Review
I received the Sony Nex-5n about 4 weeks ago and in this Hands on Review I will cover everything you need to know about this powerhouse and more!!
The Sony Alpha NEX-5n camera is a very powerful camera packed with features that actually work as advertised! I love the articulating 3.0 LCD screen to review pics to frame-up your next shot with the camera really low to the ground or high above your head. Tons of shooting modes including Sweep Panorama in 2D and 3D, Auto HDR, Anti-Motion Blur mode for low light stuff, and more. Record Full HD 1920×1080 video in a variety of frame rates, from 60p for super smooth action all the to 24p for a more cinematic feel. The Nex-5n utilizes the AVCHD™ codec, the industry standard for high quality HD video capture, as well as the MP4 codec that’s easier to upload to the web due to its small file size. Get incredible detail and gorgeous enlargements thanks to 16.2MP resolution and Sony Exmor APS HD CMOS technology. The kit for this camera comes with the 18-55mm f/3.5-4.5 lens for $699 or you can grab the camera body only for $599. I also just received the Sony 55-210mm f/ a few days so the # of pictures is limited, but many more to come as well as a full hands on review of that lens 
High Res Nex-5n Pics:
Lets check get a closer look at the Sony Nex-5n with these High Res shots I took.
Be sure to Click the images for a nice large 1000px version!!
Sony Nex-5n w/ 18-55mm lens – Head On View
And the front of the 18-55mm Kit lens which not only looks sharp, but is actually a great lens! Be sure to check out my Full in Depth Hands On Review of the Sony E-Mount 18-55 f/3.5-4.5 Lens >>
Sony Nex-5n w/ 18-55mm lens – Head On View
Sony Nex-5n w/ 18-55mm lens – 3/4 View
Sony Nex-5n w/ 18-55mm lens – 3/4 View
Sony Nex-5n w/ 18-55mm lens – 3/4 View Glamour Shot
Sony Nex-5n w/ 18-55mm lens – Back
Loading ...
Another great review. I have a NEX5 at home (my wife’s). Incredible camera. Had I not gone through the DSLR route from P&S (canon) perhaps I would have got it for myself. Still do not like looking at the LCD and compose/focus.
Many are talking about using the A mount adaptor to use A mount lens on NEX5n or NEX7. They have to be aware that they will loose the Steady Shot that is in the E mount lens but on camera for A mount. Include this in your new review of NEX7 when you do it.
Hello, The Nex-5n and Nex-7 do not have the Steady Shot feature on the actually sensor. The feature that you can turn on and off in the camera is referring to the steady shot of the lens. So it turns the lens steady shot on and off. The Nex cameras usually have the Image stabilization built in to them because of this. The Alpha lenses do not as all the a-mounts have steady shot on the sensor.
So if you put an adapter on to convert it to A-mount you will not have steadyshot, because it’s not even there to begin with
Best,
Jay
nice review. i’m hoping to get the nex-5n soon and want to use it for HDR photography. apart from the built in HDR modes, which are a nice touch, how do you rate the HDR capabilities of the nex-5n? i’d be using photoshop and/or photomatrix and would like to do proper HDR with multiple exposures. the nex-5n aeb is limited to ±1 ev as far as i am aware and my understanding is that at least ±2 ev would be a requirement ofr decent HDR. can you advise please. thanks.
Thanks Kevin
The Nex-5n will make a fantastic HDR camera, but it does have a few things that make it a tad harder than say a Canon. The Bracketing options aren’t that good. only .5ev’s between the frames. This means you have to shoot using manual mode or exposure compensation. So as long as your subjects are fairly still the Nex-5n will work fantastic. If you need a really fast 3 shot bracketed sequence, your out of luck with this camera. That being said, it will work for a lot of HDR, but fast moving clouds and stuff will cause more ghosting issues due to the time between frames.
Image quality and dynamic range wise the Nex-5n is an excellent HDR Camera!!
I hope that helps, and have a great day!!
Thanks for your reply Jay. Have you produced any HDR images with the nex-5n? Shoot using exposure compensation? Could you explain this process a bit more please. I can’t help but think shooting HDRs in manual mode would take a bit too long in many cases and more importantly cause too much camera shake no matter how careful you are. Have you produced any HDR images with the nex-5n Jay? Thanks again.
Hey Kevin,
Yes, I did shoot a few HDR’s with the Nex-5n I believe, but I had to move them to my NAS because doing these reviews fills up my laptop HD super quick!!
In any event here is what you do and it’s extremely simple!
Step #1 – Tripod locked down so the camera cannot move at all!
Step #2 – AV mode or Manual doesn’t matter, but for this example set your camera to Aperture Priority Mode, f/8, ISO 100, RAW (file format for best quality)
Step #3 – Press the exp/comp button (located on the bottom of the wheel default) and it will bring up the adjustment screen. As you look at the exposure comp, basically what you need to do is take 3 photos. one at the -end of the exposure and the other at the + end of the exposure comp. Now you may not need to use the full spread, but it’s a great place to start.
