Testseek.co.uk have collected 139 expert reviews of the Sony NEX-5 and the average rating is 82%. Scroll down and see all reviews for Sony NEX-5.
June 2010
(82%)
139 Reviews
Average score from experts who have reviewed this product.
Users
(94%)
29 Reviews
Average score from owners of the product.
820100139
The editors liked
Tiny size
Solid build
Superb screen
Better than compact camera quality from (almost) compact camera proportions
Small
Tilting screen
Sweep panorama is fun and effective
Clip-on flash included but good in low-light anyway
Clipon flash included but good in lowlight anyway
Good image quality
Particularly at high ISOs
Handsome
Fast
Pluses
Excellent build and tiny size
Very attractive rotating screen
Quality of photos and noise handling
1080i HD video with continuous autofocus and stereo sound
Onthefly panoramas or long exposure shots with not tripod
Speedy autofocus. Sturdy magnesium alloy body steady in the hand. Built-in photo guides. Lens fits snuggly
The Sony NEX-5 feels really slim and tiny in the hand
But the magnesium alloy body also makes it feel reassuringly sturdy. The lens mount and lenses click snugly into place.The anti-reflective 3-inch screen is sharp and can be tilted for tricky angles
While button-wise
The lineup is very simple – three buttons and a control wheel next to the screen plus shutter
Video and playback up top. The
Small size
Excellent build quality and finish
Tilting
High-resolution display
APS-C sensor
Good high-ISO image quality
Great image quality
1080i HD movie
Compact design with digital SLR capabilities
Excellent burst mode
Solid image quality
The editors didn't like
Lack of buttons sometimes a problem
Battery drains quickly
Flash prevents use of other accessories
Oblong design resembles more prototype than finished item
Fiddly scroll wheel and function access requires period of familiarisation
Pricey if bought with zoom lens
No touchscreen
As expensive as a DSLR
Slow autofocus
Permanently-exposed sensor means nerve-shredding lens changes
Minuses
Useless flash port
Not enough direct access to key settings
Not easy for everybody to hold
A little slow to start up
Sluggish startup. Only three E lenses currently available. Mounting the flash is fiddly
There's no built-in optical viewfinder
Which might annoy some dedicated photography fans. ISO
Metering
Focus are all controlled vis menu screens
So there's via the menu screens and there's a little bit of a lag. The battery life is slightly disappointing
We found it powering down pretty quickly
Especially given the lack of physical controls.There’s no built-in flash
Abstract: Sony is the latest camera manufacturer to release a compact mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the Alpha NEX-3 and NEX-5 cameras. The Alpha NEX-5, which we have here, is the smallest interchangeable lens camera to date and it makes the Panasonic L...
The Sony NEX-5 feels really slim and tiny in the hand, but the magnesium alloy body also makes it feel reassuringly sturdy. The lens mount and lenses click snugly into place.The anti-reflective 3-inch screen is sharp and can be tilted for tricky angles, while button-wise, the lineup is very simple – three buttons and a control wheel next to the screen plus shutter, video and playback up top. The
There's no built-in optical viewfinder, which might annoy some dedicated photography fans. ISO, metering, focus are all controlled vis menu screens, so there's via the menu screens and there's a little bit of a lag. The battery life is slightly disappointing: we found it powering down pretty quickly, especially given the lack of physical controls.There’s no built-in flash, but Sony includes a sma
The Sony NEX-5 is tiny and it takes DSLR-quality pictures as well as offering up some special shooting modes and decent HD video.It's an impressive first step in this new breed of ultra-compact performers and we can forgive the few kinks we found due t...
Better than compact camera quality from (almost) compact camera proportions
Oblong design resembles more prototype than finished item, fiddly scroll wheel and function access requires period of familiarisation
More of an exercise in matching rivals than raising the bar further, this is a competent alternative to packing both a snapshot and a DSLR on your travels.
Overall, the NEX-5 accomplishes almost everything it sets out to do. It's slim and compact (particularly with the pancake lens). It's got a lovely LCD, a reasonable selection of lenses, and a better autofocus than its competitors. It also looks fantast...
Small size; excellent build quality and finish; tilting, high-resolution display; APS-C sensor; good high-ISO image quality
Awkward user interface; limited movie controls; daft clip-on flash
Beginners stepping up from a Sony Cyber-shot compact camera will feel instantly at home with the NEX-5, and will love the huge jump in quality. But, if what you really want is a digital SLR in a pint-sized package, this camera isn't for you. The manua...
Fiddly menu system, no standardised hotshoe, long start up delay
The NEX-5 turns the interchangeable system on its head by offering the most compact-like solution yet to be seen. It's a breeze to use, if not a little limiting due to lack of buttons to adjust more advanced settings, and has snappy and accurate autofo...
