Sony NEX-7 Review
This is a big gun in a small package. Considering the sensor has been ported from the A65 and A77 you would expect a fairly zinging performance and you’re not wrong!
The interchangeable lens, magnesium alloy bodied NEX-7 would also seem to gain from the absence of a partially-silvered mirror in the light path. However, as with all NEX cameras and most lenses, the smallish body is outweighed by the lens, so — with f3.5/18-55mm review lens attached — pocketable it wasn’t!
The 24.3 megapixel image capture produces a maximum 6000×4000 pixel image, so big prints? You betcha!
Video capture is right up there too, with Full HD 1920×1080 on tap. When shooting a video such matters as AF, manual focus and auto exposure are very smoothly in play; but you can’t shoot stills at the same time.
Sony NEX-7 Features
The viewing situation is excellent, with a 7.6cm LCD screen at the rear and a high res turret finder for eye level viewing, auto switchable with eye contact.
However, I could curse the designer who placed the tiny dioptric control wheel slap up against the eye-level finder, almost impossible to roll in either direction.
While we’re in whinge mode I also found it quite a chore to load/remove the memory card … the slot is hard up against the compartment hinge. So, a hinge whinge!
The LCD screen is tiltable through a vertical arc but does not rotate horizontally; in spite of this, with the screen tilted upwards, the camera can be attached to a tripod.
The inbuilt flash will be a help as a fill light but, with a Guide Number of 6 (ISO 100/metres) it will not be of much use for group photos unless you wind up the ISO setting.
There are ten external controls, including power, shutter, replay etc plus two unmarked control dials on top which respectively, handle exposure compensation and aperture/shutter speed. Warning: they’re easy to bump!
Much of the rest of the camera’s operation — PASM, image size, ISO setting etc — can be accessed via the ultra-clear viewfinder menu.
Claimed to be the “world’s fastest burst shooting speed of any mirrorless interchangeable lens camera”, the NEX-7 can fire off a round of shots at 10 fps. That’s 10 6000×4000 shots every second, with focus fixed at the first frame!
The camera’s Picture Effect mode offers in-camera effects that comprise 11 modes and 15 effects, such as new HDR Painting, Soft Focus, Miniature and Rich-Tone Mono. Other attractions include 3D Sweep Panorama, Soft Skin, Anti Motion Blur Modes etc.
The relatively small number of scene modes (eight) include twilight shooting, sports action, sunset etc.
Now a confession: the camera was so new there was no instruction manual available to help with the review, so if there are omissions please be kind to me!
Sony NEX-7 ISO Tests
Only when ISO 3200 was reached were there signs of image noise; sharpness and colour quality OK.
By ISO 6400 noise was slightly up but the image was still useable.
By ISO 12,800 noise up further but still — depending on the shot — still useable. Definition surprisingly good.
At ISO 25,600 noise was quite noticeable but image sharpness still acceptable. An amazing performance.
Sony NEX-7 Verdict
Quality: the camera displayed exceptionally good image quality and sharpness, along with an enjoyable easy operator interface.
Why you’d buy the NEX-7: access to E-mount lenses, Carl Zeiss and (via an adaptor) Sony A-mount optics.
Why you wouldn’t: you prefer external control of exposure modes; with lens attached the camera is not pocketable; pricey.
A significant camera that could shoot right up there with most DSLRs, but is as easy to use as a snapshot camera.
Sony NEX-7 Specifications
Image Sensor: 24.3 million effective pixels.
Metering: 49 zone multi segment, centre-weighted, spot.
Lens Mount: Sony E-mount.
Exposure Modes: Program AE, shutter and aperture priority, manual.
Effective Sensor Size: 23.5×15.6mm HD CMOS.
35 SLR Lens Factor: 1.5x.
Shutter Speed (stills): 30 to 1/4000 second and Bulb.
Continuous Shooting: 3-10 fps.
Memory: SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo cards.
Image Sizes (pixels): Stills: 6000×4000 to 3008×1688.
Movies: 1920×1080 (AVCHD); 1440×1080, 640×480 (MPEG4).
Viewfinder: Eye level 1.3cm (2.36 million); 7.6cm LCD screen (921,600 pixels).
File Formats: JPEG, RAW (Sony ARW), JPEG+RAW, MPEG4, AVCHD.
Colour Space: sRGB, Adobe RGB.
ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 100 to 16000.
Interface: USB 2.0, HDMI mini, ext mic.
Power: Rechargeable lithium ion battery, DC input.
Dimensions: 119.9×69.9×42.6 WHDmm.
Weight: 291 g (body only).
