Sony NEX-5n AF speed improvement test with new firmware. NEX-7 in Stock status.
Our reader David (Thanks!) made this very interesting AF speed comparison between the NEX-5n 1.01 and 1.00 firmware. He tested the speed on both 18-55mm and 16mm lenses and as you can see the speed improvement is significant!
The firmware is available here at Sony UK (or select another country). The NEX-5n here at Amazon, B&H, Adorama, J&R, eBay.
Good news! The NEX-7 body and the kit version with the 18-55mm black lens are now in Stock in any stores. Here is a selection:
USA: Amazon (limited shipments from March 5th), BHphoto (Released in limited quantity),
Europe Amazon Germany (Click here), Amazon France (Click here), Jessops (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Warehouseexpress (Click here).
whostino
2 years ago |wow they should make firmware v05 for the nex-5 with this AF speed!!!!!
S Pimenta
2 years ago |This type of firmware update is what we NEED for the NEX-5!!!
Hass
2 years ago |Admin, any updates about the a77 firmware? Thanks.
SonyA77
2 years ago |http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/good-news-a77-firmware-1-05-coming-on-march-29/#comments
admin
2 years ago |Coming on March 29 that’s it
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |typically to update firmware, how to do it? does need attach camera to pc?
Geir E
2 years ago |I would guess you put it on the memory card since the nex can’t be connected to the PC in any way that I’ve found.
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |thanks geir. Soon gonna to update firmware
brian
2 years ago |Have you tried looking on the side of the nex5? Usb port in plain sight (under the flap)
DeMarcus
2 years ago |Any idea of prices for the FF in September or the 2013 version?
PhotoNut
2 years ago |The NEX AF speed is still slower than that on the Panasonic m4/3rds cameras , the new Olympus OM digital and especially the Nikon-1 series.
Blank
2 years ago |Oh, really? Have you checked this? If yes, for which light condition or activity did you do the check – Sports action, low light? Which lenses/ settings did you use – Kit or prime lense?
Hamed
2 years ago |we need new firmware for nex7 plz sony make it soon
saiman
2 years ago |Good job, Sony.
BTW, I’m asking the NEX 5n owners if they’re experiencing the same problem with the camera’s metering. If I check the histogram, the shots are almost always underexposed by one full stop. Is it very common, or something that is wrong with my copy only.
Z-man
2 years ago |Not by a full stop, and only with multisegment metering under low light conditions (which I hardly use)
ScottD
2 years ago |Mine is about -0.3 under exposed most of the time. If you are getting a full 1 under, check your settings or you may have a bugged cam.
Zhi Shan
2 years ago |Sony cameras always tend to underexpose to preserve details.. try to dial +0.3-0.7 compensation..
REVENGE
2 years ago |Yep, ETTR does apply for the 5n.
Kalpurush :)
2 years ago |Yes, Sony – give us the a77 firmware 2.0
SonyA77
2 years ago |They haven’t released 1.05 yet!
pancanikonpus
2 years ago |i remembered that is SR5 v2.0
Z-man
2 years ago |Would this also imply an improvement on with the LA-EA1?
Maybe I still buy that 35mm 1.8 with adapter instead then ..
Mr M
2 years ago |nope, the La-ea1 focus is the best as it is. This just improves the native AF on the 5n.
Z-man
2 years ago |Sigma 30mm F2.8 .. Here I come .. :-/
bas076
2 years ago |I did the upgrade for my 5N. What I can say…In real low light situation I can feel some improvement but I definitely can’t call it significant.
Mikey2000
2 years ago |Is it just me or is the tester recomposing at different speeds for each of the two firmware versions? Considering the time between seeing his finger press on the shutter then hearing the focus beep, it seems quite similar on all clips, it just he is waving the camera around more quickly after updating the firmware….
Mikey2000
2 years ago |Also, it’s hardly a near to far focus shift, more like near to quite near.
Vlad
2 years ago |Totally agree.
Patrick
2 years ago |he is recomposing faster
Portmixus
2 years ago |I totally agree
Was going to say this earlier, but then I would have been the first to comment on this post on SAR
But I do believe in some improvement!
Rien Vesseur
2 years ago |In case of the 18-55mm there is a lag by the AF on the object further away, but otherwise the tester is just pushing the button quicker. There probably is an improvement, but not as much as he’s making us believe.
Charlie
2 years ago |^Exactly.
It’s the ol’, push the button quicker trick.
Bosse
2 years ago |This contrast-detection autofocus should be introduced as an extra option in all of the Sony SLT models (Translucent Mirror models), to be able to select between either this contrast-detection AF or the normal phase-detection AF. It’s allmost just a firmware effort.
