Yesterday many of us here in SA who follow the photographic news would have woken to the announcement of Sony’s new addition or division to the Alpha range, the NEX-5 and NEX-3. Today I briefly held a working sample of the NEX-5 in my hands. (The NEX-3 was just a dummy).

So what are the first thoughts then on the new ‘revolutionary’ camera? To be honest I am a little mixed. I think the concept Sony have gone for is clever and unique (having recently played with the Panasonic Lumix GF-1) and for that they should be commended. The challenge is that while the NEX-5 is amazingly small – smaller than the Panasonic by far which is amazing when you thing the sensor it has is bigger, APC vs the Micro Four Thirds – the kit 18-55mm lens is out of proportion when compared to the body and the user interface is far more Cyber-shot, compact camera orientated than DSLR styled.

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