Official Sony NEX 5N topic

ed_lee83

OK it's confirmed, no 3rd party batteries/DC couplers will work with the 5N. Looks like I'll have to shell out for Sony batteries... I can get them here in Hong Kong for about US$60 each

ed_lee83

I also wonder about battery options now that the 5N rejects 3rd party batteries:
Wonder if the NEX-5's battery grip works (also 3rd battery): http://sonyalphanex.blogspot.com/2011/03/sony-nex-aftermarket-battery-grip.html

routetroupe

ok, so it sounds like you can use the focus assist before hitting the movie rec button. That's what I thought but just wanted to make sure. thanks.

The separate video and still playback thing is odd. It doesn't seem right.

ed_lee83

@routetroupe Oh I see. Well yes there is MF assist. Just to clarify, there is no 'movie mode' dial. Movie record is just activated via the 'movie' button.

I also just noticed a strange interface design: There are separate video and still playback modes. There are not linked together. Say if you took a still after recording a video. Hitting playback will only reveal stills. You'd have to go into the menu and set it to 'AVCHD' playback to view recorded videos. I nearly shat myself when I couldn't find my videos!

routetroupe

I'm talking about MF assist, where the image is enlarged on screen to make manual focus easier.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

>3rd party batteries don't work on the 5N. I mean it powers on but after a few seconds it will say it's incompatible.

At least! Something smart. :-)
Reality is that due to yen and problems in Japan economics they need to get profits some way.
Selling batteries is very high profitable business.
It is sad that Olympus (and Sony) idea with proprietary flash card did not make it.

ed_lee83

Another note: 3rd party batteries don't work on the 5N. I mean it powers on but after a few seconds it will say it's incompatible.

And yes, peaking is available in movie mode and whilst recording.

Mimirsan

Are you talking about MF colour peaking?
you can use it while recording...you could on the old NEX 3&5 and the C3...so cat see why NEX 5n be any different

routetroupe

I'm reading in the NEX5N manual that the focus assist does not work in movie mode. What the... Obviously you can't use it while recording, but does this mean focus assist can't be used even before hitting the record button if you are in movie mode? Somehow I think the manual is not clear it probably means you can't use is while recording, but I don't have the camera to check. Can someone confirm that MF assist works in movie mode?

ed_lee83

@Vitaliy_Kiselev: will do

@Mimirsan: Indeed! Hope it's doing you well

Mimirsan

Hey Ed Lee...would be interesting!
Your the same guy I bought a modified wide/fast Cmount lens off on ebay?

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@ed_lee83

Interesting.
Please tell us your expirience during real work, ok?

ed_lee83

I got the 5N on a whim because I needed to shoot a medium-term project on 25 (I have the GH2 too). I was going to rent a Canon DSLR but figured buying the 5N would be also the same price. And why not give the new kid a try. Can always sell it when the NEX-7 comes out.
Unsurprisingly the producer of this project frowned when I showed her how small the camera. But I showed her two other videos I shot using it (not finished) and she was convinced. I'll post those when they're finished but by then we'll probably see plenty of working footage from other shooters.
Handling initially was quite difficult since it's so small. Plus it has no shoe mounts (VERY ANNOYING). So I beefed it up a little as you can see below. Total weight without lens is 700g.
I'm also waiting to get my DC coupler to hook up with my external battery.

Mimirsan

+1 Exactly stonebat!

Brianluce...If you walked into a job for a client with a NEX5 you would probably get asked to turn back round out of the door before seeing any footage anyway haha.

I have a GH2 still (which im using to shoot a short film with) yes its image is really nice (and truly unrivalled in its pricerange) but for general people who want to shoot photos and videos (like family,holiday,weddings etc) and as a B cam it seems like a great tool for that...I think its a bloody great camera for joe public actually.
I for one are a little sick of the other G ranges with its crippled "auto" video modes...and if the NEX 5n was to be the same I would ignore that too.

We should support lower costing cameras that have the kind of features that would be handy in filmaking theres not that many small portable APS-C sensor cameras with manual controls and 50p/60p/24/25p 1080 at a decent bitrate right now...and its stills ability seems to be pretty commendable so why be negative about it?

As for alaising (ala Canons,Nikons & Sony..seems to be common for the sensor) if it bothers you then it fair enough...but doesnt mean you CANT shoot decent images with it or people are crazy to use them.
But in its favour colours are more natural...less crop and a bit more depth in images..better stills ability...MF peaking (which I loved on the NEX as I only have one AF lens on M4/3) its handy to have. ;-)
Diversity is only a good thing.

stoney

+1. This site needs diversity. First we need to stop comparing with GH2. That's not really fun. Second let's focus on features of NEX-5N.

