Worth knowing I grabbed a used NEX-5 on eBay in the United States less than 2 weeks ago for $100 including body, flash, strap, battery, charger, SD card, USB transfer cable, and a cap. Pretty much everything except a lens.
I have a few of these cameras. They are fun and cheap. One thing you can do is remove the ir filter from the sensor and use it as a black and white range finder. You can get some awesome results.
I got the a6000 body on ebay as "new without the retail box" shortly after release for $350. It had amazing autofocus and offered a lot of value for the dollar. That said, if I wasn't shooting video, i found myself going back to my Canon T2i, because the interface and ergonomics were so much better. Fast forward 10 years and I got a Canon R5, and its been amazing!
I have almost the exact same setup, only I went for the a5100. It does everything I need it to do, give adequately nice photos, and is a good "learning" platform for the 50mm. plus it's extremely portable, almost like a pocket camera.
When I got rid of my APS-C Sony a6000s and went to DSLR, I kept my a5000 and picked up an a5100 and a few lenses. Both of those cameras can do a lot if you know what you are doing. I had a few of my images shot with the a5000 selected for a photography exhibit. The images were printed at 12X18 at home in 16X20 mats. I even shot some nice fireworks images last year with the a5100. Great cameras.
My first ever interchangeable camera was the NEX-5 back in 2010. It is a great camera and the photos blew me away. All my friends at the time were using mobile phones to take photos and the difference was night & day.
i had it , and i didnt like the colors , its good to take with you for its small , but i was never in to its colors , guess Canon 5D classic spoiled me .
I have it from 2012. And it is still my only camera. I am no professional but my skills have grown and the photographs I have taken on this are really good. I only wish a wider view that's all. I have kept searching for new full frame body to full frame lenses, wider angle ones, in some mental plan of mine arguing that the lens would make sense later when I buy a full frame body, etc, etc. But I am still with it, thanks to the prices of non nex interchangeables and lenses and the outputs I see from fellow amateur photographers like myself with their big bazookas (so I believe it is still the skill) and then I am back to where I currently am. And I am not regretting it in any way. My camera in my travels do not demand a "space" for itself. I even carry it to my morning walks or non planned walks or literally anywhere because its size makes it a part of me and no one notices. It's bag is like a small pouch people carry all the time. Even the resolution is enough, I am never going to be printing anything for a billboard. This cam gives me RAW as well so I can always touch photos if I wanted but then I almost never do it. I like what the eyes of the camera sees.
I purchased an NEX 5 at launch. I was shooting with Nikon DSLR's at the time. I actually ran both the Sony and Nikon systems in parallel for a long while until I purchased the A7iii. The A7iii was the turning point for me. Only in part because of the A7iii itself (it was a big leap forward from the A7ii), but that seemed to be the point where the range of lenses become somewhat more comprehensive for the e Mount.
Great advice. I still keep my first Sony. It’s a NEX-7. I use it with a few manual lenses and it’s so light and compact! I stayed with the system and now own a Sony 6500 and 6700.
I recently picked up a 5R as a backup on a shoot I had for a modeling agency because it was last minute and cheap. The owner of the agency used it a bit for BTS shots that came out nice and I had to use it for the last look as the batteries on my main camera finally died. Actually got our favorite shot from the whole shoot with it and the Sigma 30 1.4 I sold it about a week later. I wouldn't say it's all you need by any stretch, especially if you shoot sports, wildlife, landscapes than no. For portraits, street or something not too demanding, its a fun little camera with useable image quality if you want something cheap or a backup.
@@mike_33gt In context of a commercial shoot as OP describes, easily. If you're trying to pick up photography as a hobby/profession? Also yes, in that it being an interchangeable-lens camera with full manual operation will make it easier to learn the fundamentals technically (though bang for your buck on that one is probably an earlier nikon/canon DSLR). If you're just taking snaps, or are more focused on working your composition skills then maybe not so, since the iphone has raw resolution and probably low-light operation in its favor. I use it as the last of the three options I mentioned, and I still like using it over a smartphone, mostly related to having aperture, shutter speed, focal length, etc adjustable.
Good choice. I tested the entire NEX lineup and the 5N is actually the lightest of them all. Paired with a pancake lens like the 7Artisans 18mm F6.3 it is such an incredibly compact and light package, you'd never guess it's an APS-C system.
@@FabricOfExistenceExciting update, I added another camera body to my Sony lineup... right now it goes: NEX5n, A7cii, and FX3 (with 7 or 8 various E and FE lenses) I love the escalation of sizes and various abilities! Also: Sold off the remaining Canon system.
I bought an NEX 5 when it first came out to use as a travel camera. It was my first "serious" camera. Came with an 18-55 kit lens to which I added an 18--200mm and a 16mm prime as well as a larger flash and microphone which fit in the hot shoe. . These were actually all the lenses available for it at the time. I have been a Sony APS-C user ever since and have amassed several a6xxxx cameras and a variety of prime and zoom lenses for various purposes. The NEX 5 was a great beginner camera for me. Small enough to use as a point and shoot and yet with lots of settings and hints that you could experiment with to get out of auto mode and successfully take pictures in more challenging circumstances (lower light, fast motion etc,). Looking at pictures I took at the time, it really did make some fine images. Perhaps not to today's standards but not that far off either unless you do severe pixel peeping !
The 5R and 5T have phase-detect AF. Their menu system is also touch enabled. The original 5 and 3 lack Lens Compensation. The Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS has stabilization which is very helpful since none of the NEX cameras have in-body stabilization.
I have a 5n since its release in 2010 and just one year ago I’ve upgraded to the 7RV, there are two things I miss for the 7RV: the night photo mode which combine several shots into one (in camera) given a nice natural night light effect, and the size
The port the flash attaches to is technically a hot shoe. Sony also has nice OLED tilting viewfinders that attach there. I have one. There is also an optical viewfinder for the 16mm pancake kit prime.
I forgot to turn off my 5N one time. It overheated and the dial got busted. Fortunately all of the controls can be done with the touchscreen. It's a bit cumbersome, but it makes this camera still function till today. I since bought a6400 as well, and slightly disappointed that the touchscreen is only for touch focus.
