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Product Description
Manufacturer's Description
Uncompromising imaging in a compact camera
Accept nothing less than perfection with the incredible NEX-7. A compact system camera with the world’s highest ever resolution at 24.3 megapixels* and the world’s first OLED viewfinder*, all in a light and compact design that’s small enough to go wherever life takes you. This mirrorless interchangeable lens camera is a marvel of innovation with exceptionally high performance, fast shooting response and ultra high sensitivity. Capture all your memories in the best possible quality and explore your creative talents to the limit without compromising on size or weight. A truly unique point and shoot camera with incredibly advanced features that makes shooting a pleasure, anywhere, anytime.
Highest ever resolution
Despite its light and compact styling, NEX-7 is a heavyweight when it comes to imaging performance. Sporting a large, high resolution Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with 24.3 megapixels, this camera takes ultimate professional quality images with intense colour, rich tonal gradation and subtle background defocusing effects. That are as good as anything a traditional DSLR can produce. The newly developed sensor is similar in size and performance to those used in Sony a digital SLR cameras and more than 13 times larger than the 1/2.4" sensors found in most digital compact cameras. Noise is reduced in both the analog (pre-AD signal conversion) and digital (post-AD signal conversion) stages by an on-chip column AD converter and dual-noise reduction circuit. If you’re looking to capture low noise, crystal clear images that are faithful and true-to-life, there’s no better choice than the NEX-7.
Working with the sensor is a sophisticated BIONZ processor which provides all the advanced processing power needed for high-speed contrast-detection AF, Sweep Panorama image stitching and Hand-held Twilight image composition. High ISO sensitivity of 100-16000 (100-1600 AUTO) gives you the freedom to shoot at fast shutter speeds even in dimly lit environments without the need for a flash or tripod.
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The sharpest, brightest view
Look through the viewfinder and you’ll see the world in perfect clarity, brightness and definition. NEX-7 includes the pioneering XGA OLED Tru-Finder, an ultra high resolution electronic viewfinder with 100% frame coverage and a wide viewing angle of 33.1° so you can shoot and review images without taking your eyes from the finder. OLED technology provides the power, contrast and response required to perfectly reproduce scenes without motion blur or residual image. Detail is superb and allows image enlargement for more precise focusing and framing.
Quick and Easy operation
The new and intuitive Tri-Navi feature offers direct access to key functions with three control wheels located on top and on the back of the camera. Press the navigation button beside the shutter button to cycle through focus, white balance, D-range and creative style settings. No need to delve deep into menus to adjust your camera characteristics – everything can be done using the wheels. Better still, you can define what settings you would like to access from the navigation button.
Simple but prestigious design
Take one look at the NEX-7 and you’ll see a slim and sleek camera that’s beautifully designed without unsightly buttons or controls. The top and front of the camera is made from light but tough magnesium alloy to take the knocks and shocks of travel while the shutter release, dials, buttons and keys are constructed from metal with anodized rims for improved durability and quality.
Rapid response everytime
With the world’s fastest release time lag of just 0.02 seconds* and high speed AF, NEX-7 gives you the flexibility to capture fast, dynamic action the moment it happens. This impressive release time lag – the time it takes the camera to begin image exposure after focusing – is due to a new electronic front shutter curtain and accelerating readout from the image sensor plus enhanced AF performance and image processing. New Object Tracking keeps moving subjects in perfect focus even while zooming in by locking on to them in the target frame so you can concentrate solely on composing your scene.
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Easy creative photography
With NEX-7, anyone can experience the artistic satisfaction of creative photography. The easy-to-use Photo Creativity interface gives quick access to a range of creative settings simply by pressing the centre button on the control wheel. Seven different functions and settings can be accessed via the control wheel including Picture Effect, Background Defocus Control, Soft Skin Effect, Color, Brightness, Vividness and Self Timer or Continuous Advance. The effects of various settings can be viewed in real-time on the LCD monitor for ease of operation.
New enhanced Picture Effect lets you modify images by changing colours, adding textures or including special visual effects – all without a PC. Transform simple shots into works of art using modes such as Toy Camera or Partial Colour. Choose from 11 Picture Effect modes including new HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, Soft Focus and Miniature. You can even adjust the level of some effects for total creative control.
