Sony Alpha NEX-5R

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.

Sony Alpha NEX-5R : Front

Sony's NEX camera series has grown from two models to four, and the new Alpha NEX-5R now occupies a difficult position in the lineup.

Sony Alpha NEX-5R : Rear

The rear LCD is 3 inches in size, supports touch input, and has a stunning 921k-dot resolution.

Sony Alpha NEX-5R : Top

The controls are enhanced versus the NEX-5N. The shutter release and On/Off switch have been combined into one control, and a Control Wheel now occupies the space where the On/Off switch was on 5N, and there's a new programmable Fn button to the right of the shutter.

Sony Alpha NEX-5R : Front-Facing LCD

The display is hinged, and can face all the way forward for self portraits. This is a feature that was introduced on the NEX-F3, but the hinge has been improved so that you do not lose the ability to tilt the screen down and shoot with the camera above your head.

Sony Alpha NEX-5R : Test Scene

We shot our standard test scene using the 5R and its 18-55mm kit lens.

Sony Alpha NEX-5R : Crop

This 100 percent crop shows you the level of detail that you can expect from the kit lens at 18mm f/3.5.