Sony NEX-5N 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Touchscreen Camera with 18-55mm Lens (Black)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Added 4-24-14 AFTER MORE yEXPERIENCEThis camera is really impressive over time, as I have now had several of my club member's cameras for a day or two loan, and I find the 5N unbeatable. The 5N even equals the $1100 Oly EM-5, esp. at high ISO's.My latest kick is the panorama - it's so addictive (try it in B&W !!) Also, I'm using video a lot more now than I ever did with previous cameras - this camera has very well focused and exposed video.I have customized the "soft keys" or buttons (Look under "Settings - Custom Key Settings"). It has made a world of difference in my speed of shooting. I have the buttons set :A> bottom button (in Auto the Help key) : Focusing areaB> center-of-ring button (in Auto the Mode selector ) can choose three things: Metering area / WB / D-rangeC> right click on ring (in Auto the Live selector) : ISOORIGINAL REVIEW :-----------------------------------------Indoor no-flash, the Sony NEX 5N is pretty much a game changer. Most cameras have to use slow shutter speeds indoors in ambient light, because they just can't control noise and smear at ISO 800 and above. For instance, I wouldn't let my nice Lumix LX5 go above ISO 800 indoors. Now, using the NEX 5N Auto mode indoors will often result in ISO 1600 or even 3200, and there's no problem : the APS-C sensor, and the processor's programming let me use ISO 3200 like it was 800...!! I then have a much faster shutter speed available, to help stop the blur of most kid and pet movements. Auto WB indoors is sometimes tricky, but by setting WB using a white napkin or other reference, the 5N is near amazing.How did I come to choose the NEX 5N ?? Well, I am retired, and I spent a LOT of time on forums for Sony, Panasonic, Canon, etc... But I especially played a lot with dpReview.com's "High ISO comparison" tool:One day I put the Canon G15 against the Nikon P7700 and the Lumix LX7. For the fourth and final unit, I happened to choose the Samsung NX1000, because I had seen it on a big sale at Amazon. The Samsung with its APS-C sensor was so superior, that I began to look for other cams that used the same type sensor. DpReview had the NEX-5N rated at 79, so I put it on my list to play with. The NEX simply blew everyone's socks off, including in later comparisons the Micro 4/3's from Nikon and Olympus. I watched Amazon for several weeks, and in mid-November I was lucky to find the 5N at $140 less than the small Sony RX100 and the Samsung NX1000, which had been my two top choices up to that time.The NEX-5N also has near-excellent video. There is no "clicking sound" that early buyers sometimes mentioned, but once in a while there is a background motor noise during quiet periods of recording.Something else I really like: the 5N has a quieter shutter than any DSLR. All DSLRs are noisy beasts in comparison, very good for calling attention to themselves at the wrong time. The NEX-5N is of course still louder than say,, a LX7, but if you set the "Front Curtain Shutter" option to "enabled", the sound is very much reduced.Some reviews say the included 18-55 kit lens is only Very Good, not great; mine has no noticeable problems, and I've become a lot more critical than I once was. In tests side by side, the NEX slightly outdid my Pentax K-30 and K-01 kit lenses for sharpness in most every type of scene. Auto focus is near perfect in good light, and very good in low light.Macro with the kit zoom, using menu setting "Camera - AF/MF - DMF". can give some pretty nice shots, but you will need to stay 9-10" away with this lens to focus. By cropping, you will get a great photo, since the NEX is so sharp and noiseless at low ISO.CONCLUSION:============A./ This camera far exceeds premium compacts and almost every micro 4/3rds for lack of noise at every ISO. With the kit zoom, you will need a strap rather than a pocket. You may like to look for a good used Sony 16mm pancake lens, or a used 16-50 power zoom. I highly recommend the 1650PZ , as it makes the 5N ready for almost every situation.B./ Compared to any DSLR under $1200, the 5N is their photographic equal, and 50% lighter to carry. Put a protective UV filter on, and you're good to go street shooting out of the box.C./ However, the 5N is not a replacement for an action photographer using a DSLR in the field, where frequent ISO , WB, Focus Point, HDR, and other setting changes have to be made on-the-fly. This is foremost a great family camera.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I doubt few people have had hands-on access to more cameras in the $150 - $800 range that I've had, through the amateur club I just joined last summer. Join an informal group or a real photography club - you'll have a great time and be much better able to decide which camera, at what price, is the best for your needs.

The Sony NEX-5N is absolutely amazing. The photos it produces are stunning. I can't believe how good this thing is in low light conditions. I barely ever have to use the flash. Even at night with nothing but moon light. I ordered my camera on March 26th and received it on March 28th. The first thing I noticed when taking it out of the Amazon box was that there was no factory seal on the camera box itself. When I took the camera out, I immediately noticed that there was no clicking noise at all and then thought it was weird that not only was their no seal on the box but there was no sticker on the LCD either. With a quick google search I found a forum explaining the lack of factory seals on some NEX-5N's. Basically, due to the recent tsunami in Japan, Sony had to move production to another factory which does not put factory seals nor LCD stickers on the cameras. However, camera's coming from that factory also have no "clicking" issues. So, don't freak out if your box doesn't come factory sealed. Most likely you got one that has had the clicking noise resolved and is indeed new and straight from the factory. If you still have doubts, make sure that the serial number on the bottom of the camera body matches the number on the box. If they match you're good. If not, send it back.Now, back to the camera. Every photo is so crisp. About HDR painting mode (found in Menu > Brightness/Color > Picture Effect > Pntg) just in case you can't find it. It took me a few days to figure it out. Oh, and you can change the intensity to low, medium and high as well by first selecting HDR Pntg and clicking "Option" (it appears on the bottom right of the display). Photos using this setting, taken with under the right lighting conditions, produce stunning results.I usually stay away from Intelligent Auto simply because I like to have more control. Aperture Priority is what I use most of the time. It's perfect for taking portraits with blurred backgrounds.Battery life is what you would expect. Not the best, but not bad either. I have yet to run out of power before I get the photos I want.That's about it for now. If I think of anything else, I'll update my review.If you are on the fence, fall off (on the Sony NEX-5N side) and buy it already. You will NOT be disappointed. What you get for the price can't be matched by any other DSLR. Not to mention most Nikon DSLRs use Sony sensors anyway. Might as well just cut out the middle man.Hope this helped some of you.Peace out.