Sony NEX-5 and Sony NEX-3 Performance Compacts Unveiled
By Sindre Lia, 11 May 2010
The brand new Sony NEX-5 and Sony NEX-3 performance compacts will be released this July, packed with prosumer functionality.
Sony's new performance compact cameras, the Sony NEX-5 and the Sony NEX-3, are the world's first interchangeable lens cameras with an APS-C sensor to continuously adjust focus and exposure while recording video. The cameras are aimed at point-and-shoot users looking to advance from snapshots to creative photography as well as existing DSLR users searching for a compact alternative (the "mirrorless" construction reduces the thickness to just about an inch at their slimmest point).
Sony NEX-5 vs. Sony NEX-3: Video Recording
Constructed from magnesium alloy, the Sony NEX-5 offers Full HD movie capture (1080i AVCHD and 720p MP4) with Full HD 60i recording. The Sony NEX-3, with a polycarbonate casing, shoots 720p HD video as compact MP4 files. Both cameras can also capture fast-moving action with a high-speed burst of full-resolution images at up to 7 fps (AF/AE fixed from first frame).
New Sensor and User Interface
Both the Sony NEX-5 and NEX-3 offer a newly developed 14.2-megapixel Exmo APS HD CMOS sensor. Sony promises the sensor to offer low image noise and creative defocus background effects that are familiar to DSLR users.
Both cameras have a new easy-to-use interface, and images and camera settings are displayed on the 3-inch wide-type Xtra Fine LCD display with TruBlack technology and 921k dot high-resolution LCD that tilts up or down for comfortable viewing in various shooting positions. The screen features an auto-brightness control function for improved visibility. TruBlack screen technology enables more vivid, high-contrast view of images and camera settings.
3D Panorama Capability
The NEX-5 and NEX-3 are the first alpha cameras featuring Sweep Panorama, which lets users capture up to 226-degree horizontal or 151-degree vertical shots. Both models will be ready for 3D Sweep Panorama this July (with firmware update), letting users shoot 3D panoramic still images with a single lens. The high-speed burst of frames is stitched together using new processing techniques to automatically create 3D panoramas. These files can be enjoyed in 3D on compatible 3D TVs. The Sony NEX-5 and NEX-3 also provide the multi-frame capture featured in Cyber-shot cameras, including Hand-Held Twilight and Anti-motion Blur modes for improved low-light performance.
New E-mount lenses
Three new E-mount lenses are being introduced, including a 16mm F.28 wide-angle prime lens (SEL16F28), an 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens (SEL1855) and an 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 high magnification zoom lens (SEL18200). The E-mount lenses provides the cameras with compactness as well as the performance required for quiet continuous auto focus and auto exposure during HD video capture.
An optional LA-EA1 Mount Adaptor extends compatibility to the alpha family of 30 lenses, plus a huge range of other legacy A-mount lenses (Manual Focus only).
Sony NEX-5 Photo Gallery
Sony NEX-3 Photo Gallery
Price and release date
The Sony NEX-5A and NEX-3A cameras, which are supplied with the 16mm wide-angle lens, will cost approximately $650 and $550 respectively. The NEX-5K and NEX-3K cameras, supplied with the 18-55mm standard zoom lens, will cost approximately $700 and $600 respectively. The NEX-5 will be available in silver and black, while the NEX-3 will be available in silver, black and red.
Separately, the 16mm and 18-55mm lenses will cost approximately $250 and $300 respectively. The 18-200mm lens will be available this fall for approximately $800.
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