Sold the Nex 5N, looking for an alternative.

mortenbpost · Sep 9, 2012

Hi,

I've recently been shooting a Nex-5N with the kit lenses (16mm & 18-55mm) and been very happy with the results I've been getting, didn't use the 16mm much... - I'm pretty new to cameras besides using compacts...

However, travelling a month with the 5N it got annoying because I would often get blacked out - so I sold it for pretty much the same as i bought it for and I'm now looking for a better alternative that has a viewfinder.

I've got $1700 to spend, give or take. I've been looking at Sony Nex-7, Fujifilm X-pro1, olympus omd e-m5, or maybe wait for the x-e1.

It's going to be used mainly on vacations/street and I think the DSLR cases are too big.

Any suggestions?

Deleted1929 · Sep 9, 2012

mortenbpost said:
it got annoying because I would often get blacked out

What exactly does that mean ?

If it's something you want to avoid in a new system, we need to understand what it is.

--
StephenG

Michael Melb AU · Sep 9, 2012

Get Canon G1X. It has an optical viewfinder and sensor big enough to make nice photos (not as good as NEX - that's DSLR territory). And your experience with compacts will be more than useful with this reasonably small camera. It's a perfect holiday snapper.
--
Everyone can do it - some do it well. But nobody is perfect.

Ray Maines · Sep 9, 2012

Michael Melb AU said:
Get Canon G1X. It has an optical viewfinder and sensor big enough to make nice photos ... . And your experience with compacts will be more than useful with this reasonably small camera. It's a perfect holiday snapper.

It's a bit expensive for a 4X P&S, but a very nice camera built around a great sensor.

--
Buy books, not gear.
Tacoma, Washington, USA

drusus · Sep 9, 2012

You've told us you want a viewfinder. The cameras you listed all have one. If a viewfinder is the only thing missing, then any of those cameras will do. If you are asking which of these would be better for you, it would be helpful to hear more about your other preferences. If fast autofocus matters to you, for example, the EM5 might be a better choice than the XPro1.

Given that you liked the NEX 5 except for the lack of viewfinder, I would think the NEX 7 would be the safest bet, as it is probably the most similar camera of the bunch to the NEX 5.

Drusus

AlBigGuns · Sep 10, 2012

Isn't there a very good viewfinder attachment available for the 5n? I suppose that's not much use now though.

Cy Cheze · Sep 10, 2012

mortenbpost said:
However, travelling a month with the 5N it got annoying because I would often get blacked out - so I sold it for pretty much the same as i bought it for ....

You converted a used 5n and two lenses into $1,700?

If you pulled off a miracle like that, why not turn it into a business? In most cases, a used 5n sells at quite a discount to the original list price, due to buyer uncertainties about condition, plus due to the advent of the 5r.

Hagane · Sep 10, 2012

Ray Maines said:
Michael Melb AU said:

Get Canon G1X. It has an optical viewfinder and sensor big enough to make nice photos ... . And your experience with compacts will be more than useful with this reasonably small camera. It's a perfect holiday snapper.

Click to expand...

It's a bit expensive for a 4X P&S, but a very nice camera built around a great sensor.

I've tested a G1X for half an hour or so. It sure is a good camera, but with two drawbacks which scared me away: the viewfinder is tiny and AF is pretty slow.

Azfar · Sep 10, 2012

mortenbpost said:
Hi,

However, travelling a month with the 5N it got annoying because I would often get blacked out -

mortenbpost said:
Any suggestions?

Shouldn't we have addressed this issue before getting a new cam. How can you be sure that you will not be getting blacked out photos with a new camera as well. Just saying.

About what to get now, well. If you are considering Nex-7, there was no point selling the two lenses you had. Secondly all those cameras are in the 1k plus territory. Why go that high for some casual photography. Have you considered Canon EOS M ? $800 with 22mm STM lens. That leaves you with enough money to buy the 18-135 STM lens ($500) with a few hundred bucks to spare for the accessories (extra batteries, flash etc).
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28498283@N00/

TrapperJohn · Sep 10, 2012

I had an Oly Pen with the clip on VF, and it worked very well, but... the add on VF is one more thing to lose, and can get knocked off with a careless move.

