Sony NEX-7 In-Depth Review

On Monday, September 10, 2012

When Panasonic first offered its broad variety of mirrorless similar relationships power cameras in May 2010, the company was very obvious about who it regarded would buy the NEX-5 and its near-identical-twin NEX-3. Little power cameras with APS-C receptors, we were recommended, would entice lightweight digital picture photo photographic digital camera customers who recommended to update but would be anxious by the large and determined complexness of an SLR. The electrical powered cameras were a earnings success (especially in Japan), and their impact on this market of the market has become progressively obvious, with Olympus's PEN E-PL3 making an investment comprehensive regard to their key style functions, and Panasonic stripping-down its GF broad variety from the enthusiast-friendly DMC-GF1 to the amazingly beginner-orientated DMC-GF3.

In perform out, though, it wasn't just newbies purchasing these power cameras. Many affiliate cameras lovers have been in the same way drawn to the guarantee of awesome picture in a little, amazingly authentic digital picture photo photographic digital camera, inspired by the ability to success almost any relationships to fit. To its credit ranking rating Panasonic has taken observe and regularly improved the NEXs' interest, with following firmware up-dates to enhance performance and add functions.

Now, with the NEX-7, Panasonic is particularly managing on those contemporary customers with a digital picture photo photographic digital camera whose key specifications goes like it's come immediately off an enthusiast's wishlist. First up is the 24MP APS-C CMOS sign, assigned to the SLT-A77, that allows real 1080p60 movies. Then there's the EVF that's been packed into the lightweight program (and also assigned to the A77) - the 2.4M dot OLED program is the greatest awesome yet seen in a pictures digital picture photo photographic digital camera, and has an eye sign for automated changing with the coming back LCD. Rounding off the improvements are a built-in display and Alpha-type hotshoe, all in a program that's about the same figure as the Olympus PEN E-P3.

The NEX-7 also increases on the present individual interface, such as two mobile cell phone phone cell phone phone calls on the top option that can be used to control a number of functions, plus a conveniently-placed option beside the shutter that's used to schedule through their functions. The coming back modify and three 'soft' key components acquainted from the can manage of the present NEX power cameras are handled, as is the useful dropping coming back LCD. The producing 'Triple-dial-control' individual interface makes the NEX-7 the first interchangeable-lens picture digital picture photo photographic digital camera that in regular use gets one modify devoted to each of the main visibility factors (for example shutter amount, aperture and ISO in Information mode) - such an very sensible agreement we're surprised it hasn't been done before.

The NEX-7 uses a new shutter agreement, with an (optional) digital first factor. In other circumstances, the digital picture photo photographic digital camera no more has to shut the shutter then start it again to start the visibility, and according to Panasonic this reduces shutter lag from 100ms to just 20ms. This isn't definitely new technological innovation - The canon eos stay perspective able DSLRs have been using it since the EOS 40D of 2007 - but it's very welcome to see it used in this type of digital picture photo photographic digital camera.

Further sign, if any were required, of the NEX-7's serious objectives is offered by the co-announced Carl Zeiss-branded E 24mm F1.8 relationships (also known as the SEL24F18Z). This provides a place of perspective comparative to a Drawbacks relationships on complete type, and locations the NEX-7 immediately up against companies the Fujifilm FinePix X100 (with its set 23mm F2 lens), as well as the E-P3. The NEX-7 also gets its own dark edition of the conventional E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS kit zoom capability ability capability ability capability.

Sony NEX-7 specification highlights

24MP APS-C CMOS sensor (shared with the SLT A-77 and A-65)
ISO 100-16000 (100-1600 in Auto)
Built-in 2.4M dot OLED EVF with eye sensor
Electronic first-curtain shutter (cuts response time from 100ms to 20ms)
'AVCHD Progressive' 1080p60 HD movie recording with built-in stereo mic
Tilting rear screen
Three-dial user interface
Built in flash and Alpha hotshoe
Infra-red remote control receiver
Microphone input socket

Compared to the NEX-5N

Here's the NEX-7 alongside its little brother, the NEX-5N. The body isn't so much bigger, and Sony has managed to add on 2 more control dials, a built-in flash and hotshoe, and an EVF. The NEX-5N has a touchscreen, but its sensor is 'only' 16MP.

Compared to 'enthusiast' competitors

The NEX-7 resides in a somewhat rarefied sector of the market - that of the truly enthusiast-orientated, 'rangefinder-style' large-sensor camera. The image below shows it compared in size to some of its main competitors - the Micro Four Thirds Olympus PEN E-P3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1. We've also included the Fujifilm FinePix X100, which like the NEX-7 has an APS-C sensor, extensive external controls and built-in electronic viewfinder, but sports a fixed 23mm F2 lens and decidedly retro design and layout.

Despite its impressive specification (including tilt screen, pop-up flash and built-in EVF), the NEX-7 is almost exactly the same size as the Olympus PEN E-P3, and only fractionally larger than the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1. Head-on, it's also smaller than the Fujifilm FinePix X100, largely because of the latter's hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder.


Viewed from the top, perhaps the most striking features of the NEX-7 is its large handgrip - easily the best in this class. You can also see the two dials on the top plate that are used for the 'Triple-dial-control' system, and the button beside the shutter release that cycles through their functions. One area that may concern some users, though, is the size of Sony's NEX lenses to date: here we're comparing fast prime lenses, and the Sony Carl Zeiss T* E Sonnar 24mm F1.8 is a sizeable beast compared to the Panasonic Leica Summilux DG 25mm F1.4, let alone the Panasonic Lumix G 20mm F1.7 ASPH for Micro Four Thirds. Meanwhile the X100's fixed-lens design makes it surprisingly slim.

Other manufacturers also offer more-compact, collapsible standard zooms, most notably Panasonic's remarkable X 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 powerzoom seen here adorning the GX1. This confers an undeniable portability advantage.