I have had a NEX-5N for some time now, and happy to say that I love the camera. I sold my FF 1D series and a Leica M8.2 and kept the NEX. For my use, it's great (small size, fantastic IQ, tilt screen, etc.). I purchased the viewfinder and it has made a large difference in manual lens operation.
Now, the NEX 7's are starting to trickle on to the used market. I figure a NEX 5N and VF will net something like $800 or so, and used NEX 7's seem to be $1100-1200. So, for that additional $300-400, what would I be getting? I am not really a pixel peeper, so I would be looking for more of a handling improvement than IQ (although, I'll take even better IQ, too ) Is it worth the headache/shipping/etc.? For some reason, I can't find much comparison online when I search, even though it would seem obvious for many comparisons to have been made.
Huge handling improvement for me. I also wanted the 50% more resolution for marginally more noise. The body also just feels premium relative to the nice but not quite as solid 5N.
Keeping in mind that my opinions are based on the 5N in a leather half-case, which is a must have for any 5N user that doesn't like the feel of the grip or size of the camera, my feelings are mixed. With said half-case, the cameras feel about the same in my hand, as they are very similar in dimension.The two extra dials of the 7 are great, and I love that the EVF is much more streamlined. However, the EVF of the 5N is much better at sealing off outside light, because you can get better angles with it from the tilt mechanism, and I do miss the EVF off/on button and touchscreen. I also miss autoISO that goes to 3200 with the 5N.
I decided to keep the 7 over the 5N, but the decision was much tougher than I expected. If you're using M lenses, the 5N may still be the better option. If you don't mind the 5N's EVF appendage, and you can live without the extra two dials, you may want to stick with the 5N. It's a tough call.
I just bought a NEX-7 and have been using the NEX-5N since October... I will have four options:
1) Keep both (at least for my upcoming trip this summer) - since 5N went bad once and still seems to do operations very slowly sometimes
2) Keep just the 5N
3) keep just the 7
4) Sell both and my 7D and DSLR's hurt my back/neck...
daleaherman wrote:
1) Keep both (at least for my upcoming trip this summer)
I've got a 5N with EVF and NEX 7. Even though I've hardly used my 5N since I got the 7, I'm going to hang onto it as a back up body for long trips. You never know when one of these electronic marvels will malfunction and the compact size of the 5N makes it so easy to bring along a back up camera.
Jeff Kott wrote:
I've got a 5N with EVF and NEX 7. Even though I've hardly used my 5N since I got the 7, I'm going to hang onto it as a back up body for long trips. You never know when one of these electronic marvels will malfunction and the compact size of the 5N makes it so easy to bring along a back up camera.
Good point. Since I already had an older NEX-5 as a backup, which wouldn't fetch much money, I went ahead and sold the 5N, but I'd rather have kept the 5N.
Thanks for the link, FlyPenFly. I've got a 24/1.8 coming on Tuesday, and I'm anxious to try it.
For me, the 7 is just about perfect. I do miss the angle-finder aspect of the 5N's EVF and the touch screen (which was a surprise to me, since I didn't think I would use it when I bought the 5N), but not enough to keep it around. I find the placement of the VF much more comfortable when shooting, so I use it more than I used the EVF on the 5N. I can't say enough good things about the additional controls and the customization possibilities. I find it several times more pleasurable to use. IQ was my biggest concern, but the sensor is very much a performer. I don't feel like I've lost anything in the transition (note, however, I do not use RF wides... so far... this time).
The 5N, as good as it is, never made me contemplate replacing my a900, and I can't say the 7 has changed that for me. But if the a900 were crushed under a herd of stampeding cattle tomorrow and I didn't immediately have the money to replace it, I wouldn't be too worried about it. I feel like the 7 can handle pretty much anything I want to do with a little extra effort on my part, and that's all I can ask of such a politely small back-up/light travel camera.
FlyPenFly wrote:
Huge handling improvement for me. I also wanted the 50% more resolution for marginally more noise. The body also just feels premium relative to the nice but not quite as solid 5N.
Just to keep things real, the resolution difference is not anywhere near 50% just going by the sensor numbers.
