Sony α NEX-5

Overview
Type	Mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
Intro price	$649.99 (with 16mm f2.8 lens) $699.99 (with 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 lens)
Lens
Lens	Sony E-mount
Sensor/medium
Sensor	23.4 × 15.6 mm Exmor APS-C HD CMOS Sensor
Maximum resolution	4592 × 3056 (14.2 megapixels)
Film speed	Auto, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800
Storage media	Memory Stick Pro Duo, Pro-HG Duo, SD, SDHC, SDXC
Focusing
Focus modes	Contrast-detection auto-focus, 25 multi-point, Centre-weighted, Flexible Spot
Exposure/metering
Exposure modes	Intelligent Auto, Program, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual, Scene modes
Exposure metering	Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Metering modes	Multi-segment, Centre-weighted, Spot
Flash
Flash	External flash (bundled)
Shutter
Shutter speed range	1/4000 - 30 sec, BULB
Continuous shooting	2.3 frame/s, 7 frame/s in speed priority mode
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optional external optical viewfinder
General
LCD screen	3.0 in (76 mm) XtraFine TruBlack LCD, 920,000 pixels
Battery	NP-FW50, InfoLITHIUM, 7.2 V, 1080 mAh, 7.7 Wh, Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery
Dimensions	111 mm × 59 mm × 38 mm
Weight	Approx. 287 g (10.1 oz) (camera body, card and battery)
Made in	Japan

The Sony α NEX-5 is a digital camera launched on 11 May 2010.^[1] It is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with the body size of a larger model fairly compact point-and-shoot camera with a larger sensor size (APS-C) comparable to that of some digital single-lens reflex cameras. Its major competitors in the market are the cameras based on the micro 4/3 standard created by Panasonic and Olympus, and a few low end Canon, Nikon, and even Sony α DSLRs.^[2] The NEX-5 shoots 14.2 megapixel stills and has a 7 frame/s continuous shotmode.^[3] It has the capability to shoot 1920×1080i at 60 frame/s in AVCHD or 1440×1080p at 30 frame/s in MPEG4. The NEX-5 was replaced by the 16 megapixel NEX-5N in August 2011.

The α NEX-5 has features found in SLR cameras but also some that are normally found in point and shoots. The body of the α NEX-5 is made of magnesium alloy that separates the NEX-5 from the less expensive polymer NEX-3. Also different from the NEX-3 is video quality. The NEX-5 can shoot in AVCHD 1080/60i HD. There is a 7 frame/s continuous shot mode, with autofocus disabled after the first frame. The APS-C sized sensor has an ISO sensitivity up to 12,800.^[3] The camera software has special features like twilight mode and sweep panorama. The latter lets the photographer sweep across a city-sky line or similar long view and have the photos automatically stitched into a JPEG image on camera.^[4]

The NEX-5 along with its sister, the NEX-3, and also the Sony Handycam NEX-VG10 use a new lens mount system developed by Sony for NEX series and known as the Sony E-mount. Initially, there were three available lenses: an all-purpose 18–55 mm lens, an ultra wide pancake 16 mm lens, and a wide range 18–200 mm E-mount lens.^[5]

With the post-November 2010 firmware version 3 installed, and by using the (roughly US$200) Sony LA-EA1 adapter, the NEX series of cameras is able to electronically control the aperture and autofocus of Sony SSM/SAM A-mount lenses, and control the aperture of the other Sony/Minolta A-mount lenses with manual focus only. The (roughly US$400) Sony LA-EA2 adapter also supports autofocus with screw-drive A-mount lenses, firmware version 5 is required for this adapter.

Other third-party mechanical tube adapters are also available. These adapters enable the use of Canon FD-mount, Canon EF-mount (without aperture control), Contax G, M42 screw mount, Konica Hexanon AR-mount, Minolta SR-mount (MC/MD), Leica M and screw mount, Nikon F-mount (non-G), Pentax K-mount (non-DA), Olympus OM mount, T2 screw mount and Minolta/Konica Minolta/Sony A-mount lenses. The E-mount flange register is so short that it is possible to mount 45 mm or longer-focal-length non-focusing enlarging lenses on the NEX body, with the use of an intermediate focusing helicoid behind them.

Certain third-party mechanical adapters also provide circular control rings that provide some mechanical control of the aperture of Nikon G, Pentax DA and Canon EF lenses, as these do not have a mechanical aperture control ring on their lens barrels.

The incomplete model number of NEX-3/NEX-5 series may include letter(s) at end. The definitions are:

• C: Not compatible with Eye-Fi function (NEX-3C and NEX-5C only)
• A: Supplied with E 2.8/16mm (SEL-16F28)
• D: Supplied with E 2.8/16mm (SEL-16F28) and E 3,5-5,6/18-55mm OSS (SEL-1855)
• H: Supplied with E 3.5-6.3/18-200mm OSS (SEL-18200)
• K: Supplied with E 3.5-5.6/18-55mm OSS (SEL-1855)
• L: Supplied with E 3.5-5.6/16-50mm OSS (SEL-1650)
• B: Body color is black
• N: Body color is black
• /N: Body color is gold (NEX-5D/N, Japan only)
• /P: Body color is pink (NEX-3D/P, Asia only)
• R: Body color is red
• S: Body color is silver
• /T: Body color is brown (NEX-3D/T, Asia only)
• 50i: 50 frames interlaced model
• 60i: 60 frames interlaced model

For example, NEX-5CK/B 50i is a NEX-5 supplied with E 18–55 mm zoom lens, not compatible with Eye-Fi function, body color black, and with 50i (not 60i) video support.

• Sony NEX-7
• List of smallest mirrorless cameras

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sony NEX-5.

• SonyStyle product description – official Sony website
• Sony UK product presentation – official Sony UK website
• DP Review (Digital Photography Review) – June 2010, an in-depth review of the two cameras
• Pop Photo Review – May 2010 review