Nex 3 manual focus.

[_larky]

Hello.

I never thought about a Nex, but somebody just planted the seed and now, oh dead, GAS!

I have some OM lenses I'd like to use, I'd want to use the Nex like a TLR, shoot waist level. I wonder how you all find focussing like this? Also, if shooting manual, what's the lag like?

Cheers :)

[uhoh7]

Works fine from waist if you eyesight is good.

If in doubt fire at 7fps while adjusting focus. One will be good.

Little if any lag

[gekopaca]

Manual focusing is the main reason I personally would never buy a NEX.

[FPjohn]

Works well with manual focus which is crisp and spectacular .

yours
FPJ

[Nokton48]

Manual focus with the Nex-3 is different allright. Once you get a feel for how to use it, it is as intuitive and fast to operate, as anything else. No appreciable lag, not a quick as a Leica, but faster than an SLR for sure. It's a good shooter.

I have a low opinion of autofocus lenses, for me manual is the way to go. And the Nex-3 is perfect for Manual Focus lenses.

High-Speed Olympus lenses would be -GREAT- on the Nex-3. Nice and small, if you like compact stuff. Didn't they make a 21mm F2? Geez that would be great on the Nex.

[uhoh7]

Manual focusing is the main reason I personally would never buy a NEX.

let's see, it's more accurate to MF than any mirror camera, so I guess you are saying you don't want to manual focus, period.

You are not alone, hehe.

[nigelb]

I have a NEX3, the viewfinder is very odd, it will not go completely horizontal, so you cannot use it at your waist, unless you hold away from your body, and it will not point down. I really don't have a clue what it is hinged for? It does not reverse for carrying.

Here is a photo of the finder pulled out.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/SonyNex5Nex3/page3.asp

Personally I don't have a problem using Nex 3 like a TLR, for me works fine - don't see your problem, unless its to do with belly size ;).

Also the image in the link you posted does not show the screen at full 80 degree extension, more like 40 so not fully representative when talking of TLR-like use.

[River Dog]

OK -- I may be doing something wrong, but mine will not go flat but is always tilted down. I have a NEX3. Is there some way to release it I am missing?

Can you grab a shot of yours -- I admit I really don't get the finder.


That's the same as mine but I don't have an issue using it like a TLR - tilting the lens up a few degrees to compensate does foreshorten the LCD a little, but nothing I can't handle with the SLR and RF lenses I have tried so far.

Not ideal I grant you, but for the realtively modest amount I spent on the NEX body ($300), it was always going to be a compromise to work around the constraints.

Still love the little devil. :cool:

[Nokton48]

Yes it is superb certainly surprising. i just sent for the finder adapter, expensive at $60, but I think it will make the camera better.

Please let us know definitively if it fits the Nex-3.

[River Dog]

Yes it is superb certainly surprising. i just sent for the finder adapter, expensive at $60, but I think it will make the camera better.

What finder will you be using on it - indeed how do you know which finder to buy?

Aren't they calibrated to a particular lens or lenses? With the 1.5 crop how does this work for a 50 at 75mm for 28 at 42mm for example?

I am interested in what you end up with.

[richardhkirkando]

Hello.

I never thought about a Nex, but somebody just planted the seed and now, oh dead, GAS!

I have some OM lenses I'd like to use, I'd want to use the Nex like a TLR, shoot waist level. I wonder how you all find focussing like this? Also, if shooting manual, what's the lag like?

Cheers :)
This is exactly how I use mine. My only complaint is that the image isn't reversed like it would be on a real TLR. No trouble with lag, and I find that the 7x/14x magnification button works really well.

[nigelb]

OK -- I may be doing something wrong, but mine will not go flat but is always tilted down. I have a NEX3. Is there some way to release it I am missing?

Can you grab a shot of yours -- I admit I really don't get the finder.

This is mine, in the only position I have been able to get it to. I don't want to force it.



As River Dog said the picture you show is correct, 10 degrees or so off horizontal. I use with neckstrap at about mid to low chest height and find it easy to use in this position. OK the other 10 degrees would make it better in a few instances but no big deal. Sony probably adopted this method instead of full hinge and rotation to keep it slim due to the body depth. Would have been nice if the screen was like my Olympus E600 but for the low price it does me proud. :)

[River Dog]

10 degrees off the horizontal still beats holding it up 2 feet in front of your face and chimping at a flat LCD.

[nigelb]

What finder will you be using on it - indeed how do you know which finder to buy?

Aren't they calibrated to a particular lens or lenses? With the 1.5 crop how does this work for a 50 at 75mm for 28 at 42mm for example?

I am interested in what you end up with.

Voigtlander did make some 1.5x viewfinders for use with the Epson RD2. They come up from time to time on the big auction site, I guess these would be useful for the Nex.

I too look forward to photomoof's experience with the cold shoe, please let us know.