I have had the NEX5 since 2012 and still use it since. I bought some new lenses to cope with it though. It is truly great and still perfect for what I use these days, so I have no reasons to upgrade nor change it.
It's amazing the features it has when compared to a pro dslr of the same time. I have a d300 and while it may have weather sealing and stuff, I'd still gladly use an nex over it
I had Nex-5t since 2015 and only a month ago exchanged it for the a6400. While it was a huge step up, I loved that I got to keep all of the lenses (only gave away the kit one) and can even build up to full frame potentially. I did feel emotional about my little nex5t, since it was such a great companion through travels, helped me make great photos of friends and family. And greatly improve my photography! It will always be in my heart ❤
About 2 years ago I managed to get an NEX-5T with the 16-50mm kit lens, charger, and battery for $80. I had to get rid of it because of financial reasons but I miss it very much. I loved that little camera and I literally didn't go anywhere without it. I frequently find myself looking on ebay and such to see if I can find another for around that price because of how fun and convenient it was to shoot with it.
Nex 5n which is a 16.1MP has still in me. Although the rotating dial did not work, the touch screen interface helps me to create a workaround. Additionally, while it's true that is has a weird hot shoe. You can buy a converter to standard size hot shoe albeit no TLL function. This and my coolpix p500 are still my cameras until to this date. And I still love them. They are been undergoing repairs multiple times since I use them as a daily photography
I had one when it first came out, and used the heck out of it. However, over the years, even at its small size, it got kind of unwieldy, so I switched to an RX-100, and then to a Pixel 6a, so the Nex-5 was buried deep in the vault collecting dust. Now with the recent revival, I have dusted it off, and having a blast using it once again!
I started my photography with this camera, although I rearly shot these days, but NEX-5 is still in my bag, its a very good camera for beginners, it was a backup camera for me, along side my Nikon.
Yeah, these small camera prices are getting crazy. I just got a Olympus OM-D M5 mk1 with 11-22mm Wide Angle, 75-300mm, lens hoods, M4/3 adapter, and a lot of 58,72mm filters (Mostly vintage but well kept/decent brands). Oh and the wide angle had a 72mm Nisi True Color ND Vario attached and a Pro Nano CPL in the case ( I was going to get one for Astro). I didn't see those in the listing pictures, so that gave me a Grinch smile for sure.
I found a NEX-5T with a kit lens for $12 a day before New Year’s Eve ata thrift store and it made the transition to Sony much easier since I now had an E-Mount camera for cheap and I spent my Xmas money and $100 gift card on the FE 50mm 1.8 which made for a good combo in 2020.
@@TomCalton thank you. I have since sold both the NEX-5T and the FE 50mm 1.8 but I am in the market for a small camera for street photography and portraits without bringing my main driver (which is the A7III).
Hi Tom, the Sony A3000 is probably even cheaper than the NEX-5, yet sports a viewfinder and 20 MP APSC sensor. I see it on ‘that auction site’ for $179 with kit lens.
I started my photography adventure with this camera, about 5 years ago, about 100$ with kit lens, i quickly got a vintage 55 1.8 for 10$. the viewfinder is a must if u want to use it outside and for that reason today i bought original A7R for about 300$ and im super stoaked, cant wait to lay my hands on it.
Really good comment about buying into a system with compatible lenses. Sony seem to have been very good with that. Nikon used to be, but the history of their F-mount is showing its age (possibly one reason they created the Z-mount). The reason I mentioned Nikon is because I wanted to get into vlogging with a more modern camera and already had two older Nikon cameras and a few lenses. Unfortunately, the beautiful 24-50mm AF D lens I bought ~25 years ago does not work on the second-hand D3400 I bought... :-/ So I splurged on a Sony ZV-E10 and am loving it. Happy to look forward to investing in Sony in the future.
Yeah, Nikon’s big issue is their older lenses didn’t have an autofocus motor built in, but rather used a Tony sprocket that extended out from the camera body to perform autofocus. The last “consumer” DSLR to have the sprocket, I believe, was either the D7100 or D7200. Combined with the incredibly deep flange distance, it made adapting lenses extremely difficult. I miss the old manual focus Canon FD mount. Its short flange distance would take just about any lens you could throw at it provided you had the appropriate physical adapter. Now the tables have turned and it’s the Nikon Z mount, Sony E mount, and M43 mounts that take the title of ”most adaptable mount.”
@@null0byte Yep, I bought my 24-50 and also a 70-300 when AF-S lenses (which had the focus motor in the lens) were new and very pricey. Meanwhile, everyone else went straight to in-lens motor which was faster and quieter and Nikon did too. I'd forgotten about flange distance. The Z-mount and Sony's E-mount are much closer to the sensor with the removal of the reflex mirror!
I have a NEX 5T and still use it. Wish Sony would make an updated version of this series. Love the small form factor and flip-up screen AND the fact that I have a clip-on EVF for it. Would love silent shooting, better AF and touch screen capable.
Great review. I'd recommend trying to find a later model if you can afford a bit more. The 5N, 5R and 5T are better options. The upgrade from the 5 to the 5N was the biggest jump. The 5R and 5T added phase-detection, WIFI and a handy Function button. Lenses are plentiful and there are tons of third-party options. I've shot Sony mirrorless for more than ten years. Great system.
I got a sony a5100 to use primarily as a webcam for streaming and such. Picked it up for like 180 at the time. Paired with a mount adapter to use my vintage film lenses, it's a pretty powerful mirrorless setup on a budget.
NEX 5R, A5100 and NEX 6 would be the better value option with newer sensors and micro usb charging. Sigma 19mm and 30mm 2.8 DG DN lenses are also worth looking at. The 60mm 2.8 in the same range is one of the sharpest lenses I’ve used.
If you can get them for cheap enough you're not wrong there. Half the issue is getting them for a low price though. If you're on a shoe string budget, the NEX-5 is still a fantastic option.
Got myself a Silver NEX-5T 6 months ago, and paired it with a silver manual TTArtisan 35mm/1.4, and people was like "Is that a (compact) digital camera ?" And I always said yes, but people get surprised on the Sharpness and Image Quality 🤣 Really glad I picked this as my first owned camera since 11 years ago I learned photography 👍
Great camera, used to have the 5N and started a little e-mount collection of lenses. Then moved onto the a6000 and currently looking to upgrade again soon.
