Hands On: Sony NEX 7

“If you can’t afford a Leica, this is the one to get.” Those are the words of the Sony Rep that demoed the NEX-7 to me. The other day, I finally got my hands on the extremely coveted Sony NEX-7 (or NEX7 and NEX 7). Though the reviews have already started to come out, I’m still waiting for my units to give them a full run through. However, this camera seemed extremely impressive during the brief time I spent with it as did the 24mm f1.8 lens.

Note that these were pre-production models though.

Tech Specs


Lens Compatibility	Sony E-mount lens, (Sony A-mount lenses when used with LA-EA1 or LA-EA2 lens adaptor)
Camera Type	Sony E-mount interchangeable lens digital camera
Imaging Sensor
Imaging Sensor	Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor (23.5 X 15.6mm)
Processor	BIONZ™ image processor
Anti Dust	Charge protection coating on Low-Pass Filter and electromagnetic vibration mechanism
Pixel Gross	Approx. 24.7 megapixels
Effective Picture Resolution	Approx. 24.3 megapixels
Focal Length Conversion Factor	1.5x
Color Filter System	RGB primary color filters
Recording
Media Type	Memory Stick PRO Duo™/Pro-HG Duo™/PRO-HG HX Duo™ media SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card
Color Space	sRGB, AdobeRGB
Still Image Mode	JPEG (Standard, Fine), RAW, RAW+JPEG
Still Image Size 16:9	L size: 6000 x 3376 (20M) M size: 4240 x 2400 (10M) S size: 3008 x1688 (5.1M)
Still Image Size 3:2	L size: 6000 x 4000 (24M) M size: 4240 x 2832 (12M) S size: 3008 x 2000 (6M)
Panorama Still Image Size	Horizontal Wide: 12,416 x 1,856 (23M) Horizontal Std.: 8,192 x 1,856 (15M) Vertical Wide: 2,160 x 5,536 (12M) Vertical Std.: 2,160 x 3,872 (8.4M) 3D Sweep Panorama: Horizontal Wide: 7152 X 1080 (7.7M) Horizontal Std.: 4912 X 1080 (5.3M) 16:9: 1920 X 1080 (2.1M)
Video Format	AVCHD / MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC (H.264))
Video Mode	AVCHD: PS – 1920 x 1080/60p@28Mbps FX – 1920 x 1080/60i@24Mbps FH – 1920 x 1080/60i@17Mbps FX – 1920 x 1080/24p@24Mbps FH – 1920 x 1080/24p@17Mbps MP4: HD – 1440 x 1080/ 30p@12Mbps VGA – 640 x 480/ 30p@3Mbps
Video Signal	NTSC color, EIA standards
Audio Format	Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC
Microphone/Speaker	Built-in stereo microphone; Built-in, monaural speaker
Still Image File Format	JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver.2.3, MPF Baseline compliant), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3format), 3D MPO (MPF Extended compliant)
Optics/Lens
Lens Mount Type	Sony E-mount
Viewfinder
Type	0.50″ XGA OLED EVF (Electronic viewfinder) (2,359k dots)
Diopter Adjustment	-4.0m^-1 to +1.0m^-1
Field of View	Approx. 100%
Magnification	1.09x (with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m^-1 )
LCD Display
LCD Type	3.0” TFT Xtra Fine™ LCD (921,600 pixels) w/TruBlack™ technology
Angle Adjustment	Up: Approx. 90 degrees, Down: Approx. 45 degrees
Brightness Control	Auto, Manual (5 steps between -2 to +2), Sunny Weather
Coverage	100%
Live View	Yes, (Constant AF Live View)
Real-time image adjustment display	Yes(On/Off)
Histogram	Yes (On/off)
Peaking	Yes (MF only, Level setting: High/Mid/Low/Off), (Color: White/Red/Yellow)
Grid Display	Yes (On/off)
Customization	Brightness: Auto, Manual, Sunny Weather; Display Color: Black, White, Blue, Pink
Focus Control
Focus System	Contrast AF
Focus Points	25 points
AF Modes	Single-shot AF(AF-S), Continuous AF(AF-C) selectable, Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus
Focus Area	Multi Point AF (25 points), Center Weighted AF, Flexible Spot AF
Focus Sensitivity	0 EV to +20 EV (at ISO100 conversion with F2.8 lens)
Manual Focus Assist	Yes MF assist(5.9x, 11.7x)
Focus Features	Predictive Focus Control, Focus Lock
AF Illuminator	Built-in LED, Range: approx. 18″ – 9′ (0.5m-3m)
Exposure System
