Sony NEX-7 first look camera review
What’s unique about the Sony NEX-7?
Perhaps the most exciting feature on the new NEX-7 camera is its revolutionary OLED viewfinder. By using OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology, Sony has been able to squeeze an electronic viewfinder into a remarkably slim camera body.
OLED technology allows for displays that are slimmer, brighter, and sharper than traditional LCD displays, and by using OLED for the NEX-7′s viewfinder, Sony has served up a treat. Using the camera, we were struck by how sharp and bright the viewfinder display was, even as you were panning across duller environments.
The viewfinder is comfortable to hold to your eye, and thanks to a small, if fiddly, diopter adjuster, you can set the focus on the viewfinder to suit your own vision.
You can enjoy a complete field of view with the viewfinder, allowing you to see exactly what’s being seen by the lens with no cropping. You can also preview picture settings on the viewfinder, just like you’d be able to on an LCD display.
Our first impressions? The viewfinder is a real winner, and we can’t wait to see more of this technology appearing on digital cameras. There’s no reason it needs to be limited to system cameras with interchangeable lenses – provided there’s space on the camera body, a viewfinder like this could just as easily work on a camera with a fixed lens.
Sony has managed to squeeze an OLED viewfinder into a slim camera body with NEX-7
What are the key features of the Sony NEX-7?
The NEX-7 has plenty going for it specs-wise. Boasting a colossal sensor resolution of 24.3Mp, the NEX-7 should be able to take shots with massive amounts of detail in case you’re looking to enlarge your images or crop and edit.
This is a high-end model designed for hands-on enthusiasts. There are two function dials on the top right of the camera – oddly, neither of them are marked in any way – which allow you to independently adjust the aperture and shutter speed settings.
You’re still forced to dip into the on-screen menu for some surprisingly simple functions, however – even to change from automatic mode to manual, or to shutter speed priority, you have to bring up the “virtual control dial” on-screen. Anyone familiar with using a DSLR or even a bridge camera might find this less than intuitive .
To access the Full HD video mode, there’s a dedicated access button on the rear of the camera, allowing you to start shooting straight away.
As well as featuring a hot-shoe to attach Sony flash guns, there’s a built-in flash which springs out enthusiastically from the top of the NEX-7. You can flip out and tilt the LCD screen to help when you’re holding the camera at an awkward angle.
There’s a price to pay…
Between the ample specs and the truly remarkable OLED viewfinder, the Sony NEX-7 certainly has a lot to offer. However, the price of the camera may prove something of a deterrent.
With a launch price of around £1,200 for the camera body alone, the NEX-7 will require some pretty deep pockets. This puts it on a price point with top-end consumer DSLRs like the Canon EOS 7D or Nikon D300S.
There are certainly plenty of top-of-the-line features to command a high price, but it’s a shame in a way to see exciting new technology like the OLED viewfinder immediately put out of reach of anyone who doesn’t have a grand to spare.
Fingers crossed Sony will find a way to reproduce this new viewfinder technology in cheaper models, or perhaps motivate some of their rivals to try and do the same.
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Bill
It doesn’t matter how nice the OLED is if the camera has operational limitations (e.g., no external mic jack, no manual audio setting, an LCD screen that won’t swing around for self-portraits). I’ll hang on to my GH2 until I see what the VG20 can do. When will we see a VG20 first look?
Cheers,
Bill
John o' Callaghan
Price TOO Big !!, Would not fit snugly on my belt, to help that Wish I had a camera Moment.
e.g.Lumix TZ 30.
Zo niet
This can be a very nice camera if Sony can produce the quality lenses that are needed to bring out all the detail of the 24mpix sensor. Also, the sensor must be really good at higher ISO settings.
Erik Neu
I can’t wait for a full review on the NEX-7.
The Sony Nex manual focus system for use with manual nikon lenses beats the competition.
I hope the Nex-7 combines the good features of the Nex-5n with a perfect viewfinder and functional optimized dials and buttons.
That would be the perfect camera for my project ”Childhood Memories”.
Oguzhan
Stereo Sound recording? Well i’m a bit dissapointet. And Its also a shame that they have “overlooked” the GPS feature.. Maybe its gonna be the A65 anyway
Nick Petrides
Lobely camera I really want to buy it because I do photography and I get exited every time I see it but why put the price up that high I know its good but common.
Simon Cross
BEWARE: SONY camera battery life.
It appears the New NEX 7camera sports the same battery “NPFW50″ as the Sony NEX 5.
I have a NEX 5 and I must say I am truly disappointed about this, the battery is always running out on me. Yes, I could carry a spare around with me, but sometimes it doesn’t always go according to plan. Maybe I have been spoilt by the superb battery in my Nikon SLR, it never seems to run out, it also charges in a very short amount of time. The Sony NPFW50 is very very slow (it seems to take forever) at recharging and is in my opinion weak compared. I would have like to have seen Sony make a significant improvement on the battery side for such a relatively high end camera. Sony might purport you can take 400 shots on a single charge, but after you have been playing with the menu functions, viewing your photos on camera etc, turning the camera on and off a few times, the life in the NPFW50 is soon wittled down considerably.