Re: Fun with the NEX cameras....
Tim,
My take closely mirrors Terry's and Cindy's. Before I elaborate I want to comment on your computer statement. While form and function are very important to me (hence my choice of iMacs for my wife and I), computers will only be fast enough when I don't have to spend anytime waiting on them. No beach balls, no hour glasses, no moving bar, etc. What I want happens instantly and they are waiting for me to make my next move. Since I work with computers all day almost every day those seconds add up to a lot of frustration. Therefore, for me, computers aren't there yet!
The NEX is the closest thing I have found in a small body mirror-less camera to what I am looking for. IT's IQ is very high as is its DR (sensor, not lenses). Could they be better? Yes, but I could probably live with this level). Physical size is about as small as possible if you plan to use legacy lenses at all and even native lenses are limited in how small they can get given this sensor size, on the other hand, when you go back and look at some of the small 35 mm film cameras they managed to design and make small lenses that covered a full frame. (not counting the 1/2 frame cameras). The holy grail would be an optical view finder that matched the FL and included a focus confirmation indication. Short of that a really high quality EVF but the body would need to be larger for both optical and EVF unless Sony eliminated the LCD completely which would be a novel approach. I like the clean design and as I use the camera more I find I don't miss most of the buttons. Ergonomic changes I would make would include adding one more button to the lower bottom right and moving the playback button down to where the movie button is and moving the movie button up in front of the power switch, sort of two shutter buttons, one for movie and one for still. When no flash is attached, pushing the dial rocker button to the right would bring up ISO. The new bottom button would be user programable and in at least one implementation could be used to format the card (format is too buried) with another choice being to select white balance. I would also add two lugs to the lightest side of the camera so one option would be to carry the camera in portrait orientation. For the normal high quality pancake lens (when it comes) I would add a zippered leather case like the Leica CL's. It provides protection when being carried around, slides up the strap or snaps off for shooting and adds no weight to the camera. Then a small belt pouch could be used to carry the additional lenses. If Sony manages to build and offer a small very high resolution EVF that optically appears larger to the eye, that would definitely move toward making this a longer term keeper. I suspect the electronics are there to support one. While one could always want faster performance this camera is fast enough that it would be very low on my priority list. Built in IS, on the other hand would be high on my list as it allows for smaller lenses and improves the usability of legacy lenses. I know this is a long winded answer but I think it answers your question.