Are you are tired of lugging a heavy SLR camera around, but want a smaller camera with similar features? If so, this Sony Alpha NEX-5 review will interest you.

For starters, this is not an SLR camera, nor was it intended to be. The size of the camera compares favorably to a point and shoot, but with this camera you have manual controls and you can also change the lens. In addition the NEX uses the same 14.3 megapixles image sensor that is found in digital SLR cameras. This feature gives you the benefit of taking breath taking photographs with amazing color and sharpness.

By comparison, the Olympus and Panasonic cameras in the "micro four thirds" format use an image sensor that is 13 times smaller to achieve it's compact size. The sacrifice of size for quality photos is noticeable is those models.

I didn't notice it, but there have been complaints about the removable flash accessory that connects with a thumb screw. Some are saying that the flash accessory is below par because it hardly produces any light. Most of these complaints are from owners of SLR cameras.

Another drawback for me is the LCD screen. It is used as both a viewer and to change the menu setting. This can prove to be rather awkward. Sure, there are ample automatic setting, but the manual setting is where this camera shines.

The construction of the camera did not allow for a lot of controls to built into the camera body. This is something that I had to get used to. Again, I guess that this is my SLR snobbery shining in.

Initially I balked at the price of $699. My thinking was that you can get an SLR camera for that price. I cannot get an SLR camera that is this light and this size for this price, so that put it all in perspective. The truth is that I spent too much time looking for flaws and trying to compare the camera to my Olympus e-30.

The price seems about right for a top of the line camera in it's class. I should have focused on the 1080p high def video, the ability to take successive panoramic shoots, and the ability to change lenses to capture shots that until now were only imaginable. All of these features are included in a package that is small, light, and easy to handle.