Sony Alpha NEX-5 review

Video quality was impressive, too. It records in AVCHD format at 50fps 1080i, and the clips we created looked sharp and well exposed with realistic colours, even in poor lighting conditions. Autofocus was smooth and accurate and didn’t disrupt the soundtrack. Noise levels were a little higher than rival models from Panasonic, but far lower than dedicated camcorders. As with the Panasonic GF2, there’s exposure compensation but no manual mode or even a basic AE lock for video capture. This pretty much rules the NEX-5 out for creative videographers, but for casual recording, it’s an excellent choice. Just bear in mind that the soundtrack itself isn’t brilliant despite the stereo microphones as there’s a bit too much background noise. Sony sells a proprietary external microphone but because there’s no 3.5mm jack, you’re left with little choice if you want better audio.

The Panasonic GF2 has more tactile controls, a wider choice of compatible lenses and no image review performance problems, but the NEX-5’s superior image quality and superb articulated screen earn it our vote. New NEX cameras are rumoured to be coming soon, but at current prices we wouldn’t bother waiting. The silver version pictured costs £399 – almost £200 less than at launch – while the black version costs just £375. It’s more expensive with the 16mm pancake lens at £480, but with both lenses for £500, it’s extremely good value. It’s the ideal camera for anyone who wants SLR-quality photos without the complexity or bulk of an SLR. If you can live with the 30-minute recording limit and without manual control, it’s a stunning video camera too. Thanks to the firmware update, the NEX-5 earns a well-deserved Best Buy award.