Harsh review of NEX (continued)

Sorry if this is hard to follow, but I can't post my reply in the original thread...

Member said:

Paul W said:

Chippy99 wrote:
I haven't time to pick holes in it right now, but let me give you one example.

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Member said:

Member said:

Sony have made it quite clear that this camera is aimed primarily at would-be p&s shooters.

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Member said:

Yet DP Review deem it appropriate to cite lack of manual controls (exposure and focus) during video as a negative.

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Member said:

Member said:

I am not questioning that this is a negative. But show me 1 single review of other cameras that do not have this where they have highlighted it as a negative.

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Member said:

Member said:

DP Review didn't think it was a negative for the Canon S90, for example. But for the NEX-5, it's a negative.

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Member said:

For a start, this is a rather unrealistic comparison - one is an enthusiast compact, the other is a large sensor camera being promoted as a point-and-shoot. However, we did criticise the S90 for only having VGA video - a much more problematic criticism.

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It is not an unrealistic comparison. Sony is trying to attract the sort of buyer who might otherwise buy an S90. If you do not criticise the S90 for lack of manual video controls, readers will struggle to understand your criticising NEX for exactly the same shortfall.

Member said:

The NEX is competing with cameras that allow control over aperture during video and therefore it's worth mentioning as a negative point that potential buyers would want to be aware of.

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Member said:

Member said:

That gentlemen, is biased reporting.

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Member said:

Biased in favour of the consumer, I hope.

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I don't think so. Biased inline with your clear dislike of the camera, based on factors known and/or unknown.

Member said:

Member said:

Or what about exposure compensation not being availlable on any Canon is full Auto mode? Never mentioned. But in the NEX, it's a negative.

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Member said:

The Auto mode is the heart of the NEX offering and it falls down elsewhere so yes, the expectations for its Auto mode are higher.

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Member said:

Richard - dpreview.com

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I am not saying these are completely unfounded criticisms. But there was a whiff about the whole review that came across as "we really don't like this camera", and I am not convinced this dislike hasn't tainted your objectivity.

I cannot remember ever before DP Review saying that it would "strongly advise" customers not to buy it:

"we'd strongly advise waiting for the next generation of products."

That's an unprecedented put down for a camera that offers so many positives, I think.

Slightly OT perhaps, but is it pure coincidence that Amazon aren't listing the camera yet? Which in itself seems very very odd. And Amazon do own DP Review, don't they?

For me there is one important obstacle with NEX-5, the screen intensity or brightness in moderate light is rather mediocre (according to the review). So how it will at really bright light as on seashre or snow. It will need badly a hi-res EVF.
I've GH1 with EVF, and this is life saving feature.

Adam

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http://www.pbase.com/adam3544

adam3544 said:

For me there is one important obstacle with NEX-5, the screen intensity or brightness in moderate light is rather mediocre (according to the review). So how it will at really bright light as on seashre or snow. It will need badly a hi-res EVF.
I've GH1 with EVF, and this is life saving feature.

Adam

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No other review has mentioned this. Draw your own conclusions.

Well, Luminuous Landscape did:

"I think that Sony has missed the boat by not making an electronic viewfinder available at launch. I have little doubt that one is in the works, but for many photographers the lack of an EVF will not sit well. One can argue that the camera's intended audience, the digicam user stepping up, is mostly used to using just an LCD, but I beg to differ.

Olympus rushed to redesign their E-P1 to take an accessory EVF when it was seen that people wanted this feature, and also as evidenced by Panasonic with their GF1, this is a desirable feature.

If Sony doesn't come out with an EVF before too long it's my take that the more serious photographers will find this to be the straw that breaks the camels back when it comes to accepting the NEX-5. "

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sony-nex5.shtml

carnaby said:

Well, Luminuous Landscape did:

"I think that Sony has missed the boat by not making an electronic viewfinder available at launch. I have little doubt that one is in the works, but for many photographers the lack of an EVF will not sit well. One can argue that the camera's intended audience, the digicam user stepping up, is mostly used to using just an LCD, but I beg to differ.

Olympus rushed to redesign their E-P1 to take an accessory EVF when it was seen that people wanted this feature, and also as evidenced by Panasonic with their GF1, this is a desirable feature.

If Sony doesn't come out with an EVF before too long it's my take that the more serious photographers will find this to be the straw that breaks the camels back when it comes to accepting the NEX-5. "

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sony-nex5.shtml

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You misunderstand.

Nowhere above does it say "the screen intensity or brightness in moderate light is rather mediocre"

that quote doesn't even address how difficult/easy it is to see the screen in daylight

It imples that all LCD suck, hence you need an EVF.

of what must be the camera with the worst user interface for a long time.

