SonyAlphaRumors has photos of the Nex3 in the wild
Like any prototype/rumor story, there is no way to confirm that the camera in the photos will resemble the final product, but I would guess it is pretty close. The word is that Sony will introduce the new cameras on May 11, so it would seem that any real-world testing would involve prototypes that are very close to the real deal.
SonyAlphaRumors expects there will be two models at launch, the Nex3 and Nex5. The principle difference between the two will be the video capabilities, with the Nex5 shooting at 1080p, and the Nex3 limited to 720p. Both cameras will use a APS-C size, 14mp ExmorHD sensor.
SAR is also claiming that unlike the Sony Alpha dSLRs, the Nex models will not have image stabilization in the body. They claim the 16mm 2.8 lens shown in the photos has image stabilization built in to it. SAR theorizes that this will make it easier to add stabilization for video recording.
While most commentators are obsessed with the lens, I was much more intrigued by the flash unit. I had assumed that the new cameras would have some sort of pop-up flash, but the camera in the bar shots is using what appears to be a small, detachable external flash. The flash doesn’t resemble any current Sony Alpha flash, so it will apparently be a new design. Since the mockups at the PMA show did not have a hot shoe, I’m not sure how the flash attaches to the Nex3 and Nex5.
There may still be a small pop-up flash on the cameras, with the external flash providing better flash range. On the other hand, it is possible that there is no popup flash and you will need an external flash for any auxiliary illumination. If so, I hope Sony offers an off-camera cord so users can move the flash away from the camera.
Finally, I am really hoping Sony will offer an external viewfinder, similar to the one Olympus sells for their micro four-thirds models. I was able to play with one of these recently and the extra-cost viewfinder made a real difference when shooting in direct sunlight.
Time will tell, as May 11 is less than two weeks away. Bring it!
Visit the Nex3 and Nex5 pages at SonyAlphaRumors.
4 Comments
Aw, c’mon, Minolta had the BEST “EVIL” cameras w-a-y back when: the Minolta DiMage 5/7/A-series cameras and the Minolta DiMage Z-series cameras. I see them as superlative DSL/EVF cameras: Digital Single Lens Electronic View Finder. Remember — the Minolta DiMage A1 was the world’s first sensor-based anti-shake, something the newest Sony Alpha Nex cameras will sorely be lacking in theri attempt to shrink the camera body size.
But I also see the challenges in naming these new ones:
- The moniker “DSL/EVF” does not address “IL” Interchangeable Lenses (I note that no abbreviation before EVER did address Interchangeable Lenses — it’s a modern conceit).
- “EVF” implies an eye-level viewfinder that pure LCD-back cameras lack, instead opting to have the photographer “look at the camera, instead of the subject” as we did in the large format film days looking on the ground glass. THAT makes them truly “evil” in my mind’s eye!
The Panasonic G/GH-series (not GF-series) and the Samsung NX (so far) ARE DSL/EVFs, however.
What we’re talking about here are the Panasonic GF-series, the Sony NEx-series, and the Olympus Pen-series models that have no EVF, but instead have only a back LCD.
How about when these models add an accessory EVF, if available? Than can we call them DSL/EVFs?
“EVIL” is evil, but it seems to stick as a name for the camera style. I prefer that we keep on looking, however for nomenclature that links to “SLR”.
Funny, but we never complained that the “SL” in “SLR” means SINGLE LENS when we were proud of having collections of MANY interchangeable lenses. We never called them MLRs.
SLR was compared to TLR as in TWIN LENS Reflex. We never called the few TILRs TILRs because “IL” Interchangeable Lens” wasn’t important. Rangefinders never distinguished “IL “Interchangeable Lenses” between, say the Leica M-style Rangefinder cameras with interchangeable lenses, and the Minolta HiMatic-style cameras with one fixed lens.
“IL” never seemed important to use before.
We can call the old SLRs SILRs, though we could call these new ones SILEs (pronounced “sillies”) for Single Interchangeable Lens Electronic cameras.
SILE?
Silly, eh?
Click!
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Peter Blaise Photography dot com
Minolta Rokkor Alpha DiMage Photographer
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Further thoughts:
We always had SL in SLR and DSLR as “Single Lens”, and that stays with the new cameras, meraning that the photographer and the image-collection-piece(film, or sensor) both “look” through the same lens. EVIL does not say SL, so EVIL is out.
R meant Reflex, as in “mirror”, and instead, we have EVF Electronic Viewfinder or LCD Liquid Crystal Display.
EVF doesn’t specify that it uses LCD or Plasma or OLED other type of presentation, and is a great abberviation for any electronic viewfinder.
But LCD is wrong for back viewing devices made from other devices like OLED. Plasma, and so on, so we need a better generalized term than LCD.
But until we can generalize beyond “LCD”, I say we have:
DSL/EVF
and
DSL/LCD
… with or without interchangeable lenses. which we never specified before, only now do we wish to demarkate the new interchangeable lens systems from single assembly point and shoots.
So, let’s explore dealing with better abgerviations than IL and LCD.
Excellent stuff – Thanks for posting that advice, I think that it just about answers my question.