Upcoming Sony NEX-5R to Use Phase Detect AF at Pixel Level

Sony NEX-5R Rumors

The Sony NEX line is already knocking it out of the park, so this news comes as icing on the cake. SonyAlphaRumors.com has good word that the upcoming Sony NEX-5R (which will replace the NEX-5N) will sport a new 16MP CMOS sensor with phase detection AF sensors built as pixels directly on the sensor.

For those unfamiliar with the tech, phase detection AF is what’s used in all DSLRs; however, most mirrorless cameras to date have featured a contrast detection AF method. The contrast AF system has gotten better in recent years – with Sony, Panasonic and Olympus doing a bang-up job of making it much faster in the latest models. However, if you’ve used both a DSLR and a mirrorless camera, then you know that DSLRs just focus faster . . . and that’s due to phase detection AF.

The recently announced Canon EOS M features a phase detection AF method at the pixel level as well. And, Canon even introduced the feature into the Canon Rebel T4i. While the Rebel T4i certainly does a better job at AF than other traditional DSLRs, it still has a ways to go based on my early testing with the camera for full time AF during video. Hopefully, the EOS M performs much better than the Rebel T4i’s AF.

But Sony is really sneaking up on Canon and Nikon. Frankly, I think Sony is the manufacturer to beat at this point in the mirrorless market. If the new NEX-5R steps up the game with an even better AF system than exists in current NEX models, then it’s going to be hard for others to really push past.

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Tagged as: Canon, EOS M, mirrorless, NEX-5N, NEX-5R, Rebel T4i, Sony, Sony rumors

{ 3 comments }

1 Phiroze B. Javeri August 17, 2012 at 3:15 am: Bravo, Sony. With the Nex 5R, Sony has finally expressed that their mirror-less cameras are aimed at the pros and advanced amateurs, and that they’re not mucking around with the point-and-shoot kids to whom the change-over to this concept is quite meaningless. The Nex 5R makes it clear that DSLRs – with their pre-historic, flipping mirrors – are destined to die within two years.
2 Daniel August 17, 2012 at 4:43 am: Will A99 come out with this first? Having prism OVF on the A99 is important…EVF still lag behind.
3 Alejandro del Piélago August 19, 2012 at 12:33 pm: I still love my C3, but I love even more my G10… I want and need smaller lenses.

Sony, why don´t you make a sort of G10 (not the heavy G1X) with that amazing LCD (not the tiny one of the NEX) with that awesome NEX sensor AND with smaller and better lenses??????????

PD: The AF in NEX cameras is very good indeed, but with some subjects hunts all the time; for example, leaves or little branches; my G10 focuses them much better !!!