DIY Lego Viewfinder for the NEX

cubie created a viewfinder for the NEX using legos and a one time use film camera. if you don't have legos, sony has the FDA-SV1 optical viewfinder for you. The FDA-SV1 can be modified to accept 3rd party viewfinders.

Thanks cubie!

Sony NEX-3 Underwater Housing from Acquapazza Coming Soon

First Sony NEX-3 Underwater Housing by Acquapazza

The first underwater housing for the Sony NEX-3 is coming closer to reality. Acquapazza just posted videos taken with the NEX-3 and the APSO-NEX3 underwater housing. The housing will be good for depths down to 160 ft (50 m). We can't find actual images of the housing yet. Pricing is also unknown. You can check out more details from the Acquapazza website.

All we can do for now is enjoy the videos from the NEX-3 and the Acquapazzo APSO-NEX underwater housing.

NEX with Voigtlander 12mm Ultrawide Heliar Lens

NEX-5 with Voigtlander 12mm Ultrawide Heliar Lens by Nakagane M

Let's go wide with the Sony NEX via the Voigtlander 12mm f/5.6 Ultrawide Heliar Lens in Leica M mount. This is the widest rectilinear prime lens for Leica M cameras and it does well on the NEX's APS-C sensor. The lens gives an equivalent focal length of 18mm on the NEX cameras for photos and 21.6mm for videos. Below are sample photos by Nakagane M and aelianus taken with the NEX and the CV 12mm f/5.6 Ultrawide Heliar.

Photos by Nakagane M.






Photos by aelianus

CV 12mm f/5.6 Ultrawide Heliar

Sony NEX-5 Gaui Quad 330X UAV

SeismicWave is testing out his new aerial photography UAV which is a TSH Gaui Hobby Corporation (Gaui) 330X-S 4 rotor flying machine with the Sony NEX-5 and the 16mm pancake lens.

Here is what he wrote:

I stuck the Sony NEX-5 on the Gaui quad. It maxed out the weight limit at 1070 grams. I am using the stock 16 mm f2.8 lens and a 3S 2500 mah pack. Video quality is pretty good though. My pack is not very good so internal resistance is pretty high. It is only using 1000 mah after 5 1/2 minutes.

The Gaui 330X-S is only $400 which is fairly inexpensive for all this technology and the unique vantage point it provides for aerial photographers. We really need one of these UAVs for the NEX-5 just for the fact that it looks like a lot of fun to fly.

Gaui Quad 330X-S Flyer Kit with Scorpion Motors

Gaui Quad 330X-S Review by RCGroups

For more info check out SeismicWave at helifreak.com.

Sony NEX-5 with Loreo 3D Lens in a Cap

NEX-5 Loreo 3D Lens in a Cap Video Sample

Here are some video samples from Ve3D3eV where he used the Sony NEX-5 and the Loreo 3D Lens in a Cap 9005. The Loreo 9005 3D Lens comes in 4 mounts: Canon EOS, Minolta / Sony A, Nikon F, and Pentax K. In order to connect to the NEX E-mount, you will need the appropriate Sony NEX lens adapter.

Loreo 3D Lens in A Cap

Check out Loreo for more information.

Sony NEX-5 Droidworx Microcopter UAV

J. Scholl shot this video with the Sony NEX-5 mounted on a Droidworx AD-6HL (Heavy Lift) UAV. The NEX-5 and the 16mm pancake lens provides high quality images at very minimal weight. Hopefully firmware v04 will allow us to shut off the lcd screen of the NEX when shooting to extend battery life.

Here is our previous post of another NEX and microcopter in action.

Droidworx AD-6HL Frame Only

Check out quadrocopter for more info.

Sony NEX-5 Now In Gold

The third color for the Sony NEX-5 was announced this week and it is gold. It looks to be more champagne to us. It will set you apart from the standard silver or black camera crowd.

Sony NEX-3 Samsung NX100 Drop Test

musteryee posted a video of the Sony NEX-3 and the Samsung NX100 in a drop test. The cameras were dropped on the bottom and the side at 50 cm (19.7 in), 100 cm (39.4 in), and 150 cm (59.1 in). The Sony NEX-3 did not survive the drop test on the side at 100 cm (39.4 in) while the NX100 was still functioning.

The lesson of the story? Do not drop any electronic device but if you do and the angle is just right, it may survive. Use the wrist strap or neck strap, and a bag and keep your valuables safe.

We are wondering if the more robust NEX-5 with the magnesium body would have done better. Kids don't try this at home.

Sony NEX-5 and Bali

J. Chu took the Sony NEX-5, 16mm Pancake, Canon 50mm f/1.4 FD, and the 18-55mm OSS lenses to Bali to produce the video above.

