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Saturday, September 24, 2011

Quick Update: SONY NEX-5N clicking issue

Just want to share that Sony will provide adjustment to the Sony NEX-5N to reduce the clicking sound when you quickly pan the camera left-to-right or up-and-down while shooting video.

Personally, if you didn't know about this issue, you wouldn't 'complain' about it. Here is the link to the US Support Site.

Since the NEX-5N hasn't been officially released yet here in Australia maybe the next batch of NEX-5N can have this adjustment done beforehand.

Thanks to Sony for providing this free adjustment. Too bad that you can only do it while it is still under warranty. I was hoping that since this was a 'defect' of a brand new release they should just cover it irregardless.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Is the Nikon J1/V1 a threat to the NEX?

Sorry I haven't posted the pics and videos of the NEX-5N as scheduled. Work has been taking a lot of my time.

Anyway, I just want to share what I think of the new NIKON mirrorless cameras.  Kudos to Nikon for entering the mirrorless market.  Hopefully the more manufacturers get into this market segment the better the products will get.  I initially jumped to a conclusion that this camera is a 'joke' the minute after the announcement came out.  Why only 10MP? and a smaller sensor than micro 4/3rds? and a 2.7x crop factor? Sony has a 24MP APS-C sized sensor (NEX-7). Maybe Nikon doesn't believe that 'bigger is better'.

Nikon V1Nikon J1
After all the emotions/excitements died down, I re-read dpreview's initial impression initial impression of these cameras that maybe Nikon really is protecting their DSLR line-up. I wonder if Sony is doing the same, the NEX has been outselling the ALPHA line since its introduction and if this trent continues, Sony's flagship interchangeable system will be the NEX!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

NEX-5N Impressions - Part 1

I finally got the Sony NEX-5N Test Unit from Sony Australia. Too bad it came with the kit lens and not with the new Zeiss 24/1.8, SEL 30 Macro or  SEL 55–210. I was really hoping that at least the LA-EA2 adapter came with it so I can test the SONY SAL2470CZ lens. Anyway, the camera comes with Firmware v1.0.

To give you a bit of a background, I have been using the NEX since it came out. I have the 3 E-mount lenses that Sony has in the market at the moment and some old Minolta manual focus lenses, a Carl Zeiss 24–70 A-Mount lens that I use with the LA-EA1 adapter. I like the NEX because of it's Image Quality. I am not bothered that it is not pocketable. Personally, the NEX system is portable and suits my shooting style.

Friday, September 9, 2011

A77 - need for speed!

Here is a sample of the A77 in 12fps mode.  I didn't bother playing with the other settings as I just picked up the camera and basically just press the shutter because the excitement got the better of me that day.


I managed to get 18-20 shots in less than half-a-second.  I did intentionally stop shooting after that as I was just checking the EVF lag and to me it is just like a 'blink of an eye'.  The shutter sound is very muted as there are no slapping mirrors to add the extra noise.  


A77 12fps Mode - Flick Gallery

The 12fps mode in the A77 is a dial setting meaning you don't have to go the menu system.  I really need to test it again properly as I want to see what it does on the ISO, aperture and the AF-points it activates. I am assuming it is on Wide but I would definitely prefer if I can select the focus point during the 12fps mode.

NEX-5N Review Soon!

Hi everyone. Today I got an email confirming that Sony Australia will be sending me the NEX-5N with kit lens to use and write my own review about the NEX-5N.  I know that there's has been a lot of reviews already out but what I am planning to do is to actually use the NEX-5N in the real world.  I won't test it against test charts or on a controlled environment for this test.

Hopefully, the shipment arrives tomorrow (Sept. 9) as I have a weekend of parties / calisthenic competitions to test it on.

I am a bit disappointed though as they will only be sending the kit lens with it. At least I got some good glass (lens) to go with the it.   I am planning to use these other lenses SEL 18-200, 50/1.4, 100/2 and the CZ 24-70/2.8 on it.  Will be posting pictures / photos, both RAW and JPG files will be available (unedited of course) for you to make your own decision on the IQ / sharpness of the new SONY Sensor.

Here is the list of lens I will try on the SONY NEX-5N and also on the NEX-5 (firmware v4) to do a side-by-side comparison. I will try and highlight what I think is good about the NEX-5N and what's not.  If you are looking to use the SONY NEX-5N on a studio setup, then I can't test that as I only have limited time with the camera and I am more of a natural lighting kind of guy.  

Looking forward to the 5N but more excited on the NEX-7 which should be in my hands a few weeks after that.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Snow Trip

The whole family went up for a day-trip to the snow yesterday. It's a gruelling 3-4 hour bus ride all the way up.  But my daughter loves the snow so we made the trip anyway.

One thing that you need to consider when going up to the snow / ski fields is the kind of gloves you are going to wear. Especially with the NEX where everything is so small. I had to remove my gloves everytime I wanted to take a photo. I was planning to travel light as I know we will be riding chair-lifts and it is a bit hard trying to walk up in the snow. Anyway I ended up with 2 NEX-5 bodies, my old Minolta 12mm Spiratone Fisheye lens, Sony SEL18-55, Sony SEL 18-200, A700, Tamron 17-50. I should really look at the definition of traveling light :)

Friday, September 2, 2011

A NEX Panorama

One of the best features of the NEX camera is the ability to make panoramic picture.  If like me, you don't want to spend so much time trying to stich photos together in Photoshop or Microsoft ICE, then the NEX Sweep Panorama Feature is the answer to your needs.  You can also make 3D-Panoramas if you want and you can display your pictures on a spare 3D TV.

One thing that I wish Sony would fix is to allow us the ability to shoot in RAW format. I wouldn't mind having a 'leveler' to see if your panorama is straight.


Here are some tips for getting a good panorama picture:

  1. Stand with your feet wide apart. You will act as the tripod .
  2. Hold the camera straight out with both your hands.
  3. Move with your waist and not with your hands. If you do, you will be in an awkward position when you reach the 'end' of the panorama.
  4. Pan smoothly and follow the 'arrow' displayed on the back of the camera.
  5. ALWAYS look at the display at the back of the camera and not the scene itself.


If you have a NEX, Cybershot or the Sony Alpha SLT's, try it out. It's a lot of fun!

Please post your panorama pictures here if you have one.

Thanks

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Project, Reflect and Capture

Sony Australia's Facebook Page has launched a competition where they are giving away 5 (one a week) a brand new Sony Handycam HDR-PJ10E.  It's a handycam with a built-in projector.  I really wanted a new videocam as my Panasonic camera still uses a DV tape.

Contest rules are simple, you have to be imaginative on where you would project your movie. Others have submitted pictures of their baby's bum or a pregnant woman's tummy.  Time to get those sleeping brain cells at work..

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