p.1 #1 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
I would appreciate any input from those that use the NEX 7 or other NEX cameras for hiking and landscape photography (even better if you replaced a DSLR setup). Many seem to think the NEX 7 is perfect for this and I would love to go lighter than my current DSLR setup but I have a few concerns.
- build quality and durability -- how will the NEX camera hold up in dusty environments and in general outdoors.
- feature set -- did I read that the NEX cameras have very limited bracketing? If so, how do those that need this feature work around this limitation? What other features are missing/lacking for landscape photography?
- lens selection -- Right now I use two lenses on a DX camera for the majority of my landscape shots; 10-20mm and 24-70mm. What types of combinations would I consider for NEX especially to cover the wide angle end of the range?
Please let me know about any other differences that would be important to be aware of for landscape photography.
p.1 #2 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
RobCD wrote:
- build quality and durability -- how will the NEX camera hold up in dusty environments and in general outdoors.
- feature set -- did I read that the NEX cameras have very limited bracketing? If so, how do those that need this feature work around this limitation? What other features are missing/lacking for landscape photography?
- lens selection -- Right now I use two lenses on a DX camera for the majority of my landscape shots; 10-20mm and 24-70mm. What types of combinations would I consider for NEX especially to cover the wide angle end of the range?
Please let me know about any other differences that would be important to be aware of for landscape photography....Show more →
Build quality and durability - how well do you take care of your gear? I will take my NEX on the ATV and horseback riding this summer which is just about as dusty as it gets and expect no issues, but I am careful to protect my gear in bad conditions. My 5N feels well built, but dust is an issue and definitely sensor dustbunnies can be an issue.
Bracketing on NEX is not good, it's very limited.
The other issue is that in some conditions it can be very difficult to see the LCD and the EVF. I had both yesterday and it was super bright and sunny, and I did not feel like either of them worked very well with my perscription sunglasses. Thanks to focus peaking, I did nail some shots that I took a WAG at focusing, but I really missed having an OVF and good AF yesterday.
I am still exploring my UWA options, so I won't comment on that other than to say I have seen some very nice shots with the 10-22 and adapter. If I had a 10-22, I'd try it on my NEX.
- It's too early for me to say how well the 5N will hold up in a dusty environment, but seeing how it has fewer moving parts than an SLR, I would expect fewer mechanical issues. Neither camera is weather sealed.
- Bracketing is poorly implemented, but when necessary, manually adjusting the exposure comp or shutter speed has not been a deal breaker for me.
- If you are limiting your lens choices to digital lenses, the selection is somewhat limited at this moment. Already though other parties are producing digital lenses for the NEX series of cameras and of course there is a ton of legacy glass available.
- Other limitations? MCO nailed the big one - focusing via screen in bright sunlight. It can be tricky, sometimes. I have not had a day where I have been cussing and swearing about it though. The EVF would solve that problem, or simply using AF lenses. I don't have an EVF for my 5N and have managed fine so far (but I wouldn't mind adding this to my kit). The NEX 7 obviously solves this issue also, but then it's more limited when it comes to wide angle lenses, at least which of the wide rangefinder lenses will work well with it... and that would certainly matter to me for landscape use and hiking.
I listed my kit in the blog, but will re-hash here quickly. I use all Cosina Voigtlander (rangefinder) lenses and a Voigtlander to NEX adapter with my 5N. I carry the 15/4.5, 35/2.5, and 90/3.5. I find the quality of these lenses to be very good, and better in most ways than what I have experienced with 'entry level' digital primes. The 15 and 35 fit in a small pouch on my backpack hip belt, in addition to a couple of filters (all of these lenses use 39mm filters), spare battery, and a remote. The only lens that doesn't go in there is my 90 because it's a little long. The whole package is so light and small that I would never consider going back to my SLR (a 5D).
p.1 #5 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
If you want good bracketing features and an excellent lens selection, you're better off going micro 4/3. You can also get cameras with EVFs without spending $1200, so you won't have to worry about seeing the screen in bright sunlight.
p.1 #6 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
The better bracketing features of micro 4/3 will be negated by a 2-3 stops loss in dynamic range. Especially the full well capacity is really much better with NEX, almost 2 stops compared to the best u43 sensors.
p.1 #7 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
You'll be disappointed in NEX at the moment with the lens options. The 18-55 is OK, there is no wide angle option (yet, supposedly coming). m43 has the excellent 14-45 from Panasonic as well as both the 7-14 from Panasonic and the 9-18 from Olympus for UWA.