This then gives a hybrid AF system in the SLT-cameras, that makes the cameras more flexible.
Phase-detection AF is fast and can also detect AF on small spots.
Contrast-detection AF is slower but has slightly higher precision and can focus on less contrasting surfaces and objects.
Contrast-detection AF also focuses on an average of all details within the contrast-detection area, which sometimes is an advantage.
a65 Owner
2 years ago |Agreed. I’d love to see this. The contrast could also kick in when a recognized face or tracked object leaves the PD-AF point area (edges of the frame).
I’d be peeved if this became an a77 only feature. I chose the a65 primarily due to the smaller size and weight. Maybe Sony could have an ‘in-camera purchase’ to unlock some of the a77 features
Michel
2 years ago |Have you ever tried a contrast detection AF using an A-mount lens? I did (using LA-EA1 and SAM/SSM lenses) and it’s sloooooooooow.
These lenses are not designed for contrast detection AF and will never work fast. You need a lens that is designed to work fine with many small movements/adjustments.
Matt
2 years ago |This seems to come up all the time. The CDAF using A-Mount lenses is so slow it is unusable. I use mine solely on manual focus, which with peaking and zoomed view which works very well. CDAF on A-Mount is a no-go, which is why SLT is so important for A-Mount.
a65 Owner
2 years ago |Nope, never tried since I don’t have a NEX system. The slow AF was a factor. I was thinking at some point I may pick one up to use with my A-Mount lenses occasionally. I guess if I ever do that I should consider the adapter with the SLT mirror or just do manual focus. Do you have any experience with the SLT mirror adapter?
Michel
2 years ago |Yes I do have a la-ea2 adapter. Af is a little bit slower than in A55, but very accurate. And you can microadjust it.
But I don’t think buying Nex only to use it with A-mount lenses makes much sense…
a65 Owner
2 years ago |Re: Michael (can’t get to the reply button of your post for some reason)
I wasn’t planning to use A-Mount exclusively on NEX. Rather be able to continue using my A-Mount lenses in some circumstances while building out a NEX system or waiting on comparable E-mount lenses to be made available.
Linh
2 years ago |Not “in any stores” if you can only list 2 US sellers who are shipping in very very limited quantity…
Jonte
2 years ago |NEX-7 kit with 18-55 mm in stock at Sony Center Stockholm. Picked one up today!
OCelle
2 years ago |Some reviews indicate that the Nex5 is superior to the NEX7 regarding low light and high ISO conditions. Has Sony made improvements to the NEX 7 regarding this problem?
Spoon
2 years ago |Some reviews compare different output sizes and/or forget to account for different physical exposures. It’s really a non issue.
OCelle
2 years ago |I have two Nikon DX lenses. What would I need to used them in the Nex7?
Vlad
2 years ago |Somehow I doubt Sony will do it, but I would delighted if they offered extra aspect ratios like 1:1 for example. I wonder if it would be possible with a firmware update. I sincerely hope so, I don’t like cropping post-shoot. Many other cams are now offering lots of choice on the apsect ratio front. Come on Sony, its not that hard to implement is it???
Pacis
2 years ago |I ordered my nex 7 kit on August 27th from amazon and it shipped. Finally get to play with it on Tuesday.
Jorg
2 years ago |There are a number of adapters on Amazon. The problem is you will most likely have to manual focus and set the aperture. Plus the adapter has to be thick enough to take up the mirror space. So you have a large bulky arrangement you have to set by hand, which kind of defeats the idea of a mirror-less camera. I have a very nice 10-20 zoom for Nikon and after a bit of soul searching decided to sell.
AndyL
2 years ago |Thanks for the great video, David!
I also did the firmware upgrade as slow AF speed bothered me, especially when compared to my Olympus PEN E-PM1.
The AF speed is noticeably after the firmware upgrade but the the way AF assist lamp behaves under low light condition (in a bedroom) is still the same …. it creates a big green window to focus all and actually hurts the AF speed..
On the other hand, the Oly PEN E-PM1 with AF assist lamp behaves the same as without it.. it won’t fail to focus though sometimes the AF accuracy may decline…different implementation..
So I always turn off the AF assist lamp in the NEX-5N and problems solves…
Jeremiah
2 years ago |Sony A65 kits are in stock at Wolf Camera in Cedar Hill Tx.
sleek
2 years ago |it’s an improvement but it’s not that fast really. he just moves his hands left and right faster with the new firmware so your eyes trick you since he’s moving faster, you’ll think that the new firmware is so much faster. nice play there..
and yes, there is AF improvement but not so significant or as exaggerated by the video
WTH
2 years ago |Errr.. he was moving his hands after the sound confirmation…
So the AF lock was faster. That was the whole point of the video…
Jack Le Boul
2 years ago |I ran similar tests on my Zeiss 24mm/f1.8 and it is slightly faster AF. (after upgrade)
I also felt that the camera menu responds a bit quicker.
