Quite possibly a trip of a lifetime
Engine and Wing, Southwest Airlines
In a couple of days, I going to start, what may be, a trip of a lifetime. I’m going to travel internationally and in the US for the next two weeks. I’m very excited and a bit anxious. You see, it’s been a while since I did a real international trip and it’s the first time I’m going to a developing country (not including 4 hours in Mexico). For now, I’m not going to say where I’m going but I’m hoping to make a lot of great photographs. There should be a lot of architecture involved, along with street photography, photographic observations and possibly the occasional portrait. In other words, more of the same kind of things I typically shoot, except it will be different, because it will be from countries on the other side of the world. For me, it would certainly feel exotic. I’m not entirely sure how it’s going to turn out, which I guess is part of the fun.
In addition to the images, I’m also hoping that there will be interesting stories that I can blog about. I’ll also have a lot to say about the trip preparations that I’m doing. What cameras do I bring? How do I take a full range of gear without weighing myself down? Do I take the Canon 7D, the Olympus E-PL1s or the Sony NEX-5? Should I bring a tripod? I’ve thought a lot about this and I will see how my preparations turn out. There is almost an overwhelming amount of choices but a limited amount of practical space. Sure the photography will be fun, but I don’t want to be miserable touring around with a lot of gear. I also don’t want to stick out even more than the obvious tourist that I will be. So expect to see upcoming posts of how I decided what to bring and if my gear decisions worked out.
I’m not sure how good my internet access will be for part of the trip. I also don’t know how much free time I’ll have so I’m assuming I won’t be doing much blogging. If lucky, I may be able to post some images to mostlyfotos, my one image per day blog. I’ll preset mostlyfotos to post photographs from my library but I’ll also see if I can inject some images from my trip abroad. So check out mostlyfotos during my absence for some clues about my trip destinations. And see you in about 2 – 3 weeks for more updates to this blog.
Take care and keep shooting.
The Sony NEX-5 Auto HDR workaround
Driskill Statue – Austin, Texas (An example of the built in HDR mode)
The Sony NEX-5 and other NEX cameras has a neat built-in HDR mode that makes it easy to create decent looking HDRs. Unfortunately, the user interface around this feature had some issues and frustrated me quite a bit. The good news is I stumbled on a workaround that makes using this feature a whole lot easier for me, so I wanted to share this information with you.
First, a little background. For those of you who do not know. HDR is short for High Dynamic Range photography which combines 3 or more photos of the same scene at different exposure levels to produce an image that give more detail and color than a typical photograph. This popular technique is a bit of a pain to do manually, requiring you to not only get the right settings in camera but requires a lot of post processing knowledge to do well. The NEX’s HDR mode does all this for you, so it is a quick and easy way to make HDRs. Unfortunately, there were a few interface issues that made accessing this mode a pain in the neck for me. Consequently, I didn’t use it as much as I wanted to. I wrote about this frustration in my detailed Sony NEX-5 review. I shoot my NEX-5 in RAW to get the highest possible quality. The built-in HDR function only works in JPEG — you can not even access the HDR settings when you are in RAW mode. Previously, I had so switch from RAW to JPEG, then get into the HDR mode, shoot the picture in HDR, then switch back to RAW again for my regular shots. Later on, when I wanted to shoot another HDR, I had to go through the same cumbersome process. After a while, I just didn’t bother.
So here is the work around. First start in JPEG mode. Click the menu button. Select “Image Size” from the menu. Scroll down to “Quality”. This is where you can set RAW or JPEG. I set my JPEG to Fine, which is the highest quality for JPEGs. Then I set the HDR mode. Hit the menu button again and this time select “Bightness/Color”. Under this submenu, select “DRO/Auto HDR”, and then select HDR. You can also adjust the level of HDR in this mode, which took me a while to find, the first time. Click the “options” button to the left and below the scroll wheel. This will allow you to choose from Auto-HDR to 6EV HDR modes by turning the scroll wheel. Choose the level of HDR you like. You can experiment with the level you personally like. I keep mine usually on Auto-HDR. Now, if you choose to shoot in JPEG all the time, then you are all set. Life is easier to do HDRs since you don’t have to switch back and forth between JPEG and RAW. I like to shoot in RAW, so I switch back to RAW through the “Image Size” menu. Here is the key part of the work around. When you are in RAW and what to take an HDR, just switch to JPEG. The camera remembers that you have set the HDR mode in JPEG. When you are finished, switch back to RAW.
The following “bug” has tripped me up, which probably added to the frustration.. When you are in RAW and you happen get into the “DRO/Auto HDR” menu, if you change the scroll wheel dial at all, even if you hit the cancel button, this takes the camera out of HDR mode in JPEG. If this happens you have to repeat all the steps above to get your camera back into HDR mode. So, as long as you don’t touch the scroll wheel, you are OK and can switch back and forth between JPEG HDR mode and normal RAW mode. I originally programmed my custom button as a short cut to the DRO/Auto HDR feature. This makes it easy to access HDR but also makes it easy to change the setting accidentally which unknowingly took me out of HDR mode. I’ve removed the HDR option off my custom button to prevent accidental changes. I wish I can program this custom button switch between RAW and JPEG but this is not available on the NEX-5.
I played around with a NEX-5n and a NEX-C3 and noticed that they act differently. Unfortunately, while there are a lot of improvements in the 5n, the switching behavior between the JPEG HDR mode and RAW is worse. Unlike the NEX-5, on the 5n, even when you set the HDR mode in JPEG, the act of switching to RAW will make use lose the HDR mode. All is not lost, however. The option button is more flexible in this newer model so that you can program on the buttons to quickly switch between JPEG and RAW. The net effect is that the behavior is different but the user interface pain level is about the same. The NEX-C3 seems to have a similar behavior as my NEX-5, though the options button is not nearly as flexible as its bigger brother.
I hope I explained this well enough so that you can follow along. The Sony menu interface is sill far from ideal but this workaround makes it better. I didn’t get a chance to test all the NEX models so please tell me what your experience is, especially if you have a NEX-7.
Here is a sample of my work using the Sony NEX-5. I’ve posted them on my one-photo-per-day photo blog, mostlyfotos. There are a lot of images so click the << Previous Photo link to see more. You can also hover over the photos to see the exposure information.
Three Christmas Trees for the Holiday Season
Christmas Tree, Hotel del Coronado – Coronado, California
Christmas Tree, LAX American Airlines Terminal – Los Angeles, California
2011 Christmas Tree, Driskill Hotel – Austin, Texas
I wanted to celebrate the holiday season with not one but 3 beautiful Christmas trees. Two of the photos I took a year ago and was waiting for the perfect time to talk about them. The other one has become a tradition. While the fans of mostlyfotos have seen these images over the last few days, I thought this mini-series of Christmas trees will make for an interesting, longer post. Each photo has a back story and a set of decisions about why I used a particular technique or piece of equipment. While the photographs are linked by a common theme, their origins and motivations can be entirely different.
The first one is my favorite. I photographed it a year ago in Coronado, California at the Hotel del Coronado during a winter, family vacation to Southern California. This year, as I sit peacefully at home, with no traveling required, I get to reminisce about the story behind the photograph. As my family settled down in the hotel room in San Diego, I took the short trip over the bridge to Coronado, an upscale community on the other side of San Diego Bay. While most of my photography during this trip was to capture the family moments at Disneyland and other tourist attractions, I also brought my larger, more serious gear for some personal photography. So with my Canon 7D and tripod in tow, I found my way to the large, grand Victorian Hotel hoping to capture some holiday decorations. Mission accomplished! I shot several angles with multiple exposures, so that I could later post-process them using some HDR (High Dynamic Range) goodness. Fast forward to a couple of days ago, and after doing some HDR processing, I decided to go with a single exposure. My HDR processing has always been fairly light and I didn’t see much benefit of HDR in this image. I actually preferred using the middle exposure of my 3 exposure bracket. I like this image the most because of the environment that surrounds the tree. All of the trees in this post are beautiful but this one has the advantage of having some old world, richly ornate wood that surrounds the centerpiece. I love the glow of the lights reflecting off the wood work and the bit of shadows that add mystery to the scene. I think typical HDRs would over-brighten the scene, losing the shadows. The mystery and romance of the image would be lost. When I post-process the image to maintain the shadows, the resulting HDR didn’t look very different from a straight, single exposure. More and more, as I continue my journey in photography, I realize the power of shadows.
Image two was taken at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in the American Airlines wing. I took it on the way back from the same family vacation I talked about previously. I had some time to kill before our flight back to Austin, nothing better than some photography, right? Unlike the relatively quiet, dark and old-world feel of the first image, this one feels modern, commercial and busy. I feel hesitant to break open a tripod in a busy place like an airport but I did my best to stay away from the main isles of traffic. Architecture again plays a major role in this tree image. This time I wanted a symmetrical composition between the archways. I placed the tripod low to the ground to capture the reflection off the floor and show the circular skylight above. I also purposely positioned the camera so the black floor pattern would be in the center of the frame and direct the eye to the tree. I used my Canon 7D and with the same super-wide Sigma 10-20mm lens that I used for my Coronado shot. In fact, this Sigma now stays on the camera most of the time. It is my go to lens for wide-angle interior and urban landscapes. I would have preferred to have fewer people in the frame, but this just was not possible. After shooting several long exposures, this one seemed the best. Unlike the first image, I did not plan a HDR for my LAX Christmas tree, just a long exposure to blur out the traffic.
The last image has become sort of a tradition over the last several years. This is the third year in the row that I shot the Christmas Tree at the Driskill Hotel. The Driskill is the grand old hotel in Austin. Because of the positioning of the pillars, I inevitably shoot the tree from the same position every year. You can see the previous two photos in the post I did last year called The Driskill Christmas Tree, One Year Apart. The tree of course looks different from year to year. One year it seems to be skinny. The next year it seems to put on more weight. This year seems to be a bit slender than last year’s. The image processing and composition also changes somewhat from year to year. I used my Sony NEX-5 again, the same as last year, with my 16mm f2.8. It was shot with a small tripod, very close to the floor, in an attempt to capture the sparkling floor reflections. This year’s image is a bit brighter and since I didn’t use HDR I lost a bit of detail from the stained glass. The white balance was tweaked to be a bit less orange than the 2010 version but still retain the warmth. The Driskill is a magnificent hotel but the darkness and shadows of the Coronado hotel lobby really brings out the tree for me. I would certainly love to take yearly photographs at the Hotel del Coronado but alas I think time and budge will make this more challenging. The quick trip to downtown Austin is certainly more accessible and I maybe taking a visit to the Driskill again next year.
Thank you to the readers of this blog for your visit. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and happy and safe holiday season.
The Sony NEX-5n Review: The Improvements
NYC Subway, 81st Street Station – New York, New York
I talked a bit about the Sony NEX-5n in my Sony NEX-5 review that I posted last week. In this post, I wanted to dive deeper into the improvements of the new model. I played with the NEX-5n at Precision Camera here in Austin and got a good feel for the changes Sony added ti this year’s NEX. There are some key, very useful improvements that I’m excited about — enough so that I’m thinking about upgrading to the new camera. Unfortunately, a trade-in will not be worth my while so even if I purchase the NEX-5n I’ll just keep the older NEX. The NEX-5 is still a fantastic camera and having it around will be useful. My wife and son also like the camera so I know it will get enough use.
Overall, the feel of the NEX-5n remains the same — which is a good thing. In addition to the new improvements, Sony has added a few subtle changes to the feel of the camera. Before getting into the detail, you may want to read my comprehensive review on the NEX-5. That will give you a good basis of comparison when I talk about the changes. Let’s start with the physical feel of the camera. The solid magnesium alloy body of the pervious model remains but with a slightly different shape. In actual usage I really didn’t notice a difference. The scroll wheel is the same size but had a different more precise feel. The shutter button is more responsive and the sound of the shutter is sharper but quieter. I aways thought the shutter sound of the NEX-5 was too loud and the NEX-5n’s sound is certainly more pleasant. It is not quiet by any means but the sound is, ahem, noticeably less noticeable. The focus speed has also been improved. Not quite the speed of the new Olympus EP3 but pleasantly faster. On separate note, I was just blown away by how fast the new Olympus cameras focused. It focused so fast that I thought it wasn’t working properly — it was that fast, nearly instantaneous. Olympus has really upped their game and has further closed that gap with DSLRs. The Sony is no slouch either. It is certainly fast enough for most any photographic purpose. I’m not quite sure I’ll be shooting fast action sports but everything else should be fine.
A Touch Screen
The NEX-5n now sports a touch screen. This is something that I hoped for and mentioned in my NEX-5 review. You can use the touch screen to navigate the interface and more importantly it can be used select and track focus. This focus feature is really key and particularly important for video, which I will talk about later. The touch screen is not quite Apple iPhone quality. It works fine but the response lags and scrolling through the interface is not a precise affair. However, it is usable and it can be useful as an alternate way to scroll through menus. The interface on screen looks about the same as the previous model. The top level is an icon view that works well with touch but the sub-menus work better with the scroll wheel. In that sense, the Sony interface is a bit of a hodge-podge and is not truly optimized for the scoll wheel or touch in my opinion. Touch has been added on but the interface has not been altered or improved.
