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Tests and reviews for the camera Sony NEX-7

Measurements and specifications

Sony NEX-7
To compare this camera:   

DxOMark Sensor Scores

[?]
Overall Score[?]
81
Portrait
(Color Depth)[?]
24.1 bits
Landscape
(Dynamic Range)[?]
13.4 Evs
Sports
(Low-Light ISO)[?]
1016 ISO

View how the Sony NEX-7 camera rates at the DxOMark Score

Type Hybrid 
Announced 2011-08-24 
Indicative price (USD) 1720  
Sensor type CMOS 
Resolution 6024 x 4024  
Sensor photo detectors (Mpix) 24.24  
Sensor size (mm) 15.6 x 23.5 
Color filter array RGB 
Pixel pitch (µm) 3.9  
Bits per pixel 12.0 
Focal length multiplier 1.50 
Aspect Ratio 3:2 
ISO latitude  100 - 16000 
Shutter type Mechanical 
Fastest - Slowest speed (s) 1/4000 - 30.0  
Frame rate (fps) 10.0  
Live view  Yes 
Stabilization  No 
Firmware  
Dust cleaningYes 
Mount typeSony E  
Weight (gr) 400  
Battery type Li-ion, NP-FW50 
Battery weight (gr)  
Tropicalization  
Camera material Metal top plate, Polycarbonate 
Mount material  
View finder type No 
View finder magnification  
View finder coverage  
Mirror lockup  
View finder diopter  
Monitor type LCD 
Monitor size 3 
Monitor pixel 921600 
Articulated screen Yes 
Touch screen No 
Contrast screen  
Low-pass filter  
Focus mode Yes 
Autofocus modes Single-shot AF(AF-S), Continuous AF(AF-C) selectable, Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus 
Number of autofocus points 25 
Exposure bracketing Yes, +/-5.0 EV (1/3EV steps), 3 frames 
Exposure compensation +/-5.0 EV(1/3EV steps) 
Drive modes Single-shot, Continuous, Speed Priority, Self-timer, Continuous Self-timer, Bracketing 
Buffer size  
Recording medium  
Image format JPEG, RAW (ARW) 
White balance bracketing  
Connectivity USB 2.0 (High Speed), HDMI (mini type C) 
Bluetooth No 
3G No 
Sound recording Yes 
External micro Yes (smart accessory terminal) 
Histogram Yes 
GPS  
Video Yes 
Maximum format image video 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) 
Full HD No 
Live autofocus  
Video file format MP4 
Video codec MPEG-4 Visual 
Video stabilisation  

Certain fields may be left blank. They will be updated as soon as possible.
Color response
Sensitivity metamerism index
ISO 17321 		85
 
White balance scales R raw 2.6
G raw 1
B raw 1.52
 
    R sRGB G sRGB B sRGB
Color matrix as defined in ISO standard 17321 R raw 1.98 -0.92 -0.07
G raw -0.16 1.59 -0.42
B raw 0.03 -0.45 1.42

Full Color Sensitivity: Noise covariance ellipses in CIE 1931 Lab color space
Select ISO : 100
(ISO are manufacturer ISO)
 
Select luminance : 30


Sony E 10-18mm f/4
Sony E 10-18mm f/4
Announced2012-09-12
Indicative price 850 USD
TESTED 
Sony E 20mm F2.8
Sony E 20mm F2.8
Announced2013-01-23
Indicative price 350 USD
TESTED 
Sony E 35mm f/1.8
Sony E 35mm f/1.8
Announced2012-09-12
Indicative price 450 USD
TESTED 

Further readings for the Sony NEX-7

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

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Camera Review  |  April 02
Sony NEX-3N: Stylish replacement to NEX-F3

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Camera Review  |  November 28, 2012
Sony NEX-6 review – The logical CSC choice?

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Camera Review  |  January 04
Canon EOS M review: Canon finally joins the mirrorless party

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Camera Review  |  November 28, 2012
Sony NEX-6 – The logical CSC choice?

