Travel Photography - Perhaps The Greatest Travel Camera Ever?

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1108/11082419sonynex7overview.asp

I can't wait for this model to come out - pricy for sure, but for the (hopeful) picture quality, lens versatility, creative/manual flexibility and the ability to fit the camera is a very small space, I cant think of anything on or coming to the market which betters this camera.

We'll have to wait for reviews. I'm a bit leery of squeezing all of those pixels onto that sensor size. We'll have to see what sacrifices/voodoo they had to do.

Samples of the A77 do show issue with noise due to the pixel density. But that's in comparison with other DSLRs. When put into a travel-friendly compact, I suspect it will compare very favorably to miniscule-sensor'ed P&Ss.

As a pocket-able carry-around, this type of a design is quite promising. I'd love to have a G-series sized Canon that can reuse my smaller EF lenses and use a xxD-sized sensor.

Has the EVIL acronym (electronic viewfinder, interchangeable lens) been replaced by MILC (mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera)?

Pocketable? o.O Have you seen the NEX line once it has a lens on it?

If we're going to compare this camera's image quality to a minuscule sensor P&S then we might as well compare it to a full frame sensor DSLR. All three are different categories and classes of camera.

Pocketable? o.O Have you seen the NEX line once it has a lens on it?

If we're going to compare this camera's image quality to a minuscule sensor P&S then we might as well compare it to a full frame sensor DSLR. All three are different categories and classes of camera.

It depends on what lens you put on it - which is the beauty of this model. You can make it as small or big as you want, even to the extreme of adding the Canon adapter and their 28-200 L glass white monster.

It depends on what lens you put on it - which is the beauty of this model. You can make it as small or big as you want, even to the extreme of adding the Canon adapter and their 28-200 L glass white monster.

Have been waiting for the NEX-7. Didn't realize I could use my Canon lenses with it--Wow!

It depends on what lens you put on it - which is the beauty of this model. You can make it as small or big as you want, even to the extreme of adding the Canon adapter and their 28-200 L glass white monster.

Problem is, the only lens you'll be able to put on it and keep it in the pocket realm is a pancake prime. If you want any flexibility in focal length at all, you're instantly out of the pocket camera group. Even the smallest zoom for this body will make it unpocketable. I thought about the idea of getting a NEX and using adapters to use my dslr lenses but then I realized I might was well carry my dslr body at that point.

IMHO, they'd have done better to put a low noise 10-12 MP sensor in it, rather than playing specsmanship games.

Have been waiting for the NEX-7. Didn't realize I could use my Canon lenses with it--Wow!

Well, sort of. You won't have any aperture control with EOS lenses.

Here's the problem with the NEX7 - they don't have any native AF lenses that can keep up with the current sensor, let alone the new one. IMHO, AF is very important in travel photography, I'm frequently shooting from a moving car/bus/plane/boat.

On top of the poor quality, the lenses are gigantic. Using a-mount lenses addresses the IQ issue to some degree, but the AF is slow, and the lenses are even larger yet. Add the new PDAF adapter and the system is even larger yet.

The micro four thirds camp has such a huge lead on compact, very high quality lenses, it's a shame their sensors are a generation behind. They even have a pancake zoom!

As a pocket-able carry-around, this type of a design is quite promising. I'd love to have a G-series sized Canon that can reuse my smaller EF lenses and use a xxD-sized sensor.

That's not a pocketable camera if it has a lens on it.

Well, sort of. You won't have any aperture control with EOS lenses....

That is one of the current problems with the NEX3/5, but we don't know if the NEX7 will have the same issue - since this and the lack of autofocus was a big problem for the current models, I would think Sony would address this.

That is one of the current problems with the NEX3/5, but we don't know if the NEX7 will have the same issue - since this and the lack of autofocus was a big problem for the current models, I would think Sony would address this.

On EOS lenses, the aperture is electronically controlled by the body.

Why in the world would Sony be interested in hacking their control algorithm and incorporating it in their body so people could use the competitors lenses.

On EOS lenses, the aperture is electronically controlled by the body.

Why in the world would Sony be interested in hacking their control algorithm and incorporating it in their body so people could use the competitors lenses.

Because customers have demanded it, and it extends the usability and appeal of the body.