Replaced it with an EM5, and have been quite happy. It's surprisingly small, quite capable, the IBIS is very effective. Also, it has an integrated VF, not a clip on VF delicately perched on the flash hotshoe, so that's one less thing to worry about when you're traveling.

NEX7 also has a built in VF, as does XPro1. I actually played with an XPro1 in a camera store not too long ago... exquisite prime lenses, interesting hybrid VF.

gwlaw99 · Sep 10, 2012

The upcoming NEX-6 is also an option. A less expensive version of the 7 that also has a viewfinder. More money for glass.

pinnacle · Sep 10, 2012

Take a look at the Panasonic G5. It has excellent image IQ comparable with the better known Olympus E-M5. It is $300.00 less. It has the built in viewfinder (high res). You can add some of the newer fast primes and still be inside of your budget constraints.

G5 body and 14-42kit lens $799.00
Olympus 45mm $400.00
Panasonic 45-200 image stabilized zoom $246.00
A couple of extra batteries $100.00

Total: $$1550.00
You won't be disappointed.
Dan

mortenbpost · Sep 10, 2012

Thank you guys for the great replies. One more reason for selling the 5n was that i was actually accessing manual controls very often trying different things out. The olympus for the fast af and manual control and many lenses seems like a good candidate.

A read many places that 7n isnt great with std. Kit lenses.

Prime85 · Sep 10, 2012

What do you like to take pictures of most?

Prime85 · Sep 10, 2012

I would say the OM-D would be very nice as long as you are not doing sports. (And it sounds like you are not.) I would get the 45mm f1.8 with it along with other lenses if they fit in the budget.

OpticsEngineer · Sep 10, 2012

For my last vacation, I got a NEX7 with Tamron 18-200 lens. It was a great combination. The Tamron 18-200 lens is better than the kit Sony 18-55. It is almost as good as the Sony SEL18200 but significantly lighter. Not too bulky and I got a lot of good pictures.

The Olympus OM-D EM-5 was not out yet when I got the NEX7 or I might have gotten that, partly because theOlympus Zuiko 14-150 lens is ranked very highly and considering crop factors covers the about the same range as the NEX7/Tamron. Generally I like Olympus because my XZ-1 is so nice. But Popular Photography I think I remember complained the OM-D EM-5 was hard to grip, so would not buy one without handling one first.

In general, my thinking was to pick a good zoom lens first (considering this was for a vacation). Then look at the cameras. So with that in mind, also consider the Panasonic G 14-140 OIS lens is consider very good also and there are a variety of micro four thirds cameras to choose from.

aman74 · Sep 11, 2012

mortenbpost said:
Thank you guys for the great replies. One more reason for selling the 5n was that i was actually accessing manual controls very often trying different things out. The olympus for the fast af and manual control and many lenses seems like a good candidate.

A read many places that 7n isnt great with std. Kit lenses.

You still didn' tell us what this "blacking out" problem is.

raminolta · Sep 11, 2012

Two new Nex's are coming soon: Nex 6 and 5R.

mortenbpost · Sep 11, 2012

Not being able to see what was on the screen in bright sunlight. That's why I want a viewfinder.

The X-E1 also looks quite nice!

zackiedawg · Sep 11, 2012

That would seem to be the cheapest option overall - even though the viewfinder is a bit expensive, it's a lot cheaper than changing over to an entirely new camera body and lens system. Add the EVF to your 5N, and no more 'blackout' problems in bright sun.

But if you want to move to a camera with a viewfinder, you could still save a little effort by keeping the lenses you had and just getting a NEX-7 or NEX-6 with built-in finder.

Otherwise, there are plenty of options from Nikon, Panasonic, Olympus, Samsung, Fuji, and Sony for smaller mirrorless cameras with electronic viewfinders.

I think you may have been a bit reactionary getting rid of the 5N without researching whether it would have been cheaper or more logical to add an accessory or keep the lenses and staying in the same mount, but in the end, it's all about being happy.

--
Justin
galleries: http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg

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