This can be done relativity quickly once you get the hang of it, but again fast moving clouds and stuff can be problematic if your not fast enough. In those cases I would just use the AutoHDR feature and mask in the sky using Photoshop while using the foreground Real HDR composite.
Assuming this all makes sense, it’s really not that hard to do with a little practice.
Best,
Jay
thanks for your help jay.
Hey Kevin, I have the NEX-C3 (same sensor and most of the same features as 5N) and do a fair bit of HDR with it. I use a tripod, and the 3-shot bracket setting at +/-0.7. Then, without moving the camera/tripod, I adjust the aperture a bit to get a different range of light/colors in the shot, and take another 3-shot bracket. Then using Photomatix Pro I merge the six shots together. Like Jay said, you have to move fast between shots to avoid too much movement, but you get faster at it as you go along. Lots of fun. Good luck!
Thanks keith. Sounds good. I hope to have my nex-5n soon.
two quick questions, without using the attachable viewfinder is there any way to turn off the rear display when taking pictures, would save battery life durning a time lapse. Second question can the camera be set to use the electronic sensor instead of the mechanical shutter for ultra quiet shooting, that click can be very inappropriate at times?
thanks for any insights. jeff
Hey Jeff,
As far as I can tell, there is no way to turn off the rear display. It goes to sleep and you change that time, but that is about it.
For your second question, no it cannot. You can turn the beeps off, but the shutter still makes the noise. The Nikon J1 is supposedly silent though and the only silent mirrorless camera!! I read that on some forum though, so… I have not tested the Nikon J1 myself.
Best,
Jay
hi Jay, Thanks for the response
Just stumbled on your site and am very impressed. I just picked put the nex 5n yesterday and I am really enjoying using it. My issue is that I watched too many youtube videos discussing the clicking noise in video. I tried out the video (tripod & handheld) and could not denote clicking unless i shook the camera a lot. I have a canon hg20 and noticed when i rock it back and forth it too can make a clicking noise. So I have three questions:
1. If I shake the camera slightly left to right I can hear a small click. Not sure if it is a big deal but did you have that with your 5n? Trying to determine whether or not to return (although demand is high and tough to find) and I have not heard any noise while recording.
2. Settings your prefer while recording video (low light & normal light).
3. Recommendation for a second lens for video (16mm, 30mm or 50mm)
Thanks for your help & informative site.
Michael,
I never heard mine clicking, but you can hear the auto focus slightly depending on what lens and the Optical Steady Shot in the lenses makes a little noise as well. It’s very quite, but I can hear it in the videos and with my own ear at times clearly.
Video settings I usually use are the 1080 mp4 format with the fastest lens I have for use in low light. This way I can have the lowest ISO possible and still maintain 30 fps. Manual mode is also the way to go for this so your exposure doesn’t shift around on you. For family type stuff I use aperture priority mode, auto ISO, and then I play with the aperture and focus to get creative and allow the camera to maintain the exposure using the Auto ISO. Works pretty good!!
Which lens do you have now?? I personally like the 55-210mm for the Optical steadyshot and low cost/ good quality value. It also allows for excellent separation between subjects which is critical for serious videos. I would probably get the E-Mount 50mm f/1.5 first and then the 55-210mm. The the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8, then if you need wider than the the Kit lens which I assume you have, the 16mm is a good lens for the money.
I hope that helps
Jay
Comment By Alex:
“I recently got me a NEX-5N. My first interchangeable lens camera. It’s a great camera, and I’m really happy with it. Wort every penny. But I have problem.. I’m trying to take a night photo from my balcony. There is a road, a lamp post, and a forest behind. The problem is that the lamp post is about 50 meters away, and not very bright. So the camera can’t focus on it. Everything around is pitch black so I can’t make it focus on anything else. The result are out of focus/blurred images. The logical thing (I think) is to set the focus to infinity.. but the kit lens (18-55) doesn’t have a focus stop on the lens ring!!(?) Any idea how to set the focus to infinity manually? Thanks.
Alex”
This got lost in the website update, sorry Alex!!
As far as your question is concerned, this is very common with the Nex cameras. I recommend using a tri-pod and manual focus.
You can then use the magnify zoom button that pops up as the lower right soft key to make sure your get the focus perfect. Then use the self timer or remote to insure no camera shake.
I hope that helps!!
Best,
Jay
Thanks for the answer. Already using tripod and timer. The zoom magnification doesn’t help much since the only light (the lamp post) is only few pixels big on the lcd. Can’t see if it’s in the focus. But focusing on the moon, keeping the shutter half pressed, and then putting the camera on the right place did help
Alex
Sorry I didn’t hit “reply” but posted below instead.
The old focus and then re-compose technique
Nice job!!
Best,
Jay
Firmware Update Now Available!!
Firmware Update Now Available!! I just installed it on the Nex-5n and the Autofocus is much faster and more accurate!! Especially with the 70-200mm G Lens
Get it Click Here>>
Best,
Jay