Test of the mirrorless camera Sony NEX-7, which itself selects the desired parameters

The latest Sony NEX-7 mirrorless camera is practically no different from a professional DSLR in terms of technical capabilities. Precisely because of its compact size this new flagship of the mirrorless class can be used without any loss of quality in places where previously large and heavy DSLR systems dominated. The features of this new camera are the combination of very high resolution, a new imaging and control system, small size and high quality optics, and compatibility with a large variety of SLR lenses including those from other manufacturers.

Specifications

Sensor – Exmor APS HD CMOS 24, 3 MP, 6000×4000 pixels,

Lens – interchangeable, E mount, optional adapter for A mount lenses,

Stabilization – provided in some interchangeable image lenses. No image sensor stabilization,

It’s dust proof,

Electronic XGA OLED 2.4 million viewfinder. pix,

Single plane tilting display, 921 thou. dots, 75 mm diagonal of visible image,

Focus – 25 focus points, modes: multi-point, center, user selectable focus point, single and tracking,

Shutter speed was 30-1/4000 seconds, slow “by hand” ,

P, A, S, M, Smart Mode, 8 Scene Modes,

Sensitivity: AUTO, 100-16 000 ISO,

Exposure metering – 1200 segment sensor, multi-segment, center-weighted, spot, exposure compensation ± 5 EV,

Flash – built-in flash, guide number 6, external Sony flash can be connected, EV correction ± 3 EV,

RAW, RAW+JPG, JPG panorama, JPG 3D panorama formats,

Memory cards – SD, Memory Stick PRO Duo,

Continuous up to 10 fps, self-timer with lag, remote shutter, exposure bracketing,

Full HD video recording – with auto focus, manual focus, AVCHD, MP4,

Interfaces – miniUSB Type B , miniHDMI Type C ,

Battery powered by NP-FW50, 7.7 V 1080 mAh ,

Dimensions – 120×67×43 mm without lens ,

Price ~ 50 000 Dollars. body

Introduction

In the New York representative office of Sony in a package with a camera Sony NEX-7 for the test were given the following accessories Sony 16/2.8 lens, special attachments ECF1 fiche and ECU1 ultra-wide angle , Carl Zeiss Sonnar E 24/1.8 constant-focus wide-angle lens, Sony 18-55 OSS standard zoom lens, new Sony E 30/3.5 macro lens, LA-EA2 adapter, high-quality Sony G 70-400 mm long-focus zoom and Sony HVL F 20 AM small-sized external flash.

The result is a set of quality photographic equipment, covering focal lengths in the range from 12 to 600 mm in terms of the size of the sensor APS-C, which can satisfy almost all the wishes of a traveling photographer.

A great bonus was that all this treasure could fit into a standard camera bag and was relatively lightweight. Hiking through the city streets and in nature with a backpack like this was no problem at all.

Design, controls, ergonomics

The body of the camera is very small and allows you to fit it with a small lens in the pocket if not a shirt, then the photo vest. The body is made of metal and the joints are snug and reminiscent of the style of cameras from the 1970s and 1980s, when the camera was built to last and perform flawlessly. A very high quality electronic viewfinder on the far left of the camera. The amount of information displayed in the viewfinder can be flexibly dosed, very convenient for reportage work.

Next to the camera is the standard “hot shoe” of all Alpha series cameras where you can connect large or small external flashes, a transmitter for studio shooting, an external microphone or other accessories if necessary. On the right side is the built-in flash, cleverly hidden in the depths of the body.

And last but not least, in the very right hand corner, underneath my thumb, two separate wheels for online control of shutter speed, aperture and exposure compensation while shooting. A revolutionary addition to the NEX series, it allows you to keep working while looking through the viewfinder, without having to navigate through the camera menu.

Easy and quick access to almost all settings of the camera is very convenient. You can instantly, in one movement, using separate buttons and a four-position key to change the sensitivity, continuous shooting speed, exposure compensation or focus from auto to manual , adjust the desired point of focus. And this is a distinctive feature of professional cameras where the ergonomics is primarily aimed at comfortable and fast results.

Also, any control functions can be accessed through the traditional menu, and in several convenient ways.

Camera capabilities

All things being equal ease of operation, excellent resolution and detail, continuous shooting capabilities , the great achievement of the camera is its compactness. World-class professionals work with small-size technique in places where it is difficult to penetrate with large cameras. For example, Michel Roggo from Switzerland watches pure mountain streams, which are only a couple of dozens of centimeters deep, while American citizen Mikhail Semyonov shoots underwater on the North Pole with this camera exactly for the reason of compactness and big opportunities.

High-speed shooting at 10 frames per second in different events helps to catch that moment when what is happening in the frame was the most beautiful or dynamic composition. The sensor and algorithms of mathematical data processing allows you to set a high working ISO, not using the flash and get a quality result.

I would especially like to mention the possibility of working with studio pulsed light when connecting the transmitter and enabling the special option of Live View mode display. The tracking focus helps in reportage photography. At the same time, the camera, like other products in the NEX series, has an intelligent shooting mode. This is a comprehensive system of tips, scenes and creative image processing tools right in the camera, and it is designed for amateur photographers who do not have the knowledge base of a professional photographer.

The manufacturer did not forget about panorama shooting when in a couple of seconds you can see the ready and high quality stitched panorama. Dynamic range expansion mode is available, allowing you to shoot against the light or in contrasting light conditions. At the same time they get pictures in JPG format.

There are, of course, some problems that require close attention. First of all it is the battery capacity. It takes about 400-500 shots when you’re actively shooting, so the active travel photographer just needs to have a few batteries and a charger. The file size for such a high resolution is traditionally large: about 7 MB for a JPG image and 24 MB – in RAW format. For this reason, a stock of several 8 or 16GB memory cards can be considered the necessary norm.

