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Sony's α (Alpha) NEX-5 takes mirror-less/finder-less, interchangeable-lens camera technology to the next level by integrating the resolving power of an APS-format imaging sensor in a camera body that's 48% smaller and 49% lighter than traditional compact DSLRs.
While the camera is physically smaller than a compact DSLR, it retains the imaging qualities of an APS imaging sensor, which contains 58% more surface area than a Four Thirds imaging sensor, and about 13 times the surface area of point-and-shoot imaging sensors. The end result is true pro-quality resolving power in a far smaller package. For still imaging, the NEX-5 captures JPEGs (Fine or Standard), RAW, or JPEG+RAW in a choice of sRGB or Adobe RGB color spaces. In addition to stills, the NEX-5 also captures HS 1080/60i video as well as Full-AVCHD video with Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 audio. For more precise audio there is an optional shoe-mounted shotgun mic that features 90°/120° tilt movement.
The NEX-5 is designed to use Sony E-series lenses, a compact line of optics designed to work with the reduced flange distance that resulted from the removal of the reflex viewing system. The new E-series optics are smaller than Sony's traditional DSLR optics while retaining the imaging qualities Sony is recognized for. In addition to Sony E-series optics, you can also use any of Sony's traditional DSLR lenses (as well as all Minolta AF-mount optics) on the NEX-5 by using the optional LA-EA1 lens adapter. (Note - Manual focus and full-open aperture metering only when using LA-EA1 lens adapter)
The Live View viewing system of the Sony NEX-5 consists of a hi-fidelity 3", 921,600-dot TFT TruBlack LCD that can be tilted downward 45° and upwards of 80° for composing still or video images from extreme angles and/or in tighter shooting quarters.
As for performance levels, the NEX-5's Contrast Auto Focus system has quick response times and can capture full-res stills at burst-rates up to 7 frames-per-second. Low-light shooters will appreciate the ability to increase ISO sensitivity up to 12800, not to mention the NEX-5's Anti-Motion Blur and Hand-held Twilight modes, which capture 6 rapid-sequence images of a subject, analyze the exposure and focusing details of each image, and layer the optimum portions of these exposures into a single optimized image.
Another cool feature found on the Sony NEX-5 is Sony's renowned Sweep Panorama mode, which captures up to 60 individual images and stitches them together in-camera to produce panoramic images up to 226° across by simply pressing the shutter and 'sweeping' the camera vertically or horizontally across the area you want to capture.
Other features found on the Sony NEX-5 include manual overrides for focus and exposure controls, Auto HDR capture and a Dynamic Range Optimizer for expanding shadow and highlight details, Advanced Anti-Dust technologies, 8 Scene modes and 6 Creative settings, Background Defocus, for in-camera selective-focus control, a 25-point AF system, HDMI connectivity, and up to 330 exposures per battery charge.
Because Sony NEX-series are designed with hand-held, low-light/high ISO imaging in mind, there is no built-in flash. But for times you want or need to use flash, a low-profile Sony HVL-F7S P-TTL flash (guide # 7m @ ISO 100) is included with each camera.
Included with this kit is a Sony E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens (27-82.5mm equivalent), which contains 11 elements in 9 groups, 4 aspheric surfaces, a minimum focus of 0.82' (0.25 m), and Optical SteadyShot technology for up to 4-stops of vibration reduction.
| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Lens Mount | Sony E Mount |
| Camera Format | APS-C (1.5x Crop Factor) |
| Resolution |
Effective Pixels: 16.1 Megapixels Max Resolution: 16 MP: 4912 x 3264 |
| Sensor Type / Size | CMOS, 23.5 x 15.6 mm |
| File Formats |
Still Images: JPEG, RAW Movies: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Audio: AAC |
| Dust Reduction System | Y |
| Noise Reduction | Yes |
| Memory Card Type |
Memory Stick PRO HG-Duo SD SDHC SDXC |
| AV Recording | |
|---|---|
| Video Recording | Yes, NTSC |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3, 16:9 |
| Audio Recording | With Video, Stereo |
| Focus Control | |
|---|---|
| Focus Type | Auto & Manual |
| Focus Mode | Single-servo AF (S), Continuous-servo AF (C), Manual Focus (M) |
| Autofocus Points | 25 |
| Viewfinder/Display | |
|---|---|
| Display Screen | 3" Rear Screen Tilting LCD (921600) |
| Screen Coverage | 100% |
| Live View | Yes |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| ISO Sensitivity | 100-25600 |
| Shutter |
Type: Electronic Speed: 30 - 1/4000 sec |
| Metering Method | Spot metering, Center-weighted average metering, Multi-zone metering |
| Exposure Modes |
Modes: Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Shutter Priority Compensation: -3 EV to +3 EV (in 0.33 EV steps) |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Kelvin, Shade, Preset Manual |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 10 fps |
| External Flash Connection | Proprietary |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Self Timer | 2 sec, 10 sec |
| Connectivity | AV Output, HDMI C (Mini), USB 2.0 |
| Software Requirements |
Windows: XP (SP3), Vista (SP2), 7 Mac: OS X 10.3 or later |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery | 1x NP-FW50 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 4.36 x 2.31 x 1.50" / 11.08 x 5.88 x 3.82 cm |
| Weight | 7.4 oz / 210 g Camera body only |
| Kit Lens | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length |
18-55 mm Comparable APS-C Focal Length: 27-82.5 mm |
| Aperture |
Maximum: f/3.5 - 5.6 Minimum: f/22 - 32 |
| Angle of View | 76° - 29° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 9.84" (24.99 cm) |
| Magnification | 0.3x |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:3.3 |
| Groups/Elements | 9/11 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Filter Thread | Front: 49 mm |
| Dimensions (DxL) | Approx. 2.44 x 2.36" (6.20 x 5.99 cm) |
| Weight | 6.84 oz (194 g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Most Liked Positive Review
Amazing little camera !
In my seemingly endless search to find a compact camera for carry when I can't have a Dslr I decided to give the NEX system a try. Sure, I read most of the on ...Read complete review
In my seemingly endless search to find a compact camera for carry when I can't have a Dslr I decided to give the NEX system a try. Sure, I read most of the on line reviews, most of which said great image quality but a horrific menu system. Let me start by saying I usually shoot with semi-pro bodies, specifically Canon 7D, 5D MK2 and 50D. I am no fan of hidden menus and much prefer a single button for access to an operation. With that being said, I ordered the NEX-5 with both current lens.
The camera arrived promptly from B+H and I was immediately impressed with it's size, especially with the flash and pancake lens attached. I tried a handful of inside high ISO shots and then moved outside, capturing everything from landscapes to flowers. After a few short minutes I found making changes to the camera's setting pretty simple and straight forward, certainly nothing nearly as bad I was expecting from the reviewers. I shot mostly in raw, using jpeg when it was necessary to try the Hdr modes.
I downloaded my first shots and I have to say, the image quality is outstanding ! The high ISO shots are incredible and I seriously doubt any 4/3's camera currently in production can come close to the performance the NEX provides. All shots showed great color, contrast and sharpness with both of the lens. I have yet to find the cameras interface as a burden. The rear LCD is crisp and easy to use in all of but the brightest sun. The cameras metering and AF is precise. I have found that leaving the camera in IA with auto ISO and set to raw to be the best setting for unexpected shots. If time permits I switch the camera to either aperture or shutter priority for better control.
Complaints... relatively few. I would like to see a firmware update that allows auto ISO to go to 3200, the camera can certainly shoot there easily IMO. The time from off to on isn't quite as fast as I would like, not sure why they have a lag there but again maybe this is also something a firmware update could fix. Neither are a deal breaker for me and I love this little camera !
