2. Sony Alpha NEX-5N Roadmap

One thing that often causes consternation in new owners of digital cameras is the bewildering array of buttons, dials, switches, levers, latches, and knobs bristling from the camera’s surface. At first glance, the Sony Alpha NEX-5N appears to be different, because it is designed with a minimalist approach to physical controls. The back of the camera, where many cameras have control panels that could rival the Space Shuttle’s flight deck, has only three shiny buttons and one control wheel that incorporates four other buttons built into its outer rim. So, by one count, there are only eight controls on the camera’s back, and a few more up on top. But that’s a deceptive count, because most of the controls have more than one function, and some of them are like chameleons in their ability to take on widely varying identities. In addition, you can use the touch screen instead of the physical controls for many functions, as I described in Chapter 1.

So, although there are not many buttons and switches, there are many operations handled by this small group of physical and virtual controllers. Despite the low button count, there is a lot of information that needs to be discussed about how these controls can help you reach the results you want with your still images and videos.