The NEX-5N from the perspective of an SLR-user

I use mainly digital SLR cameras from Nikon. As Nikon's new "Mirrorless" did not get a very small sensor (what that means - more on this below) I was forced to look around at the competition. I'm going in search of a compact alternative to an SLR - and compare the NEX thus "upwards", and not so much with compact snapping.

PRO:

- Large image sensor (like the amateur SLR cameras).
A larger sensor means that the same (the lowest possible) Focal number even at greater distances from the object still has chances that the background is out of focus.

- Good noise performance.
Even at high ISO speeds good shots are possible - especially useful if you want photographiern in low light conditions without flash. And that comes with the NEX-5N to ISO 25600 (for indexing: you can 256 times shorter than exposure at ISO 100 - these are 8 stops). Of course you have (1600 especially from ISO) to accept compromises in image quality. But for prints in 10x15 Suffice it. One can (residual) noise still "smooth iron" at the expense of image sharpness.

- Very valent, lightweight body.
The camera does keep well. It was built only a little plastic. The build quality is really good. The camera with the lens still very light and easy!

- Great kit lens.
The 18-55mm lens is really a more than reasonable objective that the basic needs can be covered completely.

- The folding monitor.
Big, bright, high resolution and high contrast. Up and down foldable - it's fun and allows photographs from unusual perspectives without contortions! In addition, touchscreen ability, their potential is unfortunately not optimally utilized the software side ...

- The autofocus.
he is the superior of my SLR AF in Live View mode by a mile - and also still completely silent - but not nearly as fast as the "normal" phase AF a good SLR. Even in low light, the speed setting for bustling children enough. He also has nice features such as automatic face detection tracking incl. For sports and animal photography, the AF is definitely too little.

- The video mode.
With my mirror reflex camera, although I can also make videos with autofocus but it just too slow and too loud - "pumping" of the contrast detection is in the video always clearly visible and audible. This is the Sony NEX quite different - you can pick up great FullHD videos. In conjunction with the folding screen and the autofocus is the video mode of the camera really one of their absolute strengths!

CONTRAINDICATIONS:
- The battery life is a bit short
I have not been studied in more detail, but would guess that you have to change the battery rather than that one has a 4 Gbyte card vollgeknipst (in RAW + JPG mode). So A spare battery must be found in any case. Especially as the battery charge time with 250min (according to instructions - also corresponds to my experience) is relatively long.

- The poor availability aperture lenses.
The kit lens has a low light intensity, which take advantage of the camera in turn diminishes somewhat in terms of their highly sensitive sensor. The 16mm pancake lens is the only directly designed for the NEX-System lens with a maximum aperture of 2.8 - which is not even much of a fixed focal length. It is also visually not particularly high quality (sharpness / distortion). The only advantage is the compact size - otherwise the lens is thus a strange part: less sharp than the kit zoom and the combination of focal length (quite wide) with high luminous intensity is not very desirable for most photographers.
Really bright and high-quality optical lenses (Sony and Tamron & Sigma) are available via a special adapter - does not come cheap and is pretty clunky but ... Besides, I'm afraid that they are not without problems using the contrast AF and the NEX function without restriction.

- Sluggish operation
There is no direct dial buttons and no way to prove the key itself. And though a touch screen was installed (by the way works just fine). But you have to adjust for example the ISO, or to switch from A- ind P program simply press at least 5x keys and turn the wheel - it takes so long to do anything and you can not "blind", as I am used to from a mirror-reflex.

*** Correction ***: There is the possibility to use 4 keys. Thanks for the note!

- Loud shutter sound
The Sony NEX allows to take pictures of my knowledge, not a sound. The camera (probably when closing the aperture) clacks when triggered quite audible. Personally, I find the noise disturbing than my SLR camera. As was the potential of a camera designs that no mechanical parts manages obviously playful. Very bad!

Conclusion:
For me, the NEX-5N is all in all a fantastic addition to an SLR - and unfortunately at the same time being able to replace them is still far away. For the provider to Scheid (prosumer) reflex in the parade disciplines of operation and AF speed setting is simple but still too big! And although the difference in many others such as image quality, noise is surprisingly low! The NEX-5N is particularly interesting because of the significantly better autofocus in Live View mode and the foldable monitor, but especially because of its video capabilities for me for me - whether it is worth the price then you have any interested in buying for themselves decide.

Addendum:
There are frequent reports surfaced about three shortcomings of the camera in the meantime - two relate to the video functionality.
1. The camera is not suitable for "continuous operation" and overheated quickly with FullHD video recording. For me it is so far not happened. But I also always short videos with breaks in between.
2. The videos taken with the camera are on the soundtrack is a clunk, as it moves quickly. I have my videos all again looked carefully and I did not notice. But I also try the camera when shooting very carefully to swing - because everything else looks after bad in the movie anyway.
3. The Obejektiv adapter (E-Mount) promises more choice in the lenses. However, it can cause vignetting and the autofocus works then probably not always as it should. Pity!