@@TomCalton What I really liked about the NEX-5N was that it had a touchscreen display. Meant you could quickly tap to get (fairly) exact focus points. It's something I really miss not having on the a6000 especially when doing street photography and you need to be fast on the draw. The Nex5 range with a small lens is a super-stealth pocketable camera.
@@ereseven no a lens is required for an actual image to be produced, but you can probably find a lens for less than 160 especially if you’re looking for a used one.
I bought Nex 5n in 2012, and man it served me well for few years. Idk, maybe I used it extensively for 5 or so years, until I finally got a decent smartphone. But it still works and I love the photos that I've made with this camera and the stock lens. It was my first "serious" camera after a "soapdish" one. And I didn't know at that time that 5n is actually that great since I had no point of reference. I still keep it for the memory sake.
This is so nice because nowadays, e-mount paramount rf-mount in terms of lenses. But When I bought the eos m, because it has the hotshoe built-in compared to nex-5 an add-on accessory. Since I use strobes to start my photography business on a budget. But if I choose a beginner cam if just starting out, I would go with this to start my lens collection in e-mount.
This seems like it could be a perfect camera for taking on hikes when I don't really want to take a camera at all. I rarely carry my DSLR into the woods with me, but something this small and light would be so much better than trying to take any photos with my smartphone. Despite the image quality of modern smartphones, I really hate using them for photography. Great video, thanks so much!
- I got an Nex-6 about a month ago, sold a Sigma 16mm and got a Helios 44-2 kmz, 7Artizans 7.5mm and a Meike 25mm, very happy with it, not sure if i need a telephoto/zoom lens.
I own this camera in the Nex-5R version with 16 megapixels and I really like it. I adapt manual focus lenses to it and take it with me on cycling trips where I don't want to pack my expensive equipment. I've already taken some beautiful photos with this camera, even in 2024.
I own an NEX-6 that I got used a few years ago, and I personally think that the NEX-6 is the one to get from the NEX line. It is chronologically the last camera that goes by NEX, and is so much more advanced than many of the NEX that come before it. Of all of the NEX models, it is the only one with phase detect AF, and a hotshoe. And it is of the few that have an EVF. And it costs about the same as well.
I used old Sony NEX a lot and really fall in love with it. A lot of low price lens to play with and also extremely light to bring it around... So sad that Sony's new APS-C is very expensive ....
May I also suggest a Nikon D300S with a 35mm or 50mm 1.8G lens. I see the body going for as low as $150 now. That’s how I started my photography career 2 years ago.
Thank you for the video. Totally agree with you. I still keep my Sony Nex-5N and has its sensor replaced by infra red sensor. Best decision ever. And with adapter, I can use all vintage lenses without any problems. Now I add Sony A6000 and A7RM3 in my arsenal, all using same battery model. Just a great investment and nice big boy's toys. ❤
I never had one of these but I had an Sony a6000 & for me that was the game changer , & I do remember going to a studio model shoot event & when I pulled my a6000 out I heard behind me all these old men holding their Canon DSLR's & huge zoom lenses, laughing & sniggering at my toy camera as that's what they were calling it . I took my shots of the model very quickly due to the face recognition , while they all took forever doing the focus & recompose method in there dated DSLR's . I shared my images to the Meet up page of the studio later that night & watched over the week to see the other pictures appear from all the pro DSLR photographers & my images were by far the best of any of them .. about 5 years later the a7iii came out & I saw most of those same photographers that laughed at my toy camera all ditch their dated Canon DSLR's & switch to Sony Mirrorless .. it still makes me giggle to this day that story of when I first shot with a Mirrorless camera .
I bought a 5dmk2 for 250. Wich is an actualy profesional camera. And still makes everything good. Photos and videos. And 1920x 1080 raw video with magic lantern. And its a full frame... I dont think you can beat that...
Good point. There are definitely cheaper nifty fifty's to be had, but I've found that this one actually has a pretty decent AF and doesn't sound like you're running it up against a cheese grater every time it finds focus 😅
My mother passed on this camera to me. I will say tho it's hard to get the photos I want without a viewfinder. But it's a decent camera for how much it costs.
I used a Sony Nex-5 as my main event camera for around 6 years before going back to DSLRs with a Nikon P3300 last year. I was satisfied with the quality of the photos that I got from the Nex-5, I just missed shooting with a viewfinder as well as the Nikkor lenses I already owned due to having both a Nikon F65 35mm film SLR camera and an D40 DSLR. I still have the Nex-5 as a backup camera, though.
I remember these at Walmart. What killed it was the cost of the separate lens and I would say the rise of cell phone cameras, which were shooting 5MP video at that point and more importantly - were plugged straight into social media platforms. It was not just this camera, there were a few makes that got into this tiny SLR body game. It looked cool but you headed over $300 with the body, adapter, lens.
Awesome video! Is the kind of vintage look in the photos you're showing here due to the lense you're using or are you doing that in Lightroom? Any tips on how to achieve this look?
These are great vameras to start with, especially if you are learning photography. I do recommend someway of attaching a larger battery to it as these batteries dont last long.
@@TomCalton Just focused longer on the lens with more photos and i would really enjoy if you could do a video with the lens and the A6000 i would be so grateful. Since that could be an unexpensive and good combo maybe. Maybe also with a more filmic look in editing
Actually, the whole reason for me to buy DSLR back in the days was to ensure the presence of all those dials and buttons. It was a pain to adjust settings via menu with a regular set of selection buttons or, even worse, touch screen. I wanted dedicated controls for shooting mode, flash, zoom, manual focus and so on. If that means big body - so be it. I don't want any compromises when it comes to handling, because the bulkiest part of the camera are the lens anyway.
Yah, I had one. It was great. I cannot now think why I binned it. My daughter about to do some photography at school so maybe something like this might be great.
Here in the states I'm seeing this camera anywhere from $170 to about $400 on Ebay and Amazon. Ebay having the lower end prices. That's pretty wild. I don't get how so many of these little snapshot cameras aren't as good as my phone but fetch hundreds of dollars even at 10 years old or even older!
