Enter the Sony NEX5 (Part 2)

1 week after purchasing the Sony Alpha NEX-5, I began to feel some regrets in mind on why I made such a decision. However, the regrets were not powerful enough to send me to a guilt, as they are not reasonable to convince me that I made a bad move. 

The main options alongside the Sony NEX5 were:

1. Samsung NX10 - A decent choice, as it has the looks and functions of a DSLR though being a Micro Four Third. I'm not sure if this camera is compatible with my Nissin Di622 flashgun, but at least it will serve as a replacement for my Nikon D80 over time. 

HOWEVER, I'm still convinced that the NEX5 is still the best choice though its flash capability is kinda limited. You can't even bounce light from the NEX flash, but hey, once you got that Sony, you no need to think about buying a Canon EOS 550D. Trust me, Dpreview has proven the fact that the NEX5's ISO quality is better than the 550D. 


According to DPreview, the NX10's ISO quality is weak, as it can only reach up to ISO 3200 with a hell lot of picture noise. 

2. Nikon D5000 body (with a 50mm f/1.8) - Perhaps I could have get the body and continue the use of my 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 lens with this newer Nikon, while sending the older one back to Tawau. My Nissin Di622 can be fitted well with it, plus it's smaller. Canon EOS 500D's close rival. Video? It's capable on taking 24 fps, which is still a standard for cameras in the movie industry. 


HOWEVER, Dpreview had manifested a better ISO quality for the Sony NEX5, which is surprisingly astonishing. 


Still the NEX-5 is the best. I'm not sure what the Sony E-Mount lens will be looking like, but hopefully, there is another 50mm f/1.8 to see. My Nikon? Well, it will be still in use. 


Anyway, these are the extra pictures I took after the first post. I really do enjoy the quality of the pictures. Compared to the Nikon D80 images, I don't really feel the need to Photoshop the pics much. Of course, these pictures below aren't Photoshopped, except for the Watermarks. 


P.S - Both are taken from the 16mm lens and the 18-55mm standard lens, arranged in random order. 

Sorry for that "stain" at the bottom, I'm not really sure what is that :( 









Well, that's done. Can't wait to make use of its video features for my future assignments. In case you want to ask for the photo's shutter, aperture and ISO setting, I might add it in time. I'm kinda busy at the moment. :) 


Overall, the Sony NEX5 is indeed a quality choice, indeed. :) 

Enter the Sony NEX5

And so, I finally chose the Sony NEX5 as the final verdict. As I'd mentioned in the previous post, I needed a second camera for video assignments. I need it for Digital Storytelling (DS) and Introduction to Digital Media (IDM) this semester.


I decided to go for the Model D (NEX-5D), as I was told that I maybe will be upgrading my camera by time. But somehow, that decision might be wrong. I'll show you why. 


Anyway, overall, the Sony NEX5 is really a remarkable camera and surprisingly it is a lot better than my current Nikon D80. I won't be doing any comparisons on the 2 cameras for now, but you have to trust me, it's a whole lot better. 


And since the Model D variable contains the 2 current lenses as advertised, I managed to tried on both lenses in the campus. 


Let's start with the standard lens (SEL1855). These are not edited, though there is a watermark there. 


1/4000s, f/3.5, ISO 400



1/3200s, f/3.5, ISO 400


1/4000s, f/3.5, ISO 400


1/500s, f/5, ISO 400


Vivid Mode, from the bus. 1/500s, f/5, ISO 400

Meanwhile, these are taken from the pancake lens, SEL16F28. To be honest, I expected something remarkable from the lens, but then, it won't reach the bokeh capability when compared to the real DSLR portrait lens.


1/2500s, f/2.8,. ISO 400


1/13s, f/2.8, ISO 400


This one's done with manual focus. 1/20s, f/3.5, ISO 800


Sweep Panorama, anyone? It's a remarkable feature, but you have to master the art of using it. This is one of the successful ones.


1/200s, f/10, ISO 200

By judging the NEX5 pictures here, truly without doubt, it is better than my Nikon (produced in 2006, discontinued 2008).


Anyway, NEX5 is not a DSLR. It is categorized as an EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens) camera. I once mistaken it as a Micro Four Third (M43) camera, but this is under the same class with the Samsung NX10. Yeah, I also did tried the Samsung, but I decided to go for the NEX. 


While selecting the NEX5, the salesman claimed that it is better than the Panasonic GF1 (which I don't really believe), as it had the APS-C sensor used in DSLRs. The GF1 is build based on the Micro Four Third platform, but somehow to me it's still remarkable when compared to the NEX. 


Compared to my Nikon, all I can say is this:

ADVANTAGES

1. Ability to shoot HD videos (AVCHD, MP4 format)
2. The electronic viewfinder of the NEX5 helps me a lot in manual shootings. 
3. Better ISO quality (ISO 1600 still looking fine)
4. My Nikon shot can go up to 4 fps, but NEX5 can go up to 7fps (in speed priority). 
5. Can take bigger pics (14.2 MP over 10.2). 
6. My Nikon, obviously is bulkier than the NEX. [size]
7. My Nikon has only 11 focus points, but NEX has the flexible shot feature where you can select your own focus point. 

DISADVANTAGES

Battery consumption


Yesterday, the camera was on from 8 am to 4 pm, and the battery percentage went from 100% to 43%. That was shocking! Compared to my Nikon, it can still run for around a week without being turned off. Yes, the NEX5 has sufficient energy for one whole photoshooting section, but not long enough for one whole day. =.=


Focusing


Despite the flexibility on getting your own focusing point, sometimes you might feel frustrated with the camera not to focus on one close spot in time, specially on the SEL16F28 lens. That is why I am not really satisfied with the pancake lens. 


Let's see if I can find more weaknesses in the coming future. 


So far, the NEX5 is impressive. Well, such DSLR-type technologies for compact cameras has just been around in the photography market, and I think 1 day these cameras will eventually replace entry-level and mid-range DSLR cameras in the future. The NEX5 is meant for DSLR beginners, but it gives a mid-range DSLR-type capabilities. 


I think I had just get myself something that is more than my demand. Well, if you're impressed with such cameras and you're savvy with money, NEX3 will be the choice. That means, I must focus hard on my video assignments. 


Picture taken under ISO 1600. Still fine EVEN under 3200. The maximum ISO you can reach with it is ISO 12800. Shutter: 1/40 Aperture: f/3.5

Back in KL

And after 1 month in Tawau, I'm back to Sunway. Tomorrow's the first day of my second year degree period. I guess things will be challenging, specially when I choose to cook things by myself. 


Pic above: This is my first meal - rice with burger, scrambled eggs and sausage. Success, but I add too much pepper in it. 


Suddenly have no mood to blog after I come back here. Sigh. By the way, I will need to get a second camera as my Nikon D80 is unable to record videos. Most probably I'm thinking of getting something like a Sony NEX5 or a Canon G11. 


And I do had a hard time choosing a semi-professional type of camera. Camcorders? Sorry, I'm not so into camcorders so far. I want something that can multi-task perfectly under my budget. 

Image from Hypebeast.com.

Gosh! This is my best choice so far. My second recommendation to self is the Panasonic Lumix LX3. But then, rumours had been saying that the newer LX5 will be out within this period. I might need the camera in mid-August, where the video assignments for IDM will be in my schedule list.