Announced in September 2012, the Sony NEX-6 creates a new range in the Sony line-up. It sits between the flagship Sony NEX-7 and the mid-range Sony NEX-5R offering features and performance benefits to beginner and advanced photographers alike. Providing a simplified user-interface than the NEX-7, the NEX-6 is none-the-less fully featured with a high-resolution OLED viewfinder, Full HD video recording and a tilt-adjustable screen for ease of use.
Camera Review  |  February 14
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 review

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Camera Review  |  November 15, 2012
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Camera Review  |  October 30, 2012
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Camera Review  |  October 30, 2012
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Camera Review  |  October 04, 2012
Sony NEX-F3

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Camera Review  |  September 25, 2012
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Camera Review  |  October 06, 2011
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Camera Review  |  September 29, 2011
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Camera Review  |  September 23, 2011
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News  |  September 21, 2011
Nikon J1 and Nikon V1 announcement

The long awaited and rumored mirrorless Nikon camera was finally announced today. And it’s not just one but a pair of new mirrorless compact “1 System” cameras that are coming to compete with the Sony NEX 7, the Pentax Q, the Olymps PEN EP3 or even the Fujifilm FinePix X10. These 2 first models in this new Nikon 1 series are the Nikon J1 and Nikon V1.

Comments
Added by tickle49 |  March 17, 2012

Full Frame Same Sensor Technology?

Your conclusion wonders "about the kind of score a full-frame DSLR would achieve with the same sensor technology as the Sony NEX 7".  Is the Nikon D800 exactly that beast?  When will you be testing this in comparison?

Reply

Added by Stephen123 |  January 19, 2012

Pricing

I'm unclear why you list "Indicative price (USD)" as 1720 since this camera lists and sells for 1350 with the kit lens and 1200 without.  I noticed you have a similar (though less extreme) discrepancy on the NEX 5N.

Reply

Added by Viagra Berlusconi |  December 13, 2011

What is the body material of the NEX-7?

The specs list on dxomark contradicts the manufacturer's claims.

The (German) Sony web page says the NEX 7 has a "magnesium body", whereas dxomark describes the camera material as "Metal top plate, Polycarbonate".

Which one is correct?

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First replies for this comment
Added by evilthought |  December 16, 2011

Re: What is the body material of the NEX-7?

According to DPR

"The NEX-7's build quality is excellent - the metal-shelled body feels solid with no flexing or creaks, and the handgrip is covered with a thick rubberized coating"

So it's metal with rubberized covered handgrip.

Reply
Added by cristifl |  December 04, 2011

Wrong picture

The picture is of a Sony NEX-5 launched last year (2010) and is smaller than the NEX-7.

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First replies for this comment
Added by Herve H |  December 10, 2011

Re: Wrong picture

Hi,

We have changed the picture in the review, thank you for pointing it out.

Reply
Added by Bumpy |  December 02, 2011

What about depth of field?

I love DxO mark reviews but there is one area I remain unenlightened (perhaps in both theory and practice).

My understanding is that lens diffraction will result in loss of detail (resolution) at f-stops higher than a mathematically determined point based on pixel pitch.

If I've got things right an APS-C sensor at 16MP does not suffer diffraction until somewhere between F8 and F11, but at 24MP loss of detail begins somewhere between F5.6 and F8.  A FullFrame sensor will, of course, do much better because pixel pitch is larger.

I would *love* to see DxO mark test this.  Seems simple (to my possibly challenged little mind), just shoot resolution chart at successive f-stops and record where diffraction kicks-in and limits or reduces resolution.  Might be hard to normalize as a number and integrate into overall score, but immensely helpful as a photographer to know for each camera where stopping down begins to trade off not only longer exposure but also loss of detail [probably negating any actual DoF improvement].