Chandelier, Grand Central Station – New York, New York
You can also use the touch screen to focus on part of the frame. This, I believe, is the more significant use for the new touch feature. I can also double-tap on object on-screen and the Sony now tracks the selected item. This potentially can improve focus tracking and allow more keepers during faster action. I have not tested this feature in real world conditions so I can not comment on how well it works.
Video
My biggest disappointment with the NEX-5 has been the video. The quality is great but the lack of manual controls and the sometimes poor focusing really limited my enjoyment and use of this feature. I’m thrilled to report that the NEX-5n has tremendously improved in this area. It now allows for full manual controls of the shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Perfect. Now, I can drop my shutter speed down and lower my ISO to improve video quality and smoothness. Sony has also added 1080p video – progressive scan video at full HDR quality at 60 frames per second, instead of the previous interlaced video. There is also 24p video for that more cinematic feel. I’m not really a video person, at least not yet. But now with these options, I have everything I need to use a NEX-5 as a combined still photograph and video taking device. The quest for a single device to do both functions may finally be a reality, at least at the amateur level.
My other frustration with the Sony NEX-5 video is the focusing. At times, when I have my subject in frame, the focus will be “tricked” into locking on to the background instead of my foreground subject. The NEX-5n improves this situation tremendously with the touch screen double-tap to focus and follow feature. Once locked on my subject, I can move the subject to the extreme edges of the screen and the focus will still remain locked on the subject. This is fantastic. It seems to address all the problems I had with the previous model. Like I mentioned earlier, I haven’t been able to use the NEX-5n is real world conditions (only in the store) but things look very promising so far. I did notice that if I double tapped to focus-follow on the subject and then start the video, the subject may lose focus after a bit. However, when I start the video recording first and then do the double-tap focus-follow, then the focus tracking seemed to work more consistently. I’m not sure if this was just dumb luck or a real behavior. I will need more testing to find out its true performance.
The improvements in the video feature, by itself, has gotten my excited about getting this new camera. As I mentioned in my NEX-5 review, the video implementation was disappointing and I did not use it. My in-store tests seem promising enough that I’m dreaming of getting the new NEX-5n and doing a whole lot more video. As the family camera, I might be able to chuck the camcorder and use the NEX full-time. For the artistic videos, I’m thinking of adding those old manual focus, large aperture lenses with an adapter so that I can do those cool cinematic feeling videos.
Image Quality
The NEX-5n also appears to have greatly improved its image quality. Not only has it increased its resolution from 14.2MP to 16.1MP, but the high ISO image quality looks really impressive. I based these comments, not on my testing but on results published on-line from imaging resource. The JPEG photos at ISO 3200 and ISO 6400 look really impressive. Much better than the NEX-5 and it also seems to be better than the Canon 7D, which is what I own and use to get my best quality high ISO images. If the imaging resource photos are to believed, the new NEX also gives the highly regarded Fujifilm X100 a run for its money. All the more impressive given that the Sony is now 16.1MP vs the Fuji’s 12MP. Usually when the megapixels go up, the high ISO image quality goes down. Sony looks like they really improved their JPEG processing. The colors are livelier, the details are sharper without less smearing and the noise is decreased. I’m not sure if this image quality increase is the result of better JPEG processing or if the sensor performance has also been improved. I’m sure future on-line tests results with RAW output will answer this question soon enough.
Tunnel, Grand Central Station – New York, New York
High ISO performance is really important to me since I seem to take much of my photos indoors or in dark areas. The much improved high ISO performance is the second reason the NEX-5n is tugging at my wallet. Sony also announced the pro-sumer NEX 7D at the same time. At 24MP, I’m really wary if this more expensive NEX can match the 5n for high ISO quality. Time will tell but I have my doubts. Unless Sony has created the ultimate sensor or some magic computer algorithm, I leaning towards the 5n rather than the 7. 16.1MP is good enough for me without making the jump to 24mp.
Miscellaneous
I quickly tested two user interface items I specifically did not like on the NEX-5. I mentioned these in my NEX-5 review. They are the switching out of RAW to use the HDR mode and playback of photos and videos. Unfortunately, these interface annoyances have not been fixed and in one case, it is actually worse.
First, I find it annoying that I need to get out of RAW mode just to use the HDR feature. While the NEX-5n now warns the user that you have to be in JPEG to use the HDR feature, it did not go far enough to fix the interface. It works the same as the previous model. You have to navigate through the annoying menu structure to switch to JPEG mode when you want to use the HDR feature.
Second, when viewing your photos and videos in the playback mode, the NEX-5 has two buckets that you have to look at separately. You either view your photos in the still photo payback mode or you can look at the videos in the video playback mode. Most cameras I know allow you to see both photos and videos together but not the NEX. Well, in the NEX-5n, there are now 3 buckets. This is crazy and stupid. There is now a photos mode, a AVCHD video mode and MPEG video mode. This is a step in the wrong direction. Why can’t I view all my media in one playback function. Why would I care if I took the video in MPEG or AVCHD? This should just be an attribute that is displayed on screen when you preview the video. Maybe in the next NEX version, they will have 4 modes? They can also separate out photos taken in JPEG vs RAW. Sony seriously needs some interface help in this area.
Conclusion
Other than the media playback mode issue, there are several, very tangible improvements with the NEX-5n. That little “n” at the end of the name packs a lot of improvements. Very unexpected and I’m thrilled. So much so that I’m seriously considering getting this camera upgrade. I’m not usually one that jumps at every technology upgrade. I wait a good deal between model changes so that I get a whole lot of improvements between my purchases. Maybe it is because the mirrorless camera market is so hot and rapidly improving, but the usual calculus of waiting for a few model changes before upgrading may be turned on its head. The improvements by the other mirrorless manufacturers are also significant. The DSLR market but comparison seems glacial. One could argue that the DSLR feature set is already mature and there isn’t much to improve. But the mirrorless (I prefer the term EVIL, Electronic Viewfinder, Interchangeable Lens) market is rapidly improving and I predict will eclipse the DSLR market in the near future. That, is a topic for another blog post. If I do end up buying the NEX-5n I will certainly do a followup post. In the mean time, I have several perfectly good cameras that I’ll use to keep on plugging away at my photography.
NOTE: I took the images on this post with the NEX-5 since I do not own the 5n. Please click on the photos to see a larger version. Also if you like to see more of my photographs taken with the NEX-5, please click here.
Asleep on the Subway – New York, New York
The Sony NEX-5 Review and the new NEX-5n
Paramount Theater Color – Austin, Texas
NOTE: Please read my post The Sony NEX-5n Review: The Improvements for a details on the NEX-5n improvements over the NEX-5. I also recommend reading this review even if you are interested in the NEX-5n since my 5n review builds on this post.
I’ve bought my Sony NEX-5 in November of last year and have used it quite a bit ever since. And while I’ve posted many blog entires about my camera, I never ended up doing a formal review. So here it is, maybe a bit late however it is a detailed user view of the camera after many months of real usage and nearly 8,500 photographs. It focuses on the usability of the camera as a photographic tool rather than giving specs and test results. I also talk about the new NEX-5n that has begun to ship and how this new camera differs from the old. You may find it interesting to read my impression of the camera when I first got it. I talk about the NEX-5′s High ISO Performance, using it for street photography and even about using the camera to record a Disney’s Aladdin Show. In some ways, I was more excited about the camera when I first got it. I’ve made some great images and overall I’ve been happy with its performance. However, as I’ve used the camera, I found out that all is not perfect with the Sony. I will go into what I like and dislike about the camera below. I’ll also talk about some of the changes to the Sony NEX-5n that may address some of my issues.
Before I talk about what I don’t like about the camera, I want to make it clear that I still like this camera very much. I’ve taken many photographs that I like including one of favorites at the top of the page. All of the photographs on this post were shot with the Sony (except the one that shows the Sony’s LCD). Please make sure to click on each image to see a larger version. The image quality is great, the camera is well-built and compact and is responsive enough for general purpose use. I know of at least 3 people who have purchased this camera based on my recommendation. One of my main reasons for getting this camera was to have a small, high quality camera that I can bring almost everywhere. While I really like my Canon 7D, it’s kind of big to bring to a family outing at a restaurant or to carry around all day on those family vacations. I was going to Disneyland at the end of December last year and I did not want to carry my 7D all day through the park. Ultimately the camera passed the Disneyland test. I walked for days through packed theme parks without getting tired. As a contrast after a half day at the San Diego Zoo with my Canon 7D and I started feeling it in my back (to be honest, I did have my 70-200 F4 IS lens attached, which is my heaviest lens). With the Sony, I had one small device that takes great photographs and video.
Make sure to click on a photograph to see a larger image
Image Quality
So what’s not to like? Before I talk about the user interface and the usability of the camera, I wanted to start with image quality. Yes, the Sony NEX takes great looking photos and has really outstanding high ISO capability. However, when compared to my Canon 7D, the photographs are not quite as good. The image quality is certainly close and for some who may be less picky than I, they may not notice. For me, I see a great image with the Sony, but I didn’t see the same level of sharpness and detail as I get on my large Canon. In theory, the NEX-5 should be capable of the same level of quality. The sensor size is basically the same as the 7D, actually the Sony sensor is a tad larger. Maybe it is the in camera processing (both JPEG and RAW) or the optics but the results are not the same. I think the biggest thing that bugged me though was not the level of detail but the exposure and color. I find the Sony has a tendency to under expose and the color tends to be cooler than I’m used to. The Canon’s auto white balance tends towards an orange cast but the Sony has more of a blue-green look. The cooler pallet can work great depending the subject. When I first used the Sony to do street shooting or artistic images, the bluish-green and the darker exposure created a neat, moody and artistic feel. However, for my family snaps, I like a different look, one that is bright and warmer in color. So while the Sony’s color and exposure works great for my photowalks, it is less ideal for my family vacation photos. Yes, I usually shoot in RAW so I can change the color temperature however, it is a fair amount of work to change each photograph. And sometimes, despite my best effort, I just can’t seem to adjust the colors to exactly the way I like them.
Red Fez Exterior – Austin, Texas
Father and Son, Petersen Automotive Museum – Los Angeles, California
I got a few really wonky images with the NEX when using fill flash, during the day. When my subject is backlit, I like to brighten their faces with fill flash. On several occasions I got a very yellow, over exposed image. Luckily, I took the photograph in RAW so I was able to fix the photograph in post processing. These were the only times I truly got bad images. The flash, however, seems to work great in darker areas — people came out nicely exposed. During the summer, my wife used my NEX for several days during a 3 day trip to Taiwan with her friends. I told her to keep the camera in Intelligent Auto (the Green mode) and the camera performed fantastically. While I usually shoot in the Aperture priority mode, the Intelligent Auto did so well that I’m tempted to keep the camera in this green dummy photographer mode for my snapshots. Whatever the camera is doing, the Intelligent Auto is in fact quite intelligent. You never know, if I keep the camera in Intelligent Auto, maybe my fill flash would have worked better. My wife took about 130 images and almost all of them came out wonderfully. The great thing was that I can set RAW mode even in Intelligent Auto so with some post processing, I was able to color correct and make the exposure brighter. The Sony’s Taiwan performance really impressed me about the camera and gave me a renewed respect for its ability. On my Disney trip, out of the thousands of photographs that I took, maybe about 1% didn’t turn out the way I expected. While these imaging failures tend to stand out, I guess I really can’t complain.
In a review at Steve Huff Photo, Steve mentions that the color on the NEX5n is significantly better. He did not elaborate on what he meant by better color but maybe, hopefully, the color is more vibrant and less green. I’ve also looked at some other test shots and the high ISO performance of the 5n seems to be better than the original 5 and with sharper details. While I haven’t been able to test this myself, maybe the 5n has corrected some of my image quality gripes with my NEX-5.
Video
I had some high hopes of the video capability on the NEX. I, like many others, am looking for the holy grail of still and video camera fusion. One device that takes excellent photographs while capturing great cinematic video. The Sony NEX-5, unlike my Canon 7D, has autofocusing video. Something that I considered a must for a family vacation movie camera. If I were making a Indy film where I can control and pull focus, the manual focusing video on my Canon 7D would be fine. However, children tend to be more difficult to direct than a professional actor, especially when they are very excited at a theme park. The Sony’s video did not live up to my expectations for a couple of reasons. First, the autofocus tends to lock on to the most contrasty object in the frame. So when I was filming my son, who took up about half the frame, the camera would, at times, focus on the action behind my son. The focus area, in video mode, is so large that I could not pre-focus and recompose like I can do in still photography. It would be great if I can set a smaller focus area in video mode but the NEX-5 does not allow for this. The Sony did work great for action that takes place further away. I was able to shoot great looking video of Disney’s Main Street Parades, for example, as well as scenes from the Aladdin stage performance.
