as some were taken by non-photographer. Some of the sample images I’ve seen were so ugly, I won’t even post those on facebook.
Look for images taken by a known photographer, or maybe someone from your local photography club.
This is a rumors site. Please keep the conversations healthy 🙂 If you want to do ‘I’m right and you’re wrong’ discussions, try dpreview 🙂
+1
Yep let’s go back to rumor … now there are some rumors/confirmations I’d like to hear more about:
1. Is there leaf shutter inside NEX 24mm?
2. High-ISO FF model (and will there be High-ISO SLT too?)
3. Mirrorless FF
4. Will SLT-FF be a lot cheaper than A900/A850?
5. Does NEX-5N / NEX-7 still have corner issue? (the one to be fixed by adding microlens)
On FF stuff – admin’s looking into it. You just have to be patient T_T
Remember, admin hinted about 3 possible FF coming next year.
just my 2 cents about the whole MP issue.. i may be off with my math but the 24MP aps-c sensor roughly equals a 14.x MP 4/3 sensor in pixel density.. as far as i know Panasonics new 4/3 cams have 16MP which is far higher density and still everyone bashes a preproduction 24MP Sony sensor while Sony has proven to have some of the best lowlight sensors out there.. the Nex 5 was ahead of 4/3 sensors when it came out and so is the Nex-5n and i`m sure the Nex 7 will also feature a marvel of a sensor. i wonder why people always have to complain, there is no ideal world and so there will always be drawbacks. i honestly salute Sony for having the nuts to go their own way and showing so much innovation in both Nex and Alpha cams! i surely hope it pays off for them and motivates them to innovate even more.
Well said Gunnar
Also consider the improvement from the 12mp a500 to the 16mp a580. The difference was massive *AND* the mp went up.
It is possible to improve the overall image quality with technological advances
And NOBODY here has used a production camera with supported software yet. So why doesn’t everybody just be patient instead of acting like children. The hysteria is absolutely ridiculous.
honestly i`m most disappointed by Sonys marketing once more.. they hand over preproduction cams to semipro shooters for testing.. of course all that shows up on the web is horrible videos and some less horrible test images. especially with such high weigth on video they should have hired some pro photographers and videoshooters(like Phillip Bloom) to show the best possible with those cams and not only let them shoot with the cams but also let them do real reviews to put more weight on the quality then on the gadgetry.. you don`t need to advertise the obvious.
Yeah.. I noticed that too. The general standard of photography in the sample shots has been awful too. Bad exposures etc.
A camera can only help you so much. And of course noise is worse when you underexpose the image, and images look low contrast when you overexposed the hell out of it! Hell, lots of them even have dodgy white balance!
You also should take into consideration what lenses produced those samples. I could be wrong but none of them were using G or Zeiss glass. Lets us wait and see what the images look like after using top end glass. This will not change noise but we could see much better IQ I believe.
A77 prototype came with the new 1650 lens. Not sure if this is a pre-production lens or the final version.
I haven’t seen any official review about this lens on other cam (A55? A700? A580?). Maybe it’s not allowed to publish such review by Sony NDA?
The a77 and NEX-7 are the sole reasons my local camera store just got a Sony dealership. I’ve put their first order on hold for myself. Definitely want to support the local dealers and encourage their involvement with Sony. Since they aren’t known as being a Sony provider, they had no takers on their first order on the first day… Since Sony delivers first come first serve, I’ll be getting mine in November!
Ooo, this is encouraging about the a77
“During our test period, we were able to capture 858 photos and more than 30 minutes of HD video on a single charge, despite spending a significant amount of time flipping through camera settings, reviewing images and videos with friends, and shooting with the built-in flash.”
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/24/sony-alpha-a77-hands-on-preview-video/
Sigh. And people wonder why more and more people are getting depression and the likes of it. The firmware for the NEX 7 is not even out yet and people are already complaining about the supposingly ‘terrible’ IQ from the 24 megapixels. Stop being so paranoid for once and wait for the final product before making any further judgement and give your poor heart and brain a rest for now. This applies to the critics of a77 as well.
I rest my case.
Right on zstan !!. Calm down people it’s only cameras. If you want it buy it. if you don’t who cares!!!. The a77 is the replacement of the a700. for most people the a700 does not need to be replaced. it’s still a great camera. The only problem I have with the nex7 is the lenses are too big. I bought the a33 to have a smaller camera than my a700 to carry around. But my lenses are bigger than the camera!. you should see the 70-400G on it. I’m sure the a77 and the nex7 will be great cameras.
