NEX-3N draws a bead on the E-PM2/E-PL5

This Olympus/Sony "collaboration" is getting mighty interesting. The first surprise was finding a superior Sony 16MP mFT sensor first in the E-M5, catapulting it into overnight stardom, followed on its heels by the same sensor fitted to the E-PM2/E-PL5. This had to seriously compromise Sony's own NEX brand sales.

Now it's Sony's turn, enter the NEX-3N. Priced the same as the E-PM2 at $500 for the kit, but with clear advantages in its larger APS-C 16MP sensor, tilt screen, built-in flash and highly compact kit f3.5-5.6 16-50mm (a very usable 24-75mm 35mm equiv.) retractable power zoom.  Weighs the same as the E-PM2  as well, and less than the E-PL5.

Basically it appears they've trumped the E-PL5 at an E-PM2 price point. That noise you're hearing are Olympus prices falling! Size comparison can be found in DPR's preview:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/4748054182/sony-nex-3n-hands-on-preview

Yes, Pan/Olympus still have a clear overall edge in their range of lenses, as well as in IBIS, but Sony has just jumped squarely back in the mix by upping this sectors capabilities, much as they did with the RX-100 in high-end compacts.

And I'm left wondering, did Olympus swap their lens miniaturization know-how for that 16MP sensor we're all so happy with? If so, a fair trade and good for both companies, at least for now.

E-510, E-620, E-PM1, E-M5 user.

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Sailin' Steve

The NEX-3N looks nice, but the lack of a hotshoe would be a deal killer for me.

Also it has no touch screen.

Competition is good. Personally I absolutely hate PZ lenses, so when you mount a real lens the NEX will still be larger. And, to my knowledge, they still don't have anything as good as the Panny 14-45mm as a kit lens.

Still, I wish Oly/Panny would learn something from Sony about miniaturization. Amazing what Sony can do in a tiny package. I'll also add the grip, which is much better on the NEX than any small m43 camera.

The landscape shooter in me would always take 24mm over 28mm. One of the reasons for not getting rx100 for me was lack of 24mm.

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::> Knowledge is mother of efficiency.

It is still unknown whether this new 3N will have the hybrid phase detection sensor like it's big brothers. The kit lens is the pancake power zoom but now there's a zoom lever on the body as well as the lens. Max. ISO is 12,800 as opposed to 25,600 on other models. The BIONZ processor is new.

The size is very tiny and it weighs only 210 gm.

I believe this $500 camera ups the ante for m43 PENS and Panasonics other than the GH3. Except for the fabulous m43 lens  selection.

Quote: in keeping with its affordable intentions, the 3N misses out on the faster on-sensor phase-detection autofocus seen on the 5R.

tex

This was my take-away as well, at least until we see some tests.

At this low price point it's all about which features to include vs. which to sacrifice. Even without a touch-screen and hotshoe, which are missed, it presents a compelling featureset with its tilt-screen that's more compact than the pricier E-PL5's, and remarkable size given the larger sensor and built-in flash. I love the kit zoom's 24-75mm range and size; if a decent optic it would stay on this as a second tier kit to my E-M5.

Makes me now hesitate a bit on the E-PM2/E-PL5 as a compact back-up to my E-M5, which I'm sure is what Sony had at least in part in mind.  I now fully expect their prices to drop sooner rather than later, tilting the argument back their way for me given lens compatibility.

Good for the breed, we'll see how Pan/Oly respond in their next cycle.

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Sailin' Steve

Sometimes the model differentiation along a product line is done quite irrationally, resulting in lower models that are more expensive to make than higher ones or at least not cheaper. Examples include building essentially the same h/w but crippling the feature set by disabling some parts. I think the original OM series had this done on some of the models?

This is not the case here as a non-touch screen is cheaper, and removal of the hotshoe made the body a little more compact. And financially this move might even be successful (cf. GF3).

I like a lot of things about the NEX cameras, and this looks like a nice offering, but every time I've played with one in the store (NEX6 yesterday), I'm struck by how much faster the AF on my E-PL5 is.  Until the NEX AF is at east equally fast, I don't see it as an option.

But lacking IBIS, a hot shoe and a touch screen... While some like the wide end at 24mm others like the long end at 84mm... Now that lens is short but very wide, and as the last Sony compact lens showe a lot of flaws compared to the m43rds kit lenses, lets look for its performance before we claim victory, it is easy to make a small, weak lens.

I wouldnt be so sure, there is probably some room for the EPM5 to come down a bit, but as many people are enthusiasts who buy in, the lens selection (a major selling point for any DSLR system or ILC) falls squarely in favor of m43rds making it an easier sell.

If olympus decided to omit the hot shoe, IBIS (rely on Panasonic glass) remove the touch screen etc. They could almost definitely make the camera incredibly small, I am glad it isnt quite that small though... Having said that, I would love to see a fixed FL really compact shooter with simple direct controls just to show how small they can go vs things like the RX1.

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“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” -Ansel Adams
blog.alatchinphotography(dot)com

For less than $300 and half the price of the RX-100 I would take the LX7 over it any day. The RX-100 is a great camera. However, so is the LX7 and its price for that category is much easier to swallow.

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GH3, Hacked GH2, and Full Spectrum GF1 Sample movies
http://www.youtube.com/user/mpgxsvcd#play/uploads
GH3 Tips and Tricks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIMdxoGbNXU
GH2 Setup Walk through
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uROQbbiiO2I
http://vimeo.com/user442745
GH3, GH2, GF1 Pictures
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums

The sensor size difference is not easier to shallow. Here is the comparison:

given that lx7 has sensor of size of canon s100 then by the logic you presented  wouldn't buying rx100 would be much cheaper compared to OMD with similar lens attached to it. For less than half the price I would take rx100 over omd any day.

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::> Knowledge is mother of efficiency.

I remember when the NEX-6 was going to be an E-M5 killer and it didn't happen. Hmm.

The store's display model NEX-6 would certainly not have the hybrid PDAF firmware installed yet; they leave that for the customers to do. So that was the first thing I did on my new NEX-5R, (identical firmware to the 6.) The AF speed of these two models now equals that of the E-PL5, according to reviews. The same would not apply to the new cheaper NEX-3N, which is said not to have PDAF.

I love the new NEX-3N.  It reminds me of 2 MFT camera immediately:

- Like GF3....sony removed the hot-shoes to reduced height and make 3N as small as possible

- Like E-PL5....with 180 degree flippy LCD

- Sony 16-50 power-zoom is a knock off from Panasonic 14-42(X) lens.

More importantly, its has gone metal body construction (like NEX-6/7), much improved from the plastic used in older NEX camera.

Considering that Sony 16-50 Power-Zoom lens cost $350 by itself.  A NEX 3N with 16-50pz for just $499 is a screaming deal.

The focus now has shifted over to the 5R. Much cheaper, smaller lighter metal body, essentially the same camera as the 6 in most ways, minus EVF + resistive touchscreen which can be operated in the freezing cold with gloves on. As fast as the E-M5 with same 25600 ISO rating. It's a wash but the new Fuji XE-1 trumps them both, if you don't need video.

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2013/02/08/the-fuji-x-e1-is-awesome-by-brian-t-adams/

Are you sure it's metal, like all the 5 models?  Maybe that's how they were able to make it so small.

The 6 is polycarbonate.

Even if NEX6 killed E-m5 , how that would affect me. Sony won't give a penny to me from their profits. In nutshell i don't care if NEX6 did not kill E-M5.

May be how oly performs affects your personal life ....

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::> Knowledge is mother of efficiency.

When did we start talking about our personal lives?  This can be a seriously weird place sometimes.