It is the square root of 24/16 so 1.22474487 or about 22.5%
Getting to something close to 50% more resolution than a 16MP sensor would take the 36MP D800 sensor:
Square root of 36/16 or 1.5 so exactly 50%. It takes a lot to move that resolution meter.
Agree about the handling of the 7. The grip and controls are really nice vs the 5. The IQ at base is also better than I expected. Unfortunately, my eyes don't seem to get along with the EVF.
p.1 #12 · NEX-5N vs. NEX 7: What is the consensus?
If my voice may be part of the consensus not having owned either, then let me count for a neither vote. I don't like the Sony company and I've concluded from handling the cameras at the shops that I don't like either the 5n nor the 7.
p.1 #13 · NEX-5N vs. NEX 7: What is the consensus?
Bifurcator wrote:
If my voice may be part of the consensus not having owned either, then let me count for a neither vote. I don't like the Sony company and I've concluded from handling the cameras at the shops that I don't like either the 5n nor the 7.
Well that's a shocker! I thought you were a HUGE fan of Sony.
p.1 #14 · NEX-5N vs. NEX 7: What is the consensus?
I guess I'm repeating myself, but for me 5N+EVF is way better than 7.
I'm so used to tilting my EVF and looking down through it, I wouldn't be able
to deal with a locked VF. Also a touch screen is a must on a tripod or when
I don't use my EVF. Plus it works better with wide lenses.
p.1 #15 · NEX-5N vs. NEX 7: What is the consensus?
Just got my NEX7 a few weeks ago and we make too much of a fuss over the ISO differences to be honest. At 1600 to 3200 there is noise, but it's not obtrusive in any way that would impact the final image quality.
The additional controls on the 7 are vital for my tastes, and if there's a way to lock specific dials (instead of just a global lock) I'd be jumping for joy.
p.1 #16 · NEX-5N vs. NEX 7: What is the consensus?
snowboarder wrote:
I guess I'm repeating myself, but for me 5N+EVF is way better than 7.
I'm so used to tilting my EVF and looking down through it, I wouldn't be able
to deal with a locked VF. Also a touch screen is a must on a tripod or when
I don't use my EVF. Plus it works better with wide lenses.
+1
I have a pair of NEX-5N bodies: 90% of the time with a 25mm lens mounted on one and a 50mm on the other. Each has the EVF, though I switch to a Voigtlander 25mm D viewfinder when I'm zone focusing the wide angle. I haven't been at all tempted by the NEX-7 mainly because I have two rangefinder 25mm lenses and I like the touch screen. The only feature of the NEX-7 that I truly miss is a proper flash shoe.
p.1 #17 · NEX-5N vs. NEX 7: What is the consensus?
A big plus for left sighted people is the raised, tilting and centered EVF of the 5N compared to the NEX-7 - on the left corner side and flush with the top plate.
Those who are in my case know well what a PITA is having to twist your neck and/or rub your nose against the LCD screen all the time while you're looking through the viewfinder. This was reason enough for me too discard the NEX-7 beforehand.
Eventually I sold the 5N after getting a Ricoh GXR ( which has an add-on EVF like the 5N) .. but this is another story.
p.1 #19 · NEX-5N vs. NEX 7: What is the consensus?
The extra controls was reason enough for me to get the 7 over the 5N, I don't have much for RF wides so that didn't weigh heavily on my decision.
So far, very happy with the 7.
p.1 #20 · NEX-5N vs. NEX 7: What is the consensus?
Tariq Gibran wrote:
Just to keep things real, the resolution difference is not anywhere near 50% just going by the sensor numbers.
It is the square root of 24/16 so 1.22474487 or about 22.5%
Getting to something close to 50% more resolution than a 16MP sensor would take the 36MP D800 sensor:
Square root of 36/16 or 1.5 so exactly 50%. It takes a lot to move that resolution meter.
Actually, the 7 has exactly 50% more resolution (16+8=24).. Tariq, you are describing the math for 100% more resolution (i.e. double).
) Is it worth the headache/shipping/etc.? For some reason, I can't find much comparison online when I search, even though it would seem obvious for many comparisons to have been made.
DSLR's hurt my back/neck...
