Sony NEX-F3 rating

Recently, Sony has officially introduced the latest product of the camera is not your mirror: NEX-F3. The machine embodies much improvement over its predecessor NEX-C3 and design configuration. This is the best camera to NEX all machines, except NEX-7, but in return for holding us feel good and relaxed. It was the second NEX integrated flash available in toad body helps us more flexibility in taking pictures. Image quality and good low-light shooting capability as well as extensive manual mode can meet the requirements of many different user object. The transition between modes is still a point other than the NEX-F3, similar to the NEX on the other by limiting the number of nodes.

Design and appearance

If you have used through the NEX before, not including NEX-7, the first feeling when held on the F3 will be very different. Larger machines, weighing not more than a little thin and light as their predecessors. More specifically, the size of the NEX-F3 is 117 x 67 x 42 mm and weighs 314g, slightly higher compared with two 110 x 60 x 33mm and 225g of the NEX-C3. However, the difference does not cause many difficulties, on the contrary, the feeling of love birds, tamping machines more than holding certain hands. However long it took to feel your hands a little bit tired.

Machines look professional, but still pretty compact
The NEX-F3 holding his white, looking very nice , youthful and fashionable. Of course, other similar machines NEX, feeling when using the NEX-F3 is very advanced and easy inspiration for photography. It has a boxy design than the NEX-C3, from the butt edge to F3 should look more professional.

Great grip, bent, hands hugging, comfortable
taking the biggest difference compared to NEX-3/C3 NEX-F3 is great grip and the butt end is more curved design, making sure to keep your computer and will not be palm heart as I was taken with NEX or NEX-C3-5 in a long time. I am a rather large hands but still comfortable to use NEX-F3 taken within three hours continuously. There is a tap in the upper part, the right of the help for the middle finger placement is quieter, longer index finger on the butt and embrace ready press the shutter button. The improved grip is a very highly on the NEX-F3. This table is covered with a layer of rough material, in particular is feeling rougher NEX-C3 should not be slippery hold. This is very commendable improvement of the NEX-3.

Pictures of the NEX-F3

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Compare with NEX NEX-F3-5

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NEX NEX-F3 is the second Sony machine built in flash in the camera body warts. The lines 3 and 5, the NEX go ahead to use removable flash add additional ports should make special machines become more cumbersome. As for the NEX-F3 this flash on the camera body and then stowed. When you press the flash button, pop-up flash is very powerful toad so if you are not familiar, you'll see a little scared. The structure of the spot on look quite complicated but surely. After turning on the lights are fixed in position at relatively high hood used for pipes 18-55mm black ball shall be no condition is common in other DSLRs.


frog jumps flash
There is a flash point of interest with this toad, which is you can adjust the angle of its research. Of course this is not "supported" officially but can take advantage of it as a tip when shooting with NEX-F3. Before shooting, using your index finger to lift the flash light so that it studies a certain angle depending on your wishes, then press the shutter button. The light will be scattered throughout the space taken by reflection from the ceiling / wall and not as objects to be sunk and taken bad flash when hit directly.

While there are warts, but Sony flash retains flash connector and accessories from lines which appear before the NEX. Thus, you can use a powerful flash and higher as Sony HVLF20S, or in combination with electronic viewfinders Sony FDA-EV1S if you love to watch the LCD Viewfinder not.

left is hit straight flash, while the right is a photo flash with your fingers lift up a little screen



screen on the NEX-F3 is LCD 3 "921,600 pixel resolution. With a resolution like this, you can shoot and see a sharp image, nothing to complain at all. This has been maintained from the Sony NEX-3 I used long ago. However, compared with the previous NEX difference lies in the flip angle of the NEX-F3 screen. This screen can turn 180 degrees and climbing on, the screen orientation directly into the area in case you need to take self-portraits. This is very convenient and or, the machines do not NEX before. But when turned down, only a small angle, not flip as much as the NEX-C3 or NEX-5N (NEX-F3 to just flip angle 13 degrees, while the NEX-C3 is 45 degrees). This is inconvenient for us when we need to take the case to lift the machine up. lifting mechanism of screen is also slightly bitter so the first bit scared when you flip the screen, it will gradually taking longer used. NEX-F3 screen is not as likely to touch on the NEX-5N, but also do not cause much entitled to users.

