Which would you choose sony

[disneypls]

I'm a beginner but really want to get into taking good pics.
I've got these to choose from
Rx100 £399
Rx100ii £729 with case
Nex3 £349
Nex 5 with lenses sel 1650 & sel 55210 £649

As I'm a beginner which would you choose but I want camera to last me a few years
Thanks

 

[fractal]

I'm partial to the NEX cameras. I own an original NEX-3 and an NEX-7.

The advantage of the NEX is the bigger sensor, and the ability to add more lenses over time - while the RX100's are more compact and come with a great fixed lens. However, with the new power kit lens, the NEX is practically pocketable.

The NEX-5 with the kit lens and the 55-200 zoom will get you plenty of range. It's a tough choice but I would go with the NEX-5.

 

[havoc315]

I'm a beginner but really want to get into taking good pics.
I've got these to choose from
Rx100 £399
Rx100ii £729 with case
Nex3 £349
Nex 5 with lenses sel 1650 & sel 55210 £649

As I'm a beginner which would you choose but I want camera to last me a few years
Thanks

First, you need to decide on NEX vs. RX100.

The RX100 has a very very good fixed lens. At wide angle, 28mm, it is a very fast lens with a 1.8 aperture. It is a very sharp lens. It covers a useful range of 28-100.
So a pro -- it has a very good lens, which is very fast at the wide end. (Meaning, with 1.8 aperture, it lets in a lot of light, which is very useful for low light photography).

The NEX kit lens -- 1650-- actually translates to 24-75. So the RX100 covers 28-100. So the RX100 is slightly more reach, while the NEX kit is a bit wider.
The RX100 lens is faster-- that 1.8 aperture. Maximum aperture on the NEX 1650 lens is 3.5. So that's a BIG advantage to the RX100.

But the NEX has a different big advantage -- You can add lenses, you can upgrade lenses. So if you want more than 100mm reach, you can add a telephoto lens. If you want a 1.8 aperture, you can buy a separate 1.8 aperture lens (but it's not cheap).

So RX100 -- a very good included lens. The NEX -- a marginal included lens, but the power to add and change lenses as you go.

So start right there, do you want to invest in more lenses down the road? The NEX 35mm lens with 1.8 aperture is $450, as an example.
Or do you want a fully compact system, where you never need to worry about changing lenses?

So between the RX100 and NEX: Do you want to change lenses? Do you need telephoto reach?
Apart from lenses --- the NEX has a larger sensor. *Potentially* the NEX would perform better in low light, *IF* you upgrade the lens. With the kit lens, the RX100 will do better at least at wide angles. But if you upgrade lenses, the NEX can do better at low light. The NEX can also achieve more background blue than the RX100. Meanwhile, the RX100 can give you slightly more resolution.

In terms of the 2 RX models -- The RX100 vs RX100m2 -- I would save money and get the original version. The main differences are:
1 -- hot shoe --- If you want to add an external flash, get the newer version.
2-- Wifi --- How much is wifi worth to you?
3-- A tilting LCD.

So you can decide if the price difference is worth wifi, tilting LCD and a hot shoe. The image quality is nearly identical between the 2 cameras. Exact same lens. Supposedly they tweaked the sensor/processor, but it is a very very tiny difference.

Honestly, I don't know the differences between the NEX3 and the NEX5.

 

[hakepb]

What sticks out to me on current models:

The NEX 5 is a bit speedier (shot to shot time), 60p video, touch screen that tilts up and down, metal body with better build quality, accessory port (for a flash or a EFV), ISO 100

The NEX 3 has a built-in bounce flash, but no port to connect a bigger flash, no touch screen, plastic body, ISO 200 minimum (very slight quality loss), 60i video

But the NEX3 kit is so darn affordable (since it's being replaced by the A5000) I think I want one.
However, with the pending announcement of the A6000, NEX 5 prices may drop even more.

But, I would only want a NEX because I would want to get some better lenses. I would want an RX100 if I never thought I'd change lenses.

 

[havoc315]

What sticks out to me on current models:

The NEX 5 is a bit speedier (shot to shot time), 60p video, touch screen that tilts up and down, metal body with better build quality, accessory port (for a flash or a EFV), ISO 100

The NEX 3 has a built-in bounce flash, but no port to connect a bigger flash, no touch screen, plastic body, ISO 200 minimum (very slight quality loss), 60i video

But the NEX3 kit is so darn affordable (since it's being replaced by the A5000) I think I want one.
However, with the pending announcement of the A6000, NEX 5 prices may drop even more.

But, I would only want a NEX because I would want to get some better lenses. I would want an RX100 if I never thought I'd change lenses.

You'd probably love the new RX10.

 

[photo_chick]

OP.. it really comes down to the features. What do you want out of a camera? Are you prepared to invest in a lens collection?

Any camera you get will last as long as you want it to. If you're someone who has to upgrade at each new wave of technology that may not be as long as someone who is happy to stay with what works for them regardless of new technology. As far as making good images, that is a lot more about the photographer than the camera. You can make amazing images with the cheapest of point and shoots if you really want to.

 

[Animagic!]

My vote would definitely by for an NEX. Personally, I'd rather have the option of interchangeable lenses, especially if I was planning to use the camera for a couple years. Being stuck with a single lens for a couple years would drive me bonkers. LOL

 

[Stumpy]

I just went through the same decision myself and chose the NEX 5T as I found an open box deal that was too good to pass up. it was cheaper than a new RX100. In fact, in trying to decide on the camera some of the same people here helped steer me in the Nex direction.

Having said that, the Nex was my first foray away from the traditional point-and-click cameras and I have to say that I will forever avoid going back to them. My wife sort of missed the simplicity of just turning on the camera and taking pictures but for me, I absolutely love the amount of control the Nex gives you. Havoc is right that the kit lens isn't the best but with the optional larger zoom lens you'd be set for a while.

As already pointed out decide how "deep" you want to go into photography. If you just want to whip a camera out of your pocket and take unusual pictures of things you see then the RX100 or 100ii is better. If you want to explore the possibilities of photography then go with a Nex system.

With that being said, I also looked at the Nex 3 and 5. Granted, I found the new Nex3 to be $60 USD cheaper than the open box 5 so my decision wasn't as difficult as yours but I will say that some of the 5 features are pretty nice and I'm glad I went with it. The ability to tilt the nex 5 screen up and down comes in handy. I used the tilt down feature many times at Disney to hold the camera above the crowd and still get good shots. Also, the touch screen is great. I have meathooks for hands, so sometimes having the extra capability of using the screen as a controller in addition to the buttons was great. Lastly, the NFC capability of the 5T is awesome. Configure your smartphone (if you're not using an iphone) to the camera and any time you want to transmit a picture just touch the two devices together.

The only hesitation I had about the Nex5 was the fact that it didn't have a built-in flash, but I found that you can either adjust your camera to take great low-light pictures (which I did 99% of the time) or just leave the external flash attached. It doesn't add much bulk and unless you plan on taking dozens of selfies you won't lose much in the fact that the flash restricts part of the tilt angle of the camera.

So, from a Nex owner there you have my perspective.