Sony NEX-6 v Olympus Pen E-PL5

justa1972

justa1972

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Justin
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I'm looking for a small camera with excellent picture quality and the Sony and the Olympus seem to fit the bill - especially the Sony as it has a viewfinder...

Anyone looked at both or care to give an opinion on either ?

thanks
 
hi ive got a nex 6 and think it is superb ..ive got zeiss.minolta lenses and all the adpaters ...i would say its the most versatile camera i have ..have got the nikon d800e and the canon 5dmk3 and decided i prefered the small size and the ammount of lenses you can attach is superb

the oled view finder is very handy ..before i got the 6 i had the 5r and it was great but found in the sun it was not usable so decided to get the nex 6 with the oled and very happy ...it has 24p video superb screen great oled view finder and a host of adapters that allow you to use any lens ..

allso love the focus peaking and there are so many options to mess around with ...when i dont feel like taking the nikon or canon i just take the nex...can fit in my pocket and i like to use yashica 55mm 2.8 superb lens .....or my 35 70mm contax ...
 
I've got an epl5 as a complement to my omd. I tend to carry the epl5 around in general but take the omd when I want better ibis, grip to use with larger lenses or a viewfinder. The epl5 is a great little camera and particularly so when paired with the Oly primes. It's a very compact and very capable setup. I guess the nex6 will be better in very bright light (EVF) and low light (larger sensor) but in the majority of conditions there probably isn't a lot in it. For me, it's the lenses that make the camera shine, particularly given their modest prices (with the exception of the 75mm which is a cracker but expensive).

Hope that helps.
 
it does - thanks

would like an omd but cant stretch to it - are any of the view finders any good ?
 
justa1972 said:
it does - thanks

would like an omd but cant stretch to it - are any of the view finders any good ?
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The VF2 is good but by the time you've added one you may as well have got an OMD used. I did have a vf2 but in the end I didn't use it. The camera is so light that you can shield the screen from bright sun if necessary but honestly, it's not been a problem for me. YMMV.
 
Thanks - coming from an dslr I thought a evf might be better for composing shots.

Not seen any used OMD's..
 
A new Nex user here but if you go that route then the 50 1.8 Sony lens is excellent for £199. I have only ever used older and/or cheaper DSLRs and prime lenses but the Nex 5 with the 50 1.8 is better than any of them.

Admit that with the 50 on it doesn't make the camera small but still a lot smaller than a DSLR.
 
50mm on APSC may be a bit too long for mtb photography. It depends on what type of shots you're looking for. In my experience you can't always get very far away from the trail so you'll want a good wide angle. Not too wide though or everything will distort. 24-28mm eq. and up.
 
Try playing with them in a shop if you can. I had an NEX, admittedly not as good as the 6, but I hated the menu system. It was so difficult to change basic settings.

I have an OM-D now which has enough 'buttons and knobs' to make it a pleasure to use. I sold my NEX because of the limited native lens choice and I didn't want to mess around with adaptors etc. (and the menu system and lack of viewfinder on my model).

Micro 4/3 has a lot of really good quality lenses and this shouldn't be overlooked. They are made for that system so tend to be a great small size to feel at home on a smaller camera body.

The prime lenses are well worth looking at, particularly the olympus ones. Highly recommend the 45mm for portraits. Also, the 40-150mm is a fantastic lens for the money. Really sharp for a 'budget' lens.
 
Set a Nex up when you get it, just like any other camera.
Use the function key to access changes quickly.

There's no real need to keep delving into the menus.
 
kendo1 said:
Set a Nex up when you get it, just like any other camera.
Use the function key to access changes quickly.

There's no real need to keep delving into the menus.
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I agree with this.

I've read many times that people don't like this/that cameras menus and I've always wondered why they care so much as after my cameras are set up I only go into menus when I have to, like when I have to format the memory card.
 
Agree too. The Nex (like a lot of cameras) has customisable soft buttons

I have one button (with wheel) set up to flick through ISO, Metering and Focus and another for shooting modes.
The camera is no slower or trickier to use that one with dedicated buttons for each function, in fact it is possibly quicker!
 
You need to decide if a viewfinder is essential or not really as that will limit your choice and rule out the E-PL5 and any other small bodied m4/3 cameras (add on viewfinders are a ridiculous price!)

Another option with viewfinder is a Fuji XE-1.
 
woof woof said:
I agree with this.