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One touch movies and 3D photos
Capture your memories anyway you choose. Press the MOVIE button to film Full HD video in razor-sharp detail at 50p with stereo sound – a first for an interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C size sensor*. The large size and high image quality of the sensor minimises noise when shooting in low light. Still pictures are clear and precise with 24.3 megapixels and the freedom to use a range of E-mount interchangeable lenses. You can also shoot high resolution landscapes in 3D with 3D Sweep Panorama. This impressive feature captures two Sweep Panorama images from a single series of photos, then creates a high resolution 3D image for viewing on a 3D compatible TV.
Fast Continuous shooting
Capture spur-of-the-moment shots with Speed Priority Continuous mode at up to 10 frames per second – the fastest continuous shooting speed among mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras*. With focus and exposure fixed at the first frame, this mode is ideal for shooting sports and fast-moving action scenes.
Go manual for precise control
Switch to manual exposure and precisely control light for even more creative freedom. P/A/S/M modes provide perfect control of defocus and brightness. NEX-7 can also record in 25p — to give you that traditional cinematic look, enhancing your video with a truly artistic feel.
Advanced photographic features
NEX-7 is packed with latest technology to help you create perfect photos. From aberration correction, Auto HDR and D-Range Optimizer to MF Assist and Peaking for easier manual focusing, you’ll have all the tools you need to maximize every shot. Take stunning night shots with Hand-held Twilight and beautiful indoor portraits with Anti-Motion Blur. Plus with Intelligent Auto and Scene Selection modes, everything is fully automatic so you can really just point and shoot.
Compatible with E-mount lenses
The Sony NEX-7 comes in black with an exclusively version of the 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS standard zoom lens (SEL1855). A variety of optional accessories are available to boost your creative photography including the LA-EA2 A-lens mount adapter which includes the award winning translucent mirror technology to enable phase-detection AF — the first adapter of its kind in the world*. NEX-7 is also the first E-mount camera with an Auto-lock Accessory Shoe for attaching flash units like HVL-F43AM.
*As of July 2011
Product Description
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Customer Reviews
One area where digital photography has never really equalled 35mm film is compact cameras. In the days of film I carried a Canon SureShot 35mm camera everywhere and although it had a fixed lens, it was capable of excellent images. Since transferring to digital, I still like to have a camera with me whenever possible, but carting a 5DMkII around everywhere is impractical. So I've owned several compact digicams over the years but the tiny sensor size means that fine detail in, say, a landscape is just not captured plus I really dislike having to use an LCD on the back to compose a shot.
In recent years, manufacturers have started to address the sensor size issue with the M4/3 format and the larger still APS-C sensor. Canon have also announced the G1X, whose sensor is between M4/3 and APS-C. So this was the time to replace my Canon G10, which stays in my bag but I don't especially enjoy using. I have to say this was the most difficult photography decision I've made to make! There is no such thing as the perfect camera in this area of the market, they all have their pros and cons so I recommend you do what I finally did and draw up a list of the things that are most important to you and match the camera to that and not vice versa.
For me, the most important things are: a decent viewfinder, image quality, replaceable lenses, and control over settings. The Sony NEX-7 meets all of those but the viewfinder was the killer feature for me as I really, really hate having to hold a camera away from my face to compose. That the viewfinder is integrated into the body and not an optional extra was important. That the NEX-7 can accept my existing Canon lenses via adaptors sealed it.
The first thing I have to mention is the packaging: Sony have definitely taken a leaf out of Apple's book here - it just exudes quality as you gradually open layers to finally reveal, under a quality cleaning cloth, the body and lens nestled in velvet-like compartments. The body itself also inspires confidence, solid, sturdy, yet not too heavy. The same can't quite be said for the kit lens, which is almost too light and the supplied lens hood also doesn't click into place with any certainty. A strap is supplied, along with battery charger & mains and USB leads. There are three manual: a Getting Started guide, an Operations Manual and, on CD, the full Instructions.
You will need to read all of these to set the camera up optimally; it's amazingly configurable, almost like designing your own camera controls. If this is your first top range camera you might take a while to find the most suitable configuration; I've set mine up to follow my normal DSLR usage: in aperture priority, with one control dial setting aperture and the other exposure compenation. Both the viewfinder and the LCD show a live approximation of the exposure that will result and a live histogram can also be included in the display. This really makes it easy to gauge the end result. It's not the smallest camera body around but I have largeish hands and find it more comfortable than the Olympus Pen for example.