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Most Liked Negative Review
focus problems in video mode
finally a big sensor in a small camera! The right way to go! The photos are good, low light performance is really good, although it loses some detail. The menu is easy to...Read complete review
finally a big sensor in a small camera! The right way to go! The photos are good, low light performance is really good, although it loses some detail. The menu is easy to understand and I never needed a manual to find what I was looking for. There could be quicker ways for ISO and the likes, but aperture, shutter speed and moving the focus point is easily accessible.BUT: How would you like it if you focus on a subject, press the shutter --- and the focus goes "bye, bye I am doing whatever I want, not what you want". This is what happens with the video function. You have no control whatsoever - the result is accordingly. The camera seems to focus on the area with the most contrast - bad if you want to film a friend who isn't contrasty enough (and who is?) - in comparison with the background or some object closer to the lens. It will focus on the background or foreground. The person stays out of focus - almost always. Somtimes it focuses back and forth, seemingly not being able to make a decision.Only in well lit outdoor situations where the lights and contrasts are equally spread around the whole frame, the camera will set the aperture at a high value - and everything will be sharp - the background, the foreground, the subject/object.But what about the promise of a blurred background, the creative options promised by Sony? This will only come true if Sony at least enables face detection, subject tracking ... or the wisest option: the same manual control you have for still photography. It is all disabled in video mode, which makes for a dead camera in this mode.[@] says:"The large Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor inside the NEX-5 ensures superb video image quality. It also enables beautiful background defocus effects you can't achieve with video on ordinary compact cameras."Reality: Until now it enables an erratic focus, which blurs away your subject or the background - you never know. Solution: Firmware update! It is such a stylish camera, it should be enabled to shoot stylish videos!
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
This is our family camera and we love the ease and portability of it. My 8 yr. sold son enjoys using it to snap photos of his interests and my husband and I have loved having it to take pictures at all of the sporting events and family gatherings we have been to.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
I was looking for a compact camera that is easy-to-use in versatile situations with superior lens options and good video functionality. A friend turned me on to the Sony NEX series and I couldn't be happier. The photo quality, even after only a brief tutorial with my new camera, is far superior to the Nikon D60 that I was using previously.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
This was my first EVIL camera and it is excellent, especially at this price range. It takes gorgeous pictures and has easy to use controls for any lighting situation. None of the preset functions feel gimmicky and actually serve a purpose. Sweep panorama mode is probably the most fun while hand-held twilight is the most useful.
The physical size of this camera is also a huge bonus compared to the standard DSLR. If you buy the 16mm pancake lens I can easily see this being carried around in a jacket pocket. Unfortunately, the stock lens is on the big size but it's great for almost every situation. Don't expect to pocket it with the kit lens, though.
The video mode is has nice quality, but only good light. Only the NEX-5N (And 7) allow manual controls over video. All you can adjust on this model is the contrast, saturation, and sharpness via the various creative styles. Low light video has visible noise.
Overall this is an excellent travel camera for taking photos and family videos. I highly recommend getting the pancake lens for maximum portability.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
I'm at an amature when it comes to photography, but I know what I want from a basic picture and from the camera taking my picture, and I've (mistakenly) looked for it in $200-300 point and shoots. This camera is EXACTLY what I've been looking for.
I read reviews about the camera, and I agree with all of them except the negative comments (every once in a while there comes along a faulty product ... but I didn't get that and I haven't had to deal with Sony directly, so i can't speak to their quality of customer service).
The camera is compact enough to fit in a coat pocket (the lens of course adds more size than a regular point and shoot), and it really is easy to just carry around.
One of my favorite aspects of the camera, and the one that really makes this camera worth the money (i've been looking for a camera that does this) is the low-light capabilities. Most point and shoots have difficulty keeping a steady shot in anything but bright light -- indoors is almost off-limits without a flash, which affects any natural lighting. The nex5 does the low-light. I took it into the bathroom with the light off and only a trickle of light coming in, and it still took a half-decent pic! I had to close the door for pitch black conditions to get a bad picture.
Although there aren't many quick buttons on the exterior, the menu setup really is easy to use. It is well-organized and easy to navigate the options. Although the option to designate which functions are controlled by the quick buttons, I wish there were a little liberty in assignment options (for example, if i want the ease of switching between color and b/w, it's impossible to assign a b/w function to those buttons). Regardless of that very minor setback, the menu is still easy to use.
One other small option that i wish it had is being able to change the point of focus in the "intelligent auto" mode. Point of focus can only be changed in the manual modes. That being said, the intelligent auto mode takes REALLY good pics.
The back LCD is superb. The images are super clear, and even the menu search is pleasing to the eye and easy to use with the scroll button. Up and down tilt makes it easy to get those "other" point of reference shots (shooting above a crowd or taking a shot near the ground).
