Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 digital cameras. (video)

Sony’s NEX-3 and NEX-5 are all well and good, but with high definition recording topping out at 1080/60i there’s a distinct lack of 1080p HD goodness in the range.

New ultra-compact digital cameras from Sony make DSLR-quality images accessible to everyone. Step up to DSLR picture quality, quick shooting responses and the convenience of interchangeable lenses, plus smart features like AVCHD video and Sweep Panorama.

Teaming serious creative possibilities with stylish looks, the ultra-compact new NEX-5 and NEX-3 digital cameras from Sony are beautifully easy to use.

According to EOSHD’s sources – previously accurate in their NEX predictions – that’ll be taken care of with the Sony NEX-7 later in the year. That camera will use an APS-C chip, though a different one to what’s found in the NEX-3/5, capable of 1080p@60, 1080p@24 and 720p@120/60 for super slow-motion.

Fitting all that in will apparently require a larger body than the slimline form-factor on the two current NEX models, with an appearance more like a mirrorless Sony Alpha A550 including an electronic viewfinder and an E-mount.

There are also some new E-mount lenses in the works – again, tuned for video-friendly quiet performance – though the source wouldn’t be drawn on specifications. Sony are apparently targeting Photokina in September for a release, though they’re also watching Panasonic’s development of the GH2 so as to remain competitive.

Featuring in-lens SteadyShot image stabilisation for clearer handheld images, the E 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 zoom (SEL1855) is a perfect travel partner. The NEX-5 and NEX-3 are available in kit form with either lens, or as a double-lens kit that provides even greater shooting versatility.

The NEX-5 can also be specified as a kit with the optional E 18-200 F/3.5-6.3 zoom that offers a powerful 11x magnification range plus Optical SteadyShot image stabilisation with Active Mode at wide angle for steadier movie shooting.

An optional LA-EA1 mount adaptor extends compatibility to the ? family of 30 lenses and teleconverters, plus a huge range of other legacy A-mount lenses (Manual Focus only).

The NEX-5 and NEX-3 are also the first ? cameras to offer the extra convenience of HD video recording. At the touch of a dedicated Movie REC button, the NEX-3 shoots HD video with stereo sound as compact MPEG4 files that are ideal for PC storage and web sharing.

Full HD (1920 x 1080i) video captured by the NEX-5 as high-quality AVCHD files can be enjoyed on a connected HD television. As an option, the smart accessory terminal on both cameras accepts the compact ECM-SST1 Stereo Microphone that captures a high-quality soundtrack for your HD videos.

The NEX-5 and NEX-3 are the first ? cameras featuring Sweep Panorama. Just press the shutter button and swing the camera side-to-side or up and down.

A high-speed burst of frames is stitched together automatically to create detail-packed 23 megapixel panoramas with a 226 degree effective angle of view****. Panoramic files can also be enjoyed in stunning 3D on compatible BRAVIA™ 3D televisions.

As previously introduced on the DSLR-A550, Auto HDR has been further refined. The NEX-5 and NEX-3 can now shoot a high-speed burst of three images at different exposure values that are electronically combined in the camera. This produces a single High Dynamic Range image with extended highlight and shadow detail.

Both cameras come supplied with a super-compact clip-on flash that attaches via the smart accessory terminal when needed for low-light shooting. Other optional accessories include the FDA-SV1 Optical Viewfinder plus colour coordinated cases and shoulder straps.

Here’s how the NEX-5 stacks up to its main competitors:

	Sony Alpha NEX-5	Samsung NX10	Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1	Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2	Olympus E-P1	Olympus E-P2
Sensor (effective resolution)	14.2- megapixel Exmor CMOS	14.6- megapixel CMOS	12.1- megapixel Live MOS	12.1- megapixel Live MOS	12.3- megapixel Live MOS	12.1- megapixel Live MOS
	23.4mm x 15.6mm	23.4mm x 15.5mm (est)	17.3mm x 13mm	17.3mm x 13mm	17.3mm x 13mm	17.3mm x 13mm
Color depth	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	12 bits	12 bits
Sensitivity range	ISO 200 – ISO 12,800	ISO 100 – ISO 3,200	ISO 100 – ISO 3,200	ISO 100 – ISO 6,400	ISO 100 – ISO 3,200	ISO 100 – ISO 3,200
Focal-length multiplier	1.5x	1.5x	2x	2x	2x	2x
Continuous shooting	2.3 fps  unlimited JPEG/8 raw	3.0 fps  10 JPEG/ 3 raw	3.0 fps  unlimited JPEG/7 raw	3.2 fps  unlimited JPEG/ 7 raw	3.0 fps  n/a JPEG/ 10 raw	3.0 fps  12 JPEG/ 10 raw
Viewfinder	None	EVF  VGA/921,000 dots 0.86x magnification	Optional EVF	EVF  1,440,000 dots 0.7x magnification	None	Plug-in articulating EVF  1,440,000 dots 0.58x magnification
Autofocus	25-point contrast AF	15-point contrast AF	23-area contrast AF	23-area contrast AF	11-area contrast AF	11-area contrast AF
Metering	40 segment	247 segment	144 zone	144 zone	324 area	324 area
Shutter	30-1/4000 sec.; bulb; 1/160 flash sync	30-1/4000 sec.; bulb to 8 minutes	60-1/4000 sec; bulb to 4 minutes	60-1/4000 sec; bulb to 4 minutes	60-1/4000 sec; bulb to 30 minutes	60-1/4000 sec; bulb to 30 minutes
Flash	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
LCD	3-inch tilting  921,600 dots	3-inch fixed AMOLED  614,000 dots	3-inch fixed  460,000 dots	3-inch articulated touch screen  460,000 dots	3-inch fixed  230,000 dots	3-inch fixed  230,000 dots
Image stabilization	Optical	Optical	Optical	Optical	Sensor shift	Sensor shift
Video (max resolution at 30fps)	1080/60i AVCHD	720p H.264 MPEG-4	720p AVCHD Lite or Motion JPEG MOV	720p AVCHD Lite or Motion JPEG MOV	720p Motion JPEG AVI	720p Motion JPEG AVI
Audio I/O	Mic	n/a	None	Mic, headphone	None	Mic
Battery life (CIPA rating)	330 shots	400 shots	350 shots	370 shots	300 shots	300 shots
Dimensions (WHD, inches)	4.4 x 2.4 x 1.6	4.8 x 3.4 x 1.6	4.7 x 2.8 x 1.4	4.9 x 3.3 x 2.9	4.7 x 2.8 x 1.4	4.7 x 2.8 x 1.4
Body weight with battery and card (ounces)	10.2 (without flash); 10.9 (with flash)	14 (est)	12.2	13.1	13.9	13.8; 14.9 (with EVF)
Mfr. Price	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	est. $599.95 (body only)	n/a
	$699.99 (with 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 lens)	est. $699.99 (with 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 lens)	$899.95 (with 14-45mm f3.5-5.6 lens)	$799.95 (with 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens)	$799.99 (with 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens)	$1,099.99 (with 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens)
	$649.99 (with 16mm f2.8 lens)	n/a	$899.95 (with 20mm f1.7 lens)	n/a	$899.99 (with 17mm f2.8 lens and optical viewfinder)	$1,099.99 (with 17mm f2.8 lens)