Turn up on a 180 degree flip down
But only 13 degrees, a few
function, control


All the buttons and wheel to control the NEX-F3 are in here
NEX-F3 will retain control as the NEX-5 and NEX-3, ie only a single wheel on the device. This wheel to assume a lot of features, from the aperture correction, to speed AF mode or ISO depending on you to assign any function in the Settings mode and depending you are again taking place.

To switch between shooting modes (P / S / A / M, auto mode, scene modes, panorama, ...), they must press the button small circle in the upper right corner of the screen (ie the Menu button), then select Shoot Mode and rotate the wheel to select the mode you want. This increases the time for moving between modes together, not as DSLRs usually have a round of physical transformation. Of course you can assign shortcut buttons to adjust Shoot Mode (pictures as well as other parameters), but generally more time consuming than the DSLR, SLT comments often.

The move focus point because it takes time to press the Soft Key button then move the point B is. F3 Do not touch screen like the NEX-5N should focus not as fast as touch-screen operation. In fact, the compact size, the additional switch or system within the dense nodes can be difficult to accept in advance on the NEX-F3 this. < br />
Menu of NEX remains the same as on computer NEX NEX-3-5 and other
On the other controls, there are three points that I want to mention. First, press the middle button wheel slightly curved surface and press easier, quieter on the NEX go before they ever tried. The second point is the movie button. button is surrounded by a high ridge should be slightly difficult to press . You can understand the idea of ​​Sony when such design is to limit the press wrong, but it was back then when I pretty much have to use force to press the end of the video machine so slightly shaking. Finally, two buttons Menu Soft key and B (two buttons on the bottom corner near the screen) has moved from design NEX-C3 is longer on the radio button as the NEX-5, NEX-5N, which the press becomes easier.
Interface


The NEX-F3, Sony equipped with a micro USB port, a mini HDMI port, battery tray and tray card. A special feature that you want to say to the micro USB port rather than USB mini port as on most other cameras. This port is the beauty that can be used to charge the device if you connect to your computer NEX-F3. This is the first time I used a camera instead of that lens is recharged via USB, it's extremely rare find on other DSLRs or NEX. By default, Sony charger not included for NEX-F3 for port should microUSB charger can use any phone will do. This has two benefits and drawbacks: Benefits that you can charge by any local phone charger when going away, not bring an extra set of bulky battery charger, and is harmful if you only have a local USB charger is a bit harder, and charging time is longer. to fully charge the battery time is about 5 hours via USB microphone.

microUSB port and mini HDMI
NEX-F3 can be used SDHC / SDXC card or MemoryStick Pro Duo. You can only choose one of two machines of this type because only a single card slot . Slot machines are located at the lower edge and you have to flip up a small cap to get the card. Next to the battery slot that NEX-F3. Department of the machine with battery NP-FW50 codes, similar to the machine and NEX Alpha SLT few other lines.

batteries and memory card slot


Focus NEX-F3 focus by measuring the contrast ratio, faster and more primary identify the most common case. When the light is a bit complicated machines focus slower and sometimes less accurate. Although strokes in alarm locked out then, but still blurry images, showing definition has been out. However, fortunately this does not happen much, only about 2-3 panels on about 100 plates and only occurs in very dark places. lamp light focusing aid to help users of the machine is very sometimes need to take pictures in dimly lit locations, but many times the lights were obscured partly or wholly because of their slightly larger fingers.