Talking of viewfinder, the electronic viewfinder is the first I've used but I really like it. It displays 100% of the scene with a variety of other information either around or superimposed on it, including focus points. Talking of focussing, reviews have referred to the AF system being poor. Compared to a DLSR and the latest M4/3 cameras, in dim light it is and I was initially disappointed. But the manual focussing is so well implemented that in reality I've not found this to be a major issue. Press the manual focus button on the rear and as soon as you touch the focus wheel the camera magnifies the image. I've suffered with astigmatism for years and struggle to focus manually on an SLR but have had no problems with this method.
There is so much to this camera that I could go on but I'll restrict myself to image quality. I mentioned earlier that the kit lens feels of less physical quality than the body and the same is true to a certain extent of image quality. Certainly the 24MP sensor will benefit from better quality glass, but the kit lens isn't that bad unless you're a persistent pixel peeper. Forget pixels and look at the pictures instead and it's fine as a starting point. It's reassuring to know that the body is capable of better things and, via adaptors, can use lenses from other manufacturers. I'm already looking at Canon adaptors so I can use my old 50mm f1.4 or EFS 17-85mm, both of which are good quality and lightweight. As manual focus is so well implemented (and I haven't mentioned the focus peaking ability) I don't see that being a big issue for me. The camera rarely exposes wrongly and even if it does get caught out, with the live exposure view you will already see this before pressing the shutter in most cases.
Summing up, I had to think long and hard about which system to get into, comparing the pros and cons of each before listing my priorities and finding a camera to match. The NEX-7 won't suit everyone but definitely put it on your shortlist. If I could give 4 1/2 stars I would but I have to drop one star for the AF - in a camera at this price is it disappointing. Overall though, I've had more fun with this camera in a couple of days than I had with all the other compacts I've owned put together. It doesn't make you feel limited in any way.
Early morning, evening sunsets, landscapes, seascapes, indoor family shots and even sport action shots, (I got great images of the Olympic Cycle Road Race in London), have tested the cameras features and it hasn't disappointed me at all. I am not in the mood to use all the technical descriptive words re the camera, but must mention the view finder - it's simply brilliant, by far the best selling point for the camera.
Only yesterday a friend of mine, who has a leica M8 and a Nikon Digi SLR, had a play with it and her parting words were, 'I think I'm in the mood to get one'.
Don't think of buying it, just do it.
Sony NEX7KB.CEH Digital Compact System Camera with 18-55 Lens Kit (24.3MP, 10x Digital Zoom) 3.0 inch LCD ScreenBy the way, the 16mm wide angle lenses is worth every penny too.
One of the gripes is the limited range of dedicated lenses. I bought the camera with a Carl Zeiss 24/1.8 and it is a fabulous lens (I have posted photos taken with this lens and a Leica M 35mm Summilux asph fle/Novoflex adapter combination, for the readers to compare and make up their own minds). With suitable adapters, one can use nearly all the legacy lenses as well as Sony's own A range ones (the autofocus function is retained albeit slightly slower). The manual lenses can be focussed in the stopped down mode - thanks to the evf. Features such as peaking and magnification make it very easy to focus fully manual lenses including the ones which are notoriously difficult to focus e.g. the Noctilux 0.95. I expect Sony/CZ to increase their repertoire in the near future.
Now for the cons - there is a delay of at least a couple of seconds before the evf is activated which can be a hindrance if one wants to grab an ephemeral action shot viewing through it. The video recording button is annoyingly close to the thumb grip and prone to being pressed accidentally. And then there is the matter of reviewing stills vs videos when one has to go through the menu. There is no anti-shake mechanism in the camera. There is one issue which I noticed in my camera, and which seems to be gathering pace on the online discussion fora, and that is the occasional appearance of disconcerting flashes in the evf, as though someone is using a strobe close by. It does not seem to affect the picture quality and hope Sony can sort it out via a suitable firmware.
All in all a brilliant piece of equipment small enough to be pocketable and unobtrusive. It invites one to take photos much to the exasperation of my dog Tilly who is fed up of being a photographer's muse.
This is a wonderful camera which, for an occasional photographer like me is so easy to use. Read more
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