As agorabasta I'll vote with my money. Which means I won't buy one.

Kind regards,
Martin

--
http://www.datzinger.net

danjojo said:

that quote doesn't even address how difficult/easy it is to see the screen in daylight

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I really wanted the NEX-5 but the supposed to be an issue of the screen visibility is a red light for me. I hope that first buyers - users will give us more actual information.

Adam
http://www.pbase.com/adam3544

I take a ton of photos in the bright San Diego, CA sunshine using Live-View on my Canon DSLR all the time...and the NEX screen is much mo' better. There's always some thing to bi#ch about. Half the people saying, "I need an OVF/EVF!" live in some dark, hazy environment in Europe but persist...

It's different...not meant to be every little thing a DSLR is in a tiny form. It can produce the same results though...Luminous Landscape wants it to be the same old, well-known friend instead of some thing actually new. Almost all of the complaints there equally apply to the new consumer level DSLR's as well....blindly.

The screen is not a problem...I have not used a NEX but I have held one and looked at it for a few minutes....it is very good for not being AMOLED, which it seems to be at first. The people who have used them for more than a few days pretty much all agree its fine in bright daylight conditions.

I'm sure you wouldn't want to angle the screen towards the sun on purpose...but why would anybody do that to begin with?

adam3544 said:

danjojo said:

that quote doesn't even address how difficult/easy it is to see the screen in daylight

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I really wanted the NEX-5 but the supposed to be an issue of the screen visibility is a red light for me. I hope that first buyers - users will give us more actual information.

Adam
http://www.pbase.com/adam3544

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adam3544 said:

For me there is one important obstacle with NEX-5, the screen intensity or brightness in moderate light is rather mediocre (according to the review). So how it will at really bright light as on seashre or snow. It will need badly a hi-res EVF.
I've GH1 with EVF, and this is life saving feature.

Adam

--
http://www.pbase.com/adam3544

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I agree Adam and an add on evf is not the answer..I have one on my gx100 and it is only a little better than useless..A high res evf and plenty of external buttons for appropriate control would make there next nex foray a winner..Sony does win the size factor on this one but If I had a body twice the size with built in stabalization and access to good glass, then I could kiss my R1 goodbye.letus hope that the new nex will be more than a high tech novelty camera for more serious photography ..how good is the GH1 ?

Drue...you just described the other Alpha cameras didn't you? Why even wait for a different NEX...if its for the video just get a decent $299 camcorder.

The whole point of the NEX cameras is lost if you double the size and throw on the EVF. Once you hold one in your hand you will understand. It's hard to really comprehend how small and packable these cameras are.

Martin Datzinger said:

of what must be the camera with the worst user interface for a long time.

As agorabasta I'll vote with my money. Which means I won't buy one.

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Great - thanks for letting us know.

So you mean if I shut my mouth it will help getting products developed the way I want them?

So here is my voice anyway:

I love the metal build
I love the availability of a 24mm equiv. lens in a kit
I love the image quality
I love the smallishness of the thing
I love the price even if you still can't buy it in Austria
I love the tiltable screen.

I could overlook the fact that video mode allows no full manual control and is thus completely useless for me.

I could even overlook the fact that with the lens sticking out the way it does on every big-sensor-no-mirror cam until now, the whole thing isn't any more pocketable for me personally than a DSLR.
But I simply won't buy a camera where usability is such a major ****-up.
This includes not providing a viewfinder I can put to my eye.

Kind regards,
Martin

--
http://www.datzinger.net

Martin Datzinger said:

So you mean if I shut my mouth it will help getting products developed the way I want them?

So here is my voice anyway:

I love the metal build
I love the availability of a 24mm equiv. lens in a kit
I love the image quality
I love the smallishness of the thing
I love the price even if you still can't buy it in Austria
I love the tiltable screen.

I could overlook the fact that video mode allows no full manual control and is thus completely useless for me.

I could even overlook the fact that with the lens sticking out the way it does on every big-sensor-no-mirror cam until now, the whole thing isn't any more pocketable for me personally than a DSLR.
But I simply won't buy a camera where usability is such a major ****-up.
This includes not providing a viewfinder I can put to my eye.

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Thanks again

I say to give it a try, if you still feel that way then that is all good and you definitely shouldn't purchase it. I remember people talking about the handling/UI of the Nokia 5800 phone i have...they made it seem horrible. In the end when i purchased it and it arrived I loved the dang phone! It wasn't an iPhone but it was very easy and pleasing to use and had so many advantages for the money it cost.

I think the NEX will be very similar once more of you guys put your hands on one.