Digital cameras forum: SONY NEX-5N/CHILDREN/LOW LIGHTING

THANKS FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK:I GUESS MY MAIN ISSUE IS TAKING PICS OF MY CHILDREN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE,THEY ARE ALWAYS ON THE MOVE,SO WHEN I USE MY P&S CANON 880,MANY OF MY PICS HAVE ONE AREA OR ANOTHER THAT IS BLURRY,LIKE AT CHRISTMAS OPENING GIFTS ,JUST ONE EXAMPLE,THE LOW LIGHTING COMES IN WHEN WE VISIT MUSEUMS,TRAIN STATIONS, MY CHILDREN LOVE TO RIDE TRAINS AND THE LIGHTING IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD IN THESE AREAS,AND OTHER PICS MAY INCLUDE SHOTS AT A PLAY OR SHOW WHICH ARE LOW LIT AREAS ALSO,ANYMORE FEEDBACK WOULD BE GREAT,I AM JUST TIRED OF TAKING 5+ SHOTS TO GET ONE GOOD ONE,AND THAT ONE IS JUST OK AT TIMES ..THANKS PGANT

The 5N has an exceptional sensor, and clean photos can be taken even at a very high ISO (sensor sensitivity). but there aren't really any native bright lenses for the NEX cameras, so some of the high ISO performance is lost to the "slow" lenses. The 5N also relies solely on contrast detection auto-focusing, and it reportedly can hunt or not be able to lock focus if the light is very low. Those two issues together basically mean that while the 5N can take very good photos in low light, but it is not the best choice for low light action photography. IMO a better choice would be the Nikon D5100, which uses the same sensor, but has a wide selection of available bright lenses, and a phase detection auto-focusing system which is very fast.

I have 2 young kids that are very active. I have a D-SLR system for the tough low light actions and family portraits. And I have the Canon S95 for daytime shots when I need better portability (something that can fit in my pants and still get good shots).

I'm not sure whether spending thousands for a D-SLR system is worthwhile for you to get some great shots. The bright zoom lenses with f/2.8 are expensive. My general zoom costs >$1000 and my 70-200mm f/2.8 IS zoom costs >$2000. Adding a camera body and a good powerful shoe mount external flash will easily run you another $1500-$6000+ (depending on what you want). That does not count many other accessories that you may want to get. Obviously you can go cheaper, but that may not be very different from the NEX.

So if you may consider spending thousands to get the premium equipment, then definitely get the D-SLR. But if you are going to just stay with the budget entry kit lenses, then it won't make a big difference whether you get the D-SLR for the NEX.

The 5N includes a small flash, but it is a separate unit that plugs into a port on top of the camera. Unfortunately, if you want or need a more powerful flash, the camera's port is proprietary; it cannot use a standard hotshoe flash. The only other flash that works is Sony's $150 HVL-F20S.