I would use my Voigtlander 25mm finder with the CV 15mm lens, using the full vision instead of frame markings and my Olympus 34mm finder with the CV 25mm lens. Both won't be totally accurate but close enough for a general guide.

[FPjohn]

My experience is that the jtec cold shoe does not fit the Nex 3.

yours
FPJ

[Ronald_H]

Manual focus is very accurate. The NEX is wonderful, you'll get used soon enough to a different UI (which is highy customizable by the way). See below, Leica DR Summicron on a NEX-3 wide open. Dead accurate. With decent primes on the NEX you'll see what this little 'toy' can do. It is significantly better than my Nikon D200 in all image quality aspects. Click on the image below, I have a full size version up as well.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/5418322577_7c344ec314.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lookupinwonder/5418322577/)
Evelien (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lookupinwonder/5418322577/) by Ronald_H (http://www.flickr.com/people/lookupinwonder/), on Flickr

[douglasf13]

Photomoof, rather than spending $60 bucks on a coldshoe, you should REALLY look into the Clearviewer for $50. I have a couple of cold shoe OVFs, and I stopped using them once I received my Clearviewer. Manual focus is a breeze with it, and you don't need to use image magnification.

It seems like I see a new thread every other day about NEX manual focusing and/or EVFs, and, I'm telling ya, this thing works great. It adds little bulk to the camera, and it gives you a giant EVF equivalent. Since it folds under, I can switch from waist level to eye level shooting effortlessly.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5190996008_0596308cf2.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5190996352_72814deff4.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5190996508_5652bf86d1.jpg

[kshapero]

Manual focusing is the main reason I personally would never buy a NEX.Manual focusing is the main reason I personally bought my NEX.:D

[kshapero]

Photomoof, rather than spending $60 bucks on a coldshoe, you should REALLY look into the Clearviewer for $50. I have a couple of cold shoe OVFs, and I stopped using them once I received my Clearviewer. Manual focus is a breeze with it, and you don't need to use image magnification.

It seems like I see a new thread every other day about NEX manual focusing and/or EVFs, and, I'm telling ya, this thing works great. It adds little bulk to the camera, and it gives you a giant EVF equivalent. Since it folds under, I can switch from waist level to eye level shooting effortlessly.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5190996008_0596308cf2.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5190996352_72814deff4.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5190996508_5652bf86d1.jpgseems clunky. Anyway to see what is looks like when completely folded under?

[Ronald_H]

Manual focusing is the main reason I personally bought my NEX.:D

Maybe not THE main reason (the term 'pocket rocket' comes to mind) but definitely one of them. Ever since I saw MF work on a Panosonic G1 I knew this was the future. The NEX can do the same trick + HD video + a bigger sensor + more performance.

Shake of the prejudices people, it's 2011.

[Wags]

I've been real happy with mine. I've got the adapter to use my Minolta Rokkor glass from my old SRT-101. I use a tripod and the sharpness is equal or surpasses my DSLR, if I do my part. I do find myself putting it up to my eye though, hope the future versions have a VF and full frame would be nice.

BTW the screen does tilt down, ...somewhat, not as much as it tilts up. It took me awhile to figure it out. Extend it upwards then pull the top down. I haven't used it but it's there.

[Nokton48]

I got the NEX-5 cold shoe, and a week later was mailed a little plastic extension which you are supposed to glue to the bottom of the shoe, using CA adhesive, to make it fit the NEX-3 Also included is a longer screw.

I did not glue it together, but returned mine for a refund, without testing it.

Thank you for this information.

[pacco]

For me, the Nex works as fine as my Yashica Mat-124G at waist-level shooting. You get even the "loupe" with the 7x/14x magnification setting.

[Nokton48]

That little door and flash are just too fussy [delicate], to be charitable.


Thanks again for that report. Now we know he has corrected the situation regarding the Nex-3. For me, after using the LCD screen for a while (and the 7x magnifier), that is really all I need for my uses. I agree, the little door is a problem with this design! The hinges appear to be made of -plastic- I'm pretty sure they would break off easily! Then you have loose parts rattling around, inside the camera!

If I could easily and completely remove the Nex-3 door, I would probably bite the bullet, and pick up a JTec shoe. I would imagine the same problem exists on the Nex-5, althought I've never handled one. For now, my Nex-3 door stays folded-down, where it is well protected.

[jimmex]

I regularly shoot when holding the camera at belly height to chest height or overhead shots without too many problems. To improve the visibility of the screen I recently purchased a JJC LCH-Nex-3/5 Lens Protector Hood which I'm finding is a godsend to reduce glare and improve the screen visibility as well as offering screen protection. For a few dollars this is a great attachment. Just one word of caution. Earlier models of this clip on hood had trouble staying clipped onto the screen. I purchased an updated model which works fine.

[River Dog]

It's tiresome in bright light and can't be faffed with a hood for photos BUT it renders beautiful 720 video with legacy lenses and with the addition of a Zoom H1 recorder, it may be the tool for my next documentary. The focus peaking works very well in this context.