There is an interesting feature about the possibility Focusing on the NEX-function F3, which is Object Tracking. When enabled this mode, we can pick an object, so it cultivated in the middle of the screen and frame are in focus of the machine and click OK. Since then the machine will continue to hold the object definition, despite we move the camera or the object itself moves like. followed ability to very accurately with the moving speed of the object rather Fast. And the ability to focus while you hold well at high speed and full-light conditions. I sat in the car testing and focus on a different motorcycle run in parallel. As a result, Object Tracking always stick to objects, out to the screen edge before the vehicle disappeared. In low-light environments, the focus when using Object Tracking a little slower. Unfortunately when we can only choose to object tracking in the middle of the screen only (but when the subject moves the stick definition still moving frame and focus is in any area).

mode

NEX-F3 is a very fun camera because it gives us more shooting flexibility and fun. addition to the manual mode as M, S, A, P out, we also have the following functions:

3D Sweep and Sweep Panorama Panorama: This is a great feature I use because it can substitute for the complex alignment when shooting and do not need expensive sit time meticulously grafted to get a picture Panorama wanted. You just select and Sweep Panorama panning and began to record the image width. alone 3D mode, only viewable on the TV and not see 3D effect on the LCD screen of the NEX-F3. In some tests, I found this Sweep mode seems more sensitive than the NEX-5 machine. same pan as the speed on the NEX-5 but I have able to complete the picture, also on the NEX-F3 alarm so fast that his lia must repeat.


Anti Motion Blur feature helps reduce vibration and blur when shooting in low-light conditions or when shooting telephoto. operating principle of this mode is that it will take six photographs and photo processing back to the most obvious.

Scene Selection: you can select multiple scene modes such as night, night portrait, capturing the sunrise, capture the scene quickly, macro, etc. Among them, not to mention the most impressive features Hand-held Twilight, a feature very effective when shooting at night. This is actually not a new feature that has appeared on Sony's cameras several years ago. It also captured many images at once and then processed to produce clear images definition, but more effective than Anti Motion Blur in low-light environments.


Intelligent Auto: This mode automatically recognizes the scene you're shooting and then refine the information for the appropriate number. If you are new, use iAuto to see light meter and adjust the aperture, speed, ISO, EV and learning how.

Superior Auto: a new features appear in the NEX-3 (NEX-F3 is, there is no NEX-C3). With this mode, you can adjust many parameters than iAuto. Specifically, we will use wheel to make the background more blurred subjects (Defocus), Brightness (Brightness), hot and cold color (Color), the color saturation (vividness) and finally the right to apply effects to photos (Picture Effects). These effects are completely identical to the previous NEX machine. You can see some effects in the Galleria picture below. Superior Auto also help us determine when to use Auto, Auto HDR and when to choose scene automatically, we do not add anything.

Auto Portrait Framing: Actually this is not a mode that it is a technology that can turn off the menu configuration. When you take a picture of that machine to recognize human faces, it will try to crop the picture to the golden ratio 1/3 to create the highest quality images, as well as the right direction key of the eye when, looking at the photos. after photos will be cropped using Sony's Super Resolution technology to preserve the original resolution.

Clear Image Zoom: This is not necessarily a mode taken separately, but it's a digital zoom feature is fitted on the NEX-F3. Normally, when I used very little by type of zoom digital zoom for low image quality, the more broken. But with the NEX- F3 is different. When you enable this feature on Clear Image Zoom, the image is enlarged but the degree of breakage and loss of focus at the image in most cases can still be used. Sony gives us several levels different zoom levels, the largest is 4x. About Clear Image Zoom magnification is used for 1x to 1.8 x. On this level pretty bad picture, faded, broken grains. To adjust the zoom level will have to use to wheels on the NEX.

Clear Image Zoom feature actually promote better performance when used during a video. You can enlarge images without camera shake by not rotating the lens. Clear Image Zoom to the extent possible use in video magnification of 2.5 x. On this level starts degrading the image clearly. Below is a picture of yourself taken with Clear Image Zoom. zoom level you can annotate in each picture. See the original image here on Clear Image Zoom


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< br /> Image Quality

NEX-F3 new sensor resolution of 16 megapixels. sensor for sharp images brilliantly. If shooting in enough light for photos out very well, when that big, zoom ensure details remain unchanged. true color images, images of good, looks very like eyes. However, there are some cases looked on the LCD screen of the machine rather dark but beautiful and bring up the computer, the image lighter.

