I have spent a few years happy with my Sony Alpha 700 using old manual prime lenses. I have shared this experience at www.lowcost4dslr.com

SONY NEX with a KONICA HEXANON 40mm

SONY NEX with a KONICA HEXANON 40mm

But now with the SONY NEX system I have found a better alternative to re-use more manual lenses with a better control and usability.

When the SONY NEX system was announced, I was certain that this kind of mirrorless camera will never find it’s market:

No optical viewfinder, not enough control dials and a new mount with only 3 available lenses: clearly not for advanced users!

And will point and shot users accept an interchangeable lens camera?

During a year, the SONY NEX 3 and NEX 5 reviews were excellent considering the image quality at high ISO. But many expert DSLR are capable to deliver such noise free images at 3200 iso.

Then many lens mount adapters became available from third party manufacturers:

  • Minolta MD => NEX E
  • Canon FD => NEX E
  • Olympus OM => NEX E
  • Leica M => NEX E
  • M39 => NEX E
  • M42 => NEX E
  • Konica Hexanon => NEX E
  • and more…
KONICA HEXANON 40mm F1.8 mounted on a SONY NEX 3

KONICA HEXANON 40mm F1.8 mounted on a SONY NEX 3

These kind of adapters are available for DSLR mount but some need a lens inside the adapter to keep the infinity focus. This extra lens is a disaster for the image quality.

For the SONY NEX, this is not the case because of the dimension of the E mount (distance to the sensor). This is a common feature to most of mirror-less cameras (micro 4/3, NEX E).

At this stage, with the SONY NEX we have an excellent sensor combined with the ability to adapt most of manual lenses while keeping the original optical quality of the old lenses.

Usability with manual lenses: focus

The liveview implemented on the SONY NEX is excellent : VGA screen with high refresh rate and very responsive.

It feature a focus assist (x7 or x14 magnification) that can be placed on any part of the image (if you do not focus on the center).

Since v4 firmware a peaking function is implemented. This thing is amazing. It is the first time it is implemented on a photo camera. It is usually implemented on expensive video camcorders since a long time. When you adjust your focus ring, the screen display in yellow pixels the part of the image which is focused. It is computed in real time using contrast detection algorithms:

Focus Peaking since V4 firmware (SONY NEX)

Focus Peaking since V4 firmware (SONY NEX)

Using manual lenses with this v4 firmware since 3 month, I consider that manual focus is very easy and accurate. You see in live view the actual deep of field.

Usability with manual lenses: handling

With a manual lens you have the aperture ring directly on the lens (no need of a dedicated dial on the body)

Then when the SONY NEX is set on M mode, the single dial of the body is allocated to the speed.

You can customise the centre button (inside the dial) to get a kick access to the ISO setting (and also white balance)

So considering you have direct access to aperture, speed and ISO, I consider that I have the same control as with an expert DSLR on the main parameters of numeric imaging (ISO, speed and aperture)

Moreover thanks to the excellent live view implementation you can see in real time the actual exposure corresponding to your settings

The histogram is displayed in real time.

I think that M mode is so easy to use in live view that I do not miss the selector that enable to select the metering mode (spot, centred weigh, matrix). I am convinced that M mode will be the more natural mode to use with mirror-less cameras.

The orientable screen is also a great advantage from a photographic standpoint. When using a wide angle (e.g. SONY SEL 16mm F2.8) it is far easier to compose the image than with the view finder of a reflex. It helps a lot to adjust your picture composition mostly with focal lenght < 50mm.

So is it a perfect camera that would completely replace a DSLR? Any drawbacks?

No because:

I consider that 135mm is the “not to exceed focal lenght” for using a liveview system. For long focal lenght a viewfinder is more adequate (shooting like).

The SONY NEX is not intended for sport shooting:

  • AF speed is faster on a DSLR than on a SONY NEX  (phase detection vs contrast detection)
  • And manual focus (even if very easy and accurate) is not recommended for sport shooting.

That being said, I spend more time with my SONY NEX than with my SONY Alpha 700 because:

  • I love playing with good manual lenses
  • The NEX system is very compact while image quality is excellent
  • It encourage to spend more time for picture composition and exposition check

Bottom line, I am very pleased with this camera and, in my opinion, it is the best system to reuse old manual lenses.