In short: I LOVE THIS CAMERA.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
I have two sons that have both studied photography and when I asked them what camera I should buy, I got the third degree... Once that was done they decided I needed to look at this one. They couldn't have been more right. Simple Stupid and takes great pictures. I take it with me everywhere and have not been displeased. Thanks to my sons and Sony
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
small,compact
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
Use the camera to take reference photos that I can use as subjects for my fine art. Easy to use and takes great pics.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
I use this camera take family picture and some time take on travel. I like this camera because it has intercharge lens. I can choose any lens I want to. and I can focus the picture as a professional camera. I can choose any optional lens and etc...
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
We love this camera. This is the second one that we have owned, the other one was taken by a family member because she loved it so much. The portability and ease of use make this camera superb for photos at family activities and sporting events.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
Great product, low price, And awesome price guaranty! I bought for the first time, Ino problems. 2weeks later, checked the web site again, and it was $200 cheaper. Called customer service, without even a order number ... Credited me without question.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
I recently bought this camera after selling a large SLR camera that became too cumbersome with my 2 young kids. This camera has a solid frame and is durable. It is so compact it can fit in my diaper bag. I thought not having a flash available at all times would be an issue, but it's actually not at all. While dim lighting generally is an issue, the night mode on this camera is excellent. This is a great choice for a more simple approach to amateur photography.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
About a year ago I was looking for a compact camera that would take DSLR quality photos. The Sony Nex alpha 5 seemed to fit this bill.
I have taken several thousand photos over the last year with my Nex alpha-5. At the same time many hours have been spent coming to grips with the menus and reading the manual. My general feeling has always been that the layout of the menus and options provided to the user were designed by engineers with little if any interaction with photographers. To give one example, the purported HDR facility. Firstly, this is NOT HDR, but an 8-bit jpeg image. Secondly, there is no way to take an "HDR" image remotely - you actually have to press the photo button, so the first of three images has camera shake, even with the camera on a tripod.
Also, why is the shutter soooo noisy? And in addition, you can feel the shutter so I think this adds blur to the images.
There are also times when options are grayed out, but without any apparent reason. Again, you have to be very familiar with the manual.
I think the issue that I found most annoying is the noise in images within areas of sky or shadow, even at ISO 200.
There is little point taking photos in the Intelligent Auto mode since they are almost always over exposed.
So is this a terrible camera? No, there are some good features such as its small size.
Finally, I am sad that I spent my money on this camera. Oh well, I still have my Nikon D700.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
This is a great camera. It is very user-friendly and can capture both artsy pictures and random snapshots of life. There are photo tips and you can use it on both manual and automatic. This is a perfect camera!
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
I have owned this camera for several months and find that it is an excellent travel camera. I bought it mainly for this purpose but have found it good for macro work as well. Using legacy lenses is a lot of fun and I dug out some Minolta Rokkors and Nikon AIs that I have from the 70's and 80's. Some of these are excellent lenses and capable of some great images. I do not find the camera overly complicated or difficult to use. It will not replace a DSLR for some things... Birds in Flight, Sports, Fast moving kids etc. But for a lot of applications it is fine.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
The NEX5 is the best camera ever really high quality, portable, great looking, quality that of a very professional camera.Really great videos and an affordable price. The quality of the pictures will leave you speechless.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
I'm not even close to a professional photographer...rather just a guy who has been steadily upgrading a line of sony PNS's over the last few years. All of the PNS I have ever own had the same problem, low light performance required an extremely steady hand and really good timing with the subject. So when we had out first child recently It seems like even my newest Sony HX5V couldn't keep up with my little mover in low light. Then I bought the NEX-5 and now all that has changed. The NEX-5 thanks to its sensor size takes great photos, with the low light photos being amazing compared to even the HX5V. The only time I added the flash so far was to test it to make sure it worked. Of course if I went camping that would change. The background defocus is great for us amateurs and makes my little girl look even better. I've tried the Fine jpeg and RAW...to me I can't tell much of a diffrence. I've only had the camera for a month now, but my impression with this one is its a keeper. B&H had a great deal at the time I bought it that included a bag and memory card. I saved the memory card for a backup since I already had a larger one. Overall I would give the camera 5 stars because it met all of my concerns, but since I've only had it for only 1 month I didn't want to rate it too high only to dock it later as I learn more about it.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
a very nice camra easy to use great pictures good for traveling! thank you B&H
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
Flash could be inside. editing photos only in computer!!