I've read many times that people don't like this/that cameras menus and I've always wondered why they care so much as after my cameras are set up I only go into menus when I have to, like when I have to format the memory card.
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I don't use the menu much on my OM-D because it has buttons and dials for everything I need while shooting.

The NEX system must have changed because when I had one yiu needed to use the screen for every change from iso to aperture to the mode you are in and it was always a couple of button presses away.

It's the only camera I have owned that relied so much on the menus on a regular basis.

Like I say, they must have changed or the NEX6 probably has more buttons and dials to customise this.

Edit: looking at the NEX 6, it does have more dials than what I had. When I bought mine it was a choice between the NEX C3 and 5N (or the expensive 7). The C3 and 5N relied too much on the menus. That's why it was a problem.
 
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Phall82 said:
The NEX system must have changed because when I had one yiu needed to use the screen for every change from iso to aperture to the mode you are in and it was always a couple of button presses away.
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Not sure if a firmware update changed things but I am using a first generation Nex 5 and don't have to press any more buttons than a DSLR.
Example of how mine is setup for my preferences;

Change of mode - one button bring up mode dial, choose mode with wheel.
Change of Aperture - if in Aperture priorty then just move the wheel
Change of ISO - one button to bring up ISO (move wheel to change), press wheel to right and goes to metering (move wheel to change), press to right again and goes to focus area (move wheel to change)

Can't see how that is any more fiddly or time consuming than if I had more physical buttons?
 
ernesto said:
Not sure if a firmware update changed things but I am using a first generation Nex 5 and don't have to press any more buttons than a DSLR.
Example of how mine is setup for my preferences;

Change of mode - one button bring up mode dial, choose mode with wheel.
Change of Aperture - if in Aperture priorty then just move the wheel
Change of ISO - one button to bring up ISO (move wheel to change), press wheel to right and goes to metering (move wheel to change), press to right again and goes to focus area (move wheel to change)

Can't see how that is any more fiddly or time consuming than if I had more physical buttons?
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It must just be me but I prefer a physical mode dial and in full manual mode there weren't enough dials so it was another but press to change from aperture to shutter speed etc. In theory it doesn't sound difficult but I hated it. That's why my current cameras are Fuji X10, X100 and the Olympus OM-D. Plenty of control without the need for as many button presses and checking 'virtual mode dials' on screen.

The NEX wasn't for me at all. The image quality was great btw considering I only had the kit lenses.

Like I say, the NEX 6 and 7 seem to have more physical controls so it wouldn't be a problem on those.
 
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Yep, horses for courses I suppose. In the days of iPads and smartphones and so on I have no reliance on physical dials and on screen stuff is second nature to me.
 
Another vote for an X-E1 here. Better handling than either the EPL5/NEX 6, better kit lens, great IQ really good built in EVF and Fuji keeps adding features through Firmware like no other. Also great high quality primes and an interesting lens road map.

Sony has an EVF as well and it is very compact but not once you add lenses let alone that Sony's lens offerings (some very expensive zeiss offerings not withstanding) are mediocre.

The EPL5 does not have an EVF which will add extra bulk and cost to the price of the camera and the standard zoom is not great either. If you also are interested in shallow depth of field effects then your choices for lens are fewer and relatively expensive.

You can pick an S/H if you hunt enough for less than 750 with the 18-55 2.8-4 lens or for 849 from the refurbished Fuji store.
 
Guessing the XE-1 is above budget possibly, given the option of NEX6 or E-PL5 ?
I am also guessing that a big part of the price is the better kit lens which wouldn't interest me (I just don't like zooms and like large apertures).
I am very happy using the Sony 50 1.8, it is an excellent lens, even if it seems to be mediocre to others :)
 
Thanks for the replys folks - very helpful

I think the fuji is out of my price range although it sounds excellent.

I do want an evf so I think that's a valid point - I will have a look at the OMD and decide from there...
 
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Upon release the original nex 3 and 5 were very menu based but later firmware reduced this.
 
can a NEX 6 owner answer this question please ?

How does the panoramic mode work ? Can you control how wide you do the panorama ? I've read somewhere that you cant ?

thanks
 
consider the epm2 if you dont care about the flippy screen and save £100

dont forget if you buy the olympus you can claim a free 17mm prime for free :)
 
justa1972 said:
can a NEX 6 owner answer this question please ?

