2012 is shaping up to be a good year for cameras. In addition to all those D800s and EOS-1D Xs and OM-D E-M5s trickling into people’s hands finally, we just keep getting more nice new cameras being announced. Including yesterday’s announcement of a new Sony NEX dubbed the “5r.” Now, the NEX series is Sony’s own mirrorless compact system, built around the same 1.5x APS-C sensor most of their Alpha DSLRs use. The 5 series is the middle of the road, above the 3 series and below the 7. This year’s refresh sees the sensor pushed to 16.2 megapixels with a maximum ISO of 25,600. And, before you start balking about how bad that’ll look, it’s worth remembering that Sony is currently the market leader in high-quality sensor production, and the crown kings of back-side illuminated designs. So, there’s every likelihood this will just be a stellar imager. But that’s not the exciting part. Also built-in to the 5r is WiFi (sadly, only b/g, no n here), through which you can upload and share pictures. And, striking a balance between traditional cameras and the handful of Android powered ones we’re seeing come out, Sony will also let you use that WiFi to download some new apps. Unlike Android apps, these apps are essentially firmware bolt-ons for the camera, let you choose whether or not you need things like bracketing, or multi-frame noise reduction, or photo editing. According to Sony, some of these will be free, some will cost a couple bucks. But, for anyone who’s ever asked “why can’t they just add ___________ via a firmware update?” even the idea of a couple bucks stings less than knowing your camera could do the feature if only someone would bother to code it.
Beyond that, you get the usual sort of quality you should expect from Sony compacts by now. The Fast-Hybrid AF system is here, promising DSLR speeds even without the mirror and offering up 99 contrast detect points and 25 phase detect ones working together. You’ll actually even need to update your lens firmwares to utilize this new AF. There’s a 3″ 921,000 touchscreen that can flip completely up or fifty degrees down. Shutter speeds range from 30-1/4000. You get 10 fps, Auto HDR, Sweep Panorama, virtual level, 1080 HD support, remote control via an Android or iOS app, and so forth. And all for $650 body only, $750 with a kit 18-55 IS and in your choice of silver, black, or white. Whew. None too shabby.
Interested? Maybe place a zero-commitment preorder on our site? You can always decline it once it comes in, and there’s no money up front. Come on… you know you wanna…
About Derek
Our resident web guru, Derek graduated from Ball State with a BFA in Visual Communications. When not in the office slaying CSS dragons, jousting social media windmills, or working on the blog, he's also a fine artist, working in oil paints and photography. Derek Martin+