I saw a couple of the current models of Sony NEX range and I have to admit though they are good. The shape and structure do not appeal to me. :td:

Because customers have demanded it, and it extends the usability and appeal of the body.

As an owner of at least 7 EOS EF or EF-S mount lenses, I now demand Canon makes an adapter for the Sony NEX bodies, since it extends the usability and appeal of those lenses. :p

As an owner of at least 7 EOS EF or EF-S mount lenses, I now demand Canon makes an adapter for the Sony NEX bodies, since it extends the usability and appeal of those lenses. :p

There are adapters on the market already, including higher quality options from Rayqual.

The issue is allowing auto-focus management from the body, which would require some engineering from the Sony side - which might make its way into the Nex7 software.

The issue is allowing auto-focus management from the body, which would require some engineering from the Sony side - which might make its way into the Nex7 software.

Point is, that's not going to happen. Sony doesn't develop the NEX as bodies to use other manufacturers' lenses. They developed a whole new E-mount for them, so it's going to be a system that they probably hope will dominate/leadthe mirrorless interchangeable market. Makes no sense for them to support lenses of other systems.

How come the aperture looks so slow. I am missing something for a camera of this price with such a limited zoom?

How come the aperture looks so slow. I am missing something for a camera of this price with such a limited zoom?

It is an camera system with interchangeable lens. If you want fast lenses, there's a 50/1.8 and a Zeiss 24/1.8. If you want big zoom range, there's a 18-200.

Brand new review of the NEX-7 here (http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/sony-alpha-nex-7-hands-on-preview-video/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews)

$1350 is quite pricey for being a compact system kit, size is significant bigger than the NEX-C3. I am considering the Panasonic GF-3 or GF-2 for travel camera.

Brand new review of the NEX-7 here (http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/sony-alpha-nex-7-hands-on-preview-video/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews)

$1350 is quite pricey for being a compact system kit, size is significant bigger than the NEX-C3. I am considering the Panasonic GF-3 or GF-2 for travel camera.

I am not looking at this camera as a compact system kit, but a DSL in a smaller form factor. If the quality holds up (and I'd be looking to dpreview for the eval, not engadget), this camera is a winner - an A77 at half the size and weight and somewhat cheaper.

What I *really* want is the Sigma SD1, but not at $6,000 - this would be my second choice, pending more information on the spectrum of lenses it will be able to handle with/without adapters.

pending more information on the spectrum of lenses it will be able to handle with/without adapters.

No adapter: Only e-mount lenses. Currently, only available from Sony and they range from bad to average. There is a Zeiss prime coming soon though. This is the huge glaring weakness in the NEX system that Sony should have addressed before launching a body like this. Micro four-thirds absolutely stomps NEX in lens selection and quality.

Adapter w/AF: Sony A-mount lenses, ranging from "meh" to pretty good. Two adapters, one uses the Contrast Detect AF (and AF's these lenses SLOW) and one that uses Phase Detect AF, and is the same speed as the A77 apparently.

Adapter w/MF: Pretty much any lens ever made. C-mount, M42, Leica M, Nikon, Canon, four-thirds ... you name it. Aperture control will depend on the lens. Anything electronic (for example Canon EOS) will not work, or require a very expensive adapter.

Because customers have demanded it, and it extends the usability and appeal of the body.

Sometimes, this works. When Olympus added Image Stabilization inside the body of their 4/3 cameras, it originally only supported their modern electronic lenses, despite the fact that many folks who bought into 4/3 did so because of the ease of adapting mechanical legacy lenses from various older lensmounts. Market pressure eventually forced them to add a mode whereby the IS could be manually set for the appropriate focal length, thus enabling it to support older lenses. I personally use an older manual Nikkor AI 300mm f2.8 on my Olympus 4/3 bodies, with manual focus (I swapped out the factory screen for a split image groundglass screen) to take advantage of the in-body image stabilization. The modern Olympus 300mm f2.8 with autofocus is a $6000 lens, while my used manual focus Nikkor 300mm f2.8 AI is optically it's equal, and it cost me under $400 on ebay.

Too bad they don't have a normal prime that rivals the Panasonic 20mm or Samsung 30mm in size and speed. If they did, I would switch to NEX in a heartbeat.