Price: Get a price on the Sony Alpha NEX-7 (Body Only) or Sony Alpha NEX-7 with 18-55mm Lens
10 Responses to “Sony NEX-7 Review” - Add Yours
January 27th, 2012 at 11:11 am
When will it be available..? I have been using a NEX 5N for the past few months and I am totally amazed by what it can do. My Canon 7D and 60D have scarcely seen the light of day since I got it and I can’t imagine that there is a another camera that will do what the 5N does. I want a NEX 7 in the worst way . . . . When? When? will it become available? Money is not an object!
January 27th, 2012 at 11:43 am
I just got the NEX 5N, we love it. I also have my canons and L series Lenses but I am amazed at the low light capability on the NEX 5N. I am hearing the 5N is better in Low Light than the NEX 7, is this accurate info?
January 27th, 2012 at 11:45 am
In Reply to Jay Jenkins, I know what you mean, I am so scared that my Canons are going to become obsolete. What lens are you using on the NEX 5N? I need lenses that are the same quality as my canon L series lenses,
January 28th, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Why are so many people hung up on what is “pocketable”?? If you want pocketable, go out and buy a tiny camera. If you want quality and amazing IQ, buy the correct sized camera. Enough of this worn out cliche already.
January 29th, 2012 at 12:28 am
Rather odd that the term “pocketability” should pop up in reference to the Sony NEX cameras Jason. I don’t seem to recall seeing the term used in any of the comments made here. People who own this camera suffer no illusions in this respect. It would be obvious, even to an uninformed person . . . . that the capabilities of the NEX cameras (low light espically) are why astute photographers are flocking to the Sony units. If I want a pockatability (maybe the term “portability” will satisfy those who are hung up on semantics) I choose my Canon S100 or my LUMIX LX5. However, if I have really really large pockets, I will choose my Canon 7D or my Canon 60D. Discreet and dimunitive are not their strong points either. Semantics aside, those who can afford high end DSLR’s, will discover that size isn’t everything. Jay Jenkins
January 29th, 2012 at 12:53 am
Jay, You missed my point. As an NEX owner, I am very aware of the amazing features of this camera. I bought mine not only because it was a very capable camera and I wanted something which would perform better in low-light shooting than my current DSLR. The size is much smaller than my current DSLR as well. My point was that the opening lines of this review along with the “Cons” listed for this camera both stated “Not pocketable” which I see is a ridiculous reason mention since most people who0 want a quality piece of gear are more interested in IQ and build rather than sheer size alone. Though no previous comments mention this does not make my point any less valid and reading other reviews and comments on other forums, seeing this concern about “pocketablilty” makes me wonder why people dont just consider a smaller camera if their top priority is why simply fits into a pocket.
January 30th, 2012 at 2:49 am
Actually Jason I didn’t miss your point, in fact I’m in total agreement with you. What I did miss was Barrie Smith’s “pocketable it wasn’t” comment. I’ve seen it so often in reference to this camera that I guess I skipped over it. This omission on my part is forgivable due in part to all of the very good points that you have stated. And, more to the point, Sony never mentions the term in it’s advertising. However, given the very nature of any “reviewer’s” style sheet, I don’t think we will ever see the term fall out of favor. They gotta find something wrong with it.
Overall though, it was a pretty decent review when compared to the plethora of review’s that we are seeing regarding this amazing instrument. It seems that each and every one of them wants to make an issue of the remarkable, ergonomically astute size of this camera. My point is : Where in the hell can I get a NEX 7? Good shooting to you Jason – Jay Jenkins
January 30th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
I used to own a NEX-5 (got stolen), and purchased a NEX-3 as replacement. I can’t say enough good things about the camera, except its miserable low light conditions. I work a lot with band/musicians, thus, low light/bar type shooting is part of my shooting equation.
For sports, bands, portraits, etc. I won’t leave my Canon gear at home, for smaller, fast projects, I’ve reached out to my NEX-3 quite frequently. I’m interested in the NEX-7, but not at the planned price tag.
February 4th, 2012 at 1:30 am
It’s unfortunate that it’s still unavailable here in Canada. As soon as the NEX-7 arrives in stores, I’m snapping one up!
February 6th, 2012 at 7:49 am
Luckily I was able to get one a few weeks ago–legally!! It is one wonderful camera though its menu system tends to drive me bonkers. Maybe its age. One might pocket it with the 50mm kit lens, but who would want to? Using adapters, Metabones and Novoflex, I can use my Canon, Zeiss and Leica lenses. It’s something like paradise.No more schlepping a 5DII around with heavy artillery, maybe!!
If one is afraid of too much noise from 24 pixels trying to breathe in a narrow space, one might well keep the 5N and/or buy the 7. The price of the 5N camera is so relatively cheap and to some even preferable to the 7.
If one could not afford a $4,000-$7000 camera wht then not buy a 7? It’s so close to or equal to those biggere cameras that the only excuse soon for owning them will be for using a 3-6lb lens. But with a tripod and lens collar the 5N or 7 would be wonderful, just look strange, if your too concerned about what looks macho.
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