How does the panoramic mode work ? Can you control how wide you do the panorama ? I've read somewhere that you cant ?

thanks
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you can release the shutter button, think that might stop it, or just crop it after youve taken it.
think theres some presets with normal or wide too, think most people use wide.
 
justa1972 said:
I want a viewfinder..
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you can add the viewfinder to either the epm2 or epl5 when you have funds only the OM-D EM5 comes with a viewfinder :)

ive just sold my nex-6 and gone back to OM-D feels much better and apart from Excellent viewfinder and peaking on the sony id say the omd is better
 
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applemint said:
Panasonic G3 and G5, G6 have viewfinders - The G3 is only £189 now:
http://www.abc-digital-cameras.co.uk/Panasonic-DMC-G3-Body-Only-Black.html

OMD is the only Olympus m43 camera with an evf. Nex 6 and 7 also have built in evf.
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I tried the OMD in a shop and tbh I really didnt like the handling of it - it just didnt feel comfortable ?

Really picky but I also hated the on/off switch - I tried the Fuji at the same time and that felt sooooo much better but the focusing concerns me..
 
I am not a fan of Olympus ergonomics either - have only tried the OMD in a shop but owned the E-PL1 and E-PL3. Micro four thirds focusing is noticeably faster than Nex hence the Panasonic G series suggestions. G5 is a pretty good combo of value for money and ergonomics - 14-42 kit lens version comes with a free telephoto zoom offer which could be sold to reduce the cost or kept.

I have a G3 and very happy with it - a bargain at under £200. I still have and like the original Nex (5) from nearly 3 years ago but prefer a viewfinder, hence the G3. G3 + 20mm Panasonic lens makes a nice combination. Nex with Sigma 30mm for similar combination (if you like the 40/45mm fov and want a fairly small camera and lens that is).

Dslr is still the best choice for action - wildlife, sports or anything else requiring fast continuous focusing..
 
thanks apple mint

I think I've looked into too much now - I keep deciding on the G6 but then my local camera shop keeps pointing out that image quality is a bit behind other formats...

I'm thinking NEX 6 at the moment (but that might change tomorrow!)
 
G6 is a bit behind but probably only noticeable at higher iso's - mine is fine up to ISO 1600 with a bit of noise reduction in Lightroom, the Nex is fine up to ISO 3200. At low iso's with a decent lens on each it's quite hard to tell the difference.

So how often do you go above ISO 1600, do you post process images and also what lenses do you want to get - think about the whole system and how you will use it. Everything is a compromise so it's a case of what is best for you but Nex 6 and G6 are both great cameras - just quite different ones - different sensor size, different AF speed, different lens options, different shape.

Both are capable of great photos though - :)

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Nex+6&s=int
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Panasonic G6&s=int
 
Thanks :)

I probably don't take many photos at higher iso's but its nice to have !

I do post process and my perfect length lens was my nikon 16-85....
 
applemint said:
G6 is a bit behind but probably only noticeable at higher iso's -
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The latest review puts the G6 behind the G5. The numbers may be small and may not show up in 99.99% of real world photos, if ever, but the sheer cheek and laziness of the G6 puts me off. For Panny to warm up technology from a couple of years ago and palm it off as the latest thing would stick in my throat.

The handling of the G6 may be good and may improve on previous models but I'm no pro and I can take my time and I'd choose potential image quality over a slightly better grip any day.

Personally I'm waiting for the next GF/GX but if they don't try harder they'll lose me to Olympus or Sony or back to DSLR's.
 
I thought the G6 had rec'd very good reviews - where has it been behind the G5 ?
 
justa1972 said:
I thought the G6 had rec'd very good reviews - where has it been behind the G5 ?
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Very marginal difference in raw: http://www.techradar.com/reviews/ca...al-slrs-hybrids/panasonic-g6-1146084/review/4

You can also see the difference vs the newer (Sony?) sensor Olympus are using and also vs the Nex 6.

I agree though that the G6 (at least at current prices) would be more appealing with a newer sensor which was competitive with the OMD /E-PL5 one Olympus use.

This thread may also help re G5/G6 or Nex 6: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3499950#forum-post-51602379
 
Thanks for the help everyone...

I have finally decided to go for a Sony NEX 6 and picked one up today from Harrisons in Sheffield (very helpful)

Hope it was the right decision but only time will tell !
 
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