Pocketable, schmocketable! Why does a good travel camera have to be pocketable? Your second camera can be pocketable, your main camera should have quality and capability. (See below that I personally don't always take my own advice).

I just got a Sony NEX-5n to replace my NEX-5 and would like to put it up there as the best travel camera (but only at this point in time -- not 'ever'). The NEX-7 is beautiful and has great features to appeal to advanced amateurs and pros, but the NEX-5n is smaller (no, not pocketable!) and has a 16 mega-pixel sensor that is outstanding in low light. (Don't believe me? See the latest vreview on DPReview.com). Pair the 5n with the Sony 16mm pancake lens (admitedly a good, but not great lens) and you have a package that's perfect (IMHO) for walking around. Add the 18-55m kit zoom (better but still not a great lens) and your've got a nice little kit.

I had a blast last June using the NEX-5 as a second camera to my Canon 5D in Spain. Going out to dinner? Take the NEX. Going to a museum? Take the NEX. Rainy day? Take the NEX. Come to think of it, with the pancake, I did manage to stick it in a pocket a few times.

I would have no trouble taking the NEX kit alone on a trip. Better lenses would be nice, and I'm sure they'll come, but the NEX is a neat little package.

Pocketable, schmocketable! Why does a good travel camera have to be pocketable? Your second camera can be pocketable, your main camera should have quality and capability. (See below that I personally don't always take my own advice).

I just got a Sony NEX-5n to replace my NEX-5 and would like to put it up there as the best travel camera (but only at this point in time -- not 'ever'). The NEX-7 is beautiful and has great features to appeal to advanced amateurs and pros, but the NEX-5n is smaller (no, not pocketable!) and has a 16 mega-pixel sensor that is outstanding in low light. (Don't believe me? See the latest vreview on DPReview.com). Pair the 5n with the Sony 16mm pancake lens (admitedly a good, but not great lens) and you have a package that's perfect (IMHO) for walking around. Add the 18-55m kit zoom (better but still not a great lens) and your've got a nice little kit.

I had a blast last June using the NEX-5 as a second camera to my Canon 5D in Spain. Going out to dinner? Take the NEX. Going to a museum? Take the NEX. Rainy day? Take the NEX. Come to think of it, with the pancake, I did manage to stick it in a pocket a few times.

I would have no trouble taking the NEX kit alone on a trip. Better lenses would be nice, and I'm sure they'll come, but the NEX is a neat little package.

I purchased a NEX-3 with the thought of having it asa secondary camera to my canon rebel xs. after only using it twice, i decided to sell my canon. i still have my lens' and i plan to buy an adaptor to continue to use them. i agree that more nex lens options are needed, but the 18-55mm suits me just fine for now. i find the weight to be perfect and is a great travel camera.

I can only imagine how much better the NEX-7 will be.

Pocketable, schmocketable! Why does a good travel camera have to be pocketable? Your second camera can be pocketable, your main camera should have quality and capability. (See below that I personally don't always take my own advice).

I just got a Sony NEX-5n to replace my NEX-5 and would like to put it up there as the best travel camera (but only at this point in time -- not 'ever'). The NEX-7 is beautiful and has great features to appeal to advanced amateurs and pros, but the NEX-5n is smaller (no, not pocketable!) and has a 16 mega-pixel sensor that is outstanding in low light. (Don't believe me? See the latest vreview on DPReview.com). Pair the 5n with the Sony 16mm pancake lens (admitedly a good, but not great lens) and you have a package that's perfect (IMHO) for walking around. Add the 18-55m kit zoom (better but still not a great lens) and your've got a nice little kit.

I had a blast last June using the NEX-5 as a second camera to my Canon 5D in Spain. Going out to dinner? Take the NEX. Going to a museum? Take the NEX. Rainy day? Take the NEX. Come to think of it, with the pancake, I did manage to stick it in a pocket a few times.

I would have no trouble taking the NEX kit alone on a trip. Better lenses would be nice, and I'm sure they'll come, but the NEX is a neat little package.

Thanks for the review, walttom. I've been looking at the Sony NEX-5N as a possible totable camera, if not exactly pocketable. I love my Canon EOS 40D, the pictures are great, but the darn thing is just so heavy and cumbersome I find myself leaving it at home at home a lot. The NEX 5N sounds like an easier carry around.

