Making the Movie Filmmaking tips, resources, reviews, news and links.

Sony’s Interchangable Lens Play: The Alpha NEX-5

CNET just posted a first look at a Sony AVCHD camera with an interchangeable lens system.

The lenses are Sony E-Mount but you can also use adapters. It retails for $649-$699 depending on which kit lens you choose, an 18-55 or a 16mm pancake.

This camera shoots in AVC-HD format. I've looked down on AVCHD due to the high amount of compression, but now I'm hearing that improvements have been made. Of course I always recommend a filmmaker do their own tests to determine how the footage will hold up through the workflow -- i.e. if you're going to color-grade the crap out of it in the end, make sure it can handle it. AVC-HD I believe is now supported by Avid, Final Cut, Vegas and Premiere so at least that's not a worry. (More than you could ever want to know about AVC-HD on the Wiki page.)

There are so many new options coming out in both the camcorder and DSLR/hybrid stills and video categories, I will need to fully-revise the HD Camera Comparison page.

About J. Ott

John Ott is a writer, filmmaker and futurist. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.