Chapter 2. Sony Alpha NEX-3/NEX-5 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-3 and NEX-5 appear to be different, because they are designed with a minimalist approach to physical controls. The back of each camera, where many cameras have control panels that could rival the Space Shuttle’s flight deck, has only three shiny push-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. So, although there are not many buttons and switches, there are many operations handled by this small group of physical controllers. Which means that, 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.

Traditionally, there have been two ways of providing a roadmap to guide you through this maze of features. One approach uses two or three tiny 2-inch black-and-white line drawings or photos impaled with dozens of callouts labeled with cross-references to the actual pages in the book that tell you what these components do. You’ll find this tactic used in the pocket-sized manual Sony provides with the Sony Alpha NEX models, and most of the other third-party guidebooks as well. Deciphering one of these miniature camera layouts is a lot like being presented with a world globe when what you really want to know is how to find the capital of Belgium.