Test shooting

Unfortunately the camera came to me just a few days before the issue was due to go to print, so I could not afford an expedition to another city or the taiga, although I really wanted to. I had to shoot some cityscapes, theatrical scenes, wander around the city in the evening and shoot some sketches and portraits. I didn’t forget about my favorite macro photography, and I tried to use the strengths of the system everywhere: the fleet of high-speed optics, continuous shooting and high-sensitivity shooting.

I could almost always get a better look at the big screen and almost never looked through the viewfinder. And the camera, lying on its lap, didn’t draw attention with its size and position. I have never had any problems with focus precision or metering the exposure. I just trusted the technique, remembering to occasionally apply a minus correction.

I didn’t need to adjust the focus precision for each lens, although it is possible. The combination of the small 16mm lens and wide-angle extensions was the most requested lens for me. Small cameras have always lacked a wide angle, and this is a great construction set with very good quality, which instantly transforms into a fisheye, super wide angle or just a wide angle. It’s great for capturing subway scenes and indoor scenes in the evening.

In the theater I was shooting during a performance with a 70-400 lens and the audience was seated nearby. During short bursts, the shutter was so quiet that it didn’t disturb others. I felt very comfortable and I dedicated myself to the whole shoot and I could control the focus point all the time.

Shooting with the new Sony E 30/3.5 Macro was a pleasant surprise. The lens is designed with an internal focus principle, so the front lens assembly does not change its position. Quality that shows every scale on a butterfly’s wing! I was surprised to find an undocumented feature: you can put the ECF1 and ECW1 wide-angle attachments on it.

With a little bit of skill, you can get very interesting shots of macro subjects, flowers and insects with landscape and background elements without noticeable chromatic aberration, which previously were impossible without special endoscopes and other rare equipment. Even judges at international wildlife photo contests would probably be interested in these pictures. Unfortunately, the macro lens does not have built-in stabilization, which can be useful sometimes.

In the studio I wanted to shoot a portrait of a girl with soap bubbles in a constant light source. Being confident in the quality of the file at 1600 ISO, I measured the color temperature beforehand, moved the focal point to the eyes of the model, and turned on high-speed shooting.

Shooting in RAW didn’t work out because the camera’s data buffer filled up quickly: the camera kept returning a black screen until the photos were written to the memory card. So I switched to JPG and also switched on the skin retouching software in the camera.

When shooting with the built-in flash, I am not always happy with the results, simply because the potential of the camera allows for a more interesting solution. Simple “hard” picture of a small flash does not satisfy, especially since it can work confidently at a distance of no more than 2 and a few meters.

I had to take the picture outside in the evening, under incandescent light, and the flash was needed, a compact external flash. I put in -2 EV correction and only highlighted the model’s eyes, which are in deep shadows. Without this feature, which usually big DSLRs do, I wouldn’t have been able to do a portrait.

When working in low light, the image sensor stabilization capability is severely lacking. The fast optics have no built-in stabilizers only zoom lenses have them , which was a bit of a disappointment to me.

When you see such an advanced camera you expect the impossible. But the solution was found: I pressed the camera to the wall, spread its legs wide and used continuous shooting. This is how we managed to take pictures in a pompous store, at an exhibition, and in a perfume boutique.

I don’t write about all sorts of peculiarities of contrast and tonal range reproduction, about exposure metering errors – simply because there are none. It’s possible to control all the parameters of the camera and just avoid camera blunders.

Conclusions

I think the Sony NEX-7 is currently the absolute leader in the mirrorless class.

A tool for the smart, knowledgeable photographer who can take advantage of the capabilities of the NEX series. A photographer who doesn’t want to carry heavy gear in a case or backpack, but wants uncompromising quality. A photographer who wants to get into places where a big camera would disturb, attract attention, scare away characters or make them uncomfortable.

There are a lot of applications, it is even possible that the emergence of small quality cameras will bring a new level of confidence in the photographer and open up new photography styles, as it was at the time of the legendary “Leech” format. We shall see. What do I personally miss about the Nex-7?? Perhaps only the GPS module, so necessary for travelers.

The editorial team would like to thank Sony for providing it for the test

I would like to thank my camera and lens, and the management of the American Drama Theater for helping me take these pictures.

Pictured tests

Shooting without a tripod under incandescent light. Slow shutter speeds are necessary to get a motion-blur effect. I had to correct the color balance in the RAW converter. Sony 16/2.8 lens and VCL-ECU1 super wide converter. ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/4 sec.

Theater. The fast movements of the actors demanded fast shutter speeds and high sensitivities, while the randomly changing color temperatures of the light sources made it necessary to shoot in RAW format. 70-400 G lens through LA-EA2 adapter, instantaneous perfect focus, continuous shooting. ISO 3200, f/4, 1/640 sec.

The 30 mm macro lens gives the opportunity to see every “detail” of the insect in great detail. The background is blurry but still recognizable. ISO 400, f/5, 1/60 sec.

Scene at a photo exhibition. Continuous shooting at random. Standard zoom with OSS Sony 18-55 stabilization system. ISO 800, f/4, 1/400 s. The stabilization system was not required in these conditions.

Portrait, studio shooting. Selected speed mode to get an interesting random arrangement of color spots. ISO 1600, f/2.8, 1/1000 s, incandescent light.

Shooting panoramas handheld. The camera itself chooses the necessary parameters, but the sensitivity is limited to 1600 ISO. I had to take a badly underexposed picture, and then I had to process it in a graphic editor. Sony 16 mm lens, f/2.8, 1/500 s, frame series.