Sony NEX Mamiya M645 Lens Adapter

Mamiya 80mm f/2.8 N on Sony NEX-VG10 from American Peyote

Here is a new adapter for the Sony NEX made for medium format users. The Mamiya M645 lens adapter for the Sony NEX E-mount allows you to use manual M645 lenses on the Sony NEX-3, NEX-5, and NEX-VG10.

The Mamiya M645 lens to Sony NEX adapter is available through eBay auctions.

Mamiya M645 to Sony E-mount Lens Adapter

AmericanPeyote.com used a Mamiya 80mm f/2.8 N on the Sony NEX-VG10 with the use of the LA-EA1 lens adapter and the Mamiya to Sony (Minolta) A mount adapter. The adapter above connects the M645 lens directly to the NEX without the use of other adapters. The video below uses the Mamiya 80mm lens in some sections.

Sony NEX-VG10 with 18-200mm, Sony 50mm Macro, and Mamiya 80mm f/2.8

Sony NEX-5 with Panasonic Lumix 3D Lens

hunslis combined the Sony NEX-5 with the Panasonic Lumix 12.5mm f/12 3D G Lens using a micro four thirds lens adapter for the Sony E-mount to create an APS-C sensored hybrid 3D camera. This makes for a very compact shooting rig.

Panasonic Lumix 12.5mm f/12 3D G (H-FT012) Lens Specifications

• Lens Construction: 4 elements in 3 groups (x 2)
• Mount type: Micro Four Thirds mount
• Focal Length: f=12.5mm
• Aperture Type: Fixed diaphragm
• Aperture: F12 (Fixed type)
• Closest Focusing Distance: 0.60 m / 1.97 ft
• Maximum Magnification: Approx. 0.02x / 0.1x
• Diagonal Angle of View 37°
• Stereo Base 10 mm
• Max. Diameter F57.0 mm / 2.24 in
• Overall Length Approx. 20.5 mm (from the tip of the lens to the base side of the lens mount) / 0.81 in
• Weight Approx. 45 g / 1.59 oz

Thanks hunslis!

Sony NEX-5 Kite Aerial Photography

Sony NEX-5 Kite Aerial Photography Rig

Here are some photos of Wind Watcher's Kite Aerial Photography rig using the Sony NEX-5 with the 16mm pancake lens. The NEX-5's combination of light weight and large sensor is perfect for going airborne.

from Wind Watchers post:

Camera:
Sony Nex-5 with 16mm Pancake

Rig: Modified Brooks BBKK auto KAP rig with AuRiCo controller for pan (reduction gears) and tilt servos.

Rig Configuration: Dual [Sony Nex-5 and Go Pro HD Hero] and Single camera set up [Sony Nex-5].

The shutter was triggered by the gentLED-Shutter (which generates an infra-red (IR) signal to the NEX-5 remote sensor detector. The gentled-Shutter device is wired directly to the shutter servo port on the AuRiCo device. This was my first use of the AuRiCo shutter control approach as I just about always use the CHDK shutter control on my Canon cameras. Works like a champ.

KAP sessions: 4 over Chester Springs, December 2010

Kites: Nighthawk and Fled

And here are some of Wind Watcher's KAP pictures captured with the rig mentioned above:








If you are interested in Kite Aerial Photography check out Notes on KAP.

Thanks Wind Watcher!

Sony NEX Sigma Optical Stabilizer Test

We posted about the Bigma on the NEX-VG10 before but this video shows how well the OS (Optical Stabilizer) function of the Sigma 50-500mm lens works.

The test by YoshiroOh uses a Sony NEX-VG10 camcorder, a LA-EA1 Sony Alpha lens adapter, and the Bigma. The lens is tapped by a finger to introduce vibration and the OS is at three different settings, OFF, 1, and 2 Vertical.

The Optical Stabilizer of the Bigma seems to work fine. This video is before the new NEX-VG10 Firmware 02 update so it could have improved since then.

If you have a NEX-3 or NEX-5 and the Bigma, we'd like to see if the results are the same.

Sony NEX-5 vs Leica M8

Here is another shootout comparing the Sony NEX-5 and the Leica M8. The lens used was the Zeiss 18mm f/4.0 ZM. The Sony 16mm Pancake was also used so we can compare the Zeiss against it. All shots are by Boris from Wild-Places.com.

Sony NEX-5 with the 16mm Pancake at f/8.0 and Center Crop

Sony NEX-5 with the Zeiss 18mm ZM at f/8.0 and Center Crop

Leica M8 with the Zeiss 18mm ZM at f/8.0 and Center Crop

Sony NEX-5 with the 16mm Pancake at f/8.0 and Crop

Sony NEX-5 with the Zeiss 18mm ZM at f/8.0 and Crop

Leica M8 with the Zeiss 18mm ZM at f/8.0 and Crop

The Zeiss 18mm ZM Lens used in the shots above.

The Leica M8 with the Zeiss 18mm ZM