No doubt, at the first look the Sony NEX-5 features look very appealing and inviting! The magnesium alloy body of the mirror-less digital camera with interchangeable lenses, looks like it can withstand a ride on a tornado. It is very light, with the body weighing in at just 10.2 ounces, which makes it very portable.Just stuff it into your pocket and take it where ever you go! So if all you are looking for is a sturdy camera then go for it. But if you really want to see what it has to deliver then let’s take a closer look at some of the specifications.
The first thing that hits you is the very limited button options, look to the right of the three inch LCD screen and you find the round control panel that handles most of the controls. The keys themselves are fairly easy to reach and maneuver; but there are numerous options stuffed into just a few buttons. Also, depending on the menu you are using, the leads to the different sections of the control pad keep changing. The situation is not aided by the screen overlay menu either, as it neglects to deliver some very relevant information, which means you need to review the user’s guide constantly. Simply put you are going to need time to get used to this camera.
Further review of the camera show that the autofocus is somewhat inconsistent, and there is no electronic viewfinder. It is however fairly fast with the lenses while zooming and focusing and very quiet. Also the super-slim LCD tilts up 80 degrees and down 45 degrees for easy viewing. It features a fairly common 18-55mm f/3.5-6.3 lens with Optical SteadyShot, and the second is a 16mm f/2.8 prime lens. Reviews of the battery life show that you can get roughly 330 shots per charge and is compatible with two memory card . The Sony now also supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC media in the same slot.
All said it is a pretty slick camera, but lacks some important features, and the resolutions specifications can stand some upgrading as well. The price too is a bit steep at $700.00.
