In August 2013, the new Sony NEX-5T camera was introduced. It differs from its perfected predecessors by its new hybrid autofocus and NFC. It is a mode of wireless communication between the Android device and the camera at a distance of up to several centimeters. The real interest in the model and the novelty is evidenced by the number of reviews on the Internet.
It’s the most technically advanced mirrorless camera in Sony’s APS-C format to date. So let’s just talk about the NEX 5 series in a modern version.
Test: Andrian Kolotilin
Technical Specifications
Sensor – Exmor APS, CMOS 16.1 MP, 4912×3264 pixels
Lenses interchangeable on E mount, A mount lenses can be used through LA-EA type adapters
Image stabilization – not in the camera, some E lenses have optical stabilization
Dust prevention on the sensor – automatic and forced
Viewfinder – sold separately electronic XGA OLED, 2.4 million. px.
Display – 921 600 dots, the diagonal of the visible image of 75 mm, tilt angle up to 180 degrees
Focusing – Hybrid, phase and contrast focusing system. Works with some modern lens designs
Touch-screen controls, including focus area and shutter release
Shutter speed ranges from 30-1/4000s, long time by hand, 1/160s flash sync
Shooting modes – P, A, S, M, 2 smart modes, video
Exposure metering – 1200-segment sensor, multisegment, center-weighted, spot. Exposure compensation ± 3 EV
Flash external, GN 7, EV correction ± 2 EV.
Sensitivity – ISO 100-25 600, ISO Auto 100-3200
Picture formats – RAW, RAW+JPG, JPG, JPG panorama, JPG 3D panorama
Memory cards – SD, Memory Stick PRO Duo
Continuous shooting – single-shot, continuous up to 10 fps, self-timer with delay, remote shutter, bracketing 3 frames
Video recording – Full HD with auto or manual focus, AVCHD, MP4
Interfaces – USB mini B, HDMI mini C, support for Wi-Fi connection, NFC
Power – Battery NP-FM50-H, 7.2 V, 1080 mAh
Dimensions – 110×59×39 mm body
Weight – 276g without lens, with battery
Approximate price – 26 000 Dollars.
Introduction
The entire numerous line of Sony NEX-series mirrorless cameras can be divided into three groups. Junior – third – series is designed for those who shoot mainly in automatic mode and do not care about the fine manual exposure settings. The senior – seventh – series is characterized by flexibility of adjustment of any shooting parameters, the highest resolution for the APS-C format and is a high-quality digital backdrop for work with any lenses.
The fifth, the most numerous, series most accurately implements the concept of a very compact mirror-less camera as understood by the company’s marketing experts. With each improvement in control, focus, communication, the next model of the fifth series is assigned a new letter index.
Ergonomics, controls, features
The new Sony NEX-5T continues to incorporate several high-tech solutions. First of all, a new algorithm for autofocus. the manufacturer suggested that you can combine the method of accurate, but not always instantaneous focusing on contrast with a fast, but sometimes inaccurate method of phase detection. In addition to the 25 zones of contrast focus added another 99 points in the center of the frame. Quickly find the object by using the phase method, and fine-tune the focus by contrast. Overall, the hybrid auto focus should be faster. We’ll see how much better and quicker this makes focusing possible in practice later on.
Sony NEX-5T today remains the smallest camera with great opportunities among the classmates. Using many of the features in this model is quite simple thanks to the control wheel, which in combination with the touch screen and the traditional push-button control allows you to quickly change all the settings, and in different ways. The function and video buttons have moved to more convenient locations and now it is impossible to turn on the video by accident this was a huge source of complaints from users before .
With the advent of motorized lens Sony E PZ 16-50 F3,5-5,6 OSS dimensions of the system became tiny, much smaller than many compact and “soapbox”, but with an image quality typical of a large SLR camera. True, the delay between turning the camera on and releasing the button lasts at least a second, but the camera doesn’t pretend to be a reporter. Although it can: A continuous shooting speed of at least 10 frames per second.
The camera still connects to all components of the NEX and Alpha systems, except for the system flash. Only the small flash with a guide number of 7 that comes with the kit can be used in photography – but the whole philosophy of the camera is kind of asking to give that up. Typical sensitivity range is traditional for any modern camera of quite a high class: from 100 to 25 600 ISO. Auto ISO selection is limited to a range from 100 to 6400, indicating the manufacturer’s confidence in the implementation of noise reduction systems in the traditional segment of sensitivity and the weakness – in the extreme high.