Now lets have fun and go out and burn some pixels!!!
Well,it seems many of them are trolling around here – how you can comment without seeing a single sample pic (regarding NEX-7)???
Is everyone forgetting the A65. I would love that camera for that ptice. It is the same price and the D5100 but way better in every category I think. Im more interested in that or the NEX 5n. and invest in glass. I mean they both have full manual video too.
Unfortunatelly…
Not as small as A55
I would prefer an updated A55… A56? with:
Similar size
16Mpx optimised (as in C5N or A35 low consumption)
New generation EVF (OLED)
Manual video
yeah it isnt but I can live with it. I have had my D40 for years… Im rather fond of the size I think. I was really looking forward to the D5100 but it turned out to be a dud.
“Invest in glass”… You got that right stev… Just received the Oly Pen FT 42mm f1.2 in the mail yesterday. It sits waiting patiently for the NEX-7 to arrive! I can’t wait.
Thats what Im thinking… but trying to figure out a good 3 lens kit for my needs in outdoor nature, and street photography.
Well I hope they will come out with the 17-50 2.8 for a good price that would be great start I think. I need a biger zoom with good quality and nice fast prime.
Check out the web page for the Oly Pen FT vintage lineup.
http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Olympus_PenF_Lenses.html
They’ve got a 38mm f2.8 pancake that is smaller than the Summicron/Minolta 40mm f2. All the original Pen Zuikos are tiny tiny. I’ll be getting the 20mm f3.5, 25mm f2.8, and the 60mm f1.5 to go with the 42mm f1.2. Also have the 50-90mm f3.5 and it is small small. Click around and you’ll find old lens tests for them. They all reach 80+ lpm by f5.8-f8. The 38mm f2.8 pancake is only 14mm long, which even with adapter comes in about the same size as the Sony 16mm f1.8. I have no idea why Sony isn’t designing tiny fast sharp lenses that are as small as the old Zuikos… even with retrofocus.
Other options include the obvious Contax G series, but I’ve heard people don’t always like the available adapters. They have the same 26mm registration distance as the Zuikos, but they aren’t retrofocus. May not need that with the NEX-7 if it truly has angled photo sites at the chip corners. We shall see.
I also plan to definitely get the AF adapter for Maxxum Glass to handle any autofocus needs I may have. Got too many quality vintage Maxxums already.
Another option, that I was totally surprised to hear, is that the old Pentax Auto 110 lenses will work on NEX. I’ve seen video on youtube shot with them. Pretty cool and those lenses are uber duber tiny. Interestingly, they’ve got a 20-40mm f2.8 lens for that camera. Corners look very soft but it’s a pretty cool focal length for a walk around. Problem is they don’t have aperture control, as that was handled by the camera. There is enough space to build an adapter with aperture, but no one has designed it for NEX yet. Another problem is that Pentax focuses opposite direction than Maxxum Olympus. I don’t want different lenses with different focus directions. That’s also why I didn’t go with the Contax G. The adapters focus in the direction of Nikons and Pentax, rather than our more civilized and elegant Maxxum Alpha Leica Oly Contax Canon directions.
Another possibility is the Minolta Vectis lenses. I’ve seen samples from their 17mm f3.5 and it is fabulous. No adapters available and the lenses need to be powered just to focus. Whoever makes that adapter gets a win.
Either way, it’s an exciting time to be a photographer who loves vintage glass.
Oh… And two lenses I can’t wait to try would be the old Tamron Adaptall 17mm f3.5 and 90mm f2.5 macro… get the Nikon mount and put them both on one of the many Tilt Adapters available on the Bay.
Damn this NEX is going to be so much fun to use!
It’s very simple. Not because of marketing, or advanced features, just the basics…
Relatively compact body (does not look like an SLR), built in EVF, manual controls (thank goodness no touchscreen), interchangeable lenses, 23.976 and 29.97 video frame rates (or PAL equivalents).
If m43 had a camera that fit that description, it would be the bomb, but they don’t, and they won’t likely release one in time to suck up the sales from the pent up demand that people have been waiting for. The Sony lens selection is quite poor, even the Zeiss looks like it will be a lukewarm seller, but there is always premium Zeiss glass or adapters to use other lenses such as Leica M.
Quite simply the NEX-7 is a superb enthusiasts camera. For a period it will give the best IQ of any APS-C camera on the planet, you can exploit wonderful glass from a range of manufacturers. It’s the logical replacement for a rangefinder (which is surely a dead format), and there’s a small, but significant bunch of Leica M8 & M9 owners out there for which splashing out on an NEX-7 is but a minor expenditure. Then, of course, there is the video capability. There really is no other mirrorless systems camera that will get near it.