Aladdin Movie Sample
The second thing that was frustrating was not being able to set the shutter speed or ISO in movie mode. While Sony added the ability to control aperture in a subsequent firmware update, the other two key parameters were set automatically. When I used a regular camcorder, I never worried about setting the aperture or shutter speed, things just seem to work decently. With the Sony, I noticed that at times I got a strange stuttery video. It seemed like the camera was picking the wrong shutter speed, probably too fast. So the action looked choppy instead of smooth. When I film my son’s concert in a dark room, I’d like to drop my shutter speed down to 1/60 second and decrease the ISO to increase the video quality, however, since the Sony lacks the manual controls, this is not possible. This lack of control is frustrating since, I’m sure, Sony can easily added it to the camera via a firmware update. It just seems like they didn’t want to have their NEX-5 compete with their higher end video camera line. The good news with the NEX-5n, from what I read, is that it has a lot more manual video controls.
Design and Build Quality
I really like the design and build quality of the Sony NEX-5. With the solid magnesium alloy body, the camera has enough heft to feel solid and give a high quality impression but still light enough to be carried around all day. The lenses are made of metal which also give a higher quality feel than most cameras, even the more expensive SLRs. The zoom lens is smooth, especially for a kit lens. About the only slightly cheap feeling plastic part was the small cover that conceals that accessory port where you can attach a flash or microphone. The lens of the NEX looks fairly large since the camera uses a APS-C sensor. Generally the larger the sensor the larger the lens. The big lens on a small body does make the NEX look unique. While the camera does not draw as much attention as an SLR, people do notice that it is not a regular point and shoot. I really like the tilt up LCD on the camera. I find it to be a very useful feature for creative compositions and I’ve mentioned my like for this tilt-up LCD on previous posts. One gripe about the LCD, however is that the coating on the anti-glare screen is starting to rub off along the edges of the LCD. This unfortunately diminishes the solid and beautiful look of the camera (see the photo below). The NEX does not have a built-in flash but comes with a small external flash that attaches to the accessory port. Since this is a proprietary connection and there is no hot shoe, you can not attach standard strobes or radio triggers. This is not a big deal for me but it does limit functionality for some. Having the small external flash also doesn’t bother me. I usually don’t have it attached when I’m on photowalks but I keep it on when I’m in family snapshooting mode.
Sony NEX-5 LCD Anti-Glare Cover Damage
The new 5n looks very similar to my 5 so they left the basic design alone. The accessory port does use the same small external flash but also supports a new EVF (electronic view finder). This EVF will not work on the older NEX models but only the new version that have extra pins on the accessory port that support this feature. Some people love EVFs and they are particularly effective during the bright midday sun, when LCDs become washed out. EVFs also allow for tighter and more accurate framing. So an EVF is important to you, definitely consider the 5n model.
Speed and Responsiveness
Shooting everyday events with the NEX-5 is more than fast enough. I have not been frustrated with a lack of responsiveness taking photographs of the family and even street photography in less than optimal light. It does not compare with an DSLR for speed so sports is not its forte. That said, if you prefocus on a spot, the 7 frame per second burst speed can capture unexpectedly good results. I once captured my son doing a flying kick in Karate class. I prefocused on the target and the burst mode was able capture a couple of sharp frames with the framing I desired. The new generation of mirror-less cameras are even faster. The NEX-5n and even the new Olympus EP3 and E-PL3 have speeds that are now rivaling lower end DSLRs
For all its speed in shooting, the Sony NEX seems a bit sluggish in the playback and user interface. I push the play button and it takes what seems like a second for the photograph to appear on-screen. It’s probably sub-second response in reality but it feels slow. It is not an instantaneous response I have come to expect for my Canon 7D, for example. Previewing the shots that I have taken works fine but the whole pace is a bit leisurely. Clicking the menu button also has a bit of a lag. In the end, the lack of snap is not a deal breaker and it is not really frustrating — I’m more puzzled by its lack of speed. It almost seems like Sony put all its effort in focusing, shutter response and image processing and there was no reserve processor power left for the support functions of the camera.
User Interface
The LCD quality is fantastic. It has the new 920k, high-resolution display so photographs as well as any menu text appear sharp. It has a three-inch screen but it has a wide 16:9 aspect ratio so the 3×2 photos don’t take up the entire screen – there are black bars on the left and right edges. I find that the text used in status display is a bit small and cluttered. The information is there but there is a lot data I need to hunt through to look at the ISO setting. A quick quiz, what are the 3 most important settings that affect exposure? I think it is aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Yet on the most basic Sony LCD display, I don’t see these 3 key values. Sony chose shutter speed, aperture and exposure compensation. There is, conveniently, a large open area on the bottom right of the LCD to display aperture but I guess none of Sony’s photographers thought ISO was important enough. The ISO display is relegated to a more detailed display that looks too cluttered for me. I am happy to report that in the NEX-5n, Sony has added ISO to the main, simplified display. The main menu and its graphics are attractive with professional looking icons and nicely rendered fonts. In actual use, however, I find that interface cumbersome. There is a fair bit of spinning the scroll wheel and hitting a button which makes it a bit tedious to navigate the options. The initial menu display with its nice icons really cries out for a touch screen. In fact, the interface looks similar to my Sony TX-5 point and shoot which does have a touch screen. With a touch screen I can directly select the icon without spinning the scroll wheel. Luckily the NEX5n now has a touch screen which should make the user interface more enjoyable.
Congress Avenue Light Streaks – Austin, Texas
Navigating the sub-menus is also tedious. When I am in the “Image Size” sub-menu, there is no quick way to jump to another sub-menu. I need to click the Back button again and scroll to another icon and click a button to get into another sub-menu. It is slow and gets old pretty quickly. For the most part, I don’t have to travel through the sub-menus too frequently. A firmware update allowed programmable quick access buttons to bypass much of the cumbersome menu structure. The programmable buttons and other interface tweaks made the Sony tolerable but all is not perfect. There are inexplicably bad interface remnants that jump out and frustrate. I programmed the “DRO/Auto HDR” option to one of my quick access buttons so that I can quickly enable the HDR mode. However, when I have the image quality set to RAW, the HDR option is disabled. The little helper screen says the function has been disabled but does not say anything about why it’s disabled (I didn’t disable it, the camera did). No mention of the fact that HDR mode only works in JPEG. If there is a limitation of the HDR mode only working in JPEG, why not auto-switch to JPEG from RAW when I select HDR mode? Then when I get out of HDR mode, the camera should go back to RAW automatically. Makes sense right? Instead, to enable HDR, I need to first hit the menu button. Scroll to the Image Size Icon. Click a button to enter this sub-menu. Then scroll down to Still Quality, click the button to select one of the JPEG settings such as FINE. I then use a work around to get out of this mode by half-pressing the shutter button. Finally, I can select the HDR mode from my pre-programmed custom button. I then have to reverse these steps to get out of HDR mode and set my camera back to RAW quality again. This is completely silly and basically makes me under use the HDR function since it such a pain in the neck to switch back and forth. I wonder if the Sony actually gets photographers to use their products before releasing them. Here is another silly interface “feature”. If I’m in a sub-menu and get out of the menu system, the next time I click the menu button, it takes me back the the top menu with all the icons. It does not remember where in the sub-menu I was previously.
Here is a big, potentially disastrous interface issue. If you are taking a photograph and want to review them, you hit the play button. No problem, this makes sense. Then let assume you take a video. To see the video, you can again hit the play button, still makes sense. However, when you are reviewing the video, you can not see any still photographs that you took. The playback is in “video mode” so that you can not view your stills. When playback is in “Still photo mode”, you can not see any videos. I once got a frantic call from my son because he thought that somehow he accidentally erased all the still photos. No the only mistake he made was he too a video and didn’t realize that play back was in video mode only. What kind of crazy interface is this? So here is the really bad part. I always review my SD card contents on the camera before erasing the card. It is, of course, always good check to make sure I’ve download the photos (and videos) to my computer, (and making extra backups) before easing the photographs. Now what if I took a bunch of videos, got into “Still playback mode” when I shot a single photo. When I review the images before reformatting the card, I’ll see only one photo come up on my display. if I didn’t remember to switch to “video mode” I might end up erasing all the videos that I have not downloaded. A situation like almost occurred and I just happened to remember to check the “video mode” before erasing the card. If I didn’t, I would have lost some great footage. By the way, there is a way to switch between the playback modes that some Sony NEX reviews have not mentioned. When in one of the play back modes, click down on the scroll wheel. This will display a menu on the left side where you can switch between still and video modes.
Chuy’s Ceiling Detail – Austin, Texas
The physical controls, for the most part, work well on the camera. The NEX has a minimal number of buttons but they can be re-programmed to make the camera more usable and flexible. The grip and button placement works well for my medium size hands. While I can “one hand” many of the controls, the camera seems to work best with two hands. The right hand for hitting buttons and the left hand to support and stabilize the camera and for operating the zoom ring. I find the scroll wheel to be a bit small and works well in general but gets to be tedious when scrolling though long list of menu options. The scroll wheel can also be clicked at the top, bottom, left and right to access more options. Sometimes, when I’m in a hurry, I feel like the relatively small scroll wheel is trying to do too much. I accidentally click down when scrolling and end up in an unintended location. While I’m sure some people would like to have more direct access buttons. I think Sony has crafted a simple physical layout that gets the job done.
Miscellaneous
Battery life is a bit short but understandable given that I’m using a high-resolution LCD for all my shooting and playback. It’s rated at about 330 shots which sounds about what I’m getting. However, add some video snippets, and the battery meter goes does quickly. During my all day Disneyland outings I found that I still rationed my power with two fully charged batteries. I realized that I really need 3 batteries to feel completely comfortable with my power situation — where I can shoot stills and video clips without worrying about running out of battery power. The NEX-5 battery charger is the type that plugs directly into the wall, my favorite. It’s just like the Canon power chargers that I like but a bit smaller. I really dislike chargers that require a separate cable. The two piece chargers take up so much extra room when traveling and it’s one more cord that potentially can be misplaced.
One of may favorite trick features in my Sony waterproof point and shoot, the TX-5, is iSweep Panorama. It creates a panorama automatically by sweeping the camera from left to right. It works amazingly well on the Sony point and shoot. I was expecting some great things with the sweep panorama built into the NEX-5. With the higher quality sensor the quality of the panoramas are greatly improved over the point and shoot. However, disappointingly, the panorama feature is not quite as intelligent as in the point and shoot model. Amazingly in the TX-5 point and shoot, the panorama would automatically eliminate ghosting and multiple exposures of a person that may walk through the frame. The NEX does not do this. If a person walks though your panorama, you end up with multiple copies of that person. Because of this, basically, you can not make good panoramas of scenes that contain movement.
The shutter noise of the NEX is surprisingly loud. More than one person have noticed this. When used with the Sweep Panorama, it makes such a racket that it is bound to attract attention unless you are outside in loud place. The NEX5n apparently has a quieter or less annoying shutter sound so this is yet another annoyance that has been addressed in the new model.
Driskill Statue – Austin, Texas (Using the built in HDR mode)
Despite my pet peeve of getting into the built-in HDR mode, the auto-HDR performance is quite good. The Exposure value between the 3 HDR photographs can be set between 1EV and 6EV or set to automatic. Images come out life-like for the most part, which is the way I like my HDRs. I do some minor post processing on the HDRs such as increasing contrast but I don’t have to mess with the images to any great extent. The image above of the Driskill Statue is an example of the NEX-5′s built-in HDR mode with a minor bit of post-processing. I like how it captured that details of the stained glass while still getting good exposure on the dark statue.
The Sony supports the 3×2 and 16×9 aspect ratio on-screen. I wish Sony also supported onscreen 4×3 and square formats as well. I’m assuming it would be a relatively easy addition and it would add a nice creative element with the framing. Also on my wish list is auto-bracketting that supports at least 2 stops. This will allow me to take brackets for manually processing my HDRs. While the built-in HDR mode is fine, I still like the creative control I get when I manually post-process my HDR images.
My Likes
1. Small and portable – One of the smallest interchangeable lens cameras.
2. Great image quality – A large APS-C sensor produced great looking photos.
3. Quality Construction – The magnesium alloy body and metal lens imparts a quality feel.
4. Flip Up LCD – Allows for creative shooting angles, up low and up high.
5. Very Fast Burst Speed – 7 frames per second burst speed for capturing action.
6. Reasonably Fast Focusing – Focusing fast enough for general purpose photography.
7. Autofocusing Video – Video can work well and autofocus in most situations.
8. Built in HDR – A decent and easy to use auto-HDR mode.
9. Sweep Panorama – Great looking panoramas for scenes without movement.
10. Modern Styling – Breaks the mold from typical cameras, has a modern design.
11. Compatible with Old Lenses – Many third-party adapters allow compatibility with old manual focus lenses.
12. Intelligent Auto – The Auto “green mode” is surprisingly smart and makes great pictures.
My Dislikes
1. Cool Colors – The slightly bluish-green cast not my favorite for family snapshots.
2. No Manual Video Controls – Only the aperture can be adjusted in video mode.
3. Iffy Video Focusing – Focus may lock on background instead of holding focus on the subject.
4. Cumbersome user interface – Menu organization and user interface not well thought out.
5. Loud Shutter Noise – Unexpectedly loud shutter sound can be distracting in quiet locations.
6. Proprietary Hot shoe – Can not attach a standard flash or remote wireless trigger.
7. Limited Lens Selection – 3 lenses officially available though 3 more have been announced.
Conclusion
There is much to like in the Sony NEX-5 and it has been a very enjoyable camera to use. The small size allows me to bring it to places that I normally will not take my Canon 7D. In addition, even when I take my 7D, I frequently bring my Sony as a small secondary camera. Increasingly I’m finding that I use the Canon 7D for more specialized purposes instead of general purpose photography. I seem to either have my 70-200mm lens for portraits or my 10-20mm super-wide angle lens for landscapes attached to the 7D. For this reason, bringing my NEX works out great since I don’t have to switch lenses on my main Canon to take photographs in the normal 18-55mm range. And certainly, if the NEX-5 did not deliver the image quality, I would not be using it as my secondary camera.