A bit of controversial and unpleasant news is the lack of a full-fledged battery charger in the camera kit. Charging the battery is now done with the USB cable, and the battery must be installed in the camera. Consequently, you won’t be able to walk around town with your camera and know that somewhere in the charger there is a spare battery still filling up with energy. You’ll have to buy a special charger, because you can take about 300 shots on one charge – for a normal photographer, it’s a walk for a few hours.
Test photography
When I tested the previous NEX-5 series models I used the whole arsenal of interchangeable optics not only for E lens mount, but also for the Alpha series cameras through the LA-EA2 system adaptor. We modeled the professional use of small cameras in an environment where larger cameras would be inconvenient or heavy. We shot with full manual exposure control. The NEX cameras did a great job reporting in crowds, taking pictures of the Arctic Polar landscape in hard wet and windy conditions, and even participated in a photo hunt complete with a 400 mm lens at 10 frames per second.
Now we’re going to see how the Sony NEX-5T behaves in the hands of an amateur photographer with normal training. So our prime lens is going to be the Sony 16-50mm f/3 motorized zoom lens.5-5.6 with optical stabilizer OSS. As an exotic superzoom, let’s try the Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 E LE with the OSS optical stabilizer, which is even more necessary here. Of course, the system itself will set the sensitivity for our photo lover with the help of Auto-ISO function in the range from 100 to 6400.
I shot a simple landscape, but with a very high dynamic range in both normal mode and multiple exposures to widen the dynamic range. The second shot, as it should, turned out with double silhouettes and in some ways unusable. But in the first case, the sensor’s ability to work well with details in highlights and shadows proved to be enough to display large gradients Photo1. 1/640 s, f/4 . Of course, in bright sunlight the system set the minimum sensitivity.
A night landscape lit by a street light is no problem for the sensor. The vibration caused by the slow shutter speed was canceled out by the optical stabilizer Photo 2 . 1/10 s, f/7.1, ISO 3200 .
Reportage of children playing with enthusiasm and in sufficient light. I didn’t switch to a control mode other than simple amateur. Focusing was done in the wide center zone, where both contrast and phase auto-focus work Photo 3. 1/80 s, f/5, ISO 1600 .
The same reportage of people acting, but in much darker conditions, required a different approach during the Art Night. To take the shot from the top, I lifted the camera over my head, flipped down the LCD screen and set the focus point by tapping directly on the observed image. This is very useful if you are shooting in a non-standard or uncomfortable position photo 4 . 1/40 s, f/5, ISO 3200 .
A close-up portrait can be made with modern cameras even under a street lamp, which I tried to illustrate. The long focal length and narrow angle of the Sony 18-200 mm lens, plus the hood on it, help me avoid sidelight, the stabilization system helps, but does not fully save from vibration. The high sensitivity kept the light atmosphere around the hero in the American costume Photo 5 . 1/25 s, f/6.3, ISO 3200 .
Another photo taken with a Sony 18-200mm lens Photo 6. 1/60s, f/6.3, ISO 320 shows how well the exposure metering performed when the foreground is in shadow and the background is brightly lit. The 1200-segment metering also works well in difficult dark situations where a light source is in the frame Photo 7. 1/40 s, f/6.3, ISO 3200 .
But the noise reduction system interferes with the image quite assiduously and does not always allow preserving the fine details of the picture. That’s why I didn’t use auto-sensitivity for serious purposes in my older cameras and tried to set everything manually.
A little bit about communication with tablets. I tried my best to set up a connection between the devices, but it did not work. Maybe my tablet does not support the direct link function.
Conclusions
The camera turned out fine, just like the previous model. If you are a potential buyer of your first mirrorless camera you shouldn’t think too much, all you need to do is to choose what is more important for you. If size and tactile control capabilities matter, then the Sony NEX-5T is worth considering. If you want to save money, you can buy the previous Sony NEX 5R at a lower price. The happy owners of previous versions of the fifth series can not worry: the innovations are minor.
Test Sony NEX-5T: the camera is great in reporting from the crowd, the recording of polar landscapes and good on a photo hunt
Article content
What other features does the Sony NEX-5T offer that make it suitable for reporting from the crowd or capturing polar landscapes? Can you also clarify what you mean by being “good on a photo hunt”?
What are some specific features of the Sony NEX-5T that make it excel in reporting from crowds, capturing polar landscapes, and being suitable for a photo hunt?