The ability to shoot in low light conditions of the NEX-F3 remained at good compared to other DSLR cameras or mirrorless with a similar price range. At ISO 800, you can still freely take pictures, do not worry much about noise issues. As rose in 1600, the noise began to appear moderate, not too little, not too much, still acceptable. Up to ISO 3200, noise began to appear more, the contours of the object is no longer sharp shooting anymore, but slightly dimmed. Of course this can only be realized when you zoom up real big. In the 6400 and 12800, image noise very clearly in dark areas, but rarely do we use this ISO level. If the primary purpose is to share the photos to the web with friends when shooting in low light ability of the NEX-F3 is very good.

in the dark try Snapshot, ISO to 1600 to 16 000, speed 1/50 seconds, no + / - EV. Photo RAW JPEG transferred using Sony Image Data Converter, any modification.


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You can see the large JPEG image here



Filming NEX-F3 can film with a resolution up to Full- HD 1920 x 1080 at 60i speed. This is a strong upgrade over the model NEX or NEX-C3-3 as their predecessors could only capture at 720p HD resolution only. Now that the power the NEX-F3 can be comparable to the NEX-5N, only the bit rate only slightly lower (F3 is 60i/24Mbps NEX, NEX-5N was at a maximum of 60i/28Mbps).

The user can choose between MP4 or AVCHD format, similar to Alpha on the other. While recording, you can adjust the speed, aperture, EV, ISO, and focus points Digital zoom again. Most impressive is that we have the flexibility to adjust gate speeds, making our creative when shooting is more attractive. A few other cameras do not allow us to correct two parameters, the machine automatically sets up only quite limited for the high-end camera.

The quality of the film, color film for the honest, no pans or pale . If conducted outside, the quality turned higher. clear sound, great. For users with high-normal and a little bit, make sure the filming mode of NEX-F3 will make you happy . You can see a video experiment below.

Video screen test from
NEX-F3 Battery life


In Sony, the machine can take 400 sheets in a single charge, but the real test is a little lower. Initially 100% of its full charge. When taking about 170 plates, of which about 10% flash use , the rest is taken normal to bright LCD, the machine continuously to about 68% battery capacity. To use up batteries in the charger once it has taken her around 370 sheets with the level of similar use. Anyway, this is still a very good figure for NEX-F3 viewfinder should not have to shoot and do everything on the LCD screen brightness and size to 3 ".

Conclusion

NEX-F3 is a good machine, bring in their new technology should be able to help you produce better pictures and easier. For those who wish to get a camera for high quality but small size, NEX-F3 is a very appropriate choice. The machine is bigger and heavier than the previous NEX brother but in return is holding dress sense, more comfortable and sure hands. Custom features is still quite complicated and not fast, but can when used for long periods will become more familiar hand. In summary, NEX-F3 is a mobile machine and will please many people at $ 600 when accompanied by 18-55mm kit lens.

Advantages

machine to grip, comfortable
There toad integrated flash
screen can rotate 180 degrees on
microUSB port can charge the machine is
Full-VIDEO HD quality
good low-light shooting ability
image for true color, sharp
Superior Auto Mode and Focus Peaking (the magnified images when focusing manually)
Many features self-timer with interesting effects
Object Tracking fast, accurate Cons


focus entirely inaccurate in a very
The dark controls and complicated menu still
The lens is still expensive and not many options
flip-down angle of the screen is very small
matching flip screen slightly bitter
button start / end movie hard hit
The color effects

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A number of other images, shooting in JPEG Fine or spotting, no editing, just resize and sealed. The image is color effects for immediate use of computer effects rather than intervention by outside software. Only a few broken his crop did not. You can view full-size photo here.


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