Picture Effect(s)	11 types (15 variations): Posterization (Color, B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R,G,B,Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera, Soft High-key, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, Miniature
Auto Exposure Lock	Yes (AE Lock with focus lock)
Color Temperature	2500 – 9900 k with 15-step each Magenta/Green compensation (G7 to M7), Amber/Blue (A7 to B7)
Creative Style	Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait , Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Autumn leaves, Black & White, Sepia (Contrast (-3 to +3steps), Saturation(-3 to +3steps), Sharpness(-3 to +3steps))
D-Range Optimizer	Yes: (Auto, Level, Off)
Exposure Bracketing	Yes: (3 Continuous)
Exposure Compensation	+/-5.0 EV(1/3EV steps)
Exposure Settings	iAUTO, Program AE (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter priority (S), Manual (M), Sweep Panorama (2D), 3D Sweep Panorama, Anti Motion Blur, Scene Selection
ISO	Auto (ISO 100-16000), Selectable (ISO 100 to 1600)
Metering	Advanced 1200-zone evaluative metering
Metering Modes	Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Metering Sensitivity	0EV-20EV, (at ISO 100 equivalent w/ f/2.8 lens)
Noise Reduction	Long Exposure NR: (On/Off, available at shutter speeds longer than 1 second) High ISO NR: (High/Normal/Low)
Scene Mode(s)	Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports action, Sunset, Night portrait, Night View, Handheld Twilight
White Balance Mode	Auto,Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Setting the color temperature, Color Filter, Custom
Drive System
Continuous Shooting Speed	Continuous (Variable) Speed Priority (up to 10fps)
Drive Mode	Single-shot, Continuous, Speed Priority, Self-timer, Continuous Self-timer, Bracketing
Self-timer	2-sec. or 10-sec. delay, (single, continuous 3 or 5 frames)
Shutter Speeds	1/4000 to 30 seconds, bulb
Shutter Type	Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane shutter
Flash
Flash Compensation	±3.0 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)
Flash Coverage	FOV coverage up to 18 mm (in the focal length)
Flash Metering System	Pre-flash TTL
Flash Modes	Auto, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Hi-speed sync., Wireless (with external flash), Off
Flash Type	Built-in, Pop-up Auto
Guide Number	6 (in meters at ISO100)
Recycling Time	Approx. 4 sec.
Advanced Features
Face Detection	On/On (Regist. Faces)/Off
Smile Shutter™ technology	Smile shutter (selectable from 3 steps)
Auto High Dynamic Range	Yes, (Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure difference Level (1-6 EV at 1.0 EV step), off)
Sweep Panorama	Horizontal (Wide/Standard), Vertical, and 3D Panorama
Interface
BRAVIA® Sync™	Yes, via HDMI with compatible BRAVIA HDTV
DVDirect	Yes, via USB
HD Output	HDMI® (TypeC mini)
Memory Card Slot	Dual compatibility slot: Memory Stick PRO Duo™/Pro-HG Duo™/PRO-HG HX Duo™ media – SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card
PhotoTV HD	Yes, with BRAVIA Sync™ enabled HDTV and HDMI® cable
USB Port(s)	USB2.0 Hi-speed (mass-storage, MTP)
Weights and Measurements
Dimensions (Approx.)	Approx. 4-3/4 × 2-3/4 × 1-11/16″ (119.9 x 66.9 x 42.8mm) (W/H/D) excluding protrusions
Weight (Approx.)	Approx. 10.3 oz (291g) (excl battery & media)
Power
Battery Type	InfoLITHIUM® NP-FW50 (7.2V)
Number of Still Images	Approx. 430 images (CIPA standard)
Software
Supplied Software	PMB (Picture Motion Browser) v5.2; Image Data Converter SR v3.2; Image Data Lightbox SR v2.2
Operating System Compatibility	Windows XP SP3 (32-bit), Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1; Mac OS X (v10.3-ｖ10.6), PMB is not compatible with Mac OS. Camera (via USB), Image Data Converter, and Image Data Lightbox software are compatible with Mac OS.