World don't care what or why we buy or sell. Neither do world care what we like or dislike.

Learning about new mirrorless systems is kinda interesting.

John_Farragut

Only thing I don't like about the 5N is that it's not switchable between 24p and 25p. So we have a GH2 stuck at 24P and a 5N European version stuck at 25P. Hate corporations. Who's making this stuff up? At least Canon, albeit slow in updating their camera's, give its users what they need regarding frame rates.

John_Farragut

I also think some people (just generally speaking) get overly excited about the 5N. Yes, it's a nice compact, adaptable, low light capable shooter, with nice large sensor. But some on the net are talking about this camera with respect to video as if it is the second coming. People talking shit like they're gonna sell their GH2 right now and get a 5N to replace it. I would buy and use the 5N alongside the GH2, as a tool to get certain shots. GH2 is still a nice camera for not having to deal with aliasing in every shot. No doubt every DSLR can get decent shots if you're careful enough how you shoot with regards to moire and aliasing. If you got a GH2, though, I wouldn't replace it with the Sony. But this is also covered @EOSHD. A very good 2nd cam, that's the right sentiment. Me, I'm just sitting this one out and get a 5N maybe next year.

brianluce

@EOSHD
Not at all, your review is credible and I cited it as an authoritative source. But it seems Mr. Mimirsan thinks aliasing is no big deal and no one notices it. I disagree of course, but Mr. Mimirsan is entitled to his opinion.
Sorry if you felt animosity is directed at you, it wasn't.

Ian_T

C'mon guys don't turn this into something it's not. We can all have a difference of opinion here. I too want this camera to be something special but after learning more about it I kind of agree with brianluce over the excitement. But @Mimirsan made some good points also.

@EOSHD anyone can see @brianluce didn't say anything bad about you. He only cited you....that's all.

EOSHD

Why the animosity toward me personally Brian? Sick of it.

brianluce

@Mimirsan:
but you already own one so you know its alaising is really really bad right? Most normal folk dont spot it unless its really pointed out...people watching films tend to look at the subject.
...............

Did I say I owned one? I'm just taking the words from EOSHD's review. That's what he said, so go bitch at him if you don't like the results. With regard to aliasing, it's painfully obvious to anyone who shoots video for a living, not to mention a client with any kind of discriminating eye. But if you think aliasing isn't a big deal, then buy a bunch of them. But for some of here, we hold to a higher standard. To each his own.

Mimirsan

Brianluce..why the excitement?
Because Its a decent stills/video camera/ with lots of options for lowlight shooting,framerates for slomo in 1080p and manual controls? Smaller body/stronger housing...its a improvement from the previous model...but you already own one so you know its alaising is really really bad right? Most normal folk dont spot it unless its really pointed out...people watching films tend to look at the subject.

Not everyone shoots video with mind to do test charts or shooting curtains..or to see if a shelf has "jaggies" thats why say on vimeo there are endless "test" videos for gh2 and pretty decent short films done with a 550d?
It has alaising/moire but it dont stop people making beautiful creative imagery.

Yknow *shock* NEX is not for professional video filmmakers...these guys are probably already out there shooting with RED...tossing over your beloved GH2.
Its a bloody stills camera with video abilities for joe public!

This whole "mine shoots better than yours" is just getting tiresome to read on every camera forum...howabout just go shoot or photograph something and enjoy what you got?

Theres plenty of GH2 threads here...Id like to think we can discuss about all kinds of makes of cameras (Nikon,Sony,Pentax,Oly) here too without playschool banter.

Eoshd...Good old uselss jessops...but the girl on the other end of the phone seemed clueless (might as well leave it on preorder its my own early xmas pressie)...but checking Sonycentre UK website they have it for NOVEMBER release in retail shops (!)
I wish companies would have set release dates for each country and stick to it.
No clean on Nex 7...looks like theyre still protective of their Pro video line..no suprises there!

EOSHD

Is that with Amazon UK @Mimirsan? PS no clean HDMI on the NEX 7, it has icons which cannot be switched off with the No Display Info option (nice wording there!) :)

brianluce

Why the excitement over this camera? It aliases worse than the 7d @1080p and is softer than GH2. You'd probably need the EVF, so the price is higher than GH2 for a viable package. And I already feel silly enough with the GH2's dinky size, that Sony looks like a flip phone.

Mimirsan

well...Just got back from my supplier...no NEX 5n till early october in UK...why???? Might as well cancel my order and import one

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