If you're shopping now, be sure to check out the micro-four-thirds cameras by Olympus and Panasonic. The lens selection is FAR superior in both selection and quality, and IMHO strike a better balance of size vs image quality as the lenses are smaller.

An Olympus EPM1 or Panasonic GF3 with any of the pancake lenses (14, 17, 20) will be as close to pocketable as any "large sensor" camera can be.

Also, be SURE to try out the Sonys before buying. The UI is weird. Some like it a lot, others hate it with a passion. Nobody is in the middle (can learn to deal with it) it seems.

I'm am drooling all over this camera.

Here is a review with tons of pics:

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2011/10/23/the-sony-nex-7-digital-camera-review-by-steve-huff/

If you're shopping now, be sure to check out the micro-four-thirds cameras by Olympus and Panasonic. The lens selection is FAR superior in both selection and quality, and IMHO strike a better balance of size vs image quality as the lenses are smaller.

An Olympus EPM1 or Panasonic GF3 with any of the pancake lenses (14, 17, 20) will be as close to pocketable as any "large sensor" camera can be.

Also, be SURE to try out the Sonys before buying. The UI is weird. Some like it a lot, others hate it with a passion. Nobody is in the middle (can learn to deal with it) it seems.

Agree agree agree.

Sony's NEX system is another example of Sony trying to create another standard (think MemoryStick and the countless others) :confused: I looked at the NEX cameras before going with the Micro 4/3rds standard for my smaller-than-DSLR kit. I ended up with both the Olympus PEN E-P1 and the Panasonic GF-1. Both with their pancake lenses are pretty compact, although neither will fit in my jeans pocket. Additionally, I can adapt other lenses like my old manual-focus (and manual aperture control) Canon FD lenses to the bodies.

The UI comment is dead on - I couldn't stand the Sony NEX's UI. I didn't find it intuitive at all. Try before buying =]

why get one of those when i can get a leica M8 for only a few dollars more?

Your definition of a "few" must be different than mine.

Quick google search:
M8 from $5110 (new)
Nex7 from $1348

Even if you go with a used M8, it's still basically double the price.

If it lives up to the stats, I nominate this as way up there on the "greatest travel camera ever" list:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/canon/announcements/new-canon-powershot-g1-x

Canon Powershot S-100 for only half the price (and half size and weight) as the G1X. It makes excellent photos and videos.
Only con: exposure time > 1 seconds works only with ISO 80.

As for the new Canon S100 and the very new Canon G1x I'll take the G1x because of the larger sensor and better ergonomics. Used to have a G10 (which had a small sensor like the S90, S95 and S100) and loved the handling and the dials on top that save you going into the menus for some settings.

As for the 'world's greatest travel camera' I'm afraid the prize will be going to a different camera every month this year since we're seeing so many new and interesting cameras coming out these days.

Only con: exposure time > 1 seconds works only with ISO 80.

Well, that and the complete lack of control over depth of field, the complete loss of detail at >ISO400, and not having any lens options (the only downside to the G1X)

Well, that and the complete lack of control over depth of field, the complete loss of detail at >ISO400, and not having any lens options (the only downside to the G1X)

Yeah, the depth of field on flash pictures is very bad. I figure it goes with the territory, though--step the lens down enough and the flash won't have the power anyway.

the form factor of the Sony NEX series, and some of those enthusiast compact/professional compact/mounted 4/3rds are perplexing....

whats the point in a tiny body if theres a big lens to it? doesnt make it more compact to carry. if its not pocketable, might as well put on a bigger body that allows for better ergonomics

That's a crazy amount of megapixels for a point and shoot camera. It'll be interesting to see what type of quality shots this thing produces.

OMG. .24 MP? pass.
who needs 24MP? if you need 24MP, you probably aren't shooting a point and shoot.. seriously.. you're printing kitchen wall sized prints at that MP count.. you may want a more versatile body/lens combination..

MP is being upped now for marketing pruposes.. and all it does it cramp up my storage space. :(
give me a 12MP and i'm happy. and $1200??? wow.