Astro Blaster, Disneyland – Anahiem, California
What’s strange is that I really like the Sony’s moody image quality for my “artistic” shots. The exposure is a bit darker and the shadows adds a bit of mystery. The cooler colors also adds to a slightly different look from my Canon. However, what works for my creative photography does not work for my family snapshots. I want bright, colorful and warm images of my family. Of course, color is a matter of personal taste so the colors I don’t like might work well someone else. The high ISO performance is great and ISO 1600 is a breeze. I also feel comfortable using ISO 3200 in a pinch and I have even gotten some decent black and white photos as ISO 6400. Resolution, detail and high ISO quality doesn’t quite match my Canon 7D but it’s pretty close and of course the Sony has the portability advantage.
Ultimately, my biggest disappointment is the video. While video is not nearly as important for me, I wanted a camera that did solid and reliable video in most any situation. For all the reasons outline above, I have not used my Sony much for video. It’s there and probably in most cases, it will work but I don’t feel compelled to use it. The feature has not wowed me enough for me to play and experiment with it, in an artistic sense.
The future for the NEX line looks bright. I understand that Sony has had good sales with the NEX and they have announced the next generation of cameras. The NEX-7 seems like a semi-pro mirrorless monster. It has 24MP and a high quality electronic view finder plus an improved physical interface. The NEX-5n seems like a surprise improvement over the NEX-5. Early reviews seem to indicate that the high ISO JPEG performance has been greatly increased. That and other small improvements have made the new 5 a solid upgrade. I had a chance to play with the camera and the good news is that much of my video frustrations with the 5 seem to be addressed with the 5n. I will have to do a more in-depth comparison but the improvements to the NEX line seem to point to a bright future for this camera.
Finally, I wanted to end with several photographs of Disneyland taken with my NEX-5. Remember to click on the photo to see a larger version. You can also take a look at more NEX-5 photographs that I have published on my mostlyfotos, one photo a day, blog.
World of Color Show – Anaheim, California
Space Mountain, Disneyland – Anaheim, California
Innoventions, Disneyland – Anaheim, California
Disney’s California Adventure – Anaheim, California
Band Performance at Main Entrance, Disneyland – Anaheim, California
Hot Reds and Blue Neon at the Lucky Lounge
Lucky Lounge – Austin, Texas
If you have read some of my previous blog entries, you probably know that I go on frequent photowalks to downtown Austin. Luckily Austin has enough of a downtown core to have fun places to photograph, both inside and out. Our photowalk group also ends up in a lot of bars and clubs — not necessarily to drink but to take photographs. These establishments try their best to have an interesting and a unique atmosphere to attract guests and that usually means neat interior decor. They can get their look with cool lights, bright colors or unique architecture. There are many bars on the east side of Congress Avenue in and around 6th street, but there are also places worth visiting on the west side of town. The Lucky Lounge is located on west 5th Street on the north end of the warehouse district. Its been around for a while and has some great colors inside. Here is a quick visual tour.
The circular blue lights are in the front window right on 5th street. They contrast nicely with the interior which is primarily red. The image at the top of the post is the view from the front looking back into the main bar area. I try to travel light when going to these spots and not call attention to myself — a perfect use of my Sony NEX-5 and a small tripod, for maximum quality. I took these images before Christmas so the holiday lights give an extra sparkle to the already rich environment.
Lucky Lounge’s Window Neon
Lucky Lounge Bar
Lucky Lounge Stairs
My Thought Process
Image 1: Towards the front of the bar, there is a nice shiny red wall with a convenient small shelf, probably to use as a drink holder. It was the perfect place to set up my NEX-5 on a table top tripod. Catching the warm reds and reflections off the wall was my goal here. I used the candle in the foreground for a bit of interest and a source of additional reflections off the wall. The shelf and reflected light act as leading lines into the bar, which I believe pulls the viewer into the scene.
Image 2: The blue circular neon lights are a fun design element. The cool blue towards the front of the bar is a stark contrast to the hot red towards the back. The blue neon was the primary subject but I wanted to have a hint on the blue lit pool table as a foreground element. It also was a convenient to place my tripod camera combo directly on the table.
Image 3:The Lucky Lounge has a raised area right behind the bar where you can take in the place. It’s a fun place to people watch and see the action at the bar from an atypical vantage point. I wanted to catch the scene and get some motion blur of the crowds as they mingled. I used the red candle again in this shot to add interest and balance out the composition.
Image 4: The bar also has a small 2nd floor loft. This is the stairs looking down from the loft area. I liked the angles of the metal handrails as well as the dark shadows blending into the intense red lighting.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
I took these photographs with the Sony NEX-5 in RAW with the 16mm prime lens. I minimally post processed them using Aperture 3, sharpening, decreasing highlights and brightening the shadows.
Image 1: f8, 6 secs, +2/3 exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 16mm
Image 2: f7.1, .8 sec, +2/3 exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 16mm
Image 3: f10, 6 secs, +1/3 exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 16mm
Image 4: f2.8, .6 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 16mm
Color, Reflections and Drinks at the Soho Lounge
Bright Bar Lights – Austin, Texas
A few photographer friends and I get together every so often to go on photowalks. We pick a spot in Austin and we go around as a loosely knit group to find something interesting to photograph. These photowalks are part social and part photography. We enjoy each other’s company, share ideas and take photographs for a few hours. East 6th street in downtown Austin is one of the areas we frequent. It’s the best known entertainment district in Austin with 50+ bars, clubs and restaurants in a 7 block stretch between Congress Avenue and Interstate 35. It’s a great place for street photography and capturing the color and lights at night. I must admit thought that when we go to 6th street, we tend to do more socializing than photography. Still, we have a great time and my goal is to get several good shots per night.
The Soho Lounge is currently our favorite bar on 6th street. It occupies a prime area one block from the famous Driskill Hotel. The 6th street area has a bit of a split personality. Earlier in the evening, even on the weekends, many of the bars are not very crowded. They compete vigorously for business and have lower drink prices. Later at night, when all the college kids arrive, the area is packed, they close the street to vehicular traffic and the drink prices go up. This schedule works well for us older photographers. We get there just after dinner time. We get to shoot around the area when it is not packed and have a couple of inexpensive drinks. In the last few outings, the Soho Lounge had one dollar mixed well drinks until 11pm. Perfect! A bunch of us photographers get to shoot the colorful interior and socialize before the place is packed with the younger patrons.
Recently, I’ve been experimenting more with catching reflections of light and color off of various surfaces. One of my usual photowalk friends, Tony, has certainly been an influence. You can see is work on Flickr, where he goes by the name –tradewinds•>. Though his style and mine are different, there are elements of his style that I have incorporated into my images. These light reflections are part of it. I find that bars make nice subjects since they tend to have interesting decorations and lighting. Most tend to be dark and moody which only enhances the color and reflections. Here are a smattering of images from the Soho Lounge taken on a couple of different outings.
Reflections from the Bar – Austin, Texas
Multicolor Reflections, Soho Lounge – Austin, Texas
6th Street Bars – Austin, Texas
My Thought Process
Image 1: I took this photograph at the bar just before Christmas, hence the festive lights. I loved the glow of the holiday lighting as well as the reds and blue of the bar. I made sure to catch the reflections of these lights and their colors. The Sony NEX-5 was shot directly placed on the bar without using a tripod. The lower position gave me the best reflections.
Image 2: I liked the curve of the table and again the reflections bouncing off the surface. The empty dark area between the table and the bar, I believe, nicely adds to the image. I believe I took this one with a table top tripod. When trying to catch reflections, make sure to raise or lower your camera from the reflecting surface to get the greatest effect. The best angle and height of the camera will be different with every scene. Hand holding in this low light is either difficult or degrades the photograph since you need to use a higher ISO. I like to use a small tripod so that I can take the photo at ISO 200, which is the lowest ISO on the Sony.
Image 3: I caught a really nice red, blue and yellow light reflection off a black counter at the back of the bar. I focused on the surface and reflections which left the distant lights softly out of focus. I also tried focusing on the lights and had the reflections out of focus but that version did not work as well. I’ve noticed that the best focus point varies on the scene and your taste. Try taking the photograph both ways to see which you like better. I used a small aperture to make sure I get the entire counter in focus. At this close distance, a larger aperture will focus on a very shallow depth of field and I would have missed part of the counter’s texture. I also think the shadows and the negative space enhances this photograph.
Image 4: Finally, I included a shot from the outside of the bar. You can see the Soho Lounge sign completes with all the other bars for attention — there are a lot of bars on 6th street! I took this with a table top tripod place on the sidewalk, again to get the best quality and an interesting angle. If you follow my blog, you will noticed that I’ve used this lower vantage point quite a bit.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
I took these photographs with the Sony NEX-5 in RAW with the 16mm prime lens. I minimally post processed them using Aperture 3, sharpening, brightening and increasing color saturation.
Image 1: f8, 6 secs, +1 exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 16mm
Image 2: f2.8, .5 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 16mm
Image 3: f10, 8 secs, no exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 16mm
Image 4: f6.3, .8 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 16mm
Is the DSLR’s Domination Coming to an End?
Sony NEX-5 and Canon 20D
I’m starting to see the signs everywhere. About a month and half ago, I went on a photowalk with several friends in downtown Austin. It was a small group of 4 photographers. All amateurs but all very serious about photography. We all own DSLRs but we were not using them. Three of the Four, including myself, brought our DSLRs but only used them for a short time during the entire photowalk. So what did we use? One person shot with the Olympus E-P1, another the Olympus E-PL1. The third person had a Nikon Superzoom and as for myself I used the Sony NEX-5. The Olympus and Sony cameras fit into a new category which some people call EVIL, Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens cameras. I wrote about these cameras several months ago in an article called In Search of an EVIL Camera where I compared the available options. In a larger photowalk last week, there were a mix of DSLRs and EVIL cameras. The guys with the EVIL cameras did not even bother to bring their DSLRs or at least they didn’t seem to be using them.
It’s not only the photographer friends around me. Several photographers from the blogs I follow now seem to be actively using EVIL cameras. The serious, professional photographer Michael Reichmann who runs the popular site called Lumnious Landscape talks about his love for the Panasonic Lumix EVIL cameras. He writes that as he gets older, he has the desire to carry the smaller and lighter cameras. Steve Huff, a Leica aficionado, also talks extensively about his love for smaller cameras such as the Sony NEX, Olympus Digital Pen and Ricoh GXR on his blog at stevehuffphoto.com. Finally, closer to home, a well-respected commercial photographer in Austin, Kirk Tuck, talks about his love for the Olympus Digital Pen cameras such as the EPL-1 and E-PL2.
I’ll keep the Canon stuff for all the clients who want/need bigger files with more resolution. I’ll also keep those fun lenses, and especially the ones with image stabilization. But when I pack for vacation, street shooting, art projects and general goofing around you can pretty much bet there’s going to be Pen close by. $599. With a lens? Really? Amazing.
Kirk Tuck – Everything I said about the EPL1. It goes for the EPL2 as well
Now I’m not foolish enough to suggest that DSLRs are going away or that they are no longer going to sell in volume. Of course not. the Digital SLRs are wonderful cameras and they will be continue to sell well for a while, however, I believe the writing is on the wall. I believe that these new class of EVIL cameras will continue to increase in popularity and will eventually eclipse DSLR sales. It may not happen in a year or so but I think that the trend will increase and pick up speed as more people find out about these cameras.