Pictures quality wonderfull
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
The first thing I did upon laying my hands on the camera was to configure the camera to my taste. Set the softkey functions to the ones I use most frequently and out of sheer excitement, changed to the 50mm f/1.8 SAM lens that had arrived last week. Turned out to be a killer combination.
Firstly, the LCD is magnificent. Haven't yet used it in direct sunlight however. According to the various reviews I've read, its quite unusable in direct sunlight. Will just have to figure out how to deal with this situation should it arise. Apart from this, the LCD,IMHO, is sensational. I don't miss a viewfinder at all.
Almost every review I'd read mentioned a isastrous user interface. At first, having to navigate the menu for every function felt quite painful. Well, it is. However, with firmware version 3 (which mine came preinstalled with), the two softkeys can be assigned four different functions, combined. I've set the single use softkey to MF Assist and the multi-use one to ISO, Metering mode and White Balance. I've now grown to actually like the fact that I can control the whole range of shooting functionality with a single dial.
White balance measurement of this camera is the best of what I've yet used. Each and every scene's warmth was judged to perfection. Not once did I have to adjust the white balance manually. Note that I'm talking about faithfully rendering the scene. The exposure levels are also dead-on! I have not even once had to move away from Auto WB.
Manual focus on the NEX is pure joy! MF Assist is superb. A few minutes ago, I upgraded the firmware to version 4, from version 3 that the camera came with. Peaking now allows me to focus even faster,
without MF Assist - which while very accurate, can be slow to use at times. I'm simply in love with the 50mm at f/1.8 on manual focus on the NEX. Can't wait to get some older MF lenses with adaptors and use them with the NEX!
Both the E-mount lenses that came as part of the camera kit sport a decently fast and absolutely silent autofocus mechanism. The A-mount SAM lens focuses quite slowly, however. Sony's announcement of AF support for the SAM and SSM A-mount lenses via the LA-EA1 adaptor mentioned the AF times to be between 2-7 seconds. From the experience I've had, this is quite accurate. But, I really don't care with such fantastic support for MF.
One annoyance with the camera so far has been the exceptionally loud shutter. I'm not sure whether it's the actual shutter making that noise or if it's some software induced nuisance. If it's the latter, I can't figure out how to get rid of it.
It's also not at all apparent why some of the menu options are greyed out when they are. For instance, the HDR option was unavailable, but no explanation as to why. Turns out that it works only in pure JPEG format on PASM modes.
Also, the battery life is _bad_. LCD usage drains it quite quickly. A full first charge was down to 30% by the end of the day's play time.
All in all, even though I haven't really had much time to test this baby out in the field as such, I find it to be one of my best investments, ever.
The SooC shots are extremely good. I had to shoot above ISO 400 at all times because there was never sufficient light. Didn't go beyond ISO 1600, but all the shots are great. Crisp colours, nice detailed textures in the shots I took of seat covers, skin and even a ventilation mesh.
I guess you can say that I'm in love.
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Comments about Sony Alpha NEX-5 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera w/18-55mm Lens (Black):
After carrying this camera around for a couple months and shooting thousands of photos, I've come to the conclusion that this camera was a complete waste of money. I wanted DSLR quality in a compact profile, but this camera isn't even close to DSLR quality, forget the sensor size. If you're just want a better point and shoot, this camera might work for you--except that it's a lot bigger and more expensive than a high quality point and shoot. So, really, there's no point to this camera. Here's why:
Excessive noise even at the lowest ISO: I've taken many pictures Even when everything is perfect on the camera, there are unacceptable levels of noise in skies and dark areas on the image. A decent DSLR will not show noise at these levels. Also, it only goes to ISO 200. Most DSLRs will go to ISO 100.
AutoFocus is not crisp. Forget crystal clarity. Everything comes out soft and slightly out of focus.
No EVF. Using this camera in the bright light of the Mediterranean, I was shooting blind, even when using a screen hood.
No hot shoe or adapter. The puny little flash that ships with the camera has very little practical use. Since there's no hot shoe or adapter, you can't use any external flash or remote accessories.
Accessory lenses are very expensive and only of moderate quality. Using the adapter and buying alternate lenses results in a severe loss of functionality.
Sony. They are unwilling to own up to the poor quality of the product and will not accept returns—only repairs. How do you repair bad design and poor quality? Not only do I recommend a different camera. I'd also encourage you to use a different manufacturer.
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