It may have been mentioned already but you can get the professional Flash and a awesome viewfinder and a mic for the slot on top those are the only ones I know are still available eBay or Amazon there were other items that you can add as well that have been discontinued
Yeahh, I'm still using my NEX-5T from 10 years ago. I really love the small form factor of it, could easily fit into my jacket pocket. Im using budget lens with it like the 1650 kit lens, Samyang 12mm MF, Takumar 55mm and Takumar 135mm. Thinking of adding a budget prime (AF or MF) in the 23-25mm fr. Which lens do you think should I go for?
@@TomCalton Yup, definatly will buy again from Japan for used stuff ! ^^ And the lens is a 35mm f1.7 from Neweer, manual lens but with a great spining bokeh and very small (it litteraly fit in my pocket (lens + camera attached))
Great video! Had my eyes on the NEX 5 since it came out but never had the chance. Now I see the NEX 7 (or is it 9?)) for 150USD lens included. Would it be a wise purchase?
Yeah prices can vary dramatically depending on location and situation, for example I got a Fuji X-T100 paired with a vintage Canon FD lens (50mm 1.4) for the equivalent of around $270(US).
Here in the UK, the NEX can be had for as a low as £75 for an A grade camera (mint). With kit lens £130. The Yongnuo is £55 on CEX but OOS. CEX stuff I find can be cheaper than ebay and comes with 24 months warranty. It might be a cheap camera that isn't cutting edge but it's a cheap camera to take on risky outings, like the beach for instance :D
Honestly, learning to be a good photographer entails absorbing so many matters of esthetics, basic principles of light & exposure, endless practice & experimentation, business & interpersonal skills, and... _taste!,_ that you can happily pursue 90+% of it with almost _any_ camera you happen to already have (or can borrow). [At some point, though, you will need manual exposure controls & exposure comp.; so a strictly point&shoot will only take you so far.]
I traded my old analog camera for an NEX5-R with a Sony standard 16-55 autofocus lens. It takes great shots outside in daylight. Also video at 1080 is fine. However, trying to get good images or video indoors is not evident with this camera. I find that the camera on my phone does a much better job indoors. I like the small formfactor of the NEX5-R, it will go into my sturdy eastpack bag just fine while walking around town or on the go. Good value for money. Yet I am considering upgrading to the A6700 body now. It promises to solve the problems I just described, but the cost is much higher. Is it worth it?
Very nice camera review. I picked up a used NEX-3N for a low price awhile back, really like using it. Before that I had picked up an A5100 which I also love using, so much that I now have 3 of them . Is fun adapting vintage lenses to these bodies. When I really need and EVF I break out my A6000, also an awesome camera.
Of course, I'm pretty not sure about buying this tiny guy, but these kinds of videos are inspiring me to grab my "bulky" X-T20 and go out to do some pictures!
Worth knowing I grabbed a used NEX-5 on eBay in the United States less than 2 weeks ago for $100 including body, flash, strap, battery, charger, SD card, USB transfer cable, and a cap. Pretty much everything except a lens.
That's awesome! Nice find! Are you happy with it so far?
I got a Sony nex 5 with 2 battery's and everything you said and a lens for just 100$
I think he exploded@@TomCalton
@@andreic3258 how's it going I'm thinking about getting it
I have a few of these cameras. They are fun and cheap. One thing you can do is remove the ir filter from the sensor and use it as a black and white range finder. You can get some awesome results.
Sounds great. Do you have a link to pics?
I got the a6000 body on ebay as "new without the retail box" shortly after release for $350. It had amazing autofocus and offered a lot of value for the dollar. That said, if I wasn't shooting video, i found myself going back to my Canon T2i, because the interface and ergonomics were so much better. Fast forward 10 years and I got a Canon R5, and its been amazing!
I have almost the exact same setup, only I went for the a5100. It does everything I need it to do, give adequately nice photos, and is a good "learning" platform for the 50mm. plus it's extremely portable, almost like a pocket camera.
Awesome - glad you're enjoying it!
When I got rid of my APS-C Sony a6000s and went to DSLR, I kept my a5000 and picked up an a5100 and a few lenses. Both of those cameras can do a lot if you know what you are doing. I had a few of my images shot with the a5000 selected for a photography exhibit. The images were printed at 12X18 at home in 16X20 mats. I even shot some nice fireworks images last year with the a5100. Great cameras.
The 5100 is a true gem. It's basically an A6000 'compact' !
@@mdkooter Too bad it never got a successor.
and it can be used as WEB camera , this one cant .
My first ever interchangeable camera was the NEX-5 back in 2010. It is a great camera and the photos blew me away. All my friends at the time were using mobile phones to take photos and the difference was night & day.
The more I watch this guy the more I like him.
I still own a NEX-5N bought in 2012. Been using it since then, I love it, and I don't find the need of any other camera!
i had it , and i didnt like the colors , its good to take with you for its small , but i was never in to its colors , guess Canon 5D classic spoiled me .
I have it from 2012. And it is still my only camera. I am no professional but my skills have grown and the photographs I have taken on this are really good. I only wish a wider view that's all. I have kept searching for new full frame body to full frame lenses, wider angle ones, in some mental plan of mine arguing that the lens would make sense later when I buy a full frame body, etc, etc. But I am still with it, thanks to the prices of non nex interchangeables and lenses and the outputs I see from fellow amateur photographers like myself with their big bazookas (so I believe it is still the skill) and then I am back to where I currently am. And I am not regretting it in any way. My camera in my travels do not demand a "space" for itself. I even carry it to my morning walks or non planned walks or literally anywhere because its size makes it a part of me and no one notices. It's bag is like a small pouch people carry all the time. Even the resolution is enough, I am never going to be printing anything for a billboard. This cam gives me RAW as well so I can always touch photos if I wanted but then I almost never do it. I like what the eyes of the camera sees.
I purchased an NEX 5 at launch. I was shooting with Nikon DSLR's at the time. I actually ran both the Sony and Nikon systems in parallel for a long while until I purchased the A7iii. The A7iii was the turning point for me. Only in part because of the A7iii itself (it was a big leap forward from the A7ii), but that seemed to be the point where the range of lenses become somewhat more comprehensive for the e Mount.