Digital SLRs have their place and depending on the photographer, DSLRs will remain their tool of choice for a long time. I know that the professional sports photographers will continue to use their Canon 1D or Nikon D3 cameras. Professional wedding and event photographers will want their Canon 5DMkII and Nikon D700 for their great low light, high ISO ability. However, these professionals are the minority of people who buy DSLRs these days. It’s the amateur photographers and soccer moms that have the entry-level DSLRs that, I believe, will be switching in the future to these new EVIL cameras. I contend that these non-professionals purchased their DSLRs because their point and shoots were slow and had inferior picture quality. They really did not want these big and heavy DSLR cameras but were convinced that they were necessary to overcome the point and shoot’s deficiencies. And there is some truth to this logic. The digital point and shoots, especially in the recent past, were too slow and the photographs were too grainy. They heard that if they use an SLR, all of their photographs will magically get better. What most of these people didn’t realize is to get the most out of a SLR, you really have to know how to use it. I meet these people all the time at my son’s elementary school. They are snapping away on their expensive DSLRs with the mode dial set on the “green” mode. I know two people at the school who, liking my low-light stage photographs, decided to purchase the same lens that I use. It’s a fantastic lens, the Canon 85mm f1.8. At $400 it’s not cheap, but it has awesome capabilities and is considered to be one of the hidden pseudo “L” lenses (L lens are the pro Canon lenses). The thing is, these two individuals use this nice lens on full automatic mode and wonder why their photographs do not improve. In many ways, their photographs were worse with this lens than with a standard zoom — the 85mm does not have image stabilization and does not zoom. For people who want something better than a point and shoot but with its ease of use, they now have the EVIL option. They are realizing that the DSLRs are large, heavy and too complicated and without the proper knowledge they are not taking the kind of pictures they envisioned.
The trend to smaller devices is real and has happened many times in the past. In photography, people went from large format to medium format to 35mm cameras. As the technology improves, often the devices become smaller. Leica and other range finder cameras ruled the 35mm world until the late 70s and 80s when the SLR ascended to the throne. In an unusual trend, the SLRs which were larger than the range finders, took over the 35mm world. They did so since they were more versatile and professionals as well as serious amateurs flocked to these larger but flexible cameras. Smaller point and shoot film cameras were used by the novice crowed. Within the last 10 years, the film SLR gave rise to the digital SLR while the film point and shoots gave rise to the digital point and shoots. The problem was, while the film point and shoots were pretty responsive and “snappy”, the digital point and shoots were slow. Also, while SLRs typically had better lenses than point and shoots and thus produced superior photos, the quality of photographs taken with film with either type of camera were closer to each other than with digital. The small sensors that are in the digital point and shoots were clearly inferior to the digital SLRs with their larger sensors. Now finally with these new EVIL cameras, the digital technology has finally caught up. These cameras have larger, high quality sensors for superior image quality and they are generally pretty responsive. Some of the cameras like the new Panasonic rival entry-level DSLRs in speed. In some ways, these new EVIL cameras are the modern equivalent of the older range finder cameras. They are similar in size and these modern mirror-less cameras have much of the versatility of SLRs.
If you think about it, digital cameras are just computers with lenses. Like all consumer electronics, computers and digital cameras will continue to get smaller and more powerful. Computers used to be room sized and shrank to the size of desktop towers when they became popular with the consumer crowd. The process of smaller and faster continues where more people prefer laptops to desktops and now the new trend of tablet computing and smart phones further accelerates the shrinking trend. The same thing is happening to cameras. The flipping mirrors of SLRs will eventually vanish and the ultra fast electronics of the future will do what the purely mechanical systems could not do. It is no accident that 3 out of the 4 players in EVIL camera market are large multi-national Consumer Electronics companies — Sony, Panasonic and Samsung. Olympus is the only traditional camera company. Ironically, I believe, the fact that Canon and Nikon so utterly dominate the DSLR market forced Olympus and the Consumer Electronics companies to invent a new category of camera. With the 80% plus DSLR market share that Canon and Nikon have, all the other companies were fighting for the table scrapes. Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony, each in their own way, have created these electronic interchangeable lens cameras to fill a new niche that the big DSLR players have not filled. Given the trends, I believe, Canon and Nikon will eventually be forced to respond with their own EVIL offering.
Finally, there is a class of equipment loving amateurs that will continue to get the nice and expensive DSLRs, even though for some it may just be for bragging rights. (the one with the biggest camera wins, right?) Arguably, some of my friends and I may fall into this category. We will enjoy using our EVIL cameras but will still break out the DSLR when it makes sense. Right now, I use my Sony NEX-5 for day-to-day shooting of my family and street photography. It’s my go to camera when I want to take high quality photographs but do not want to take my bigger DSLR. It was a godsend when I used my Sony all day at Disneyland. 10+ hours carrying my little Sony and I wasn’t a bit tired. I do however have definitive uses for my Canon 7D DSLR. I still do my serious landscape, cityscape and HDR photography with my large camera. I use my Canon for action and sports photography. With the good selection of lenses I have, I also do my serious portraits with my 7D as well as low light stage photography. Also, because I have a large external flash, event photography and party shots still work a lot better with the 7.
As you might suspect, I’m more passionate about photography than the typical person. While I can justify (at least in my head) when to use a DSLR vs an EVIL camera, the average person is going to do just fine just with an EVIL camera. Like the move from the large view cameras to medium format to 35mm, we are on the cusp to transition to this new camera system. One that is only possible now with the advance in electronics and computing.
Size Comparison, Sony NEX-5 and Canon 20D
My Thought Process
I created these two photographs specifically for this post. I wanted images that would compare the sizes of the two cameras. The first image shows the newer EVIL camera, the Sony NEX-5, in focus and in front of the older Canon 20D DSLR. Since the post talks about this newer technology becoming more popular than the old, I wanted the Sony lettering in sharp focus compared to the out of focus Canon. I chose the Canon 20D because it is a medium-sized DSLR. There are smaller consumer models such as the Rebel series but there are also larger prosumer and professional DSLR models. I used the Canon 7D to take the image, which in itself is slightly larger than the 20D. Both cameras are fitted with a similar 18 – 55mm kit lens. You can see the Sony with its lack of mirror assembly is significantly smaller than the Canon. The size difference is particularly clear in the second photograph. While you can not see the differences in-depth, you can plainly see the hight and width of the two cameras are considerably different.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
The photographs were taken in JPEG with the Canon 7D with the 35mm F2 lens. Both photographs were post processed using Aperture 3. I increased the sharpness and brightness and added a vignette for effect.
Image 1: f4, 1/40 sec, -2/3 exposure compensation, ISO 800 at 35mm
Image 2: f4.5, 1/40 sec, -2/3 exposure compensation, ISO 800 at 35mm
Other Sony NEX-5 blog posts
Here are some other posts I made about the Sony NEX-5.
Street Photography with the Sony NEX-5
Sony NEX-5 High ISO Performance
The Perfect Small Camera Bag for the Sony NEX-5
Sony NEX-5: A New Angle on Photography
In Search of an EVIL Camera
A Magical Black and White from the Ordinary
Congress Avenue Light Streaks – Austin, Texas
Magical? Maybe, maybe not. I guess it’s up to you to decide, however, this photograph more than any other so far has convinced me of the merits of black and white photography. I am not going to abandon color for a pure monochrome existence but I’m enjoying the simplicity of this form of photography. The original image was a throwaway. Something I took, experimented with and almost rejected. I took several frames in the same spot and this one was the best, nevertheless, the image in color did not look compelling enough for me. Not good enough to use as my daily post on Flickr. On a whim, I did a black and white conversion. It looked promising. I did some more post-processing tweaks and I came up with something I liked. Feedback from this Flickr post was encouraging — many people also seem to like the image. I know the Flickr community has the nicest people and they tend to say nice things in general but there seemed to be more interest than usual for this image. That got me thinking. Why do I and some others like this photograph so much?
I analyzed the photograph more than usual. Why do I like the black and white version, while I was about to throw away the color image? Take a look at the original below — the same composition and framing, of course. The main problem with it in hindsight is that it is too busy — too colorful. There are white, yellow and red light streaks that dominate the picture. There is the blue sky and the yellow street lights — the bright street light in the top left corner is particularly distracting. Beyond the colors, there are all the details that in buildings, the windows, the parked cars that just seems to add noise and confusion to the frame. Now, take a look at the black and white version, again. With the lack of color, all the confusing lights blend together into a consistent white which greatly simplifies the photograph. The building details are also diminished as well as the other elements on the street. With this simplification, other elements become more noticeable. I particularly enjoy the light reflecting off the street and the street texture that it uncovers. The buildings become somewhat more abstract with varying geometric shapes that act as a background to the white light streaks. The entire character of the photograph has changed from a jumbled image of color to one of light, shadow, texture and geometric shapes. That’s why I think its works better in black and white.
Of course the photograph is far from perfect. I can think of several things that can improve this image. If the photograph was even simpler, it might be even more eye-catching. The branches on the left are distracting. The cars on the street add to the clutter underneath the light streak. And while the building details are diminished, I wonder how it would look if most or all the details were erased. Would having black geometric silhouettes make the image better? It may appear more abstract. Maybe that would be better or maybe just different.
What do you think?
Click on the images to see a larger version.
The Original out of the Camera
My Thought Process
I took several photographs from the same area. I moved my camera slightly to try to get the best composition. I wanted the light streaks and the street to act as leading lines that would direct the eye down into the photograph. I waned to highlight the tall building and make sure there was sort of a balance between the buildings and the trees on the left. The tall building called the Austonian is a luxury condominium and is the tallest structure in Austin. It has become the newest landmark and I wanted to prominently showcase it in my photograph.
Long exposure light trails are easy to do with a tripod. I usually use the camera’s self-timer to reduce camera shake even when using a tripod. Just pressing the shutter can introduce some shake. A two second delay with the self-timer ensures a clean shot. The exposure was only 8 seconds long which means I had to time when the traffic would pass through my frame. I wanted to get long light streaks and between the self timer and the speed of the traffic, there is a bit of guessing and re-tries required to get a decent light streak. The shape of the light streak itself is all luck — it all depends on the type of vehicle that passes through. From this low angle, it’s nice to get different size vehicles to create a more elaborate light pattern. The relatively uniform hight of cars makes a pure car based light streak boring. Luckily, in this photograph, a truck passed by which added the thin lines above the primary thick lines.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
The photograph was taken in RAW with the Sony NEX-5 with the 16mm kit lens. The photograph was post processed using Aperture 3 and I used built-in black and white conversion adjustment. The sharpness and definition were increased and I added a vignette and slightly increased contrast to add more shadow around the edges.
Image 1 & 2: f16, 8 secs, +1 exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 16mm
Color vs. Black and White, a Change in Emphasis
Single Flower – Austin, Texas
Single Flower in Black and White- Austin, Texas
Last Thursday, after an Austin SMUG (sponsored by SmugMug) photography lecture, I spent some time making photographs. The monthly lecture takes place as the AT&T Executive Conference Center on the University of Texas campus. The facility is part hotel and part lecture halls and is decorated in an upscale, tasteful corporate look. I had my trusty Sony NEX-5 and I wanted to capture some of the details of this place. Near the front desk there were some small round tables each with a single flower. I like the simplicity and I attempted to capture the zen minimalism of the design.
Each table was spot lit which warmly highlighted the pink flower and amber vase while the surrounding area was relatively dark. I framed the flower so that the background would remain dark and the light would fall off just beyond the flower. I was satisfied with the image I created and posted it to Flickr a couple of days ago. I really liked the warm color and how the pink of the flower and the amber glass seem to almost blend together to form a single complete object. Then today, just on a whim, I converted this image to black and white. The character of the photograph changed of course, but I still liked the image, but for different reasons. The bright white of the flower now decouples it from the supporting container, which now mostly blends into the background. The emphasis shifts from the warmth of the flower and vase to the geometric shape of the now almost levitating flower. I also think the mood of the images shifts from warmth and harmony to one of starkness where the flower becomes the star and everything else takes on a supporting role. Interesting that just the removal of color changes the image so much — at least for me and my interpretation. Perhaps, I’m over-analyzing the photographs but I’m taken by the difference an absence of color can create.
This little exercise also taught me that I should play more with black and white. I am generally attracted to color when creating my photographs but maybe experimenting with black and white, even in post processing, will train my brain to look at more shapes. I’ve attempted to incorporate more shadows and negative space into my exposures. Seeing beyond color and looking for shapes, I believe, can ultimately help strengthen my overall images whether they have color or not.
So which image do you like better?
Make sure to click on the photograph to see a larger version.
My Thought Process
Image 1: As I mentioned above, I was initially attracted by the color and warmth of the flower, vase and the setting. I wanted to emphasize the simplicity of the table centerpiece so I wanted to exclude all details from the background. When framing, I shifted my position to make sure I did not get any lights and reflections in the background. I also reduced the exposure to show more details of the flower and to make sure that the background will be as dark as possible. I like how the light on the table goes a bit past the flower and then drops off into total darkness while the well-lit flower nicely contrasts against the black. I also made sure the flower was not dead center in the frame. I used a small table top tripod to ensure maximum sharpness and highest quality. The tripod allowed me to shoot at ISO 200 at 1/10 of a second.
Image 2: This image was created totally in post processing using Aperture 3′s black and white setting.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
The photograph was taken in RAW with the Sony NEX-5 with the 18-55mm kit lens. Both photographs were post processed using Aperture 3. I used the black and white conversion built into the Aperture to create the second photograph. The sharpness and brightness were increased on both and the color saturation and vibrancy was increased on image 1.
