Sony NEX as a Leica M8 alternative

[erik_a]

<p>I am thinking about a new wide-angle take everywhere camera and was considering an M8. I read that the Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 will be announced on May 11th<br /> <br /> http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2010/04/26/almost-official-sony-s-mirrorless-system-to-be-named-nex/<br /> <br /> Do you think that this will be a decent alternative to the M8 with 21mm 2.8<br /> <br /> The Sony has a 1.5x APS-C 14 megapixel ExmorHD sensor <br /> <br /> http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/sony-gives-nex3-and-nex5-names-to-its-first-ultra-compact-interc/<br /> <br /> The 16mm F2.8 IS pancake lens will have a 24mm equivalent FOV.<br /> <br /> I am thinking that for much less money I could get a decent wide-angle solution with much higher image quality than the M8 in a smaller size but with similar background blur as the M8 w/ 21mm. Any thoughts.<br /> <br /> <br /></p>

[leslie_cheung]

<p>Maybe Leica will red dot the NEX line and sell them for twice the price, like the Panasonic. The 16mm 2.8 NEX sounds interesting...</p>

[Alex_Es]

<p>I think only the original poster can answer the question that he posed. What are his needs? If his needs do not require a professional camera like the M8 then the new Sony or anything similar is indeed an "alternative" to the M8 (now discontinued) or the M9. The fact that he should ask this question in the first place and tell us that he wants a "take anywhere" camera provides an obvious answer. Yes. Get the Sony and enjoy it. You probably won't need an M8.</p>

[richard_francisco]

I'd agree with alex here. They are 2 different cameras for entirely different purposes.

[erik_a]

<p>I agree I love Leica, however I don't really want my street camera to cost more than my car and (with the M8) have worse high ISO performance than a $500 camera. The crop factor 1.3 vs 1.5x is similar. The Sony sensor should be one of the best high ISO APS sensors on the market.</p>

[carbon_dragon]

<p>Can't tell from the articles but an LCD display only would be a dealkiller for me. Also, the M8 uses leica lenses at 1.33 crop factor, and here it would be 1.6 even supposing there was an adapter. The M8 is also unique as to the lack of IR filtering (allowing you to shoot IR pictures) and a lack of an anti-aliasing filter which supposedly gets you more detail per MP. So far, not that tempting for me, but I think it's a good trend and I'll be watching with interest.</p>

<p>However, I can't help thinking that someone attracted to the NEX is probably shooting a Olympus Pen EP rather than an M8.</p>

[ricardovaste]

<p>A FF sensor 'could' fit in the new mount, but whether you could get a lens to work effeciently in such a small space is another question (eg sides, corners, telecentricity)<br>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/4599219986_35d2704745_o.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="471" /><br>

Until we get a good electronic viewfinder and a body with more direct input (you have to change the aperture and shutter via the rear pad!) I don't think it will interest many people as anything more than P&S. However, I still think they will sell a lot of them, and these initial two are clearly aimed at beginners so I can't judge them too harshly. I was surprised by the metal casing on the 'cheap' kit lens, as well as the magnesium alloy body on the NEX-5.</p>