This was first observation when I move from the NEX-5 to 5n, the 5n menu had a slight lag compared to the old 5.
Spike
2 years ago |I did the same before and after test with the 16 and 18-55 when I upgraded. In low light the AF was much improved, very fast, whilst before there was a noticeable delay. Today I have tested it indoors and outdoors. AF is near instantaneous in all situations for both lenses. So I pretty happy with this upgrade.
There was an online video review that compared the AF speed of the 5n (v1.00) against the 7. It showed the 7 clearly spanking the 5n. With v1.01 I think the 5n will now match the 7.
James
2 years ago |I installed the firmware upgrade today and noticed a marked improvement with the LA-EA2 adapter and Zeiss 24mm f/2 lens, my favorite combination away from the A900 and Zeiss 135mm f/1.8. I have not tried it with the NEX lenses yet, but can tell the camera focusing is much more responsive and know they will follow suit. The phase detection was instantaneous whereas before there was a slight delay when moving from subject to subject. Continuous focusing mode is also amazingly fast. Being a previous A700 owner, I am glad to see Sony step up their product services this early after a release, especially with all their production problems of late. Cheers Sony owners, I love my 5N and A900 and the Zeiss and G glass I have. Sony please give us a few low f stop OSS prime telephoto lenses for the 5N in the Zeiss or G class.
Jeff
2 years ago |Can someone please tell me what the big green focus window really mean?
Should I turn off assist lamp tomake it disappear?
Now there is almost 1/5 of all nightshot that is
blurred
Not sure by handshake or focus error
Ken
2 years ago |Sweet! My NEX-7 kit with 18-55mm is coming next Tuesday via Amazon! I’ve pre-ordered this kit since August. Hope you all NEX-7 pre-order fans out there get yours soon!
Jiri
2 years ago |Got one several days ago in CZ. Nice tool.
lepi
2 years ago |why waste time on those stupid nex and mirrorless?? oh because sony has stupid evf and slugggy slt… see the a77 ahaha sony has no more reason to exist in photography since we have canon 5d III!! the king of the cameras!
SonyA77
2 years ago |You are comparing the A77 to a 5D MKIII? That’s quite a compliment for Sony!
Of course you’ll have missed the Amateur Photographer magazine article that states that the A77 is better than the MKII up to ISO 800, not bad for an APS-C sensor.
You have obviously never used the A77 and are a typical clueless noob.
OCelle
2 years ago |I have a Nikon D90 and a couple of 2.8 lenses that go with it. Unfortunately, I am a small and not to strong woman. In my last trip to Italy, I did suffer a lot walking around with my gear. This got me thinking, what is it worth to have great camera and lens if they would make me sick. So, now I am looking into the Nex7. However, I am used to some level of photographic quality. So I am in big doubts about selling my D90 and lenses and embrace a technologial promise which might in the end would give me results similar to my FZ150 with its Leika tele! What do you think? Help me make my mind! Thanks.
SonyA77
2 years ago |Given the right lens, the NEX-7 will give better/equivalent IQ to the D90. Do you really need the NEX-7 extras? The NEX-5 has a great sensor as used in the D7000 and the difference in cost gets you a nice lens.
Dave
2 years ago |On 4h March I’ve been to Lucio Dalla’s funeral.
A friend of mine used D90 with 50mm f1.8 and 18-105mm f3.5-5.6
I used Nex 5n with 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 and 55-210mm f4.5-6.3
Inside Cathedral there was a low and soft light condition.
We used always manual mode.
In the evening we put together all pics and gave an eye.
I can tell You that EACH D90 pic is worst than nex 5n.
The only thing that I hate on 5n is that when we got to take pics using studio flash, I still haven’t found a trigger that works with 5n flash. I tested even Sonia Ir flash trigger but often miss to fire studio flash.
I hope to give You a little help to choose.
Mark
2 years ago |Is he paid by Sony for this ?
Kilrah
2 years ago |Nex-7 is not in stock “Everywhere”, still no hint of the kit in Switzerland
James
2 years ago |Better video controls and an official adapter to trigger remote flash should be next, please Sony! If I could trigger external flash for studio work, I’d sell on my 5Dmkii. I don’t want an NEX-7, the high-ISO is worse than the 5N.