Image 1: f4.5, 1/10 sec, -1 exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 18mm
Image 1: f4.5, 1/10 sec, -1 exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 18mm
Capturing Disney’s Aladdin with the Sony NEX-5
Aladdin and Jafar in the Desert
My favorite show at Disneyland is “Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular”, a 45 minute broadway style performance that takes place on the California Adventure side of the resort. I saw the show 4 years ago and after the repeat viewing, I still enjoyed it just as much. The show has enough singing, dancing and action to keep the interest of even my 7 and 11-year-old boys. The production value is first-rate and probably rivals the quality of a broadway performance but is short enough to keep the interest of the younger audience. The story is also familiar since its based on the 1992 animated Aladdin movie. If you ever go down to the Disneyland Resort in California, I highly recommend it. It’s included in the price of admission and if you want or need a break from all the rides, this is a perfect getaway.
The show was also a fun opportunity to use my Sony NEX-5 in a different environment, a stage show. Luckily, most scenes were brightly lit especially compared to a typical school production in an auditorium (I was able to keep my ISO at 1600 or lower). I took both stills and video, both came out great for the most part. The nice thing about the Sony is can switch from high quality stills to video with a touch of a record button. Something that a camcorder can not do and the NEX-5 has higher quality than the typical point and shoot cameras. The autofocusing video is also an advantage over my Canon 7D which takes great video but does not autofocus. All is not perfect with the NEX though. When I shot stills, particularly in RAW, it takes a few seconds to write to the card which prevents me from shooting video immediately. I didn’t notice this limitation when I just take still images. I seem to be able to shoot a reasonable number of stills without delay. Also when just taking videos, I can stop and start the filming quite adequately. I will write more about the good things and the limitations in the Sony NEX-5 in an upcoming review. Either way, this camera is a heck of a large improvement over the camera I used 4 years ago, the Canon S2 IS. I used an early Canon super-zoom point and shoot to film the Aladdin show back then. In many ways, my desire to get the NEX was my attempt to find a modern and high quality version of that Canon S2 IS camera that I used 4 years ago at Disneyland — one camera that can take great stills and video snippets in a small and easy to carry around package.
I used my 18 – 55mm lens and most of the time I was zoomed in closer to the 55mm end though my images ranged from about 30mm to 55mm. I was lucky enough to get front row seats so If you want closeups from the seats further back you will need a considerable zoom. The theater is very large so if you don’t get there early you can end up in the second or third level. Part of my luck was that I had priority seating that I got as a bonus feature when we ordered our Disney Vacation Package from Costco. This was what enable me to get up front. However, even with priority seating do plan on getting there early to get the best possible location. I’ve included a bunch of photographs from the show and a video clip sample at the very end. The photograph with the dashed white border is the movie clip. Click on this image to see the movie in 5 different sizes including the Full HD version. Even though the clip is only 23 seconds long, some of the higher resolution clips will take a while to download. You can also click on the regular photographs to see a larger version.
The Genie Appears
Proposing to Princess Jasmine
Romantic Duet
Finale
Aladdin Movie Sample
My Thought Process
I didn’t have a grand plan when shooting the show. I was enjoying the performance and shot sporadically to capture the more colorful and visually rich scenes. I did remember a few special scenes from my first viewing and wanted to capture those on video. Other than that, I had a fun and relaxing time composing the images the best I could. I even kept the Sony in auto-ISO mode so I did very little camera adjustments. Photography is fun and very enjoyable for me but sometimes I also need to remember to watch and enjoy the show, live.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
All of the photographs were taken in RAW with the Sony NEX-5 with the 18-55mm kit lens. They were minimally post processed using Aperture 3. The images were sharpened, highlights were reduced and shadows were brightened slightly.
Image 1: f4.5, 1/50 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 800 at 31mm
Image 2: f5.6, 1/60 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 1600 at 55mm
Image 3: f5.6, 1/100 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 55mm
Image 4: f5.6, 1/100 sec, -2/3 exposure compensation, ISO 1000 at 53mm
Image 5: f5.6, 1/60 sec, -2/3 exposure compensation, ISO 250 at 37mm
Other Sony NEX-5 blog posts
Here are some other posts I made about the Sony NEX-5.
Street Photography with the Sony NEX-5
Sony NEX-5 High ISO Performance
The Perfect Small Camera Bag for the Sony NEX-5
Sony NEX-5: A New Angle on Photography
In Search of an EVIL Camera
The Driskill Christmas Tree, One Year Apart
2010 Driskill Christmas Tree – Austin, Texas
2009 Driskill Christmas Tree – Austin, Texas
As I took at looked at my 2010 Driskill Hotel Christmas Tree photograph, I noticed how different it looked from last year’s image. They were both taken at the same hotel and from roughly the same area but they have a different feel for several different reasons. First, the tree itself is shaped very differently, this year’s is a lot wider then last year’s slender tree. The ornaments and decorations are also very different. I didn’t realize that the Driskill Christmas trees are so different from year to year, which is great because it encourages me to take photograph of the tree again next year. Photographically, the two were taken with different framing and a different white balance. What may not be obvious is that last year’s image was a HDR while this year was a straight forward, single RAW image. In addition, I believe I used my Canon 20D last year while I’ve used my latest camera, the Sony NEX-5 for this year’s image.
Beyond the equipment, processing and the differences in the tree, there are other more esoteric differences. These images which are separated by about a year represents another year of my photographic exploration. I’ve been changing and hopefully growing in my photography — some of the differences you see in these photos may reflect these photographic changes. I know that more recently, my exposures tend to be darker than a year ago. I also believe I am more aware of the effects of light and shadow. While the image from last year is more uniform in brightness across the entire frame, this year there is more shadows and variation in light. A year ago, I concentrated more on creating HDR images, while now, HDR has become just one of many tools to create my photographs. HDR is still important, though it no longer takes center stage.
I like both images. Which one do you like better?
Either way, I would like to wish my blog readers a Merry Christmas. Its been less than a half-year since I’ve started this blog, but it has been fun and educational for me. I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog and possibly even gotten some ideas for your photography. I have some more ideas for upcoming posts so I hope you will come back and visit again.
Thank you. Happy Holidays.
Street Photography with the Sony NEX-5
Two ATMs, 6th Street – Austin, Texas
One of the things that intrigued me about the Sony NEX-5 is the potential for street photography. Its compact size, the flip-up screen, high ISO capability and high image quality where all positives for a street shooting camera. Being the smallest and fastest lens, 16mm pancake lens is the obvious choice out of the currently available Sony E-mount lenses (Sony has 3 lens as of this writing). However, it is still not an ideal lens since the 16mm is very wide, the f2.8 aperture is not fast as it could be and the lens does not have image stabilization. Given these trade-offs, how would the NEX-5 work as a street photography camera, especially at night? I recently took it down to Austin’s 6th street entertainment district on a photowalk to find out.
I must admit, I have not been using the 16mm much with my new camera. The 18-55mm kit lens was getting all the action but for street shooting at night, the f3.5 – f5.6 aperture range makes it a bit slow. With its multitude of bars and night clubs and with an active street life, 6th street is a great place to do some people shooting. Because of its compact size, the Sony NEX-5 almost looks like a point and shoot. Even so, some of my photowalk buddies have commented how large the lens looks on the camera, despite using the smaller 16mm lens. On the street, I think it’s still small enough that it blends in and the average person would not suspect anything about the camera’s class leading performance. I initially found the 16mm (24mm equivalent considering the 1.5 crop factor) view challenging to use. You need to get in close enough to emphasize a main subject but get too close and people look distorted, especially towards the edges of the frame. For people, I like a range anywhere from 2 feet to about 8 feet. That is the challenge with this lens, even at 8 feet you are quite close to your subject, especially if it’s someone you don’t know. What makes this whole thing work is the fact the camera is small enough that it does not call attention to itself. Also with the flip-up LCD screen, you can shoot the camera chest or waist-high instead of putting it up to your face. This allows you to get closer. With an SLR, having big camera at face level attracts attention so photographers use longer lenses to stay further from their subjects. The NEX allows for a different style of shooting that works surprisingly well. A lot better than I thought. I’ve done street shooting with my Canon 7D with either a 35mm f2, 50mm f1.4 or 85mm f1.8. With these lenses, I could stay back a lot further, certainly more than 8 feet away, however, getting candid images is still a challenge. I believe the real key is the flip-up screen that allows free-form shooting. I would love to see Sony create a 40mm to 50mm equivalent lens with a large aperture (from f1.4 to f2), that would make the NEX a spectacular street camera. Even with the current 16mm lens, in many ways I find the NEX-5 superior to my 7D in street shooting. It can only improve from here.
The other concern I had with the 16mm lens is its lack of image stabilization. On 6th street, I had the ISO set at 800 – 3200. Even at f2.8, my shutter speed falls under 1/30 of a second at times. Image stabilization will still be very useful even with this lens. Since the lens is wide, a 1/30 second shutter should generally be adequate for a steady shot. However, shooting away from the face at arm’s length is not the most stable of poses. What really works well for me is adapting a small tripod to use as a brace against my body. I attach the camera, position the head so its is perpendicular to the tripod’s legs (bent at a 90 degree angle) and steady the tripod’s legs against my chest or hip. I use the LCD flipped up so that I can look down and compose my shot. In this configuration, I’ve successfully taken images as slow as 1/10 of a second. With such a slow shutter speed, often you get motion blur from the subject but at times I consider this a plus since a nicely done motion blur can add some interest to an image. There are many different mini-tripods and I’m sure many will work fine. I use a particularly solid Manfrotto 709B desk top tripod that I really enjoy.
The future of street photography with the Sony NEX-5 is looking very promising. Already with the 16mm f2.8 and my tripod trick, I’ve been able to take some decent night images. If Sony were to expand its lens collection with a normal view (40mm – 60mm), large aperture lens, it might become the ultimate camera for street photography. Make sure to click on the images to see a larger view.
[View the rest of my street photography]
Surprised on 6th Street – Austin, Texas
Women on the Corner, 6th Street – Austin, Texas
Mysterious Hand, 6th Street – Austin, Texas
Waiting on 7th Street – Austin, Texas
My Thought Process
Image 1: As I walked down the street, I noticed the symmetry of the two glowing ATM signs and the two people standing in front of them. I quickly framed the image with the subjects in the middle to emphasize the symmetry. I originally did a black and white conversion but decided I like the color version more especially with the glowing green neon signs.
Image 2: I was walking down the street and quickly shot this image. I captured an interesting, surprised look on the man by luck. The combination of his expression and the motion blur of the woman attracts me to this photograph.
Image 3: I notice these women hanging around on the corner texting and talk on her phone. Because of the wide-angle distortion, I generally try to capture people towards the middle of the frame. This is the only image out of this post that I added noise reduction with Topaz DeNoise. The darker exposure on this ISO 3200 made the noise more noticeable than in image 1, which as also taken at ISO 3200.
Image 4: These people were in line to get into a bar on 6th street. I really didn’t notice the hand when I took the photograph but I like how the hand just floats there while is owner is not in view. There is a bit of motion blur in this image but I like the colors and for me it nicely captures the feel of 6th street.
Image 5: The cold front was blowing in and this woman was bundled up waiting to cross the street. I like the lines on the street and the skyline in the background. To me it has the feel of an urban, night image.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
All of the photographs were taken in RAW with the Sony NEX-5 with the 16mm kit lens. There were post processed using Aperture 3. I used the black and white conversion built into the Aperture to create these photographs. The sharpness and brightness were increased and a slight vignette was added to darken the edges on images 1,2 and 4.
Image 1: f2.8, 1/30 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 3200 at 16mm
Image 2: f2.8, 1/25 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 800 at 16mm
Image 3: f2.8, 1/25 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 3200 at 16mm
Image 4: f2.8, 1/15 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 1600 at 16mm
Image 5: f2.8, 1/30 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 1600 at 16mm
Other Sony NEX-5 blog posts
Here are some other posts I made about the Sony NEX-5.
Is the DSLR’s Domination Coming to an End?
Sony NEX-5 High ISO Performance
The Perfect Small Camera Bag for the Sony NEX-5
Sony NEX-5: A New Angle on Photography
In Search of an EVIL Camera
When to Create Silhouettes Instead of HDRs
360 Bridge Silhouette – Austin, Texas
At first glance silhouettes and HDR (High Dynamic Range) photographs do not seem to have much in common. Silhouettes tend to have less dynamic range, so much so that part of the image appears black with no detail. HDRs, however, have higher apparent dynamic range since 3 or more images at different exposures are blended together. These blended photographs show lots of detail throughout the entire range — the dark areas are brightened while the brighter areas are toned down. But I would argue that deciding between creating a silhouette and a HDR are indeed related. Both techniques can be used to create interesting images under similar conditions where there is a wide range from bright areas to dark shadows. While HDRs may have a striking look, silhouettes, if done correctly can be equally compelling though with a more subtle, subdued look.
When I started out in urban landscapes, I was guilty of looking at every landscape photograph as an opportunity to do a HDR. High Dynamic Range photography is currently popular and I certainly have been influenced by this bright, colorful and detail enhancing technique. Over time, my HDR processing has gotten more and more subtle and I’ve started to move away from always using it. My goal now, even though I may not always achieve it, is to create interesting photographs, not to apply a predetermined technique. It’s this evolution in my photography that started my experimentation with silhouettes.
