BobInNJ Loc: In NJ, near Phila. Pa

I am about to hit the store to pick up a NEX 5R. It's priced at $500 now, made it my price point. Will add a wide angle lens, probably the Sony model at 250, unless something else is good and less cash.
Before I go, (realizing I am not to go to $900 or whatever), if anyone has penetrated the morass of data on the NEX line, please tell me what I give up if I limit myself to a low-end version. My A-100 and some great lenses are available BTW.

Happy Holidays to one and all!

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

I owned a NEX-5 and bought a NEX-7, selling the NEX-5.
Why? Primarily because of the NEX-5 does not having an optical or digital viewfinder (the accessory viewfinder for the 5 is bogus) and the NEX-5 uses a weak flash with a propriety mount (getting off camera flash or bounce flash is difficult)

Additionally:

1. Much less shutter lag: 223 ms vs 670 ms (3x less delay when taking photos)

2. Much higher true resolution: 24 MP vs 14 MP (Capture more than 70% more detail in your photos)

3. Has a viewfinder : Digital vs None (A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off)

4. Lower noise at high ISO: 1,016 ISO vs 796 ISO (The NEX-7 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance)

5. Better image quality: 81.0 vs 69.0 (Around 20% better image quality)

6. Has an external mic jack: Yes vs No (Record high quality audio with an external microphone-the 5D uses the flash socket for audio input)

7. Supports 24p: Yes vs No (Get that real film feel)

8. Significantly longer battery life: 430 shots vs 330 shots (More than 30% more shots per battery charge)

9. Better color depth: 24.1 bits vs 22.2 bits (Distinguishes 1.9 more bits of color)

10. More dynamic range: 13.4 EV vs 12.2 EV (1.2 f-stops more dynamic range)

11. Better maximum light sensitivity: 16,000 ISO vs 12,800 ISO (The NEX-7's maximum light sensitivity is 0.3 f-stops better)

12. Shoots slightly faster: 10 fps vs 7 fps (More than 40% faster continuous shooting)

13. Built-in flash: Yes vs No

Those were my reasons. The NEX-5R was not out yet when I bought the NEX-7 and it is an improvement over the NEX-5 in many ways EXCEPT for three major annoyances....the flash, microphone and viewfinder. I would also find the flip screen interfering with the weak proprietary attached flash an annoyance.

Yes the NEX-7 is expensive compared to the NEX-5R but you should consider the limitations of the NEX-5R and its built in annoyances.

I use the NEX-7 as my walk around personal camera and shoot big boy Canons for events.

Stormy Loc: New York

I am probably a little late getting into this, but I recently reviewed the Sony Nex line at B&H. My recommendation would be to take a good look at the Nex-6. That is the newest in the Nex line and has some great features. I think it is even better than the Nex-7. The money is always the problem. Best of luck.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

The tri-navi control, larger sensor and mic input would tip me toward the NEX-7 based on reviews of the NEX-6. I would like to see what improvements the next generation NEX-7 will have since the AF speed will be improved with phase detection and it will have wi-fi, no doubt.

Stormy Loc: New York

I like the more pocketable seize especially with a pancake lenze, but would agree the sensor size on the Nex-7 is better. The tri-navi control is not a plus for me.