Sony - NEXF3 16.1-Megapixel Digital Compact System Camera with 18-55mm Lens - Black

Sony - NEXF3 16.1-Megapixel Digital Compact System Camera with 18-55mm Lens - Black

Original Price: $599.99

>> You Save: $200.00 <<

Our Price: $399.99

The Alpha NEX-F3 ($599) is Sony's entry-level mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. It's the replacement to the NEX-C3, with the most significant change being a new 3-inch LCD that can flip upward 180 degrees and face your subject. In addition, the F3 now sports a built-in flash, so you'll no longer need to carry around an external one. It also has a wider ISO range, an improved movie mode, and a new Superior Auto mode.

The NEX-F3 is available in just one kit (at least in the U.S.), which includes an F3.5-5.6, 18 - 55 mm IS lens for $599. Here's what you'll find when you crack open the box:

• The 16.2 effective Megapixel Alpha NEX-F3 camera body
• F3.5-5.6, 18 - 55 mm Sony zoom IS lens
• NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery
• AC adapter
• Body cap
• Shoulder strap
• USB cable
• CD-ROM featuring Application Software for Alpha Camera
• 94 page basic manual (printed) + full manual on CD-ROM

Should you choose the lens kit, then you'll be getting the same F3.5-5.6, 18 - 55 mm OSS (Sony's term for image stabilization) lens that came with the original NEX models. This lens offers solid build quality, good sharpness, and minimal purple fringing. I also tried out the new 18-200 mm lens, which has the same traits of the 18-55, just with a much larger focal range. Sony has a relatively small collection of E-mount lenses at this point (especially compared to Micro Four Thirds), though that should change as time progresses. Whichever lens you end up using, there will be a 1.5X crop factor to keep in mind.
If you want to use old Alpha (A-mount) lenses, you have two options. You can pick up the original LA-EA1 adapter (priced from $134), which offers sluggish autofocus on select Sony lenses. A much better solution is to use the newer LA-EA2 adapter (priced from $295), which has the same translucent mirror technology as Sony's D-SLRs and allows for super-fast AF with any A-mount lens.
Interchangeable lens cameras like the NEX-F3 never come with memory cards. So, if you don't have one already, you'll need to pick one up. The NEX-F3 is still a Sony camera, which means that it supports Memory Stick Pro Duo cards. Thankfully, it can also accept SD, SDHC, and SDXC media in the same slot. I would suggest a 4 or 8 GB card if you're mostly taking stills, and a 8 or 16 GB card if you'll be recording movies, as well.