OMG. .24 MP? pass.
who needs 24MP? if you need 24MP, you probably aren't shooting a point and shoot.. seriously.. you're printing kitchen wall sized prints at that MP count.. you may want a more versatile body/lens combination..

MP is being upped now for marketing pruposes.. and all it does it cramp up my storage space. :(
give me a 12MP and i'm happy. and $1200??? wow.

I am also looking at this camera as somewhat of a rangefinder alternative - so instead of pairing it with a poor quality wide-to-zoom lens from Sigma or Tamron, I can get higher quality wide angle and 35MM lenses and use the latter to take shots where I will crop instead of zoom and expect 24MP plus high quality will deliver crisp results up to 200MM of zoom comparable to a zoom lens of that length - or so my theory goes.

I think Point and Shoot is so much easier to carry round than a full DSLR! But I so want an DSLR just because it looks so coool!

I'm confused ... When did we start talking point and shoot?

The NEX7 and G1X have DSLR sensors in a smaller body/lens combination due to the removal of the mirror possible by live view

I think Point and Shoot is so much easier to carry round than a full DSLR! But I so want an DSLR just because it looks so coool!

I don't care about cool but I definitely prefer my DSLR.

1) Better image quality. While the megapixels are about the same the DSLR images simply look better.

2) *FAR* better flash performance. My P&S (despite being good for a P&S) will have trouble when taking a table of people--the depth of field isn't good enough.

3) The P&S is so small that I have a hard time maintaining the exact aim while pressing the trigger.

4) The DSLR is far more responsive to the trigger. This can matter if you're shooting moving things.

5) The fixed flash means no bouncing it. I wasn't one bit happy a couple of months ago because all I had along was my P&S and there was some artwork on the wall that did a nasty job of reflecting back the flash--I could simply have tipped the flash on my DSLR up and it would have looked far better.

6) I normally run my DSLR in 3-shot bracketing mode when I'm not using the flash. The P&S won't bracket, you have to manually dial in EV corrections if you want them.

Yeah, the depth of field on flash pictures is very bad. I figure it goes with the territory, though--step the lens down enough and the flash won't have the power anyway.

2) *FAR* better flash performance. My P&S (despite being good for a P&S) will have trouble when taking a table of people--the depth of field isn't good enough.

I am not familiar with this use of the term "depth of field" relating to flash. Care to explain?

Usually, depth of field refers to the amount of the image (front to back) that is considered in focus, and is controlled by the lens aperture (and to some degree, the sensor size)

I am not familiar with this use of the term "depth of field" relating to flash. Care to explain?

Usually, depth of field refers to the amount of the image (front to back) that is considered in focus, and is controlled by the lens aperture (and to some degree, the sensor size)

The problem is that my P&S opens the lens so wide in order to get the flash picture at all that the depth of field is too small. If you were to step down the lens (I don't know if it's even possible) you wouldn't have enough light.

I'm not changing the meaning at all.

Yes, but even wide open, every P&S I am aware of has essentially infinite DOF due to the small sensor/short focal length

Yes, but even wide open, every P&S I am aware of has essentially infinite DOF due to the small sensor/short focal length

I was noticing a bit of depth-of-field issues in flash pictures at anything beyond 28mm on the zoom.

the greatest travel camera ever was for me the canon 5D mark II with 28-105mm....

I was noticing a bit of depth-of-field issues in flash pictures at anything beyond 28mm on the zoom.

The lenses on compacts are usually variable aperture and choke down fast. My guess is that you are seeing the effects of heavy handed noise reduction smearing away all the detail as the amount of light from the flash drops off more than it being technically out of focus, but in any regard, I can see how that would lead to an unsatisfactory image.

The lenses on compacts are usually variable aperture and choke down fast. My guess is that you are seeing the effects of heavy handed noise reduction smearing away all the detail as the amount of light from the flash drops off more than it being technically out of focus, but in any regard, I can see how that would lead to an unsatisfactory image.

I can force the focus onto the more distant targets and they will be clear but the near stuff will have problems.

When we are out for some sort of celebration my wife likes pictures that include the food.

the greatest travel camera ever was for me the canon 5D mark II with 28-105mm....

I think you mean the 24-105mm.. same for me..

although now i carry a 17-40L with a 70-300L but that 5D2 w/ 24-105 is truly money.