So when do I consider doing a silhouette? Many times it’s in similar conditions as when I consider doing an HDR — when there is a lot of dynamic range in the scene, so much so that one exposure can not adequately capture the entire light range. With HDRs I often think about enhancing detail and texture. With silhouettes, I look for great looking shapes that would look fantastic even if its details and texture are omitted. Concentrate on the outline of subject that you want to silhouette. It has to be distinctive or interesting enough to stand on its own. The background is also important. A cool background with a lot of color or texture can also add to the composition. However, it should be uncluttered so not to overpower the silhouette.
A silhouette is also a powerful vehicle to add abstractness to an image. A silhouette of a person, for example, makes that person abstract or generic. You don’t see any details so your imagination takes over and your mind can insert anyone into that image. You may even imagine that it is yourself in that scene. So a silhouette adds mystery and tickles the imagination. I believe an HDR has the opposite effect of making the scene visually “more real”. The odd thing is, sometimes your imagination can create a scene that is more real than a visually rich image. That is why a book may seem more detailed and rich than a movie. So if you want to insert a bit of mystery and possibly engage the viewer’s brain, a silhouette maybe a technique to consider.
Creating silhouettes are easy as long as the scene has enough dynamic range. Just set the exposure compensation down on the camera. This has the benefit of darkening the blacks of the silhouette as well as bring out the rich color and details of the background. On my photographs on this page, I’ve dialed down the exposure compensation anywhere from – 1 2/3 to -2 stops. Your exposure compensation will vary. Just make sure to look at the exposure of the background to see that is does not get too dark. You can click on the photographs to see a larger version.
Mission San Juan Silhouette – San Antonio, Texas
Trees Silhouette at Sunset – Austin, Texas
My Thought Process
Image 1: As I was waiting to take 4th of July firework photos from this famous bridge in Austin, I noticed the beautiful sunset. I also liked the curved shape of the bridge supports. I framed this image several different ways, changing where the arch of the bridge cuts through the frame. I also played with different exposures to get the silhouette I wanted. Without the colorful skies, the image would not look as compelling however a photograph with just the sky will lack focus and interest. I also believe that having detail in the steel structure would take away from the simplicity and shape of the bridge.
Image 2: Mission San Juan is the smallest and least impressive mission out of the 5 missions of San Antonio. The shape of the bell tower is the most notable feature of the church. Given the direction of the sun, I decided to capture a silhouette of the church façade. I purposely aligned the start of the roof line at the bottom left corner. I used the sun and clouds to balance the frame against the church silhouette. Lowering my exposure 2 stops allowed me to shoot directly into the sun and still capture the sun’s rays and the cloud details. I also tinted the sky bluish-purple to add some abstract interest. It’s a different type of image for me but I like the way it turned out.
Image 3: This image is an observation I made while I was leaving the office. The blue hour sky with the glow on the horizon looked great. I used the trees to add some foreground interest. The principle used here is very similar to image 1. Instead of the bridge support I used the tree details to add interest against the colorful sky.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
All of the photographs were post processed using Aperture 3. Saturation, brightness and sharpness was increased for image 1. I used the black and white conversion and monochrome tinting to change the sky in the mission photograph. The third image received minimal changes with just some sharpening.
Image 1: Canon 7D, f13, 1/13 sec, -2 exposure compensation, ISO 100 at 10mm
Image 2: Canon 7D, f13, 1/1600 sec, -2 exposure compensation, ISO 100 at 20mm
Image 3: Sony NEX-5, f3.5, 1/80 sec, -1 2/3 exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 16mm
Sony NEX-5 High ISO Performance
Man Behind the Curtain – Austin, Texas
About two weeks ago, I went down to the University of Texas at Austin to attend a photography lecture. Four published Texas photographers presented their take on “Living in Texas”. While the lectures were interesting and informative, I also used it as an opportunity to test out the Sony NEX-5 that I recently purchased. Whenever I get a new tool such as a camera or lens, I tend to use it quite a bit to get a feel for it. I find out what I like and dislike about the product. I try to find what it does well and no so well so that I can see how it fits into my arsenal of photography tools. Inspired by a blog post by Steve Huff called Sony NEX-5 and 16mm at ISO 6400 on the Light Rail!, I also wanted to do some high ISO candid photographs with my NEX-5.
I’ve been impressed with what the Sony can do at high ISOs. It compares favorably with the quality of my Canon 7D. I have not done test photographs comparing the two cameras in the same scene at the same ISO, so my comments here are based more on the feel I get shooting the images. Sometimes I think the Canon does a better job but at other times the Sony seems better. I find that much of the noise in high ISO photographs are dependent upon the exposure and colors in the photograph. A high ISO image of a bright scene is usually going to look better than a photographs with a lot of shadows. The main take away for me is that the performance of the 7D and NEX-5 are similar enough that I don’t give a clear advantage to either camera. This in itself is the great thing about the Sony. It’s such a small camera but gives really great high ISO quality. This is not entirely surprising since the Sony and Canon both have image sensors that are about the same size. Actually with a 1.5 crop factor the Sony senor is a tad larger than the Canon that has a 1.6 crop factor.
The images were converted to black and white in post processing, for several reasons. First, regardless of the general quality, at ISO 3200 to 6400, the images are still going to be noisy. I figured the black and white along with the digital noise will give a more of a film look. I also have a growing appreciation for black and white and given the candid subjects, it feels more like an old-time documentary photograph. I’m sure I was also influenced by Steve Huff’s images in his blog which also showcased his photos originally in black and white. Unlike Steve though, I used the 18 – 55mm kit lens with my NEX instead of the 16mm lens. Be sure to click on the images to see a larger version.
[View my other candid photographs]
Audience, Watching – Austin, Texas
The Photography Lecture – Austin, Texas
Guarding the Door – Austin, Texas
My Thought Process
Image 1: This gentleman was setting up the Keynote (Apple’s version of PowerPoint) presentations for the lecturing photographers. The only light in the room was the projector displaying the photographs and this lamp that is right by the MacBook Pro laptop. I noticed him peaking around the corner during the presentation and I thought it would make an interesting photograph. This was taken at ISO 6400. I used Topaz DeNoise version 5 to reduce a bit of the noise in this image.
Image 2: I took several audience photos but this one is my favorite. I liked how the light from the projection screen highlighted the facial details of the man with the glasses. Also his glasses and haircut seems to have a retro quality that give this image more of a timeless feel. Also taken at ISO 6400 and noise reduced with Topaz DeNoise.
Image 3: I wanted to capture one of the photography lecturers. Here I decided to frame the speaker between two audience members. The kit lens gave a bit of a shallow depth of field so that I can focus on the lecturer and keep the audience members somewhat out of focus. This photograph was take at ISO 3200 without any further noise reduction. This was cropped into a 4 x 5 format to eliminate some distractions on the left side.
Image 4: This University of Texas student was keeping the door open to an adjoining room that contained after lecture refreshments. I framed this scene with her slightly off-center. I like how the other people in the frame, in front of her and behind her, seems to have a layering effect on the image. I think the motion blur of the other people adds to this effect. I would like this photograph even more if the others in the frame were even more motion blurred — this would highlight my intended subject even more. This was taken at ISO 1600 with no additional noise reduction.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
All of the photographs were taken in RAW with the Sony NEX-5 with the 18 – 55mm kit lens. There were post processed using Aperture 3. I used the black and white conversion built into the Aperture to create these photographs. The sharpness and brightness were increased and a slight vignette was added to darken the edges.
Image 1: f5, 1/40 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 6400 at 46mm
Image 2: f5.6, 1/5 sec, +2 exposure compensation, ISO 6400 at 55mm
Image 3: f4, 1/40 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 3200 at 18mm
Image 4: f3.5, 1/40 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 1600 at 18mm
Other Sony NEX-5 blog posts
Here are some other posts I made about the Sony NEX-5.
Is the DSLR’s Domination Coming to an End?
Street Photography with the Sony NEX-5
Sony NEX-5 High ISO Performance
Sony NEX-5: A New Angle on Photography
In Search of an EVIL Camera
Emphasizing Texture with Black and White
Mission Concepcion Hallway – San Antonio, Texas
On a recent photo trip down to San Antonio, I was marveling at some old stone churches. The missions of San Antonio are well-known in this area and I always wanted to visit all five. Previously I had visited two of the five. The most famous being the Alamo, which I have been to many times. I’ve also seen the largest and grandest of the missions a couple of years ago on an Elementary School field trip which I chaperoned. This time, I wanted to do some serious architectural photography at four of the missions, which I described in my previous post called, A Photo Excursion to the San Antonio Missions. What is great about all of these structures are their rough, frontier architecture. Back in the 1730s when these missions were built, Texas was the northern boundary of the Spanish Colony in North America. Unlike Europe where they already had very large and polished churches and cathedrals, these frontier missions were rustic and primitive. I’ve discovered black and white photography can really add an interesting twist to these mission photographs.
While most people have taken color photographs for a while, especially with digital, there are some really nice artistic reasons why you might consider black and white photography. I am no expert in black and white — I have only dabbled with it from time to time. I mainly experiment with it to see if I create a more interesting image. Experts see in black and white, I usually don’t. On this trip to San Antonio, however, I was particularly pleased with the look of these old missions in black and white. Black and white photography emphasizes form, shape and texture. Since there is no color to “get in the way” the eye is directed to the shapes and textures of objects. Since these buildings have such wonderful stone textures, I thought it would be effective to emphasize such textures by removing the color. The great thing about digital is that you can take the photographs in color and then covert them to black and white in post processing. This is usually the preferred method since, even if you were originally intended to take b&w photos, post processing software allow you to add virtual filters to change the black and white tones, increase or decrease contrast and change sharpness and the level of texture. Some specialized software such as Nik Software’s Silver Efex Pro even allow you to simulate your favorite film grain. For these photographs, I used Aperture 3 without Nik software to create my images.
Here is a sample of several black and white mission photographs. I think they have a very different feel from color photographs. Like the previous post, I took these images with two different cameras, my Canon 7D and the Sony NEX-5. Also, like the pervious post, the look and feel of the images from both cameras are the same — I don’t think you can tell which image was shot with a particular camera. As always, you can click on an image on my blog to see a larger version.
[View all of my images from the San Antonio Missions]
Side View of Mission Concepcion – San Antonio, Texas
Mission San Jose through Arch – San Antonio, Texas
Mission Concepcion Courtyard Detail – San Antonio, Texas
My Thought Process
Image 1: For wide-angle photographs, I usually like to have some interest in the foreground. The wider the angle, the larger the distortion that makes the front to back of the photograph seem longer. This was shot at 18mm (27mm at 35mm equivalent) so while it is not super-wide, the image still looked more powerful with the texture of the floor visible up front. To do this, I used my mini-tripod on my Sony NEX-5 camera and placed it very close to the floor. I also love how the light is spilling in from the archways to the right and emphasizing the texture of this rustic hallway.
Image 2: In this side view of Mission Concepcion, I was drawn to the wall texture (again) as well as that wonderful weathered door. I attempted to balance the wall and the towers on the right with the palm tree on the left. The sky was mostly overcast with splotches of light blue showing through. The sky lacked definition and was a distraction. By making this image black and white, I simplified the sky to a pure white, while emphasizing the wall and door textures. I also love how sharp and defined the palm tree looks. This was taken with my Canon 7D.
Image 3: This is one of my favorites. I used the arch to frame Mission San Jose. This was taken at the end of the day and from this angle, the sky was washed out especially on the left side. I could have used HDR techniques but I opted not to for this image with my Sony NEX-5 (I did end up doing a HDR with my Canon 7D however, I might show this in a future post). In addition, the exposure was bit dark (a mistake on my part since I had the exposure compensation dialed down). With post processing I was able to lighten the image and eliminate the bland sky by turning this image into black and white. I find that with B&W images, you can change exposures more aggressively and not effect the end product. In this case, I got the benefit of better exposure, less distracting skies and great stone textures by turning this image in a black and white.
Image 4: This is another image taken with the NEX-5. The low angle might have been a give-away. I used much of the same reasoning as image 1 to add texture and interest in the foreground by keeping the camera low. I think the low angle also makes the tower and walls a bit more imposing. The black and white worked here for a couple of reasons. Again, it emphasized the floor and wall textures but it also gave more definition to the clouds.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
All of the photographs were taken in RAW with the Sony NEX-5 and the Canon 7D. There were post processed using Aperture 3. I used the black and white conversion built into the Aperture to create these photographs. The sharpness and definition were increased and a slight vignette was added to darken the edges.
Image 1: Sony NEX-5, f10, 1/10 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 18mm
Image 2: Canon 7D, f13, 1/30 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 100 at 20mm
Image 3: Sony NEX-5, f16, 1/80 sec, -2/3 exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 18mm
Image 4: Sony NEX-5, f13, 1/160 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 18mm
A Photo Excursion to the San Antonio Missions
Mission San Jose and Canon 7D – San Antonio, Texas
This past Monday, I had the day off so I decided to go on a photography excursion to the San Antonio Missions. I figured that a weekday would be less crowded and it would be easier to take photographs. My friend Steven, also an avid photographer, joined me on the 1 1/2 hour drive down south from Austin. We arrived at our first destination around 10am and as hoped, the crowds were sparse so we enjoyed a nice leisurely day of photography. There are 5 missions in San Antonio of which the Alamo is the most famous and they are all run by the US National Park Service. We opted to bypass the Alamo and go directly to the less well-known missions. The Alamo is, I believe, the most visited site in Texas so it’s always very crowded and they do not allow any interior photography. First stop, Mission Concepcion, the closest mission to Austin after the Alamo.
