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Sony Launches New Generation NEX Cameras

The Nex Arrives!

Sony launched their new generation NEX cameras in Singapore with the surprise reveal of a new product to come.

The NEX 3 & 5 (NEX stands for New E-Mount eXperience) are compact digital cameras with DSLR-sized APS-C sensors and interchangeable lenses, all of which promise excellent DSLR-like photo quality with none of the bulk of a traditional DSLR. The NEX cameras reduce size and weight by losing the mirrors found in DSLR cameras, which allows them to build smaller lenses as well.

Sony also introduced the new E-mount found on the NEX bodies which complement the existing Sony A-mount found on Alpha DSLRs. While Alpha lenses can be used on the NEX cameras with the help of an adapter, the new E-mount lenses cannot be mounted onto existing Alpha DSLR cameras due to the differences in size and technology. Even though auto-focus capability is lost with the use of the adapter, a Sony spokesman told us that they don't rule out the possibility of adapters which allow the use of auto-focus with Alpha lenses in the future.

Sony Senior General Manager of the Personal Imaging & Sound Business Group, Toru Katsumoto (centre), was at the launch to promote the NEX cameras, together with Taisuke Nakanishi, Managing Director of Sony Singapore (second from right).

The NEX-5 is the higher-end model, with full 1080i video recording in AVCHD and a magnesium alloy body. It weighs 229g and measures 110.8mm × 58.8mm × 38.2mm.

The NEX-3, shown here with the lens jacket accessories, records video at 1280 x 720 to MP4 and has a plastic body. You can tell the NEX-5 and 3 apart by their colors and the smaller hand-grip on the NEX-3. The NEX-3 weighs a slightly heavier 239g and is slightly bigger at 117.2 x 62.6 x 33.4mm.

An NEX-5 with the new high-zoom 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 E-mount lens. The NEX cameras have a crop factor of 1.5 which effectively makes this lens a 27-300mm.

An NEX-5 with a Sony Alpha 70-200mm lens and E-mount adapter.

The NEX cameras can capture 3D panoramas which you can view with the help of 3D glasses and a BRAVIA TV with 3D support.

3 lenses will be available at launch, a wide-angle 16mm F2.8, a standard zoom 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 and a high-zoom 18-200mm F3.5-6.3. An ultra-wide and a fisheye converter will also be available, as well as an A-mount adapter.

New Interchangeable Lens Full HD Camcorder

Together with the launch of the NEX cameras came the unexpected reveal of a new camcorder currently in development. It has the same interchangeable lens system for use as the new E-mount lenses (existing Alpha lenses can be used with the help of an adapter, we assume that like with the NEX cameras, the auto-focus function will be lost). The camera records to 1920 x 1080 using the AVCHD codec and an EXMOR APS-sized CMOS sensor. Sony mentioned that more details will be available soon.

A mock-up of the new interchangeable lens camcorder was on display.

NEX Cameras Pricing & Availablity

The NEX cameras are slated to be on sale in mid to end June.

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