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Sell DSLR and get NEX-5?

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Jman09

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I currently have a Canon Digital Rebel XTi with a Tamron 17-50 2.8 lens and the Canon 55-250 EF-S. I like my setup but haven't been using it that much. I find myself leaving it home because of the size.

I mainly use my camera for friends and family get togethers, traveling and the occasional sporting event. I've been reading this forum section and have seen a lot of praise for these cameras. I really like the size and design of the NEX line.

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated. Or recommendations on a similar camera to get instead.
Thanks in advance.
 
Jman09 said:
I currently have a Canon Digital Rebel XTi with a Tamron 17-50 2.8 lens and the Canon 55-250 EF-S. I like my setup but haven't been using it that much. I find myself leaving it home because of the size.

I mainly use my camera for friends and family get togethers, traveling and the occasional sporting event. I've been reading this forum section and have seen a lot of praise for these cameras. I really like the size and design of the NEX line.

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated. Or recommendations on a similar camera to get instead.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
The problem is that unless you are going to be using pancake camera, the NEX is still a large camera (the lens being the large part), so you have to consider if that's your biggest complaint or if you think body reduction is enough.

Personally, I will be using the pancakes if I get one.
 
Having the NEX-5 w/ the pancake lens, I have to say I do miss the pocketability of the point and shoot I have in the past, and since I never own a DSLR prior to the NEX-5, I can't say how often you will be carrying the NEX-5 out as I end up carrying a camera bag that is almost the size of a DSLR. The only thing I think you will be saving on is weight with the NEX-5.

If IQ is not at the top of your concern, I would suggest going with the Canon S95. That camera can handle almost all of your needs (except for the occasional sports event due to the lack of zoom). I know 2 of my friends that have that camera and I do occasionally envy them because of the portability, while it have tons of DSLR like features like the f2.0 lens.
 
jacknyc said:
Having the NEX-5 w/ the pancake lens, I have to say I do miss the pocketability of the point and shoot I have in the past, and since I never own a DSLR prior to the NEX-5, I can't say how often you will be carrying the NEX-5 out as I end up carrying a camera bag that is almost the size of a DSLR. The only thing I think you will be saving on is weight with the NEX-5.

If IQ is not at the top of your concern, I would suggest going with the Canon S95. That camera can handle almost all of your needs (except for the occasional sports event due to the lack of zoom). I know 2 of my friends that have that camera and I do occasionally envy them because of the portability, while it have tons of DSLR like features like the f2.0 lens.
Click to expand...
From reading around, the S95 can't compare with the NEX or LX5 in terms shooting performance (especially autofocus).

LX5 definitely for me, if I don't end up getting the NEX.
 
If you find your current DSLR too big to carry around then a NEX will not be the huge improvement that you think. I have a S90, NEX3 and D300. I use each for specific purposes.

Going by what you have described, getting a S90/S95 is the way to go. A NEX with the 18-55 lens is somewhat bulky in an unusual way since the lens is really protruding in comparison to the rest of the camera. It is in no way pocket-able. With the 16mm pancake lens it will be but then you are limited to just that focal length.

So, keep the DSLR for the best IQ when you need it and get a quality P&S for portability and convenience. That's what I do.

--

Arthur Dent hoped and prayed there wasn't an afterlife. Then, realizing the contradiction, he merely hoped there wasn't an afterlife.
  • Douglas Adams, In Literature/Douglas Adams
 
I'm trying to make the same decision and I agree with electronbee. Except I will probably go for the LX5 as I want the 24mm wa it has rather than the 28mm of the S95.
But I think I'll be getting a Nex sooner or later as well top support my A700

Today (tomorrow I may feel different) I think I'll end up with an A900 FF, A NEX and the LX5
--
Mike Fewster
Adelaide Australia
 
Jman09 said:
I currently have a Canon Digital Rebel XTi with a Tamron 17-50 2.8 lens and the Canon 55-250 EF-S. I like my setup but haven't been using it that much. I find myself leaving it home because of the size.
Click to expand...
NEX has nothing to replace the 17-50 f/2.8 lens (which is a great sharp fast lens).

The only NEX lens that is similar to the 55-250 lens in NEX 18-200 which costs $800, weighs more, and still doesn't have the reach of the EF-S lens.

The LX5 won't have the reach either, but it comes with a small, fast built-in lens.
 
diy_lens said:
If you find your current DSLR too big to carry around then a NEX will not be the huge improvement that you think. I have a S90, NEX3 and D300. I use each for specific purposes.
Click to expand...
I've had the opposite experience. I have a compact, a NEX and a DSLR. I find I am only using the NEX these days, and feel there's a BIG difference in size and weight between the NEX and the DSLR.

