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| (Credit: Sony) |
Sony announced its entry into the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera market with the unveiling of the alpha NEX-5 and NEX-3. The new digital cameras share a 14.6-megapixel APS-C-sized CMOS image sensor that Sony flaunts is much larger than its Four Thirds standard competitors. The camera bodies themselves, however, are marketed as miniscule with the NEX-3 being called “the world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens digital camera.”
The APS-C CMOS sensor supports HD video, fast continuous shooting, and a sweep panorama mode that has the potential for 3D output. As the flagship, the Sony NEX-5 has 1920 x 1080-pixel video in the efficient AVCHD format. The NEX-3 has 1280 x 720-pixel video that records in the more memory-consuming Motion JPEG format. These are the first Sony alpha cameras to include HD video; currently, none of Sony’s DSLRs carry the feature. Both cameras can shoot up to 7 full-resolution frames per second and can create “sweep panoramas” with the push of a button. The panoramas can be output in 3D to compatible Bravia televisions, but only if the NEX cameras have updated firmware. Sony says that the 3D firmware will be available this summer, according to the May 12 press release.
The Sony alpha NEX cameras have an E-mount that will accept a new line of Sony E-lenses as well as existing Sony DSLR lenses and older Minolta A-lenses with an adapter; only the E-lenses will fully function, while larger lenses will only work with manual focus. Sony announced three small E-series lenses alongside its new cameras. The 16mm f/2.8 pancake lens has a 24mm equivalency. The 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 and the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 both come with image stabilization built into the lenses. The NEX-5 and NEX-3 and are sold in various packages that include either the 16mm or 18-55mm lens, with the 11x 18-200mm lens offered as an add-on. Other accessories include viewfinder and microphone units. The Sony NEX-5 and NEX-3 come with a clip-on flash unit and a 3-inch tilting and flipping LCD monitor that has 921,600 pixels.
The Sony NEX-3 is being called “the world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens digital camera” in Sony’s press release, although the two new cameras share the same measurements. They measure 110.8 x 58.8 x 38.2mm, with their thinnest point between the lens mount and the hand grip being only 24.2mm. They weigh in at 8.1 oz. The claim to being really compact last went to the Panasonic G10, a Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lens camera that was billed as the “world’s lightest digital interchangeable lens system camera with a viewfinder.” The G10 weighs 11.85 oz, significantly more than the Sony NEX cameras. The viewfinder-less Olympus E-PL1 weighs 10.44 oz and measures in at 114.6 x 72.2 x 41.5mm.
The Sony NEX cameras will have competition from the APS-C-format Samsung NX10, which also has a 14.6-megapixel CMOS sensor. While still a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the Samsung NX10 includes a flash and viewfinder and more typical DSLR styling. Its larger body measures 123 x 87 x 39.8mm.
The Sony NEX-5 retails for $649 and the NEX-3 for $549 with a 16mm lens included.
