1. image quality of the sensor
I suppose only on RAW photos, therefore, the following description refers only to practice this format. A quick test shows that jpgs hardly lagging behind with regard to sharpness and noise compared with well-developed RAW images. Only the dynamic range is expected to be smaller in jpg photos, so that there is less room for maneuver in post. However, this is a general limitation of the jpg format.
The noise I judge as follows: Up to ISO 1600, the picture quality is extremely good. Lightroom can be up to this sensitivity of RAW images eliminate the very low noise with almost no loss of detail. Even at ISO 1600 is still enough room available to lighten the shadow something without these being equal unsightly. At ISO 3200 noise increases disproportionately strongly. For large prints, this sensitivity is already borderline to use for small to 13x18cm, but still readily. About ISO 3200 is suitable for small prints if you do not expect fine-art quality.
2. Quality of the lens 18-55 OSS.
The visual quality is at best average, but this is usually sufficient for practical use. In the center, the lens is extremely sharp. Here is hardly increasing possibility exists. The focus falls on the edges of the image, however, at all focal lengths relatively strong ab.Sie is in the corners, but no worse than at the edges. An improvement in the sharpness by stopping down is only a very limited extent. Even with Belnde 8 or 11, the edges of the image are slightly out of focus. Practical relevance is the focus of waste for landscapes, with many fine details to the edges, if you wish great expression on A4. With ordinary viewing distance of 1 m or more but prints are still quite presentable to 30x45.
In the images are no fine details on the screen (such as grasses or leaves) exist, large print poster (50x75cm) is consistent with the 18-55 lens nothing in the way. Overall, the objective is the greatest weakness of the camera, because at the moment still lacking quality alternatives. The 18-200 OSS is to follow tests be only slightly better. Perhaps bringing the announced 24mm 1.8, 1.8 or the 50 planned for 2012 "quality standard zoom" Here improvement.
The distortion of the lens is very strong at 18mm, can be in Lightroom but with the program's internal profile corrected well.
Chromatic aberration (color fringing colorful) and vignetting (shadowing on the corners) are very well corrected both camera Intern at jpgs and in Lightroom. They are for me therefore not relevant in practice.
Mechanically the lens processed well, the setting rings running tired and clearance-free; the housing is outside of metal. However the good impression impairs a slight scratching noise when zooming, as another reviewer has already pointed out.
The optical image stabilizer is about as effective as my Canon EF 24-105 L. maybe even a bit more effective. At 55m focal length 80% of the images are sharp even with a shutter speed of 1/5 sec, provided that it is a static motif.
3. autofocus speed
The autofocus works very reliably. In bad light it is slow, but no slower than the my 5D Mark II, even with AF-assist illuminator off. However, this is not because the NEX-5N is so good, but because the 5d in low light focused very slowly.
In good light, the NEX-5N focused significantly slower than the 5D Mark II, but still fast enough to miss a moment. For street photography is thus fast enough in 90% of cases.
A tracking of moving objects is not really possible with the AF of NEX. Children playing and everything does not move parallel to the camera, so is not an ideal motive for the NEX.
The manual focus is actually extremely well solved. Once you turn the focus ring of the lens, the camera zooms in on the focus field, so that you get a much larger image of the image area displayed scharfzustellenden. 2sec after the display then jumps back to full image. In addition, the sharp image areas can be highlighted by colored lines, which further simplifies manual focussing. Deeply flawed resolved, however, the manual intervention in the auto focus. The focus aids described are namely only available if you have either set the camera to the MF mode manually or when the camera is in DMF mode (AF mode, the time manual intervention in the AF allows) immediately previously even successfully has focused automatically. If the camera is in mode and DMF for bad lighting conditions or lack of object contrast is unable to focus, the focus aids NOT be activated by turning the Schrafstellring. One must then only manually in MF mode switching. This is extremely annoying, since the DMF mode is precisely intended to focus manually when AF is not possible. Why do I need because even the manual focus even when auto already been possible?
4. Reaction speed
When you press the shutter button, the camera will trigger immediately. There is no even vaguely perceptible delay. The image display and continuous drive speed are very good. In series screen max possible 10 frames / s. With a Sandisk Extreme memory card the camera creates about 6 Raws in a row before they must cache.
