Sony has reinforced its commitment to the photography community with a very solid 2012 lineup, and anyone on the hunt for a market-leading camera should keep the NEX-5R near the top of their list.
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Conclusion: We like it
The NEX-5R updates the already excellent NEX-5N with WiFi support, a better autofocus system, and even downloadable apps. With all of the new features, Photography Blog calls the 5R the "most full-featured, responsive and refined intermediate Sony mirrorless camera to date." Engadget also likes the model, saying "the focusing and shooting improvements alone make this compact ILC a winner." The NEX-5N remains available, and is a a great deal, since it's about $100 less than the 5R. But if you can afford it, the new features make the 5R, in the words of T3, "worth checking out despite the premium price."
90-Day Price History
Critic reviews
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The Sony Alpha NEX-5R is a small interchangeable-lens camera built around a big, excellent image sensor, but it's a tough sell when you consider the rest of Sony's NEX lineup, including our Editors' Choice, the less-expensive Alpha NEX-F3.
Read the full review →It's a great camera choice for high-quality stills and a streamlined shooting design under $800, but the Sony Alpha NEX-5R falls short when it comes to sharing your shots online.
Read the full review →It's a very good camera, and the new autofocus is noticeably faster than the AF system on previous NEX cameras. But it's changed the price situation on the whole NEX series—last year's NEX-5N with a lens now costs just $500. And, the excellent NEX-F3 is only $600.
Read the full review →The Sony NEX-5R is a beautifully built camera that you'll have great fun using ... All in all, a great buy if you can afford it, but the reasons to upgrade from the NEX-5N aren't entirely convincing.
Read the full review →Image quality prevails, too, and although the competitive pack has closed the gap in this department, the Sony is right up there among the very best of compact system cameras.
Read the full review →For me, the inability to use a viewfinder and the flash at the same time with the NEX-5R is a complete deal-breaker. Likewise, the relatively immature color rendition makes this Sony something I'll review, but not use for my own shooting.
Read the full review →If you're not concerned about Wi-Fi, touch shutter and the top plate design tweaks, you could save yourself some money by choosing the NEX-5N over the NEX-5R. Currently £280 cheaper, you'll still achieve excellent results and superb image quality from the APS-C sized sensor.
Read the full review →The Sony NEX-5R is a logical successor to the NEX-5N with a few improvements to design and handling and added Wi-Fi functions.
Read the full review →... if size, or lack of it, is as important as being able to print large, detailed images, then the NEX-5R has got to be worth checking out despite the premium price.
Read the full review →The new NEX-5R is an excellent all-round compact system camera that successfully reaches out to beginners and more experience users alike.
Read the full review →First Looks
product preview
Overall, though, it reminds us enough of the NEX-5N that we don't think they've broken anything, and the autofocus does indeed seem quite fast.
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oflife
BACKGROUND I am a UX and gadget designer, and 'prosumer' photographer, who has won a few competitions and owned countless cameras and video camcorders. I have no bias towards any brand, although I have huge respect for Panasonic for entering the photography field and doing a fine job. I also...
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TheAmountof
I have had a Nikon D40 and P90, both of which I really liked, but the D40 was getting quite old and the image quality was starting to show that. The P90 produced really good quality images, but I missed the ability to switch lenses and do more manual shots, also I did not like I could not...
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Turtletwig
A well-balanced camera for anyone looking to get a camera, whether they're coming from smartphones or a point-and-shoot. It's also great for DSLR users that want something more pocket-able and will not compromise on image quality.
Read the full review →How it stacks up
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