Gadget review: Sony NEX-7

It seems among other things that "digital" made accessible, photography is a popular one. With considerably reduced variable costs (allowing for learning via trial and error) and the dark room giving way to Photoshop, many users have donned the title of "hobbyist", "part-time" and "semi-professional" photographer — with yours truly being among the guilty.

The digital SLRs have graduated from a heavy piece of equipment to a style statement. The Sony NEX-7 is looking to pump up the style factor while cutting down on the weight.

It is a camera with its body not much larger than most point-and-shoots and the ability to change switch lenses. Particularly impressive is the fact that it has fit in a 24-megapixel sensor that can also shoot video at full HD. The large lens sticking to the smaller body may seem odd at first but you get used to it.

The camera features the Tri Navi system, which — along with two dials on the top and one on the back — allows you complete access into the camera's setup and management system which offers almost as much control as any other DSLR. The screen on which you can shoot and review pictures has an excellent resolution and paints an accurate picture (pun not intended ... or is it?) of the ones that are taken.

The screen can be tilted to accommodate those difficult or weird shooting angles — the camera bends so you don't have to.

The entire body fits well in the hand and makes for an excellent grip. It definitely is sturdy enough to feel like a solid camera but doesn't carry the weight of one.

There may be those who may be sceptical of a camera that is "not quite an SLR". And while that may be true, the NEX-7 comes as close as it can. It allows complete control over your image shooting including shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings, along with the ability to set your focus manually.

Should you not want to go down that route, you can choose from one of the many pre-set scene modes, including the panorama sweep, which does exactly as the name suggests — takes a panorama by "sweeping" across the horizon, taking pictures.

The quality on the Sony NEX-7, as has been the case with all Sony cameras, is nothing short of excellent. The pictures look great, even at a high ISO setting, featuring low noise. And the videos come out great with little or no motion blur, even at full HD.

The Sony NEX-7 may not have the range of lenses that other DSLRs (that have been around longer) offer. However, they do cover most of the bases. For entry and mid-level photographers, the NEX-7 does a brilliant job of capturing high-quality photos, without breaking the back.

Bhavishya Kanjhan is a digital marketing professional and an early adopter of all things digital. Follow his tweets on @bhavishya