The NEX sensors, as mentioned already, have better base ISO performance. But without a lens that isn't all that useful.
Right now there isn't really an obvious "best" option for landscape. I've gone with m43 since quality compact zooms of the focal lengths I needed were a prerequisite. If Sony comes out with a good UWA this year (as they've said) then maybe the balance will swing.
p.1 #8 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
Take a look at the Samsung NX200. It has a great sensor, good kit lens, and some excellent lenses available in the NX mount. Of course, there is a large range of lenses that can be adapted, There is no EVF; but it does have the best LCD (AMOLED) of any mirror-less camera. It works OK in bright sunlight, and the viewing angles are great. There are also some aids you can get like hoods, loupes, and ther flipbac. These should be fine for landscape photography. Also, Samsung is soon to release a 12-24/4 lens.
p.1 #9 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
kwalsh wrote:
You'll be disappointed in NEX at the moment with the lens options. The 18-55 is OK, there is no wide angle option (yet, supposedly coming). m43 has the excellent 14-45 from Panasonic as well as both the 7-14 from Panasonic and the 9-18 from Olympus for UWA.
The NEX sensors, as mentioned already, have better base ISO performance. But without a lens that isn't all that useful.
Right now there isn't really an obvious "best" option for landscape. I've gone with m43 since quality compact zooms of the focal lengths I needed were a prerequisite. If Sony comes out with a good UWA this year (as they've said) then maybe the balance will swing.
Ken...Show more →
Yes, that seems to be my dilemma and waiting probably makes the most sense. I'd be really happy to see a mirrorless camera with some weather sealing, a good UWA zoom, capable bracketing, and the sensor performance of the NEX sensor.
p.1 #10 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
MF focus and lenses like the ZM18 and CV15 on e.g. the NEX 5N will equal or surpass almost anything quality wise. I personally keep my DLSR (5D2) for several reasons, but if I was solely into landscaping I would have got rid of it long ago - just because of the 2nd hand lens options available. Many at ridiculously low prices given the performance. Similar quality for the 5D2 would cost several 1000€'s - for the NEX 5N you get it for 100€'s. If you look to get stellar performance in what ever way you want to measure.
For landscaping the late NEXes rivals larger sensors (found in 5D2, D700 etc) IQ wise - if you can live with MF. The DR is higher than those FF's. But if you want to let the camera take care of more, and PP is not your thing - perhaps M4/3 is an option, or a P&S. And you can do the same with a NEX, getting natives such as the 16/2.8 and perhaps 24/1.8 (with AF). Or you could of course use the kitlens. It's not that bad depending on where your quality standards are set.
p.1 #11 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
wfrank wrote:
MF focus and lenses like the ZM18 and CV15 on e.g. the NEX 5N will equal or surpass almost anything quality wise. I personally keep my DLSR (5D2) for several reasons, but if I was solely into landscaping I would have got rid of it long ago - just because of the 2nd hand lens options available. Many at ridiculously low prices given the performance. Similar quality for the 5D2 would cost several 1000€'s - for the NEX 5N you get it for 100€'s. If you look to get stellar performance in what ever way you want to measure.
For landscaping the late NEXes rivals larger sensors (found in 5D2, D700 etc) IQ wise - if you can live with MF. The DR is higher than those FF's. But if you want to let the camera take care of more, and PP is not your thing - perhaps M4/3 is an option, or a P&S. And you can do the same with a NEX, getting natives such as the 16/2.8 and perhaps 24/1.8 (with AF). Or you could of course use the kitlens. It's not that bad depending on where your quality standards are set. ...Show more →
+1. A Nex-5N with a CV 15/4.5 or ZM 18, ZM 35/2, ZM 50/2 and some kind of tele like the Contax G 90 will give you an excellent small set of landscape lenses that are sharp corner to corner.
p.1 #12 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
Love you website, great article. What do you think of the Gorilla Pod Hybrid? Is the ball head nice? I have their really nice ball head, but it is too heavy for my taste. Any suggestions?
- It's too early for me to say how well the 5N will hold up in a dusty environment, but seeing how it has fewer moving parts than an SLR, I would expect fewer mechanical issues. Neither camera is weather sealed.
- Bracketing is poorly implemented, but when necessary, manually adjusting the exposure comp or shutter speed has not been a deal breaker for me.