Ergonomics

The top of the Sony NEX-7 features the proprietary Sony hot shoe, the on/off switch, two settings dials and another button. Following the trend of having clean and stylish looks to cameras these days, the NEX 7 seems to make its own mark on the community as if it were Fashion Week for Cameras.

The back LCD screen is curious in that it flips up, but I really wish that it had a touch screen like the EP3. However, it’s nice to use when shooting from the hip; although sometimes it may think that your eye is near the viewfinder.

The back also features the pop-up flash button, playback button, a button/switch for AF/MF and Auto Exposure locking, two programmable buttons like the other NEX models, and the back dial. In manual mode, the dial operates as ISO control with the two top ones operating Aperture and Shutter speed. In aperture mode, it still controls the ISO. Sony’s initiative to do this pleases me, as ISO is the other major control in digital photography.

The side of the camera features the standard ports, nothing extremely special here.

Amazingly, the 24mm f1.8 is surprisingly light. It looks heavy in the photos, and it isn’t terribly large. It is much like a Leica lens in size. Still though, I yearn for smaller pancake lenses; especially for street photography.

Build Quality

When the rep said that this camera could replace your Leica, I was intrigued. The build quality is nothing like the M9 at all and I don’t even think that it’s on par with the EP3′s toughness. However, it still does feel very solid and may be just a bit below the EP3. If anything, it’s more like the Ricoh GXR.

Ease of Use

For the street photographer that wants to shoot in full manual mode, this is the camera to get. The dials are in all the right places, the viewfinder is big and beautiful, and LCD screen can flip up for shooting from the hip, and you’ve got a pop-up flash to shoot like Bruce Gilden.

The menu is still the NEX system’s menu, but now that there are more buttons, you don’t need to dig through them to find what you need.

Indeed, this camera is going to win awards. And I’m eagerly awaiting mine to come in for review. I couldn’t put a card in because it was a pre-production model, but the images with the 24mm lens were sharp and the bokeh was decent but nothing to get too excited about.

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Tagged as: 24mm f1.8, leica, lens, NEX, nex-7, nex7, sony, street photography

efix

While I really love the concept of this camera, I believe that its sensor is hopelessly overcrowded with pixels. The first full-size JPG samples that were available online couldn’t really convince. So the NEX-7 is probably not going to replace my M8.
- Anonymous
  
  I agree…such a shame they went for so many pixels….it may be that in marketing terms in Japan that more pixels equals a better sensor.
  Great shame.
  - airnfoto
    
    With this size sensor, that’s not too many pixels. Besides you don’t have to shoot at full resolution just like you don’t have to (or would) shoot at the highest ISO. Yes I know it’s a different comparison but my point is you don’t have to utilize the maximum of what the body has to offer. The images the NEX 7 produces are amazing…easily comparable to my D700.
    - Anonymous
      
      Yes. Good point Airnfoto.
      As I undersand it, a pixel requiring less amplification to bring the picture information to a useable level, brings less noise uP with it.
      It would have been an opportunity to make this camera quiet at ridiculously high ISO levels. Like the better Canons and Nikons.
      That may just be me….I can see that for most uses it is, specification-wise, a very interesting sounding camera.
      I hope mine comes soon.
- Anonymous
  
  I don’t understand how people can judge a camera via web loaded jpg pictures! I understand the worry but I will prefer to wait for images from the final version in RAW before making judgments.
  - efix
    
    That’s why I wrote “probably” And I the M8′s JPEGs are pretty crappy, too …
- airnfoto
  
  Surprisingly enough, at 100% the images are clean and crisp (with the Zeiss 24mm I tried out yesterday) so the pixel-count issue you speak of is a misnomer. I wouldn’t shoot over 800ISO anyway so really the only concern I find with the imaging is Sony’s idea of having the ISO go up to 16000.
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Nigel Cummings

Ugh, so this camera still has the same ‘crappy’ menu Nex-3 and Nex-5? That menuing system has to be the most user unfriendly I have ever seen on any compact digital camera. I have Nex-3 and Nex-5 cameras and I love using them, they are compact powerhouses that produce staggeringly sharp images (with the right lenses), but the decision to keep that awful menuing system is a big big mistake in my opinion.
- Anonymous
  
  You almost never need to enter into it as I said thanks to the buttons.
  Chris Gampat,
  Editor in Chief
  The Phoblographer
  - Anonymous
    
