This is the Sony NEX-5R, the latest addition
to the NEX range, and the direct replacement
for the NEX-5N.
As you can see design wise it retains the
streamline body shape of the NEX-5N, and remains
only a touch larger than your average compact
camera.
The 18-55mm kit lens however, is more akin
to that from a full size SLR and it looks
a little unbalanced on the small body.
However the NEX-5R on the surface at least,
really does seem to be a compact system camera
to get excited about.
Compared with the NEX-5N there's a re-designed
APS-C sensor, improved sensitivity performance,
a hybrid auto-focus system, App compatibility,
Wi-Fi connectivity, degree tiltable touch
screen and a few additions to the body.
So starting with the technology inside, the
NEX-5R features a new 16.1 million pixel sensor.
This new sensor is teamed with Sony's Bionz
processor enable super-fast AF, an impressive
10fps shooting speed and improved high sensitivity
performance.
The NEX-5R retains the same sensitivity range
as the NEX-5N, but Sony has worked hard to
improve the quality of the images at the higher
sensitivity values.
Looking at the resolution chart for the NEX-5N
we can see that a processed raw file has a
resolution of 1600 Line widths per picture
height at ISO 25600, compare this with the
NEX-5R which has captured 1800 line widths
per picture height, a small but marked improvement.
Moving on to the sensor, this has been redesigned
to incorporate a new hybrid AF system, seeing
both phase and contrast detection working
together to improve AF speeds.
During high speed shooting at 10fps using
continuous AF, the system ensures the lens
stays focused on the subject, helping to capture
a succession of sharp shots.
App compatibility is the big new feature,
and as with any SmartPhone these can be downloaded
directly without the need for a computer.
You do of course need to join Sony's service,
PlayMemories, but once done, and the camera
is connected to a Wi-Fi network, it all looks
pretty straight forward.
At the moment App service hasn't launched
in the UK, so we'll have to give you an update
on how this works, and the apps later this
year.
So far we've been shown a small selection
of what's to come.
These include some great image effects, a
rather interesting cinema effect that looks
like it mixes stills with movie to create
a cinemagraph, and a remote app that will
actually enable you to adjust settings as
well as use your phone as a remote camera
release.
We've been told some of these apps will be
free whilst others have to be paid for, however
the retail apps will be priced low, again
more on those when they become available.
Of course with apps you need a way to download
them to the camera body, and to help keep
things simple the NEX-5R has Wi-Fi technology
built in.
This is great for downloading apps directly
to camera, but it also opens up the ability
to download your images directly to you computer
or phone (iOS or Android) without cables.
So really that’s the big tech changes, but
Sony has also taken a look at the external
design and how the camera is used by the photographer.
Firstly the tilt screen design that we've
seen on other NEX cameras has been updated
and now gives a full 180 degree tilt, which
makes taking self portraits that much easier...
This new tilt feature gives you a good 180
degree upward tilt, and 50 degree downward
tilt, so it's still useful for taking images
at awkward angles as well as the odd self
portrait.
As with the NEX-5N, the LCD is touch-sensitive
enabling touch shutter making all the controls
quickly accessible with your finger.
On the body there's a new control dial, similar
in many ways to one of the two that appear
on the top of the range NEX-7, and this can
be used to quickly change settings such as
aperture and shutter speed depending on the
mode you're in.
Mounted next to this is a function button
that enables you quickly access different
settings.
Both these and other buttons on the back of
the body can be customised in the set-up menu
to fine tune the handling to your liking.
This camera has the potential to be a lot
of fun, but with the new control layout it
also feels more like a series photographers
camera.
What's unique about the NEX-5R, at the moment
at least is the inclusion of apps and this
will enable each user to customise the body
to their style of photography.
The Sony NEX-5R will go on sale in mid October,
pricing has yet to be confirmed but expect
it to be around £500 - 600
For more information and my full in-depth
review check out Techradar.com.
