Sony NEX-5N Review
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| Nikon V1 Specifications | |
| Price | Check price at Amazon. |
| MP | 16.1 |
| ISO range | 100-25,600 equivalent |
| HD movie | 1,920 x 1,080 |
| Metering | Multi, Centre-weighted, Spot, Automatic, Program Auto, iAUTO, Shutter & Aperture Priority, Manual |
| AF | 25 points |
| Max Burst rate | 10fps at maximum resolution |
| Shutter speed | 1/4,000 – 30sec |
| LCD | 7.5cm touchscreen |
Compact System Cameras, or CSCs, are here to stay and with most manufacturers (cough, Canon!) having a number of models on the market, there is certainly plenty of choice for the discerning consumer.
The NEX-5N joins Sony’s expanding series of CSC options and lines up second in their range just underneath the flagship NEX-7. Coming as a direct replacement for the NEX-5, the NEX-5N shares an almost identical external appearance but revamped with new technology like the 16.1MP sensor and a touch screen interface.
Intrigued to see if these latest additions would improve an already successful CSC I slipped into my wellies, donned the hat and gloves, (wish I could go ‘on assignment’ somewhere indoors!) and headed down to the Melton Mowbray Farmers’ Market.
BUILD & HANDLING
If you’re after a small camera you won’t be disappointed with the NEX-5N, it’s tiny. Personally I prefer big chunky cameras but in the hustle and bustle of the farmers’ market I started to appreciate the NEX-5N’s diminutive proportions. Not only could I shimmy my way around busy crowds more nimbly than usual, it also allowed me to work discretely and not attract the attention I get with a DSLR.
The obvious downside, however, is despite featuring a decent handgrip and rear thumb rest there isn’t a lot of body to get hold of. If you’re using the 18-55mm ‘kit’ lens, a good solution is to hold it by the lens, which I found more comfortable over prolonged periods.
The small size also restricts the number of externally mounted controls, which are limited to 3 buttons, a dial, and the LCD’s touchscreen interface. The three buttons can be customised, so I set them to ISO, WB and AF mode, and used the touchscreen interface to select my AF target. This worked pretty well and limited the amount of menu delving I had to do, but it was the use of the dial that caused the most problems. The dial rotates for skipping quickly through menus or by pressing different directions you can access menus to change Drive Mode, Display, Exposure Compensation or AF Area. This is where I started to have problems. The dial is quite sensitive and with cold, almost numb fingers after a couple of hours at the market, I lost count of the times I accidentally changed Drive Mode, or AF Area when trying to adjust aperture or shutter settings. Very frustrating.
FEATURES
Despite the size, Sony have managed to incorporate a large 7.5cm LCD screen, which is one of the NEX-5N’s best assets. It’s big, bright, crisp, has lots of contrast and the touchscreen functionality is an intuitive way to control the camera once you’ve got the hang of it.
The LCD also boasts tilt-angle control so can be directed downwards for easier composition when shooting from above your head – really handy in a busy market – or angled upwards when shooting video from waist level. The only complaint really is in bright glare, as it can be tricky to see the screen and properly assess your composition. Even in the brightest light I could always see an image of sorts on the screen but often not with the clarity I wanted to be certain of my framing.
Viewfinders, such as the FDA-EV1S Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) or FDA-SV1 optical are available, however. The NEX-5N does not feature a built-in pop-up flash either so instead the standard NEX-5N kit comes supplied with the Sony HVL-F 75 flash unit. The flash also attaches via the Smart Accessory Terminal so it’s not possible to use both a flash and the FDA-EV1S viewfinder simultaneously. If you are happy to use LCD for composition then it’s not a problem, but if you prefer a viewfinder it is a major limitation. The flash unit is also a bit fiddly to attach, so I tended to leave it on most of the time, and with a guide number of just seven it’s not as powerful as many pop-up units on a DSLR.
Other features include compatibility with seven Sony E-Mount lenses as well as A-Mount lenses via the LA-EA2 adapter. There’s also full HD movie shooting at 50fps, a 10x magnified view to assist focus in Manual Focus Mode and a range of Scene Modes, as well as full creative control with the M/A/S/P modes and a Photo Creativity Mode that offers 11 colour effects to boot.
PERFORMANCE
Generally speaking the NEX-5N is a pretty responsive and fast camera that powers up quickly and utilises a front curtain shutter which helps reduce any lag between pressing the shutter and taking a picture.
Its contrast detect autofocus system is pretty snappy and accurate too, so most users will find it perfectly acceptable. It is not as fast as the phase detection systems found on most DSLRs, but has the advantage that you’re not limited to a certain number of AF targets, so instead you can select any point to focus on. In low light some hunting does occur as the lens looks for the strongest area of contrast, but even in relatively dim conditions in the indoor section of the market it didn’t cause me any major concerns.
For burst shooting, the NEX-5N boasts a Speed Priority mode capable of shooting at 10fps, which is pretty rapid- even by pro standards- but there are a couple of downsides. In this mode both exposure and focus are locked during the burst and the camera can only shoot 10 frames before the buffer slows right down. The Continuous Advance mode however offers burst shooting at 4fps which is fast enough for most enthusiasts. Exposure and focus are not locked, and if you shoot JPEG only the camera keeps shooting until your card is full!
IMAGE QUALITY
Features and gizmos aside it’s the pictures that really matter and in this regard the NEX-5N really delivers. In all honesty I was blown away by the picture quality. Despite the small size of the camera itself the sensor is the large APS-C variety found in most DSLRs, which is physically much bigger than you’ll find in compact or bridge cameras so the difference in picture quality really shows.
The 16.1MP sensor captures images with 4912 x 3264 pixels, which is enough resolution to make A3 plus size prints, without having to blow up the images in software. What’s more, the large APS-C sensor means the pixels have much more space to breathe and means the NEX-5N performs exceedingly well in low-light. At ISO 800 some noise starts to creep into shadow areas but it’s well controlled and pictures all the way up to ISO 3200 are very usable. Even at ISO 6400 the noise isn’t too offensive and while more serious image deterioration occurs at ISO 12,800, at least you have the option to get the shot if there are no other lighting solutions.
Colour reproduction is also good and I would say my only real complaint is I thought the NEX-5N had a tendency to underexpose a little and dialing in +0.7 exposure compensation meant my shots packed that bright punch I personally go for.
CONCLUSION
The Sony NEX-5N certainly delivers on its promise of a small lightweight camera. It produces great results with image quality that is on par with most enthusiast DSLRs. The camera body itself is tiny and although the standard zoom lens does increase the overall footprint, it’s still smaller than a DSLR. With one of the ‘pancake’ prime lenses attached it’s modest enough to squeeze into a large coat pocket or small day bag.
The small-scale dimensions do bring some limitations however, notably in the use of the Smart Accessory Terminal that only allows you to connect either a flash or viewfinder at any one time. Handling is also slightly compromised by its size and despite the fact that the limited number of buttons can be customised to suit your shooting style, and the touchscreen interface is an intuitive way to control your camera, the fiddly and frustrating dial does somewhat spoil the experience.
If you can live without using a viewfinder and flash together and are looking for a small, lightweight camera either as your main camera, or even like me as an alternative creative compact camera for occasions you want to travel light and leave the DSLR at home, then I would seriously consider the Sony NEX-5N.
Category: Gear
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