Sony nex-5n with Leica & Nikon lenses review

[Maarten Bruinenberg]

Hey guy’s & gal’s,

From the beginning I started with photography I have been a Nikon guy… Used Mamiya 6 & 7II medium format camera’s and some more…

My first digital camera was a Nikon D700 and I still love that camera! But it’s not a lot of fun hauling it around on your back all day at the river or on a flat. Especially with some big and heavy lenses, a flash, filters, spare batteries, tripod etc etc….

So the search started, I wanted optimum image quality but in a small package! My search took me to Leica, the M9 to be exactly… but the price… damm! and the lenses weren’t cheap either! So you think a Nikon 24mm 1.4 is expensive…. LOL! OMG! those freaking Germans no what to ask for some metal and glass! But o.k let me try one….

Let me tell you I have never ever seen image quality like this! beautiful color and contrast! and a very 3D vibe… they (the Leica minded peapol) call it the Leica pop. Only medium format can equal this IQ. But a M9 whit just 3 lenses costs a sh*t load of money! But there were other camera’s that could use those amazing lenses. Fuji X-pro1, Ricoh, Sony etc…. After to many hours on the www and harassing local photo shops, I chose the Sony nex-5n.

Image quality and video was amazing, it is small and cheap as can be…
Peaking mode for focus works great! is quick and easy when you get used to it! and it works with Leica glass through an adapter. Even the wide angles work great and ISO performance is superb.

Downfalls… yep! no hot shoe for flash… damm… but if you go on-line there is a way around that. And no external mic input for audio in video mode… but I use a external recorder so no biggy.

Used it on my last three trips and I love it!!!! so small and compact…
AMAZING IQ! and the menu is really easy…. LOVE IT!
So I sold all my Nikon gear exempt the 85mm tilt/shift and bought

Sony nes-5n body
Leica 35mm f/2 sumicron is my new favorite lens!
Leica 90mm f2.5 is amazing!
Voigtlander 15mm 4.5 rocks!
Novoflex Nikon+Leica adapter for Sony NEX.

Yes this is my new photo gear and I love it!!! and a lot of amazing second hand Leica glass available!

If you have any questions please send me an e-mail and I’ll try to reply a.s.a.p!

Best

Maarten

[David Anderson]

Hard to find the perfect camera .. 😉

I love the look of some of the small P&S gear coming out and the quality lenses as well.
Sony and Fuji are really raising the bar.

Look forward to seeing some shots from the NEx..

www.dsaphoto.com

A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.

[John Bennett]

I am or rather have, quickly become a huge believer in the 4/3s, mirror less camera’s. True, they don’t have all the functionality of a DLSR but what they lack, they more than make up for in other area’s. I have no doubt the NEx is another winner.

I picked up my EPL-3 to be my UW camera, and that will always remain it’s primary purpose. However I’ve become so enamoured with it’s utility that that I’ve recently started thinking about how I can make even more use of it, both as a 2nd ready go at hand and also as a remote camera.

I’m heading up north for a week of Bear Hunting/Fishing in 5 days. I have long struggled with both proximity to a hunter while in a stand, the inability to move around and the lack of angles (its not like you can get out and walk around).

So I went and picked up what I needed to that I might use my Oly as a remote camera with plans to place it on tree trunks and directed out to record images of bears as they enter the FoV or have it angled towards stand/blinds to shoot back towards the hunter.

The unit itself is smaller/lighter than my 580 ex. As such with respect to all the gear I need to bring into the field, its no burden at all, yet opens so many doors.

With respect to lenses, I plan to have three.
8mm fisheye (just acquired for UW and as a remote satellite with it’s 180 FoV)
14-42 general purpose
then likely a 45mm 1.4

A few samples.You’ve seen some of the split shots I took back in June

School of baitfish

First “test” shot with the newly acquired fisheye. Pretty sharp in the corners and little vignetting

Packing for next week. The EPL3 has a a tilting screen for those blind over the head shots, or low angle shots.

I’m also considering acquiring a trigger trap for use as a remote/game camera on steroids.

True there no “perfect” camera but so far having the combination of a DSLR and your various lenses, speedlites,etc….and by adding a mirror less such as a NEx you can have a wicked 1,2 punch.

Grats on the new body/system Maarten, your going to love it.

[Author]

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