Beginner Help with my NEX-3?

[willow572]

I've just bought a Sony NEX-3 (only had a bridge camera before and only ever use that as a super zoom point and shoot!) and am going to go on a course to learn a bit more about Aperture / Shutter priorities etc however it's all a bit of a mystery at the moment and while my new camera looks nice and shiny I have a few basic questions for anyone that owns one....bear in mind that I am a beginner so pls try and be patient with me

• What do I use the 20mm pancake lens for? I have researched online what difference it will make from using the standard lens that comes with it (14mm - 42mm or something like that) but I can't find a straight answer
  Do all these 'four-thirds' type cameras need you to manually zoom i.e. using the lens ring or have I just been a bit naive and assumed that my digital zoom control on my bridge camera would have been a common feature?
  Where do you 'hand' the lens cap when not in use? Previous cameras have a little strap that means you can attach it to the camera. I'm terrified I'm going to lose the cap and scratch the lens!
  I can only seem to get the LCD screen to tilt one way i.e. hinged from the top. Photos online seem to show it hinges the other way too but I just can't see how and I don't want to force it. The manual is useless!

[ceremus]

What do I use the 20mm pancake lens for?

Do you mean the Panasonic one? That's a prime lens, meaning it has a fixed focal length and does not zoom. These lenses tend to be less expensive than zoom lenses, they're often pretty sharp, and usually have larger maximum apertures, meaning they let in more light (faster), and can create a very thin depth of field.

Just so you know, that lens isn't compatible with your camera. (at least I don't think so, unless there's some way to mount micro 4/3'rds on E-mount, but uhhhhh)
Sony does make a few prime lenses for your E-mount, though. Sony Lenses: Digital Photography Review > bottom of the page.

Do all these 'four-thirds' type cameras need you to manually zoom i.e. using the lens ring or have I just been a bit naive and assumed that my digital zoom control on my bridge camera would have been a common feature?

Zooming manually with a zoom ring is typical for an interchangeable lens. Some designs have a manual push/pull mechanism, but a zoom ring is the most common.

Where do you 'hand' the lens cap when not in use? Previous cameras have a little strap that means you can attach it to the camera. I'm terrified I'm going to lose the cap and scratch the lens!

You can get a lanyard like this. I always just throw it in my camera bag.

Afraid I can't be much help on the screen hinge, I don't own any NEX's and haven't handled them much. It does seem like it has more than one hinge on it from the photos I've seen, though.

[willow572]

Thanks for the capkeeper tip - just what I was looking for and have got a couple from eBay for 99p!
I've also managed to work out how the screen tilts.

The Sony NEX 3 came with two lens' - an 18-55mm one and a 16mm pancake one. From what you're saying the 16mm one just has a fixed length but other than that, it's just smaller and may be 'sharper'? I'll have a play.

Thanks for your help

[Nicole]

I use the NEX-3.

I have a feeling that you mean the 16mm pancake lens. This is actually wider than the other lens that comes with the camera, which is an 18-55mm. Plus it has a wider aperture. I'd actually really suggest you start out by reading some of the articles here: Digital Photography Tips and Tutorials

As Ceremus said, zooming manually is definitely the norm for interchangeable lens cameras. You'll get used to it, and you'll probably find you prefer that over an electronic zoom.

With the lens caps, I tend to just throw them in my pocket.

And for the screen hinge, that hinge is really tight when the camera is new. I watched YouTube videos on it because I didn't want to break it. Just gently pull the top part of the screen forward. I think that I found it helped a little if I already had the bottom of the screen pulled out a little too.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by willow572

What do I use the 20mm pancake lens for? I have researched online what difference it will make from using the standard lens that comes with it (14mm - 42mm or something like that) but I can't find a straight answer.

As ceremus said, the Panasonic 20/1.7 is incompatible with the Sony NEX ("E-mount"). I believe the Sony pancake is a 16mm f/2.8. Your kit lens is probably an 18-55 OSS. Right now, E-mount wise, you're stuck with Sony, but a lot of third-party manufacturers say they'll be developing for NEX soon. Micro four-thirds has a bigger lens selection because it's been around longer, and has a much larger consortium of companies designing for it.

Generally, you would use it as a fast "normal" or wide lens. General street shooting, some portraiture, and a bit of low light shooting, and for being small and light. If small and light doesn't matter to you, then you may not need a pancake lens: some folks like to pocket their cameras, and a protruding lens, like the kit lens, can defeat that.

Do all these 'four-thirds' type cameras ...

Again, want to emphasize what ceremus said. The Sony NEXs are Sony E-mount cameras. They are not micro four-thirds cameras, and the two mount systems are completely incompatible. Ditto the Samsung NXs.

... need you to manually zoom i.e. using the lens ring or have I just been a bit naive and assumed that my digital zoom control on my bridge camera would have been a common feature?

You're just used to the zoom rocker on fixed-lens cameras. As ceremus stated, it's a matter of interchangeable lenses. Because some lenses (like the 16/2.8) don't zoom at all, it's not a control that's depends on the camera, it depends on the lens. That's why the control is on the lens.

Where do you 'hand' the lens cap when not in use?

I usually just stuff it in my back pocket. If you're really really worried about keeping your front lens element pristine, you could consider screwing a clear UV filter onto the front of it. I do that with my lenses; although they can sometimes introduce glare and cut down on light transmission of the lens. If you are going to use one, look for a good multi-coated one, not some $8 ebay special. The 18-55 OSS takes a standard-sized 49mm filter. The number after the ∅ printed on the front gives the filter size of any lens.

[willow572]

Thanks everyone - it is definitely the lens Nicole refers to so it definitely compatible. Apologies about my terminology (four thirds / e-mount) - for now 2 lens' is more than enough for me to play with so I can't see me buying any more anyway to be honest.

I've just managed to upgrade the Firmware so I have yet more functions to play with now! Just need some daylight so I can get out there any start playing with my new toy!

Thanks for all your help