I'll happily carry the NEX around all day long, with the DSLR I had to force myself to take it, and usually took the compact instead.

So I guess it depends on the person. Some people seem to not mind carrying a backpack full of camera equipment around. Others will are not interested in anything that won't go in a jeans pocket.

--
A rose by any other name is still a chicken.
 
seachicken2000 said:
seachicken2000 said:
If you find your current DSLR too big to carry around then a NEX will not be the huge improvement that you think. I have a S90, NEX3 and D300. I use each for specific purposes.
Click to expand...
I've had the opposite experience. I have a compact, a NEX and a DSLR. I find I am only using the NEX these days, and feel there's a BIG difference in size and weight between the NEX and the DSLR.

I'll happily carry the NEX around all day long, with the DSLR I had to force myself to take it, and usually took the compact instead.

So I guess it depends on the person. Some people seem to not mind carrying a backpack full of camera equipment around. Others will are not interested in anything that won't go in a jeans pocket.

--
A rose by any other name is still a chicken.
Click to expand...
Do you still with the pancake or use something else?
 
I find myself still opting for my DSLR over the NEX because I'm just not enamored with slow lenses. I'm used to shooting ISO 1600-3200 on the A700 a f/2 (28/2, 50/1.4 and 85/1.4). The zoom is 2-3 stops slower and I'm not thrilled with ISO 6400 on NEX. I find myself using the little flash. The 16/2.8 is faster, of course, but I find it too wide for a lot of shooting.

I bought it after the "road map" came out and am eagerly awaiting the portait lens & maybe some of the others.

It's a nice enough camera. I left my DSLR behind on a trip to Disney; I carry the NEX at times in a coat pocket when I'd normally bring a p&s or nothing. One of my favorite uses for it is to carry it with the 16 alongside my DSLR with 85 so I can shoot either without changing lenses.

In time, with more lenses, I can see using it for more and more things, but don't see it replacing my DSLR entirely and certainly not now.

Do you use Lightroom or some other program that lets you query metadata ? See what percent of your shots is at f/2.8 ... then look at some of them ... see what you might be missing.
  • Dennis
--
Gallery at http://kingofthebeasts.smugmug.com
 
An LX5 is also a good camera. Especially since it does 720p video make sit even better. I just think S90 as I have one. :)

The NEX is an awesome camera. And, I love mine. But... I would definitely go to a Sony store or Best Buy and check it out and see if you like the size. If you think a DSLR is too big and a P&S is too limiting then this is an awesome "crossover" camera. Just going by your original dilemma concerning your DSLR I would say P&S. However, I think you recognize the higher IQ of a DSLR versus a P&S and you kinda want both. I don't blame you. I just would feel bad to recommend a NEX only to find out you leave it at home since you think it's too big for carry-around use.

And, I think once the NEX catches on with a roiding-rage then we will see some sweet lenses out for it. I hope Sony makes more pancake type primes. Or, at least someone else will. Like Tokina or Sigma... someone...

--

Arthur Dent hoped and prayed there wasn't an afterlife. Then, realizing the contradiction, he merely hoped there wasn't an afterlife.
  • Douglas Adams, In Literature/Douglas Adams
 
Thanks for the comments and suggestions so far. I looked up both the LX5 and S90, and I like what they offer in the small package. I'm going to do some more research and see what lenses are supposed to come out for the NEX line in the future and look at more pocket zooms.

I won't be making this decision right away, so I have time to look around. And I need to see what kind of money I'll get from selling my current stuff. And I may end up keeping the DSLR.. we will see.
 
There is also another factor you need considering.

If you were carrying your former P&S in a "rugged" bag (with foamy material to prevent damage from drops), then you will not notice the switch from P&S to NEX. NEX easily fits to such small carrying cases even with the 18-55mm on. If you were just putting the camera in the pocket then you WILL notice a big difference (especially with the 18-55 lens). However, when it comes to truly pocketable cameras, i think S95 is the way to go, as LX5 has a lens cap which I find really disturbing for a "pocketable" camera.

I went to a NEX after an advanced P&S and I'll never look back. You'll realize that in restaurants, museums, indoors, exhibitions halls and nighttime landscapes.

Anyway, check your needs, consider if you need low light capabilities (in which case you just forget the P&S, unless you want to carry a tripod with you all the time...), go to a local store and use the camera, see how it feels and decide for yourself.

Good luck with your choice and enjoy whatever camera you'll be buying!
 