👍👍
Got the Nex-6 for $145 a couple weeks ago. The hot shoe alone makes it a better buy for me
Nice! How are you finding it?
Nice, here in Poland used NEX-6 is about $250 :/
Great advice. I still keep my first Sony. It’s a NEX-7. I use it with a few manual lenses and it’s so light and compact! I stayed with the system and now own a Sony 6500 and 6700.
Nex 7 was legendary back in the day. Im glad they have kept with this design.
I recently picked up a 5R as a backup on a shoot I had for a modeling agency because it was last minute and cheap. The owner of the agency used it a bit for BTS shots that came out nice and I had to use it for the last look as the batteries on my main camera finally died. Actually got our favorite shot from the whole shoot with it and the Sigma 30 1.4 I sold it about a week later. I wouldn't say it's all you need by any stretch, especially if you shoot sports, wildlife, landscapes than no. For portraits, street or something not too demanding, its a fun little camera with useable image quality if you want something cheap or a backup.
better than iphone?
Much better, almost in all csenarious, especially 5n,5r or 5t@@mike_33gt
@@mike_33gt In context of a commercial shoot as OP describes, easily. If you're trying to pick up photography as a hobby/profession? Also yes, in that it being an interchangeable-lens camera with full manual operation will make it easier to learn the fundamentals technically (though bang for your buck on that one is probably an earlier nikon/canon DSLR). If you're just taking snaps, or are more focused on working your composition skills then maybe not so, since the iphone has raw resolution and probably low-light operation in its favor. I use it as the last of the three options I mentioned, and I still like using it over a smartphone, mostly related to having aperture, shutter speed, focal length, etc adjustable.
I love my NEX 5n and keep it around even though I've updated it 3x times since its purchase. You can't beat that form factor.
Also, I have a 3rd party chineese made wireless trigger for my sony nex 5n. It has qwerks but is functional and has a hot shoe Intergrated in design.
That's cool to hear! Glad it's still going strong 😀
Good choice. I tested the entire NEX lineup and the 5N is actually the lightest of them all. Paired with a pancake lens like the 7Artisans 18mm F6.3 it is such an incredibly compact and light package, you'd never guess it's an APS-C system.
@@FabricOfExistenceExciting update, I added another camera body to my Sony lineup... right now it goes: NEX5n, A7cii, and FX3 (with 7 or 8 various E and FE lenses) I love the escalation of sizes and various abilities! Also: Sold off the remaining Canon system.
I bought an NEX 5 when it first came out to use as a travel camera. It was my first "serious" camera. Came with an 18-55 kit lens to which I added an 18--200mm and a 16mm prime as well as a larger flash and microphone which fit in the hot shoe. . These were actually all the lenses available for it at the time. I have been a Sony APS-C user ever since and have amassed several a6xxxx cameras and a variety of prime and zoom lenses for various purposes. The NEX 5 was a great beginner camera for me. Small enough to use as a point and shoot and yet with lots of settings and hints that you could experiment with to get out of auto mode and successfully take pictures in more challenging circumstances (lower light, fast motion etc,). Looking at pictures I took at the time, it really did make some fine images. Perhaps not to today's standards but not that far off either unless you do severe pixel peeping !
The 5R and 5T have phase-detect AF. Their menu system is also touch enabled. The original 5 and 3 lack Lens Compensation. The Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS has stabilization which is very helpful since none of the NEX cameras have in-body stabilization.
Awesome - thanks for the added info! 👌🏻
Afaik Nex5r is similar to Nex6. It has phase AF but no comparison to e.g. the A6400.
I have a 5n since its release in 2010 and just one year ago I’ve upgraded to the 7RV, there are two things I miss for the 7RV: the night photo mode which combine several shots into one (in camera) given a nice natural night light effect, and the size
I’ve got the original NEX 5 and I love it particularly for adapting lenses
The port the flash attaches to is technically a hot shoe. Sony also has nice OLED tilting viewfinders that attach there. I have one. There is also an optical viewfinder for the 16mm pancake kit prime.
I have an NEX5N buried in a drawer somewhere. You’ve inspired me to dig it out! Nice review.
The NEX-5 was how I got back into messing around with photography, I bought a used one from eBay, a Helios 44-2, and an M42-E adapter.
I forgot to turn off my 5N one time. It overheated and the dial got busted. Fortunately all of the controls can be done with the touchscreen. It's a bit cumbersome, but it makes this camera still function till today. I since bought a6400 as well, and slightly disappointed that the touchscreen is only for touch focus.
Ah man, sorry to hear that!
I have had the NEX5 since 2012 and still use it since. I bought some new lenses to cope with it though. It is truly great and still perfect for what I use these days, so I have no reasons to upgrade nor change it.
It's amazing the features it has when compared to a pro dslr of the same time. I have a d300 and while it may have weather sealing and stuff, I'd still gladly use an nex over it
I had Nex-5t since 2015 and only a month ago exchanged it for the a6400. While it was a huge step up, I loved that I got to keep all of the lenses (only gave away the kit one) and can even build up to full frame potentially. I did feel emotional about my little nex5t, since it was such a great companion through travels, helped me make great photos of friends and family. And greatly improve my photography! It will always be in my heart ❤
I replaced my nex-5N sensor with infra red sensor. Now I cannot sell it since it is way too fun. 😊
About 2 years ago I managed to get an NEX-5T with the 16-50mm kit lens, charger, and battery for $80. I had to get rid of it because of financial reasons but I miss it very much. I loved that little camera and I literally didn't go anywhere without it. I frequently find myself looking on ebay and such to see if I can find another for around that price because of how fun and convenient it was to shoot with it.
Nex 5n which is a 16.1MP has still in me. Although the rotating dial did not work, the touch screen interface helps me to create a workaround. Additionally, while it's true that is has a weird hot shoe. You can buy a converter to standard size hot shoe albeit no TLL function.
This and my coolpix p500 are still my cameras until to this date. And I still love them. They are been undergoing repairs multiple times since I use them as a daily photography
I had one when it first came out, and used the heck out of it.
However, over the years, even at its small size, it got kind of unwieldy, so I switched to an RX-100, and then to a Pixel 6a, so the Nex-5 was buried deep in the vault collecting dust.