    But that’s hardly a rallying cry for gui designers. It’s almost perverse as almost everything else about these cameras is so great – and then there’s this kafkaesque travesty of a menu – as though designed by Lewis Carroll. I think if you travel down one of its more obscure branches you reach a command that says”kill me”..
  - Nigel_cummings
    
    When spending more than a few pennies, on what promises to be be an exciting new type of Sony APS sized sensor equipped compact camera, I really would have hoped that a ‘decent menu’ be made available and encouragement for the camera’s users to access it to hone their image taking to perfection. Rather than letting the design down with a continuance of the truly ‘lousy’ menu we early adopters of NEX cameras have experienced so far.
    I still have my NEX-3 and 5 with a range of lenses, they are wonderful cameras, but I, and I am sure many other potential purchasers of the next generation of NEX cameras will continue to be ‘put off’ by Sony’s dogged determination to retain their truly dire menuing system – having button control of many functions is not enough, at that price, the NEX-7 remains an extremely expensive snapshot camera, rather than a professional photographic instrument!
- Anonymous
  
  I am a very ancient film photographer of the rangefinder type and I have to say I am perplexed by people’s dissatisfaction with the Nex menu system.
  I had to learn it…but now that I know where all the menus are I find it just as quick in use as my 5D mk II.
  perhaps that is because I only use manual settings.
  I wonder if it is just a question of allowing a little time to become accustomed to Sony’s implementation.
  - Nigel Cummings
    
    I have been using 35mm film cameras for the past 48 years, and Digital SLRs / Compacts for the past 14. I have considerable experience of cameras manufactured by Pentax, Leica, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Rollei, Yashica, Minolta Panasonic, Alpa, Samsung, Nikon, Canon, Fuji, and Sony to name but a few!
    However, out of all the many digital cameras I have ever used, the Sony NEX menuing system has been absolutely the worst, the least intuitive, the most fiddly and the most likely to ruin a gtood shot because accessing the camera controls from the menus is neither intuitive nor easy to follow – this despite the fact the NEX range have so called ‘easy modes’.
    From a manual only perspective I will agree wth you up to a point, I regularly use Leica and Nikon lenses on my NEX cameras as it saves me carrying around hefty equipment when travelling light is of importance to me. However, the manual functions are only a very small part of what is overall, and despite firmware upgrades, a truly terrible menuing system.
    I still use my NEX cameras, I will continue to do so, they are miniatre marvels, and should the NEX-7 prove its worth I will acquire one also – despite teh fact I cannot abide the menuing systems currently employed by Sony.
    - airnfoto
      
      Menu systems shmenu systems. The camera takes AMAZING quality photographs. If you can’t figure out a simple menu system then it’s your loss, not Sony’s.
      - Anonymous
        
        I agree with everything you say except the part about simple menu systems. It is a travesty and is not simple - in fact it’s weird. Still great cameras though.
- Anonymous
  
  Sony has been showing this cameras with their current NEX user interface but a new one is being designed for this particular camera and it’s new buttons and wheels. As the article states this is a preproduction model and what the user interface will actually look like has not been released. This cameras are out there so reviewers can gauge image quality.
Iphoto27

I guess too many junk aps sensor size are in stock.
How about 1/1 camera where many are calling it full size sensor with great low light shooting without those S#^%!

No Tethered for a $1,500.00 dollars camera.

Guess many buyers are getting just body only and parked a Leica Lens on it.
They won’t have to buy Leica digital body when they can use a Sony.

Way to go Sony, Leica loves you.
Iphoto27

I guess too many junk aps sensor size are in stock.
How about 1/1 camera where many are calling it full size sensor with great low light shooting without those S#^%!

No Tethered for a $1,500.00 dollars camera.

Guess many buyers are getting just body only and parked a Leica Lens on it.
They won’t have to buy Leica digital body when they can use a Sony.

Way to go Sony, Leica loves you.
Wjghouse

That top picture is eggsactly the configuration I’d love to have. Howsomever, at ~$1200 for the body, and ~$1000 for the lens, the Fujifilm X100 is looking cheap. Yes, I know I’ll have to live with quirky autofocus, and people complain just as much about the menus. Still …
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a lewis

call me superficial, but any idea if SONY have plans to also produce the NEX 7 body in white/silver?
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Rene

i think you are being sponsored by Canon, instead of Sony?