Faced front-on and the NEX-7 doesn’t look altogether different from the rest of the NEX family. Flip this baby round and it’s a whole different story: the NEX-7 features a dual thumbwheel-like set of controls to the rear. There’s an AF/MF & AEL switch and button added to the usual array of a rotational d-pad and twin function buttons. A built-in pop-up flash is discreetly tucked away on top, next to which is a Sony/Minolta hotshoe fitting. Next to this - and we’re almost out of physical space - and Sony’s managed to cram in a 100% field-of-view OLED electronic viewfinder.
Cramming is certainly the name of the game, and the NEX-7 feels somewhat busy because of this. The decision to place the one-touch movie button on a raised outer edge to the rear makes it a prime target for accidental pressing and, therefore, unwanted movie recording. The same can be said for the thumbwheel-like controls.
We say "thumbwheel-like", as they’re rather different to the sort of design you’d find on a DSLR camera; these are a far bulkier set of wheels. The decision to place them side by side feels a little strange in use, plus they’re loose and therefore very easy to knock and accidentally during shooting which leads to unwanted exposure compensation adjustment and lots of frustration.
The d-pad can have its left, right and centre buttons customised to suit your needs that, in addition to the two other function buttons, is an essential to get the most out of the camera. Still no sign of a mode dial though which, frankly, is sheer insanity as the in-camera virtual menus, as with the 5N and C3, is as baffling as ever.
The NEX-7’s been bold by strapping all manner of controls to the body, but hasn’t made much use of the camera’s front and this makes the design feel busied to its detriment - simply because it’s too easy to knock dials and buttons in use when you don’t want to.
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