Now with the recent revival, I have dusted it off, and having a blast using it once again!
I started my photography with this camera, although I rearly shot these days, but NEX-5 is still in my bag, its a very good camera for beginners, it was a backup camera for me, along side my Nikon.
you can't get them for 90 bucks anymore. Supply and demand created by this excellent video.
Yeah, these small camera prices are getting crazy. I just got a Olympus OM-D M5 mk1 with 11-22mm Wide Angle, 75-300mm, lens hoods, M4/3 adapter, and a lot of 58,72mm filters (Mostly vintage but well kept/decent brands). Oh and the wide angle had a 72mm Nisi True Color ND Vario attached and a Pro Nano CPL in the case ( I was going to get one for Astro). I didn't see those in the listing pictures, so that gave me a Grinch smile for sure.
It’s still possible with patience. Just got a NEX 5T with kit lens, 2 batteries with charger, the flash attachment, and camera case for $80
I found a NEX-5T with a kit lens for $12 a day before New Year’s Eve ata thrift store and it made the transition to Sony much easier since I now had an E-Mount camera for cheap and I spent my Xmas money and $100 gift card on the FE 50mm 1.8 which made for a good combo in 2020.
Amazing! Congrats on that find!
@@TomCalton thank you. I have since sold both the NEX-5T and the FE 50mm 1.8 but I am in the market for a small camera for street photography and portraits without bringing my main driver (which is the A7III).
Hi Tom, the Sony A3000 is probably even cheaper than the NEX-5, yet sports a viewfinder and 20 MP APSC sensor. I see it on ‘that auction site’ for $179 with kit lens.
I started my photography adventure with this camera, about 5 years ago, about 100$ with kit lens, i quickly got a vintage 55 1.8 for 10$. the viewfinder is a must if u want to use it outside and for that reason today i bought original A7R for about 300$ and im super stoaked, cant wait to lay my hands on it.
Really good comment about buying into a system with compatible lenses. Sony seem to have been very good with that. Nikon used to be, but the history of their F-mount is showing its age (possibly one reason they created the Z-mount). The reason I mentioned Nikon is because I wanted to get into vlogging with a more modern camera and already had two older Nikon cameras and a few lenses. Unfortunately, the beautiful 24-50mm AF D lens I bought ~25 years ago does not work on the second-hand D3400 I bought... :-/
So I splurged on a Sony ZV-E10 and am loving it. Happy to look forward to investing in Sony in the future.
Yeah, Nikon’s big issue is their older lenses didn’t have an autofocus motor built in, but rather used a Tony sprocket that extended out from the camera body to perform autofocus. The last “consumer” DSLR to have the sprocket, I believe, was either the D7100 or D7200. Combined with the incredibly deep flange distance, it made adapting lenses extremely difficult.
I miss the old manual focus Canon FD mount. Its short flange distance would take just about any lens you could throw at it provided you had the appropriate physical adapter. Now the tables have turned and it’s the Nikon Z mount, Sony E mount, and M43 mounts that take the title of ”most adaptable mount.”
@@null0byte Yep, I bought my 24-50 and also a 70-300 when AF-S lenses (which had the focus motor in the lens) were new and very pricey. Meanwhile, everyone else went straight to in-lens motor which was faster and quieter and Nikon did too.
I'd forgotten about flange distance. The Z-mount and Sony's E-mount are much closer to the sensor with the removal of the reflex mirror!
Nice combo. Although I'd rather get the native Sony 50mm F1,8 OSS which is an excellent lens.
Yeah, that is a great lens. I owned that for a number of years.
Ah. This was my first interchangeable lens camera. I still shoot with Sony E mount camera. A7-iii now, but it can mount my old 18-55 lens.
A trip down memory lane for you then? Do you still own it?
@TomCalton I've given it to kids. I hope it is not lost yet. :)
I have a NEX 5T and still use it. Wish Sony would make an updated version of this series. Love the small form factor and flip-up screen AND the fact that I have a clip-on EVF for it. Would love silent shooting, better AF and touch screen capable.
The 5T does have have touch screen capabilities
@@ck.standard Yes it does but it's poor at best. Sometimes I have to tap multiple times to engage it.
I have a 5n with the evf in the hotshoe. I travel alot for work and this camera has been with me all over the world. Still use it and love it!!
Great review. I'd recommend trying to find a later model if you can afford a bit more. The 5N, 5R and 5T are better options. The upgrade from the 5 to the 5N was the biggest jump. The 5R and 5T added phase-detection, WIFI and a handy Function button. Lenses are plentiful and there are tons of third-party options. I've shot Sony mirrorless for more than ten years. Great system.
I got a sony a5100 to use primarily as a webcam for streaming and such. Picked it up for like 180 at the time. Paired with a mount adapter to use my vintage film lenses, it's a pretty powerful mirrorless setup on a budget.
NEX 5R, A5100 and NEX 6 would be the better value option with newer sensors and micro usb charging. Sigma 19mm and 30mm 2.8 DG DN lenses are also worth looking at. The 60mm 2.8 in the same range is one of the sharpest lenses I’ve used.
If you can get them for cheap enough you're not wrong there. Half the issue is getting them for a low price though. If you're on a shoe string budget, the NEX-5 is still a fantastic option.
Got myself a Silver NEX-5T 6 months ago, and paired it with a silver manual TTArtisan 35mm/1.4, and people was like "Is that a (compact) digital camera ?" And I always said yes, but people get surprised on the Sharpness and Image Quality 🤣
Really glad I picked this as my first owned camera since 11 years ago I learned photography 👍
Great camera, used to have the 5N and started a little e-mount collection of lenses. Then moved onto the a6000 and currently looking to upgrade again soon.
Nice! How did you find the NEX-5N?
@@TomCalton What I really liked about the NEX-5N was that it had a touchscreen display. Meant you could quickly tap to get (fairly) exact focus points. It's something I really miss not having on the a6000 especially when doing street photography and you need to be fast on the draw. The Nex5 range with a small lens is a super-stealth pocketable camera.
$90 or $250?
