Sony NEX-7 First Look: In the Wild

The NEX-7 unit I tested in San Diego is not 100% up to full production. I was told that image quality is very close to what final production units will produce, but that user interface was still a bit buggy. I didn't encounter any issues out of the ordinary shooting with it. For sanity's sake the samples I shot are reduced to web-friendly sizes, but no other out-of-camera processing has taken place.

Update: Just for fun we added a few full-res shots to our selection of sample images. You can find them at the bottom of the page.

The Sony NEX-7 is impressive no matter how you look at it. It manages to squeeze a 24.3 megapixel APS-C sensor into a svelte, modern camera body. It offers new levels of control with two dials on the top deck. Recording 1080 HD video is always at your fingertips with a quick start video button. And unlike the NEX cameras before it, the 7 incorporates a bright OLED viewfinder. 

I can't stress how much I like this viewfinder. The enthusiast and advanced users who are most likely its target audience will want to bring the NEX-7 to some challenging shooting situations. That viewfinder rescues the user from the chore of squinting at the camera's monitor, wondering if composition and focus are on target. This 2359k-dot OLED finder is sharp, clear and bright.

In a setting like the Pala Motocross Track, it was essential. The NEX-7 didn't let me down on the dusty raceway tracking fast-moving targets. I used the 55-210mm telezoom lens for all of my shots here. It wasn't the ideal lens - and I doubt many would use it for serious sports photography. It wasn't fast enough to get in close on the cyclists as they zoomed by, but I came away with my share of clear shots.