- If you are limiting your lens choices to digital lenses, the selection is somewhat limited at this moment. Already though other parties are producing digital lenses for the NEX series of cameras and of course there is a ton of legacy glass available.
- Other limitations? MCO nailed the big one - focusing via screen in bright sunlight. It can be tricky, sometimes. I have not had a day where I have been cussing and swearing about it though. The EVF would solve that problem, or simply using AF lenses. I don't have an EVF for my 5N and have managed fine so far (but I wouldn't mind adding this to my kit). The NEX 7 obviously solves this issue also, but then it's more limited when it comes to wide angle lenses, at least which of the wide rangefinder lenses will work well with it... and that would certainly matter to me for landscape use and hiking.
I listed my kit in the blog, but will re-hash here quickly. I use all Cosina Voigtlander (rangefinder) lenses and a Voigtlander to NEX adapter with my 5N. I carry the 15/4.5, 35/2.5, and 90/3.5. I find the quality of these lenses to be very good, and better in most ways than what I have experienced with 'entry level' digital primes. The 15 and 35 fit in a small pouch on my backpack hip belt, in addition to a couple of filters (all of these lenses use 39mm filters), spare battery, and a remote. The only lens that doesn't go in there is my 90 because it's a little long. The whole package is so light and small that I would never consider going back to my SLR (a 5D). ...Show more →
p.1 #13 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
On the NX200 you can bracket exposure, white balance, or many picture menu items. Exposure bracket is selectable from 1/3 to 3 stops, in 1/3 stop increments. The 20MP sensor in the Samsung NX200 has been tested by more than one reviewer to be better than the Nex5 sensor, and on par with the Nex7 sensor. You won't find a better APS-C sensor (today) for landscape photography.
p.1 #14 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
pdmphoto wrote:
On the NX200 you can bracket exposure, white balance, or many picture menu items. Exposure bracket is selectable from 1/3 to 3 stops, in 1/3 stop increments. The 20MP sensor in the Samsung NX200 has been tested by more than one reviewer to be better than the Nex5 sensor, and on par with the Nex7 sensor. You won't find a better APS-C sensor (today) for landscape photography.
the NX autofocus lenses look better to me for the most part than the NEX offerings as well. my big gripe with the NX is the fact that it won't take m-mount lenses or contax g lenses. the NEX also has the advantage of an articulated screen and evf. how is the NX200 for high iso out of curiousity?
p.1 #15 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
While I really like the nex, but I'd rather have a dslr for hiking as they are proven to be very durable. Another annoyance is how easy dust gets on the nex sensor when changing lenses-the sensor isn't covered like a dslr. Modern slr are built like tanks, I once laid down a motorcycle landed on the camera and slide a good distance and it still worked.
p.1 #16 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
sebboh wrote:
the NX autofocus lenses look better to me for the most part than the NEX offerings as well. my big gripe with the NX is the fact that it won't take m-mount lenses or contax g lenses. the NEX also has the advantage of an articulated screen and evf. how is the NX200 for high iso out of curiousity?
I find it to be very good. Here's a link to a good comparison. It includes a NX200, Nex5, Nex7, and a 550D, and a 5DII. A C/Z 50/1.4 was used on all cameras for the testing, which I think was a great idea. At high ISO the NX200 looks a little noisier in the shadows than the Nex7, but has less noise in the greyish/black bar at the top of the crop, so it seems to depend on the black/grey density.
p.1 #18 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
Nobody ever seems to mention what the file will be used for. If it is not likely to be printed larger than say a 22x17 than frankly forget the wide. Just shoot with the wonderful built in panorama feature of the 5N. From what I've been seeing it stitches as good or better than most people manage on their own with multiple images. That will provide you a lot wider than ANY wide angle lens on it's own. In a pinch it sure works well. I have not delved into the 3rd party lenses. I stick with the kit 18-55 or 55-210 and 16mm f2.8 prime and find no issues. I'm sure you tweaks out there are raising your noses at the idea of not using some exotic 3rd party lens and manually focusing, but they do a fine job nevertheless.
p.1 #19 · NEX 7 (or 5N) for hiking and landscape photography
Anyone ever try using the Hoodman Hoodloupe with the NEX-5N, as a budget alternative to the EVF? I find I can make out the LCD in most situations, but it might be a solution for those really sunny days.