90 for the body
250 with the lens
@@Zeffpenguin can I use the camera without lens? I have no idea about camera at all
@@ereseven no a lens is required for an actual image to be produced, but you can probably find a lens for less than 160 especially if you’re looking for a used one.
@@Zeffpenguin alright. Thanks.
That’s how it starts, $90 here, $160 there, whoops you’re all outta money!
I bought Nex 5n in 2012, and man it served me well for few years. Idk, maybe I used it extensively for 5 or so years, until I finally got a decent smartphone. But it still works and I love the photos that I've made with this camera and the stock lens. It was my first "serious" camera after a "soapdish" one. And I didn't know at that time that 5n is actually that great since I had no point of reference. I still keep it for the memory sake.
This is so nice because nowadays, e-mount paramount rf-mount in terms of lenses. But When I bought the eos m, because it has the hotshoe built-in compared to nex-5 an add-on accessory. Since I use strobes to start my photography business on a budget. But if I choose a beginner cam if just starting out, I would go with this to start my lens collection in e-mount.
This seems like it could be a perfect camera for taking on hikes when I don't really want to take a camera at all. I rarely carry my DSLR into the woods with me, but something this small and light would be so much better than trying to take any photos with my smartphone. Despite the image quality of modern smartphones, I really hate using them for photography. Great video, thanks so much!
- I got an Nex-6 about a month ago, sold a Sigma 16mm and got a Helios 44-2 kmz, 7Artizans 7.5mm and a Meike 25mm, very happy with it, not sure if i need a telephoto/zoom lens.
Nice, congrats!
I own this camera in the Nex-5R version with 16 megapixels and I really like it. I adapt manual focus lenses to it and take it with me on cycling trips where I don't want to pack my expensive equipment. I've already taken some beautiful photos with this camera, even in 2024.
Nice man. I’ve reviewed almost every NEX camera on my channel. All really solid options for beginners!
Hey Kraig. I've actually seen some of your videos before - great content! Thanks for leaving a comment. Hope you're well 😁
NEX5 was my first MILC back in 2012. I still have it, and regularly use it next to my A6000. I really like its compact size.
I own an NEX-6 that I got used a few years ago, and I personally think that the NEX-6 is the one to get from the NEX line. It is chronologically the last camera that goes by NEX, and is so much more advanced than many of the NEX that come before it. Of all of the NEX models, it is the only one with phase detect AF, and a hotshoe. And it is of the few that have an EVF. And it costs about the same as well.
This is the very first and the only exchangeable lens camera I ever bought
I used old Sony NEX a lot and really fall in love with it. A lot of low price lens to play with and also extremely light to bring it around... So sad that Sony's new APS-C is very expensive ....
May I also suggest a Nikon D300S with a 35mm or 50mm 1.8G lens. I see the body going for as low as $150 now. That’s how I started my photography career 2 years ago.
There is also a lovely 16mm 2.8 pancake lens for this camera
Thank you for the video. Totally agree with you. I still keep my Sony Nex-5N and has its sensor replaced by infra red sensor. Best decision ever. And with adapter, I can use all vintage lenses without any problems.
Now I add Sony A6000 and A7RM3 in my arsenal, all using same battery model. Just a great investment and nice big boy's toys. ❤
my first camera! NEX-5R, one of the best camera's I've had, well ahead of its time, yes and agree "mirrorless cameras" was not even a term back then
I never had one of these but I had an Sony a6000 & for me that was the game changer , & I do remember going to a studio model shoot event & when I pulled my a6000 out I heard behind me all these old men holding their Canon DSLR's & huge zoom lenses, laughing & sniggering at my toy camera as that's what they were calling it . I took my shots of the model very quickly due to the face recognition , while they all took forever doing the focus & recompose method in there dated DSLR's . I shared my images to the Meet up page of the studio later that night & watched over the week to see the other pictures appear from all the pro DSLR photographers & my images were by far the best of any of them .. about 5 years later the a7iii came out & I saw most of those same photographers that laughed at my toy camera all ditch their dated Canon DSLR's & switch to Sony Mirrorless .. it still makes me giggle to this day that story of when I first shot with a Mirrorless camera .
I use nex 5r with 50 oss to record my videos
I’ve been in the Olympus camp for a long time and we called it mirrorless when I moved from an E-3 to an EP-1. Ancient history now.
Grabbed a Nex 5T with kit lens, 2 batteries, a charger and flash for $80 just yesterday! Going to use it as a b cam to my a7c
got an nex5n and the "nifty fifty" kit lens for $120, it was not a mistake
Awesome - glad you're happy with it!
Good man, good advice. People, don't neglect the NEX-6, it may be the only camera you'll ever need.
I bought a 5dmk2 for 250. Wich is an actualy profesional camera. And still makes everything good. Photos and videos. And 1920x 1080 raw video with magic lantern. And its a full frame... I dont think you can beat that...
You also can purchase a used original Canon Nifty-Fifty with a Canon to Sony adapter for half the price of the Yongnuo lens.
Good point. There are definitely cheaper nifty fifty's to be had, but I've found that this one actually has a pretty decent AF and doesn't sound like you're running it up against a cheese grater every time it finds focus 😅
My mother passed on this camera to me. I will say tho it's hard to get the photos I want without a viewfinder. But it's a decent camera for how much it costs.
Yeah, the lack of a viewfinder is a slight bummer, but like you said, it's a great starter setup 😊
I often use that lens on my A5000 for shooting portraits and cosplays 🤣
Really an amazing kit for its size.
Nice! Have you got a link to photos you've taken, just in case anyone wanted to check out what it can do?
i have sony nex 6 been using it for 3 months with ttartisan 35mm f1.4 manual love it !!!
I used a Sony Nex-5 as my main event camera for around 6 years before going back to DSLRs with a Nikon P3300 last year. I was satisfied with the quality of the photos that I got from the Nex-5, I just missed shooting with a viewfinder as well as the Nikkor lenses I already owned due to having both a Nikon F65 35mm film SLR camera and an D40 DSLR. I still have the Nex-5 as a backup camera, though.
I remember these at Walmart. What killed it was the cost of the separate lens and I would say the rise of cell phone cameras, which were shooting 5MP video at that point and more importantly - were plugged straight into social media platforms. It was not just this camera, there were a few makes that got into this tiny SLR body game. It looked cool but you headed over $300 with the body, adapter, lens.