--The NEX is undoubtably the best trade-off of sensor size (thus IQ) to portability. When you get a bigger sensor like the NEX's, you've got to have a bigger lens to throw a big enough image circle to cover it. It you demand fast, then you get big & heavy.
Jerry
 
P&S is only portable ,it can't replace your DSLR....nex can be portable and can replace your DSLR in 90% of your needs....if you dont want your DSLR to stay unused then stay away from nex....nex have the trend to killing DSLR's
 
JinZM said:
Jman09 said:
I currently have a Canon Digital Rebel XTi with a Tamron 17-50 2.8 lens and the Canon 55-250 EF-S. I like my setup but haven't been using it that much. I find myself leaving it home because of the size.

I mainly use my camera for friends and family get togethers, traveling and the occasional sporting event. I've been reading this forum section and have seen a lot of praise for these cameras. I really like the size and design of the NEX line.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
For sports, you're probably better off with a DSLR. I don't think the AF is going to be fast with any of these contrast-detect AF cameras.
JinZM said:
JinZM said:
Any comments or ideas would be appreciated. Or recommendations on a similar camera to get instead.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
There is a Sony 55-200 in a-mount that could be used with the adapter. Not cheap, and AF will be slow, but it's cheaper than the 18-200.

Like the others, I may hold out at this point for more native e-mount lenses, but I did get the a-mount adapter to use my older lenses (manual-focus only for mine).
JinZM said:
The problem is that unless you are going to be using pancake camera, the NEX is still a large camera (the lens being the large part),
Click to expand...
Have you seen the 17-50/2.8? :-) The Nex plus 18-55 is a much smaller package. I've got an A100 and the 17-50/2.8, and the Nex is much lighter and easier to justify taking somewhere. And can actually fit (if snugly) into pockets.
JinZM said:
so you have to consider if that's your biggest complaint or if you think body reduction is enough.
Click to expand...
Compared to my A100, the Nex has much better high-ISO capability, which is somewhat offset when you use the kit lens and its smaller aperture. Of course, if I don't mind manually focusing, I can always put the Tamron on the Nex! But then we're back to big and heavy. But I guess the point is, depending on the capabilities of the old camera, you might find more than just body and lens reduction to make it worthwhile.
JinZM said:
Personally, I will be using the pancakes if I get one.
Click to expand...
Will Sony make any more pancakes? Sounds like they have the zooms covered...
--
Gary W.
 
I currently have a NEX5, Sony A580 and a TX1. Each one has their uses:

Family, vacation, video, macro, old MF lenses: NEX5

Low light, indoor sports / performances, nature / wild live, portraits (VG), long lenses, flash photography: A580

Always in my pocket: TX1

I'll keep all 3.
 
seachicken2000 said:
seachicken2000 said:
If you find your current DSLR too big to carry around then a NEX will not be the huge improvement that you think. I have a S90, NEX3 and D300. I use each for specific purposes.
Click to expand...
I've had the opposite experience. I have a compact, a NEX and a DSLR. I find I am only using the NEX these days, and feel there's a BIG difference in size and weight between the NEX and the DSLR.
Click to expand...
...

I agree. If you feel that the Nex is still too big, then, yes, you'll need to find a smaller P&S. But if it meets your size/weight requirements, then it's a huge step up from P&S cameras.
seachicken2000 said:
I'll happily carry the NEX around all day long, with the DSLR I had to force myself to take it, and usually took the compact instead.

So I guess it depends on the person. Some people seem to not mind carrying a backpack full of camera equipment around. Others will are not interested in anything that won't go in a jeans pocket.
Click to expand...
Even with my DSLR, I would take care to minimize the amount of stuff I lugged around.
seachicken2000 said:
--
A rose by any other name is still a chicken.
Click to expand...
--
Gary W.
 
I have an old DSC-W170 P&S for events where a SLT, DSLR or a NEX system it's prohibited and for overcrowded areas where I prefer to have a camera on the pocket.

Then, when I need low light performance, or when I have the special purpose to take pictures and need the flexibility of interchangeable lens, or whatever other reason, then I pick-up my NEX-5.

It's a good practice to buy a P&S since they have a pocketable size, many of them offers between 3x to 10x zoom lenses, and over 10mp sensors. There is always an occasion where they will shine in usefulness.
 
Until I can find an acceptable compact case for my NEX5, I find myself still loving my HX5V which is on my belt constantly. I think that I will eventually have to settle for a "bigger" case for the NEX5 w/18200 lens but will continue to carry the HX5V for portability. Thankfully, the HX5V is also a great camera.
 
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