5. image reproduction
The display is top. From all sides clearly visible, brilliant, bright and equipped by a very robust tilt mechanism. Pressing the display button you can change the image playback display and allow almost any show few or many information next to the pictures. Then even there are histograms for all three primary colors. Under- and over-exposed image areas are highlighted in one of the views by flashing. Zoom in the images is by pressing on the touch screen quickly and easily possible to check the focus. Annoying is the fact that the camera different Ornder for videos and still images creates, between which you can switch using felt hundreds of keystrokes on the menu only.
6. Operation
There are ups and downs to be reported. In general, the use of the NEX-5N towards a DSLR is getting used to. However, some keys can manually assign functions and it can create its own Custom menu. This simplifies the operation very, so you do not is much slower compared to a DSLR. However, I miss the Dial while my index finger, as I'm used to it from my 5D. The rear wheel of the NEX-5N requires because of the small size of the camera partially a cramped posture in order to operate it properly könnnen.Das wheel is normal camera attitude just do not naturally under or next to a finger. The soon available NEX-7 might be better here.
The touch screen responds generally very fast and reliable. The operation of the camera is quite possible over him after a short. Extremely negative, however, is that you constantly unintentionally any functions on and off via the touch screen. This happens especially when worn around your neck or on your wrist when you quickly takes the camera and a finger, accidentally sweeps across the screen because of the small size of the camera. This is very annoying, because I thus have multiple images have escaped. Therefore, there remains only turn off the touch screen, which is tragic because it is actually very good for the service. Unpleasant is that the camera wakes up by unavoidable quietly Berühungen of Touchscrens from sleep mode. It would have been better to allow a wake up only when pressing the shutter button, or image playback button.
7 Videos
The video quality is very good. The clacking on the soundtrack, the other reviewers have mentioned is present, but can be almost completely avoided by careful panning. I will not let the camera therefore fix, because I hardly make videos.
8. Compared to the NEX-7 in particular. Viewfinder
I can try before you buy the NEX-5N the soon deliverable Model NEX-7 at the Sony Center in Berlin and decided to go for the NEX-5N, because I could not do anything with the electronic viewfinder of NEX-7 and wanted to save money. Although the electronic viewfinder of NEX-7 dissolves so high that you can not see any more pixels, which is wirklcih spectacular. The contrast and Frabwidergabe however unnatural, though much better than the other manufacturers of the electronic viewfinder (Olympus, Panasonic). Even irritated over an optical viewfinder, the light flickering when the electonic viewfinder adjusts to a different lighting situation. It lacks for me by just felt the subject. This one gets only with an optical viewfinder.
9. Final
Overall, the camera has left a mixed impression. The picture quality is extremely good. On the usability but Sony has yet to file. Who here has an increased need, should better wait for the NEX-7, which has three dials, or buy a DSLR. Similarly who sports, children or sonstge quickly want to photograph moving things. Here a DSLR is certainly the better choice. Hard it is on the viewfinder of my 5d to dispense. The lens is bearable, but not great.
Overall, the NEX my EOS 5D therefore can not replace in particular due to lack of optical viewfinder and the sometimes annoying operation. The image quality and the possibilities of exemption 5d I do not need, although in each Situiation, but overall taking pictures with the EOS 5D is pleasant and comfortable, even if it is much larger and heavier. Therefore, the NEX-5N is a specialist in my camera bag if lightweight luggage is of paramount importance.
I recommend the camera especially those photographers who decide to stop little manually and want to rely primarily on the camera automatics and those who are not spoiled by the advantages of an optical viewfinder. Other hand, there is currently nothing comparable with such a high image quality in such a compact body. Serious photographers can therefore be happy with the NEX-5N, when the alternative is only, strike out without a camera, because the SLR is too large and unwieldy.
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Addendum:
I have yet returned today. Clicking in the video mode is still annoying pretty, even if only very occasionally wants to make videos. While there may be sitting on a sofa in slow pans still avoid good, it is to carefully executed shots in the state where you naturally can not keep so calm, clear and constantly to hear. As I go abroad soon, I have no time to wait for a repair by Sony.
The operation has ultimately not convinced me finally. The unfavorable position of the rotating wheel with prolonged use leads to painful hands when the aperture or exposure compensation varies for each image, like me.
As unangenhem I feel also that the camera information is always shown in the image. It would be good if an option were available, in a black bar display it next to or above the Live View image so you have an unobstructed view of his motive. About the display options can only reduce the number of information, but do not outsource from the image.