I mention this here of course because the Nex-7 vs. Nex5-N is a good place to care [what I really want to know is whether I get equal DoF AND better resolution from the N7, or that (at some F-stop) my equal DoF comes at the price of resolution]. So if I do a lot of high f-stop work to maximize DoF perhaps the Nex-7 doesn't actually give me better resolution?  Even more interesting to compare FF to APS-C to get a sense of how much more DoF the FF can capture....

Hope my post isn't too clueless.  In any event keep up the terrific work - DxO is a fabulous resource!

Cheers,

Bumpy.

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First replies for this comment
Added by ldgt |  December 03, 2011

Re: What about depth of field?

Quote:


In that aspect, the best possible sensor has only one pixel. Thus it does not lose any details regardless of f-stop. Only problem is, it had none details to start with. The same, but for lesser degree, goes for your comparison of 16 MP and 24 MP sensors.

DXomark results already include diffraction, it would be difficult (and meaningless) to exclude it because they measure real lenses.

If you need large DOF, and avoid diffraction limit at same time, TS lenses or TS adaptor result in a improvement. Picture stacking is another way. Pixel size, or sensor size has nothing to do with diffraction because it occurs within lens.

Reply
Added by appliance |  December 24, 2011

Re: What about depth of field?

Quote:

<div id="linkdxomark">This a comment for <a href="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Database/Sony/NEX-7">this page on the website</a></div>I love DxO mark reviews but there is one area I remain unenlightened (perhaps in both theory and practice).

My understanding is that lens diffraction will result in loss of detail (resolution) at f-stops higher than a mathematically determined point based on pixel pitch.

If I've got things right an APS-C sensor at 16MP does not suffer diffraction until somewhere between F8 and F11, but at 24MP loss of detail begins somewhere between F5.6 and F8.  A FullFrame sensor will, of course, do much better because pixel pitch is larger.

I would *love* to see DxO mark test this.  Seems simple (to my possibly challenged little mind), just shoot resolution chart at successive f-stops and record where diffraction kicks-in and limits or reduces resolution.  Might be hard to normalize as a number and integrate into overall score, but immensely helpful as a photographer to know for each camera where stopping down begins to trade off not only longer exposure but also loss of detail [probably negating any actual DoF improvement].

I mention this here of course because the Nex-7 vs. Nex5-N is a good place to care [what I really want to know is whether I get equal DoF AND better resolution from the N7, or that (at some F-stop) my equal DoF comes at the price of resolution]. So if I do a lot of high f-stop work to maximize DoF perhaps the Nex-7 doesn't actually give me better resolution?  Even more interesting to compare FF to APS-C to get a sense of how much more DoF the FF can capture....

Hope my post isn't too clueless.  In any event keep up the terrific work - DxO is a fabulous resource!

Cheers,

Bumpy.



Diffraction is a function of the shape and size of the lens aperture.  It's relation to sensors is in terms of size:  a smaller sensor has to be magnified  more to create an equivalent sized image;  thus the circle of confusion is also magnified.  As far as I know it's not related to pixel pitch.

Reply
Added by Stephen123 |  December 28, 2011

Re: What about depth of field?

The circle of least confusion is the smallest spot that a lens can produce.  Isn't the circle of least confusion effected by aperture? And doesn't it matter when it exceeds the pixel pitch?  I think Bumpy has a good point.

Reply
Added by iqrocks |  December 01, 2011

SLT A77 Firmware Update & Next 7

The firmware for the Sony SLT A77 was just upgraded and one of the alleged improvements is  better image quality.  Since the Sony NEX 7 uses the same sensor as that of the A77, is it safe to assume that Sony will apply the same update to the NEX 7?  If so will DXOLabs re-test the camera?

It's impressive to see the IQ of the tiny and convenient NEX-7 be so close to that of my Nikon D3X.

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First replies for this comment
Added by Herve H |  December 01, 2011

Re: SLT A77 Firmware Update & Next 7

Firmware updates usually improve processings, not the quality of the RAW signal, thus they have no influence on DxOMark measurements.

Reply