Awesome video! Is the kind of vintage look in the photos you're showing here due to the lense you're using or are you doing that in Lightroom?
Any tips on how to achieve this look?
These are great vameras to start with, especially if you are learning photography. I do recommend someway of attaching a larger battery to it as these batteries dont last long.
I have one coupled with a vintage lens (Minolta MD 50 f2) B&W only ! Great camera
Can you do a video specifally for the NEX5 and the 35mm tt artisan?
I did cover the 35mm in this video, though, what more would you have liked to have seen?
@@TomCalton Just focused longer on the lens with more photos and i would really enjoy if you could do a video with the lens and the A6000 i would be so grateful. Since that could be an unexpensive and good combo maybe. Maybe also with a more filmic look in editing
Awesome camera btw I need one for my collection
Should I buy this or a6000??
If you can get an A6000 for a similar price, go for that. It'll have a much nicer menu system and better AF.
great video! I have the Nex F3 and it’s still my favorite. it’s a great series and agree this F5 is a perfect beginner camera
At the time, the biggest advantage was that, with adapters, any vintage lens can be used with the camera.
Actually, the whole reason for me to buy DSLR back in the days was to ensure the presence of all those dials and buttons. It was a pain to adjust settings via menu with a regular set of selection buttons or, even worse, touch screen. I wanted dedicated controls for shooting mode, flash, zoom, manual focus and so on. If that means big body - so be it. I don't want any compromises when it comes to handling, because the bulkiest part of the camera are the lens anyway.
Yah, I had one. It was great. I cannot now think why I binned it. My daughter about to do some photography at school so maybe something like this might be great.
I have the Alpha a5100. Similar sized, a bit more modern. It's been great
Here in the states I'm seeing this camera anywhere from $170 to about $400 on Ebay and Amazon. Ebay having the lower end prices. That's pretty wild. I don't get how so many of these little snapshot cameras aren't as good as my phone but fetch hundreds of dollars even at 10 years old or even older!
It may have been mentioned already but you can get the professional Flash and a awesome viewfinder and a mic for the slot on top those are the only ones I know are still available eBay or Amazon there were other items that you can add as well that have been discontinued
Yeahh, I'm still using my NEX-5T from 10 years ago. I really love the small form factor of it, could easily fit into my jacket pocket. Im using budget lens with it like the 1650 kit lens, Samyang 12mm MF, Takumar 55mm and Takumar 135mm. Thinking of adding a budget prime (AF or MF) in the 23-25mm fr. Which lens do you think should I go for?
I started off on the nex 3 and then moved on to the c3 I still have the microphone, rangefinder, and flash
Everything you said was 100%. I am using an a7riii when I’m out hiking I’ll use the 22-210 EF lens and it gets crisp images in crop sensor mode.
should i get the NEX 5N or the fujfilm x-a10
in 2017 I bought nex-5T for $65 repaired it and still using it with mostly, but not only, nFD manual lenses.
I got a SonyNEX5 with a 35mm f1.7 for 70€ from Japan
It's my daily :)
That is amazing value 👏🏻
@@TomCalton Yup, definatly will buy again from Japan for used stuff ! ^^ And the lens is a 35mm f1.7 from Neweer, manual lens but with a great spining bokeh and very small (it litteraly fit in my pocket (lens + camera attached))
Great video! Had my eyes on the NEX 5 since it came out but never had the chance. Now I see the NEX 7 (or is it 9?)) for 150USD lens included. Would it be a wise purchase?
I have a Nex3 and I love it. I still use it daily.
Is this a good point and shoot camera to keep in your pocket?
Hahaha you went and did what I said in a previous comment about attaching the biggest lenses to it 😂😂😂 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
See, I do listen... sometimes 😜 Hope you liked that bit - thanks for the inspiration 🤜🤛
Yeah prices can vary dramatically depending on location and situation, for example I got a Fuji X-T100 paired with a vintage Canon FD lens (50mm 1.4) for the equivalent of around $270(US).
Here in the UK, the NEX can be had for as a low as £75 for an A grade camera (mint). With kit lens £130. The Yongnuo is £55 on CEX but OOS. CEX stuff I find can be cheaper than ebay and comes with 24 months warranty.
It might be a cheap camera that isn't cutting edge but it's a cheap camera to take on risky outings, like the beach for instance :D
Honestly, learning to be a good photographer entails absorbing so many matters of esthetics, basic principles of light & exposure, endless practice & experimentation, business & interpersonal skills, and... _taste!,_ that you can happily pursue 90+% of it with almost _any_ camera you happen to already have (or can borrow). [At some point, though, you will need manual exposure controls & exposure comp.; so a strictly point&shoot will only take you so far.]
I'd suggest to go with used Fuji, they cost not much, while being really good, often being sold with 1680 f4 HQ zoom lens - that's a bargain.
Got a NEX 5R when they came out and I still use it to this days
I traded my old analog camera for an NEX5-R with a Sony standard 16-55 autofocus lens. It takes great shots outside in daylight. Also video at 1080 is fine. However, trying to get good images or video indoors is not evident with this camera. I find that the camera on my phone does a much better job indoors. I like the small formfactor of the NEX5-R, it will go into my sturdy eastpack bag just fine while walking around town or on the go. Good value for money. Yet I am considering upgrading to the A6700 body now. It promises to solve the problems I just described, but the cost is much higher. Is it worth it?
Very nice camera review. I picked up a used NEX-3N for a low price awhile back, really like using it. Before that I had picked up an A5100 which I also love using, so much that I now have 3 of them . Is fun adapting vintage lenses to these bodies. When I really need and EVF I break out my A6000, also an awesome camera.
I honestly only clicked this for the cheap auto focus 50mm I need for my A7
Well, glad you (hopefully) found the video useful!
I am looking forward to getting it next year yes thank you :D @@TomCalton
The EOS 300D Rebel Digital, seen here at the beginning... it was my first digital camera, and ly first reflex too.
Of course, I'm pretty not sure about buying this tiny guy, but these kinds of videos are inspiring me to grab my "bulky" X-T20 and go out to do some pictures!