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Sony Alpha NEX-5 review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £399
inc VAT

Impressive miniaturisation, fantastic photo and video quality and much improved controls make this the best carry-everywhere camera for those with high expectations.

Specifications

23.4×15.6mm 14.2-megapixel sensor, 3.1x zoom (27-83mm equivalent), 508g

http://www.jessops.com
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Video quality was impressive, too. It records in AVCHD format at 50fps 1080i, and the clips we created looked sharp and well exposed with realistic colours, even in poor lighting conditions. Autofocus was smooth and accurate and didn’t disrupt the soundtrack. Noise levels were a little higher than rival models from Panasonic, but far lower than dedicated camcorders. As with the Panasonic GF2, there’s exposure compensation but no manual mode or even a basic AE lock for video capture. This pretty much rules the NEX-5 out for creative videographers, but for casual recording, it’s an excellent choice. Just bear in mind that the soundtrack itself isn’t brilliant despite the stereo microphones as there’s a bit too much background noise. Sony sells a proprietary external microphone but because there’s no 3.5mm jack, you’re left with little choice if you want better audio.

Sony Alpha NEX-5 back

The Panasonic GF2 has more tactile controls, a wider choice of compatible lenses and no image review performance problems, but the NEX-5’s superior image quality and superb articulated screen earn it our vote. New NEX cameras are rumoured to be coming soon, but at current prices we wouldn’t bother waiting. The silver version pictured costs £399 – almost £200 less than at launch – while the black version costs just £375. It’s more expensive with the 16mm pancake lens at £480, but with both lenses for £500, it’s extremely good value. It’s the ideal camera for anyone who wants SLR-quality photos without the complexity or bulk of an SLR. If you can live with the 30-minute recording limit and without manual control, it’s a stunning video camera too. Thanks to the firmware update, the NEX-5 earns a well-deserved Best Buy award.

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Basic Specifications

Rating *****
CCD effective megapixels 14.2 megapixels
CCD size 23.4×15.6mm
Viewfinder N/A
Viewfinder magnification, coverage N/A
LCD screen size 3.0in
LCD screen resolution 921,600 pixels
Articulated screen Yes
Live view Yes
Optical zoom 3.1x
Zoom 35mm equivalent 27-83mm
Image stabilisation Optical, lens based
Maximum image resolution 4,592×3,056
Maximum movie resolution 1,920×1,080i
Movie frame rate at max quality 60fps
File formats RAW, JPEG, QuickTime (AVCHD), QuickTime (MPEG-4)

Physical

Memory slot SDXC
Mermory supplied none
Battery type 7.2V 1,020mAh Li-ion
Battery Life (tested) 330 shots
Connectivity USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
HDMI output resolution 1080i
Body material Magnesium Alloy
Lens mount Sony E mount
Focal length multiplier 1.5x
Kit lens model name Sony E 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Accessories camera strap, charger, USB cable, flash
Weight 508g
Size 59x111x38mm

Buying Information

Warranty 1 year parts and labour
Price £399
Supplier http://www.jessops.com
Details www.sony.co.uk

Camera Controls

Exposure modes program, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual, scene mode, intelligent auto, anti-motion blur, sweep panorama
Shutter speed 30 to 1/4,000 seconds
Aperture range f/3.5-22 (wide), f/5.6-32 (tele)
ISO range (at full resolution) 200 to 12,800
Exposure compensation +/-2 EV
White balance auto, 6 presets, manual
Additional image controls 6 picture style presets, dynamic range optimiser
Manual focus Yes
Closest macro focus 25cm
Auto-focus modes multi (25-point), centre, flexible spot, face detect, predictive focus
Metering modes multi, centre-weighted, centre
Flash auto, fill, slow synchro, rear synchro
Drive modes single, continuous, speed-priority continuous, self-timer, continuous self-timer