I brought two cameras with me on this trip. The Canon 7D, my primary camera, had the Sigma 10-20mm super wide-angle lens mounted. I also brought my brand new Sony NEX-5 with the 18-55mm kit lens – nice and light, 2 cameras with only two lenses. The NEX-5 is so small, it’s about the size and weight of some of my Canon lenses. The great thing about having two cameras is that I don’t have to change any lenses in the field. It’s both quicker and easier to capture images and reduced the chance of getting dust into the camera. My general plan was to do my high-resolution, wide-angle photographs with my 7D and do a bit more free form stuff with the NEX-5. I was also planning to do some HDR photography with both cameras to see how they compare. For this reason, I actually brought two tripods. My tripod unit I use on my 7D as well as a tiny table-top tripod for the Sony.
I just finished processing all the photos from the trip and I’ve added a small sample from both cameras. I took loads of photographs and I’m pleased with the images that I have created. One thing I discovered, I can’t tell the difference between photographs I took with the 7D and the NEX-5. I found that I needed to go into my Aperture 3 library’s EXIF information to see which camera I used. Sure the 7D has higher resolution and more detail and the colors are a bit different however, after I post-process the images and view them in my library, they look about the same. This is great news since I effectively have a small second camera when I do my “serious” architecture and landscape photographs. I purchased the Sony primarily as my family camera, its nice to know that I can use it for so much more.
So here is a smattering of images I took that day. Try to guess which one was taken with the Canon or Sony. The first one, at the top, is an easy one to guess. As always, you can click on an image on my blog to see a larger version. The answers are at the very bottom of this blog post.
[View all of my images from the San Antonio Missions]
Interior Curves of Mission Concepcion – San Antonio, Texas
Mission Concepcion Towers – San Antonio, Texas
Mission Espada Entrance Detail – San Antonio, Texas
Arches of Mission San Jose – San Antonio, Texas
My Thought Process
I wanted to use both cameras to capture the many details of these old historic sites. There are so many rich details in these old structures that it was very enjoyable to make images. I wanted to capture the texture of the of the exterior stonework as well as the peaceful interiors. I also attempted to change my vantage point to add some variety to my images.
Image 1: The golden, evening light was perfect, casting its warm glow on Mission San Jose. I was taking photos with my 7D and thought it would be fun for the blog to include a behind the scenes look at my usual setup. Nothing too exciting but it nice to have context once in a while. My tripod, pictured above, is a carbon fiber Induro C014 with a Manfrotto 484RC2 head. The combined weight of both the tripod and head is just a touch over 3 pounds. It’s very light and I bring it almost everywhere with me. This setup is steady enough for my wide-angle lens but its is not robust enough to shoot long exposures with my Canon 70-200 F4. It works great for me right now since I wanted maximum portability and light weight. Photograph taken with my NEX-5.
Image 2: The interior of Mission Concepcion was beautiful and subdued. It was elegant and not gaudy. I wanted to capture the wonderful curves of the arches and dome. It might have been easy to guess that this was taken with my Canon 7D with a super-wide lens. A super-wide lens adds distortions that stretches the depth of the image. It emphasizes the curves and increases the dramatic look.
Image 3: The towers of Mission Concepcion were isolated using a longer zoom. I used the Sony NEX-5 to zoom in and reduce the visual clutter of the surrounding walls and trees. A wide-angle would give an entirely different look that I believe would not work as well in this case. I wanted to capture the two towers and the dome. I think it has an old world, almost European feel.
Image 4: The entrance of Mission Espada was my favorite. Its small, intimate scale along with the ornate shape and stone details were fantastic. I wanted to balance the simple cross with the doorway. Though this photograph could have been taken with either camera, it was taken with the Canon 7D.
Image 5: The arches of San Jose is my favorite part of this mission. It’s located on the backside of the church. We were there at the perfect time towards the end of the day with the golden light. I wanted to capture the repeating elements, the arches and the shadows. The lower point of view, I think, adds some more interest to this photograph. This is an HDR image taken with the Sony NEX-5. I used my small table-top tripod to take 3 photos with -2, 0 and +2 stop exposures. Unfortunately, since the Sony does not do a 2 stop bracket (it only does 1/3 or 2/3 of a stop), I manually adjusted the exposure after each shot.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
All of the photographs were taken in RAW with the Sony NEX-5 and the Canon 7D. There were post processed using Aperture 3. I mainly added sharpness, increased color saturation and changed the white balance. The HDR was created using my standard process of using Photomatix for image blending, Pixelmator for layer blending and Aperture 3 for final adjustments.
Image 1: Sony NEX-5, f4, 1/500 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 23mm
Image 2: Canon 7D, f13, 6 secs, no exposure compensation, ISO 100 at 10mm
Image 3: Sony NEX-5, f13, 1/250 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 35mm
Image 4: Canon 7D, f13, 1/20 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 100 at 20mm
Image 5: Sony NEX-5, f11, 3 exposures, -2, 0, +2 exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 18mm
The Perfect Small Camera Bag for the Sony NEX-5
Lowepro Edit 120 and Sony NEX-5
NOTE: I finally finished my long detailed review on the NEX-5 and talk a bit about the new NEX-5n
I think I might have found the perfect camera bag for the Sony NEX-5 camera. It’s actually a camera bag I purchased over 5 years ago. I have now repurposed it for my mini NEX-5 travel kit. The Edit 120, by Lowepro was originally designed as a small camcorder bag. It is the perfect size to fit the camera, 2 kit lenses, the flash and a few more accessories.
If you look at the image below, you can see the NEX-5 with the 18 – 55mm kit lens and external flash attached (click on the photograph for a larger version). The main compartment has one adjustable divider. In my setup, I’ve created a small area that perfectly fits the Sony 16mm pancake lens on the left while I place my camera on the right. You can see that I have the lens hood attached backwards to save space. When I use the camera, I reverse the lens hood. If you don’t want to bother adjusting the lens hood when putting the camera away, you have some options. You can take out the divider and just put the camera in the main area with the lens hood in the readily usable orientation. If you still want to carry the 16mm lens, it can also fit in the front pocket. With my two compartment setup, I also found that the battery charger fits exactly in the space I created for the 16mm lens. Optionally the battery charger will also fit in the front pocket. However, I find that the front pocket is not large enough to comfortably fit both the charger and the 16mm lens.
NEX-5 inside Lowepro Edit 120
I’ve place two filters, a polarizing filter and a neutral density filter in the top mesh area just under the cover. There are also two external pockets on either side of the bag which I use to keep the external Sony flash (when not in use) and the lens caps. There is also enough room to put some more items in these side pockets. In the front pocket, there are 3 mesh inner pockets that are perfect for organizing extra SD cards, USB cables and other small accessories. As I mentioned above, you can optionally put the 16mm lens or battery charger in this area. See below for a view of the front pocket.
The Front Pocket
You can see that I do not use the Sony neck strap that came with the NEX-5. I’ve tested the bag and the NEX-5 will also fit with the neck strap attached. I wanted to keep my NEX-5 camera as small as possible so I decided to use a hand strap instead. And yes, that is a Canon hand strap that I have attached to Sony NEX camera. It’s off of my Canon camcorder which I don’t use as often. The bag is small and well-built. It has a nicely padded handle and a shoulder strap. It’s very light and perfect for carrying all day without strain. There are two ways to secure the cover, a velcro-type fastener which will keep the cover closed but allow quick access and a zipper that can completely close the top for extra security. Since I don’t use a neck strap, I find this bag really handy when I want to carry my NEX over my shoulder. I would shoot for a while with a hand strap and quickly put the camera into the Edit 120 bag when I want my hands free.
The Lowepro Edit 120
Best of all, the bag is inexpensive. A quick check of prices at B & H Photo or Amazon indicates that its running just under $18. I highly recommend this bag for a small NEX-5 setup which also has enough room to carry an extra lens and accessories.
Make sure to click on the photographs to get a larger version.
Other Sony NEX-5 blog posts
Here are some other posts I made about the Sony NEX-5.
Is the DSLR’s Domination Coming to an End?
Street Photography with the Sony NEX-5
Sony NEX-5 High ISO Performance
Sony NEX-5: A New Angle on Photography
In Search of an EVIL Camera
Sony NEX-5: A New Angle on Photography
Fallen Leaves – Austin, Texas
Two weeks ago I wrote a blog post called In Search of an EVIL Camera where I put my thoughts down about a new class of cameras. EVIL cameras have an electronic view finder and interchangeable lenses. They are hybrid cameras somewhere in size between an DSLR and point and shoot. The exciting thing is, may of these new cameras have image quality that is very close to or matches DSLR picture quality. Well, I decided to get one after all. If you read the EVIL camera post, you can tell that I was leaning towards the Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus E-PL1. As the title suggests, I did go with the Sony NEX-5 and I wanted to give some quick, initial impressions. This EVIL market is moving quickly, in the two weeks since I wrote my first post on the topic, Panasonic has introduced another camera, the DMC-GF2 that replaces the GF1. The GF2 has been shrunken and is only slightly larger than the Sony NEX-5. After reading some recent NEX-5 reviews at SteveHuffPhoto.com I became increasing convinced that I need to add this camera to my tool set. Steve Huff has several great articles on this little Sony so they are worth checking out.
While I did mention that neither the Sony or Olympus met all of my ideal requirements, an upcoming family vacation was a perfect opportunity to get a smaller and more nimble camera. The prospect of hauling around my 7D all day at Disneyland was not thrilling. While it will take wonderful photographs, I wanted a smaller and lighter package that will take great photographs and nice video clips. My wife asked me, if I brought the NEX-5 with me, am I still going to bring my Canon 7D? To the possible amusement (or disappointment) of my wife, I said, Yes, I’m still bringing my 7D. I’m just not going to be hauling it all day through the theme park. I plan to do some landscape photography on the beautiful California coast. For this, I will still use my primary, big DSLR with my super-wide lens. So yesterday, I took a trip down to Austin’s only remaining full service camera store, Precision Camera and purchased the NEX-5 with the 18-55mm and 16mm pancake lens. There is a special rebate going on right now so I effectively got the extra lens for $100.
I’ve shot a bunch of images last night and today and my first impressions have been very good. High ISO quality is decent, I’m not sure exactly how it compares with the 7D but they are both in the same ball park. It’s definitely way better than my older Canon 20D and Rebel XT DSLRs. The video has been alright but so far it has not blown me away. I believe it does focus better than any current DSLR or EVIL camera but it still does mis-focus from time to time — especially when there is a background with a lot of contrast behind the subject. This is behavior that I was familiar with before I purchased the camera. Time will tell if it affects my video taking in real life situations. What I’m really enjoying is the small form factor and the ease at which I take photographs from different angles. The small and light camera in combination with the flip-up LCD screen really allows me to easily maneuver the camera. The image above of the fallen leaves is one that would be very cumbersome to capture with my 7D. The photograph was taken just inches off the wet ground and all I had to do was hold it from above and compose with the flip-up LCD. My DSLR will require me to lay down on the wet ground to get this shot. If you think of it, there are very few cameras that can easily (without getting on the ground) capture this image with this quality and shallow DOF. Point and shoots or even the micro four thirds cameras from Olympus don’t have this shallow DOF. Only a hand full of DSLRs currently have flip up LCD screens. Canon has the new 60D, Nikon has the D5000 and several of the Sony DSLRs have these articulated screens. And none of these DSLRs are as light and easy to position. So yes, I am very thrilled with the Sony NEX-5 just from the maneuverability point of view. Image quality wise, I’ve gotten some great sharp images. Our family dog, Lucky is always willing to help out when testing new photography equipment. The image below is another one of those low angle shots similar to the leaves.
Lucky on Dog Bed – Austin, Texas
As I get more time with the Sony NEX-5, I will do more posts about it. So far so good, I’m amazed by its compact size. The images look great and the video seems to be usable. The big test will come when I put it though its paces on my family trip.
My Thought Process
I believe making interesting photos sometimes require a different point of view. With both images, I got down low and up close to the subject. I wanted to get the texture of the leaves and blur out any distractions in the background. With my dog, I made sure to focus on his eyes to get them sharp while the shallow DOF made the rest of his head slightly out of focus. People tend to gravitate towards the eyes so photos of people as well as animals look fine as long as the eyes are in focus.
[Note: Click on the images for a larger version]
Image Details
Both images were taken with the Sony NEX-5 with the 18-55mm kit lens, handheld and in JPEG. I used Aperture 3 to add some color saturation, vignette and sharpness.
Image 1: f5, 1/320 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 200 at 46mm
Image 2: f4.5, 1/25 sec, no exposure compensation, ISO 1600 at 19mm
