Here is a quick comparison of NEX 5N and NEX 7. It does not claim to be scientific, just a limited, but IMHO informative test.
I used two different lenses: Zeiss ZM 35 f:2.0 for architecture, and Leica R 60 Makro for the flower, both very detailed and sharp.
Both shots come strictly SOOC, conversion from RAW in LR with default settings, i.e. not as I would PP them. The first shot is handheld at f:5.6, because use of a tripod was not allowed, but shutter speed is IMHO enough to make that acceptable. The flower shot is at f:8.0, from a tripod with timer release.
Both shots are in P mode, and not equalized for WB, because, if there are differences in metering and white balance, they should be shown IMHO, rather than limitig the comparison to a strict sensor-to-sensor one.
Personnally, I would have shown only a 100% crop from the 5N and the same crop from the 7, which would have been less than 100% because of the higher pixel count. That, to me, is reprensentative of a real life comparison, because eventually, whatever the resolution of our system, the pictures get equalized to print size or screen size. But Andrew (Snowboarder) wanted to see not an equal-size comparison, but an equal-cropping-factor comparison; i.e. 100% 5N to 100% 7, which I did for his benefit. This allows a per-pixel comparison. So you get to see 3 pics, two equally sized, and one more magnified, which is the 100% crop from the 7.
FYI, I have doubled the architecture shot with the same one wide open, with no noticeable difference, so I need not post it IMHO.
They all look pretty good and similar, to me. I'd love to see those corner crops with the ZM, although, I'd imagine they'd be pretty equal. The alleged corner issues of that lens with the NEX-7 are in the f2-f4'ish range.
I think I'm also going to pass on the 7. I'm sure it is nicer to shoot than the 5 and the added resolution is not bad, but the difference is not such that I would be willing to part with the 5N + cash to get there. I would rather get a new Ricoh M-mount if it gets released somewhere this year or next year.
ken.vs.ryu wrote:
is the touch screen active when you are looking through the evf on the 5n?
I like the dials on the 7 and that extra button. The level is addicting, with the diagonal grid lines it looks like a pilot's HUD.
Nope, the touchscreen is disabled when using the EVF.
Usability and features wise, I'm still at a cross roads between the two cameras. The feel and size are about the same, since I use a leather half-case on the 5N. The 7's EVF is more streamlined, but the 5N's tilts, has an on/off button, and is better situated for left-eyed shooters. The 7's extra dials and level are nice, but the 5N has the touchscreen that I use a lot, as well as strap lugs that point the camera down so that your body isn't constantly triggering the eye sensor for sleep mode, and I'm not sure the extra dials will be that big of a deal to me, since all of my lenses have aperture rings, and I use autoISO in S mode most of the time...which leads me to the fact that the 5N's auto ISO goes to 3200.
Tough call. GAS is certainly tempting me with the Nex-7, that's for sure. Let's see those 35/2 corners!
now I can see why the touch was left out of the 7. moving the focus point with the dials is what they intended.
I hate the rattly eyelets with 7 since I don't use the neck strap. I've ditched them since the nex-5, very light to carry all day - otherwise it goes in a bag when not in use.
I have it set to 20 sec sleep so it limits the eye sensor from activating the camera.
Having the dials for moving the focus point would be great for the EVF, but, for the LCD, nothing is faster than focusing with the touchscreen. They should've included it on the 7. One can always turn it off in the menus. It's also great for reviewing images.
Well, I guess that's the beauty of being able to disable it, for some, but I'd imagine the majority would find it at least a little useful on the 7.
Since I generally focus using the EVF, now, I find that checking focus during image review on the LCD is my most common use of the touchscreen. I never really hit it on accident.
Thanks a lot!
I can get more detail in the 7 crop, but not that much more to be honest...
At this level for me it's about the missing features as well.
ken.vs.ryu wrote:
The level is addicting, with the diagonal grid lines it looks like a pilot's HUD.
That's the difference! The level. I knew there was something different about the EVF when I tried out zapatista's 7 the other day.
douglasf13 wrote:
...and is better situated for left-eyed shooters.
Doesn't your nose get in the way of the controls when you shoot left-eyed on the 5N? Mine does. Maybe I just have an extraordinarily large face (the nose, however, is proportional).
Personally, I'll happily give up the touch screen just to get the shutter speed off that multi-touch dial. No more accidentally accessing the shooting mode menu or the ISO selection when trying to change shutter speed? Sign me up. But I do agree it was a silly omission on Sony's part, particularly since it can be turned off, and I can see why it would be a deciding factor for some. When I use the screen to focus, I do appreciate the speed to magnification it gives you.
I didn't like the touch screen on the 5n, because I often inadvertently activated it. I left it on, though, because it made some things easier. With such limited controls, the touch screen was too useful to disable entirely.
I much prefer the 7's controls, even without the touch screen, since everything I used the touch screen for I can do faster and easier on the 7 with other controls. For the focus point, it's really easy: touch the front function button, then use the tri-navi dials to move the point around (very quickly, I might add). When using the LCD, it's just as fast as the touch screen for me. It also has the huge benefit of being usable with the viewfinder.
freaklikeme wrote:
That's the difference! The level. I knew there was something different about the EVF when I tried out zapatista's 7 the other day.
Doesn't your nose get in the way of the controls when you shoot left-eyed on the 5N? Mine does. Maybe I just have an extraordinarily large face (the nose, however, is proportional).
Personally, I'll happily give up the touch screen just to get the shutter speed off that multi-touch dial. No more accidentally accessing the shooting mode menu or the ISO selection when trying to change shutter speed? Sign me up. But I do agree it was a silly omission on Sony's part, particularly since it can be turned off, and I can see why it would be a deciding factor for some. When I use the screen to focus, I do appreciate the speed to magnification it gives you....Show more →
I always shoot wih the EVF tilted at 45 degrees or more. My nose clears the top of the LCD altogether.
To be clear, the touchscreen isn't the deciding factor, for me. It's the combination of features that I mentioned above that has me questioning a switch. The tilt EVF and its on/off button are probably the biggest issue, to me, as I use those frequently.
douglasf13 wrote:
I always shoot wih the EVF tilted at 45 degrees or more. My nose clears the top of the LCD altogether.
That makes sense. And the tilt function is great. That combined with the camera's ability to get a ground-level perspective make for 2/3s of a great macro set-up.
douglasf13 wrote:
To be clear, the touchscreen isn't the deciding factor, for me. It's the combination of features that I mentioned above that has me questioning a switch. The tilt EVF and its on/off button are probably the biggest issue, to me, as I use those frequently.
My second paragraph was more of a general comment, but I hear you. The 5N and EVF have a lot going for them. I'm not 100% sold on the 7 yet, since I haven't even taken a photo with it, but thanks to threads like this and getting to play with it a bit, my expectations are much higher than they were when I heard about the pixel-dense sensor.
