I can't see anything here to get excited about over the current D-SLR lineup from Canon, or the impending (I hope) release of Scarlet.

No surprise at all - and I would expect mounting Canon or Nikon lenses would require the same, though what I had in mind was something plugged into a rail system.

No power zoom and the issues of zoom / focus / aperture noise. For the people obsessing about mounting Alpha, Canon, Nikon, <insert brand of choice> lenses, most of those will also need to record second system sound. No way is the typical consumer going to see that as acceptable.

The average consumer wants brain dead point-n-shoot easy, and the pro cameras, as well as every DSLR out there, have it there as an option, even if you and I ignore it most of the time.

Personally, I thought it looked pretty cool - the video camera body is about the same size as the lens!
I didn't think it looked any more awkward than the HDR-HC9 I already have.
Matter of fact, I thought it had a definite family resemblance.
And we certainly have been watching manual controls slowly disappear in the HDR line.

The larger more useful bod with appropriate manual controls you allude to I believe will end up being a third, yet unannounced, professional NX5U or EX style cam - something more likely to be announced at the next NAB, say. If nothing else, Sony is demonstrating the size of the camera doesn't have to explode just because the sensor size has.

Leaving aside a camera that's going to cost infinite times more money for a fully functional interchangeable lens unit which I want badly, compared to a Canon DSLR, it should (hopefully) have far, far less aliasing and moire and not to mention far better ergonomics. I mean, this camera will be fully ENG capable out of the box.

Paulo, I'm missing something then. What makes the NEX ENG capable out of the box? Actually, I'm not even sure what makes something ENG capable vs. not capable?

I don't see anything special about the ergonomics either. It's still a big chunk of box once you attach a lens to it, not remotely handy for holding to shoot video (but very sexy!)

I'm not sure what you are talking about an infinitely more expensive unit either. a Canon 7D is what... $1600 now? $1800 with kit lens? a T2i is... $800? That's pocket change if you shoot video for a living.

The big problem I see is the selection of lenses. What is there really for this camera compared to Canon and Nikon?

Again, I could be totally missing the point, but to me it looks like just one more consumer mini-D-SLR with cheap lenses and a video mode.

Sorry, I thought you were talking about the mock-up camcorder that Sony showed.

Plus I meant a fully functional Scarlet being a lot of money.

Just a big misunderstanding.


Anyway, after looking at several clips from the NEX5 and reading up on the manual features, it's definitely no competition to the GH1 but I do see it as big competition for the GF1 as far as video goes. For one thing, the GF1's chip only outputs 30 frames per second while it get's recorded as 720 60p and the GF1 lacks a movable screen. Now who's to say Panasonic wont be releasing the GF1's successor anytime soon.

Paulo - all good! I'm looking forward to seeing that mockup running too. :)

There's a good video example at dpreview now. It's not bad, better than canons but you can see the effect of a stills OLPF. Amazing bearing in mind the size though. A great little crash cam! Compression is terrible as expected.

There's a rumoured NEX7 and there's the NEX camcorder on Sonys blog. The more cinema type camera mocked up was estimated at $19k with PL mount adaptor. So that camcorder looking thing would be the midrange product. Probably all based on revisions of the exmor APS-C sensor.

The E type lens is a very odd decision. One aspect that all the stills and videos exhibit is pretty poor lens performance. Bad CA and just a general mushiness. I thought i was looking at a small sensor P&S not APS-C. So without decent lenses what's the point of any of this? Who's making E type lenses?

cheers
paul

Alpha mount adaptor question
 

Other than losing auto focus - what other negatives are there to using alpha lenses and the adaptor?? I'm assuming you still get apeture control and metering?? would lens based stabilization still work?? I'm guessing they could add auto focus for the SSM lenses via a firmware upgrade later. Could make this a really cool line of cameras...especially the nex7

I'm hoping to give this class of cameras a chance, especially the Panasonic and PEN E-PL1 soon, along with the Sony and Samsung offerings. I'll let you know how it goes.

Heath