Sony has entered the wonderful world of mirrorless, interchangeable lens cameras with the announcement and July availability of two models, the Alpha Nex-3 and Nex-5.

-
sonynex3_leadpic

May 11, 2010: Sony has entered the wonderful world of mirrorless, interchangeable lens cameras with the announcement and July availability of two models, the Alpha Nex-3 and Nex-5.

Sony says they are the world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens digital camera bodies. They compete with Micro Four Thirds models from Olympus and Panasonic, the Samsung NX10 and Ricoh’s GXR system. (We have a quorum!)

Both carry 14.2-megapixel, APS-C sized CMOS sensors. Main user interface is a touchscreen LCD but the cameras also offer full manual control and shoot in RAW format.

A new graphic user interface – given the thumbs up by Photo Review editor, Don Norris – features six clearly labelled icons that can be selected by rotating and then pressing the control wheel to access shoot settings.

Sony is targetting the cameras at a range of photographers from ‘novice photo enthusiasts to seasoned professionals.’

Light sensitivity goes to ISO 12,800 and both cameras can shoot at up to 7 frames per second. Both capture HD video, though the NEX3 tops out at 720p where the NEX5 can record in full HD 1080i.

The Nex cameras have high resolution (920K) 3-inch LCD screens. There is no electronic viewfinder (it’s an optional extra).

Sony hasn’t built a flash unit into the body, but bundles an external flash unit as a standard accessory ‘in the box’.

Other adapters can replace the flash with an electronic viewfinder or a stereo microphone for better sound in video recording. An HDMI output supplies a native resolution preview.

The ‘gee whizz’ spec to these cameras is a promised 3D shooting capability, although this won’t be available until a firmware upgrade is made available following the cameras’ release. The 3D effect is apparently achieved via a permutation of Sony’s Sweep Panorama function (which is also a feature of the cameras).

The cameras use a totally new mount – the Sony e-mount.

Both models weigh 229g and measure 24.3mm thick.

There will be an 18-55mm kit lens available for both cameras, with an f2.8 16mm pancake lens thrown in for twin lens kits.

A steady-shot 18-200mm lens will be released in August.

Australian pricing is:

NEX-3K single lens kit: $849(RRP) – available July.

NEX-3D twin lens kit: $999(RRP) – available July.

NEX-5K single lens kit: $1049(RRP)- available July.

NEX-5D twin lens kit: $1199(RRP) – available late June.

NEX5H travel zoom lens kit: $1699(RRP) – available August.