In contrast, the A77 is up against a huge number of DSLR competitors, including Sony’s own range. Many, like me, are going to await the outcome – or even a possible A77-based FF camera next year.
“Replacement for a rangerfinder”?
I assume you mean a rangefinder camera?
Then where is the optical viewfinder with a rangerfinder?
Of course rangefinder cameras have an optical viewfinder. It’s pretty well defined by the way rangefinders work which usually require the alignment of two sides of an image to gauge the range of the subject.
Here’s a picture of a Leica M8. What do you think that thing is on the top left is if it isn’t an OVF?
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=leica+m8&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&biw=1120&bih=466&tbm=isch&tbnid=iJtRaCPg7moVeM:&imgrefurl=http://www.rglewis.co.uk/LEICA/M/Leica_M8.2/Leica_M8.2.htm&docid=N_ZmGhqz5RCvTM&w=1772&h=1057&ei=80VdTr-8EI6q8QPfyJnXAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=137&vpy=113&dur=1282&hovh=173&hovw=291&tx=179&ty=118&page=5&tbnh=133&tbnw=197&start=40&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:40
If some of three yet to enter mirrorless market(Fuji,Pentax,Leica) join E-mount or NX-mount or m4/3-mount that will be very big boost for that mount and hard for canon and nikon to catch progress made in mirrorless sector. Fuji is 4/3 member but with x100 they use APS-c and that may bring them to one of APS-C mount (E or NX) or may be Fuji use they own mount, same for Pentax, they will 100% use APS-C and that live m4/3 out of choice but they may also use own mount, Leica sad that APS-C is minimum for them and they use APS-C from Sony in X1 and there is hope for E-mount that will be Leica choice. May be all of three will use they own mount, that will be worst for mirrorless, and 100% not use m4/3-mount but I hope that some of them will use E-mount and that will be bigger boost then NEX7 for Sony. m4/3 have Best Lens Selection but Panasonic with X lens left out Olympus body without compatibility and that will split lens selection in m4/3, they best point.
Sory for my english…
It is a nice camera – big sensor (m43 or smaller do not work for me), flash hotshoe, viewfinder, tillable screen, Zeiss lens, superb controls, superb video, very small size.
It is the right thing.
I agree with the testers issue – theyre not good enough, the sigma us one is even worse, Martin Parr would do it for a few quid easy.
I mean it’s actually trivial to get Martin Parr to use your camera for a bit.
Stephen Shore runs around with a Canon powershot these days, it really does need a bit more thought from Sony.
These guys trump any brand.
Nex-7 out sells the A77 because of price. Sell both cameras for the same price and see which out sells the other
What’s with all you folks that don’t think a SLT can handle alt glass ?
I use m42 and Leica R lenses to great effect on my A55. I could use medium format, Zeiss Contax and Ektar lenses on the SLT if I wanted to as well. I have SSS with my alt lenses as well. So, it’s not only m42 and E-mount Sonys that can do old lenses.
What’s with all you folks that don’t think a SLT can handle alt glass ?
I use m42 and Leica R lenses to great effect on my A55. DSLRs can use medium format, Zeiss Contax and Ektar lenses as well. I have SSS with my alt lenses also. So, it’s not only m42 and E-mount Sonys that can do old lenses.
Please stop saying DSLRs/SLTs can’t use alt lenses. I use M42 and Leica R lenses on my A55 all day long AND have SSS. Could also use MF, Contax and Ektar lenses if I wanted. You folks who think only m4/3 and E-mount are the only cameras that can run old lenses need to do more research.
I don’t like this… I don’t like that!!! I’m a Professional blah blah… THEN WHY THE HELL YOU EVEN BOTHER GOING TO THIS SITE if you prefer other brands? \
too bad your Zeiss fx lens dont have AF!
I, on the other hand, welcome 24MP. There are many a time I wish I had the extra MP to crop with. I shoot a lot of small animals with a long lens from too far, and with the extra MP, I can still retain a lot of detail and crop into the picture.
All these “professional” jokers who keep reiterating that 24MP is “too much” are forgetting that Sony is the leader of sensor technology and if they say 24MP is the way to go, they’re RIGHT!! Get it? Whine whine, photosites, whine whine, don’t matter – Sony is already using micro-mirrors to get full light with their NEX-C3 and the very close lenses.
24MP KICKS ASS!!!
Sony SLT A77 Review
http://www.keanhui.com/archives/1111