Sony NEX5A 14.2-megapixel digital camera with 1080p video

Clever innovations in silicon and software

As of April 2010, Sony has cornered the digital camera market with the world's smallest interchangeable lens digital still camera: the Alpha NEX series. How did they manage this technological feat? Simple. They removed the conventional mirror box, AF sensor, and viewfinder, reducing the "flange back" distance from 44.5 mm to 18 mm. Okay. Maybe it wasn't simple, but the result is simply astonishing. The NEX series has all the quality of an Sony Alpha DSLR, but at half the weight and half the size!

More? Less? More in less!

The beauty of SLR photography is the ability to change lenses to match your shooting situation. But, maybe you don't want to lug around six sets of optics. Maybe you don't even want to lug around a big old camera any more. Maybe you dream of living lithely — sans all the extra baggage, but with plenty of everything you need. Well, your dreams are about to come true. Now Sony brings the beauty of the SLR to a compact camera. The NEX-5 lets you use two dedicated E-mount lenses (16mm and 18-55mm), plus you can choose between 28 A-mount lenses via an adaptor (sold separately)!

The big picture just got bigger

For the NEX series, Sony employs an APS-C image sensor. If you don't know anything about image sensor technology, you only need to know one thing: superior photographs. See, the APS-C image sensor is three times bigger than your typical digital camera sensor. This means the APS-C is more sensitive — you'll get better portraits and brighter night shots, all without any extra effort on your part. Plus, the enormous 14.2-megapixel resolution ensure the NEX series cameras aren't all bark and no bite. (Don't worry, the NEX cameras have been fully vaccinated.)

The brains behind the beauty

Who said beautiful can't be smart? Someone with low self-esteem apparently. Just look at the NEX series. They're gorgeous with their unfussy lines and smooth finishes. And, they're smart. The BIONZ image processor has been refined to the nth degree: its chroma noise reduction delivers high-resolution, low-noise (distortion) photographs, even at ISO 12,800. (Yes, the NEX series cameras actually have 12,800 sensitivity!) The BIONZ also enables fast processing for up to 7 fps of continuous shooting. In addition, the NEX-5 saves your pictures as compact JPEG files or ultra-high quality RAW files. RAW files save images prior to de-mosaicing, white balance, sharpness, and color enhancement, which means you have maximum latitude for enhancing the image on your PC.

Not just HD, AVCHD

Added to the NEX-5 line-up is Full HD 1920 x 1080/60i video recording. This is the world's first interchangeable lens digital still camera with 1080/60i AVCHD Full HD, exactly the same resolution and frame rate as most broadcast and cable HDTV channels. The NEX-5 records in 1080/60i AVCHD format, 1080/30p high definition in PC-friendly MP4 format, and standard definition 480/30p in MP4 format. Set your inner director free!

Easier than ever to operate

Mmm hmm, we know what you're going to say: Bet it's an exceptional camera that's impossible to operate. Hardly! The NEX-5 replaces all those buttons with one simple control wheel and one pair of buttons. These three simple items give you full access — and full control of — the full power of digital photography. There's even an on-screen help guide to walk you through any process you just don't get.

Extending your fun factor

It's always been Sony's goal to take digital photography to next level — whatever that goal may be. Henceforth, when you engage with a Sony camera, you're engaging in an experience, not just a pre-programmed mode. Take, for example, Sweep Panorama. It allows you to capture expansive landscapes automatically. Just press the shutter button and then sweep vertically or horizontally. The camera does the rest, continuously shooting images and stitching them together — up to 202 degrees maximum sweep angle (16mm focal length).

Taking it to the limit

Quite frankly, the list of functionality for the NEX series cameras is so long we couldn't fit it all in our copy. But, to whet your photographic appetite a bit, we'll tell you it's got everything you could possibly want in a DSLR: High Dynamic Range that captures scene contrast from two separate images in order to produce one stunning image; Dynamic Range Optimizer improves results with backlit subjects; 920K pixel TruBlack Extra Fine LCD screen has best-in-class resolution and anti-reflection properties; iAuto mode unifies and simplifies Sony's intelligent technologies such as Scene Recognition, Face Detection, and Optical SteadyShot, plus Live View LCD provides a what-you-see-is-what-you-get preview of white balance, focus, depth of field, exposure and 100% framing accuracy. Add to it Twilight Mode for clean, sharp low-light images, fast focus, manual focus assist, and the Anti Motion Blur mode, and you've got a camera that goes the extra mile every time!