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Sony Alpha NEX-5

Digital Camera Review
July 01, 2010 By Steve Morgenstern 0 Comments (add your own)

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Introduction

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Design
Page 1

Sample Photos

Sample Photos

In the following sample images, clicking on the larger image will download the full resolution original. Each photo is accompanied by four actual-size crops.

Landscape Sample

Focal length: 18mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter: 1/125
ISO: 200

This photo was shot in program mode, with the landscape Creative Styles setting, using center-weighted metering and auto white balance. The intense blue of the water is indicative of the h
Close-Up Sample

Focal length: 55mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter: 1/10
ISO: 400

The kit lens doesn’t allow close focus, so this was taken with the camera tripod-mounted at the full zoom setting, under indirect sunlight with a manual white balance. The outer edges are m
Color Sample

Focal length: 51mm
Aperture: f/6.3
Shutter: 1/8
ISO: 200

We used familiar grocery items to experiment with color reproduction, shooting in aperture priority mode with a custom white balance and standard Creative Style. The colors are certainly inten
Anti Motion Blur Sample

Focal length: 42mm
Aperture: f/4.5
Shutter: 1/10
ISO: 6400

Zelda was lounging in a dimly lit bedroom when this handheld shot was taken using the Anti Motion Blur mode, which combines the sharpest elements from half a dozen rapidfire exposures. Is th
High Dyamic Range Samples

Focal length: 52mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter: 1/20
ISO: 400

Sony’s handheld in-camera high dynamic range capability has been improved with the NEX cameras, combining three images instead of two (as in the Sony A550). The examples here were shot at all

HDR Off

HDR 1 EV

HDR 2 EV

HDR 3 EV

HDR 4 EV

HDR 5 EV

HDR 6 EV
Noise Reduction Sample (ISO 1600)

Focal length: 40mm
Aperture: f/13
Shutter: 1/3
ISO: 1600

We shot this engraving on a tripod, using aperture priority mode with an auto white balance and multisegment metering, first at ISO 1600 (left), then at ISO 12800 (below). In each pair of same
Noise Reduction Sample (ISO 12800)

ISO 12800

Still Life Examples

In the following sample images, clicking on the larger image will download the full resolution original.

Still Life Comparisons
Sony Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN E-PL1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Samsung NX10
Sony Alpha A550
Sony NEX-5 Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic DMC-GF1 Samsung NX10 Sony A550
ISO Low
ISO 100
ISO 100
ISO 100
Sony NEX-5 Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic DMC-GF1 Samsung NX10 Sony A550
ISO 200
Sony NEX-5 Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic DMC-GF1 Samsung NX10 Sony A550
ISO 400
Sony NEX-5 Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic DMC-GF1 Samsung NX10 Sony A550
ISO 800
Sony NEX-5 Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic DMC-GF1 Samsung NX10 Sony A550
ISO 1600
Sony NEX-5 Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic DMC-GF1 Samsung NX10 Sony A550
ISO 3200
Sony NEX-5 Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic DMC-GF1 Samsung NX10 Sony A550
ISO 6400
Sony NEX-5 Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic DMC-GF1 Samsung NX10 Sony A550
ISO 12800
Sony NEX-5 Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic DMC-GF1 Samsung NX10 Sony A550

NOTE: The images above are not used in our testing or scoring, but are included here to show real-world examples of the differences between cameras at the various ISO settings.

Noise Examples

The following are 100% crops taken from the still life photos above. You can click on the thumbnails above to view a full-size version of the entire photo.

Noise Comparisons
Sony Alpha NEX-5
Olympus PEN E-PL1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Samsung NX10
Sony Alpha A550
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Samsung NX10 Sony Alpha A550
ISO Low
ISO 100
ISO 100
ISO 100
ISO 100
ISO 100
ISO 100
Sony Alpha NEX-5Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Samsung NX10Sony Alpha A550
ISO 200
Sony Alpha NEX-5Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Samsung NX10Sony Alpha A550
ISO 400
Sony Alpha NEX-5Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Samsung NX10Sony Alpha A550
ISO 800
Sony Alpha NEX-5Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Samsung NX10Sony Alpha A550
ISO 1600
Sony Alpha NEX-5Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Samsung NX10Sony Alpha A550
ISO 3200
Sony Alpha NEX-5Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Samsung NX10Sony Alpha A550
ISO 6400
Sony Alpha NEX-5Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Samsung NX10Sony Alpha A550
ISO 12800
Sony Alpha NEX-5Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Samsung NX10Sony Alpha A550

NOTE: The images above are not used in our testing or scoring, but are included here to show real-world examples of the differences between cameras at the various ISO settings.

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Sony Alpha NEX-5
Digital Camera Review
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Introduction

Next: Page 2

Design