Advanced interchangeable lens camera systems like the NEX from Sony are never entirely open or closed. Rather, they incorporate standards where they must and innovate everywhere else. Let’s consider the main components of interchangeable lens camera, and identify which generally are proprietary and which are standardized.
camera
The Myths of Standardization
I certainly benefit from standardization of the world around me, and I welcome interoperability and interchangeability as well as the price and product selection advantages. But I am not blithely focused on standardization above all else. I will happily use a proprietary solution if the alternative is inelegant, ineffective, or insufficient.
Sony VCL-ECU1 Ultra Wide Angle Converter for NEX Cameras: Hands-On Review
The VCL-ECU1 Ultra Wide Angle Converter is an interesting but not indispensable tool for the NEX camera owner. On the plus side, it brings a little flexibility and functionality to the otherwise limited 16 mm pancake prime. On the other hand, the 12 mm combination that results is not all that useful in everyday shooting, and the VCL-ECU1 is pretty bulky in the bag. Still, with a street price of less than $100, the VCL-ECU1 is not a bad buy for the NEX owner who already has the two popular kit lenses.
Hands-On Review: SLR Magic 35mm Sony NEX Lens
The Sony 18-55 mm tele-zoom remains my favorite NEX lens for its flexibility. Given this, I would definitely buy the SLR Magic 35mm lens before Sony’s overly wide 16mm pancake prime. But the SLR Magic would not be a good choice as the only lens on a trip. It’s a fun and fairly cheap toy, not a real photographic tool.
Sony Enhances the NEX Line With Updated Firmware and the New NEX-C3
Sony has updated the impressive NEX “mirrorless†camera system, announcing the replacement of the NEX-3 and releasing new firmware with enhanced features. Although the new NEX-C3 will not appear until the fall, I am pleased to report that the new NEX firmware further enhances the usefulness of my NEX-5 camera.
