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I’ve written before about the fact that I’m a Digital SLR camera user, and one of the things that I love about DSLRs is the interchangeable lenses. I love the versatility that brings, being able to take macro shots, or to focus on objects miles away depending on which lens is attached. The downside to SLRs is their size – they tend to be on the large side.

There’s an increasing trend, then, to marry the interchangeable lenses of an SLR with the small body of a compact camera, and Sony’s NEX-5R compact system cameras are one of the results of that trend.

See, in an SLR, there’s a mirror that directs the light from the lens to the viewfinder. The benefit of this is that you see exactly what the lens is seeing, but to take a photo, that mirror has to flip up and out of the way to allow the light to hit the camera’s sensor (where the film used to be in older cameras). That gives a satisfying click, but it does mean there has to be space in the camera’s body for the mechanicals that make that happen.

Compact cameras, with screens instead of viewfinders, have come on leaps and bounds in recent years. The screens are larger and more vibrant than the tiny effort my first digital camera had and, so, are seen as less of a compromise when used in place of a true optical viewfinder (DSLR purists may disagree here!)

And, so, we come to the NEX-5R compact system, which has interchangeable lenses, but does away with the reflex mirror and optical viewfinder. Is it any good? I can’t give you any first-hand experience, but check out some user reviews in the video embedded below:

What I like about the NEX-5R is that it looks stylish, is smaller (and hence easier to carry around) than an SLR, and appears to have plenty of built-in effect and features. I’ve played with other Sony cameras in my time, and I’ve always been impressed with them. I have no reason to believe this would be any different.

What don’t I like? Actually, based on what I’ve seen so far… nothing. I think I will always be an SLR user – I like that click – but I will certainly be checking out the NEX-5R compact system next time I’m browsing the local camera shop.

What do you think? Do you like what you see? Have you tried one of these cameras and can share your experience? Why not let us know your thoughts in the comments?

Sponsored Post on behalf of Sony. I will receive financial compensation for posting this, but be assured that impartiality is important to me. I will always say what I think, even in sponsored posts, and will not accept any offers of paid writing where I am required only to give a positive view.

This is a sponsored post. Click here to find out what that means.

If you’ve been reading Geek-Speak for a while, you’ll know that photography is one of my passions. While I’m a digital SLR enthusiast, I’m often surprised by the results family and friends get from smaller compact cameras.

Sony, the well known electronics brand, have a range of Cyber-shot™ digital cameras that fall into the compact range and, from what I’ve seen and heard, perform exceptionally well.

So, what’s on offer? Well, the Cyber-shot™ range starts out at 14.1 megapixels (the number of “dots” the camera’s sensor can see). More megapixels equals larger and more detailed photographs, and 14.1 is a very respectable figure. The range goes up to 18.2 megapixels which is, again, excellent.

It’s not all about megapixels, though, as the way the camera captures the image and processes it can make all the difference. You’ll want a lens that can zoom right in and get up close to the action, and with options ranging from 4x right up to 30x, there’s bound to be a point in the Cyber-shot™ range that suits both your requirements and your budget.

If you’re coming to this from the stable that prefers to refer to zooms in terms of focal lengths, the top-of-the range DSC-HX200V’s 30x zoom has a 35mm equivalent of 27-810mm. Given that a decent 100-400mm lens for a Canon DSLR will cost upwards of £1,500, the DSC-HX200V’s £399 price starts to look rather attractive.

One of the features found on most cameras these days is the ability to take videos – perfect for when one of the children finally works out how to crawl… a photo just won’t cut it then! The various Cyber-shots™ have differing movie recording facilities, right up to being able to shoot full HD. Whether it’s for mucking around in the park, videoing those family moments, or creating something for a college project, there is a camera to suit.

And that’s where I think Sony has been clever with the Cyber-shot™ range. They go from relatively simple and cheap, up to a high point of £399 with some impressive features. If you don’t want to make the jump to a DSLR and, to be honest, with the quality of many compact and bridge cameras, I could understand why you might decide to give it a miss, you may find that the high-end Cyber-shot™ suits you just fine. If you want something to toss in your handbag just to keep handy… you’re definitely in luck.

Find out more about the Cyber-shot™ digital cameras check out the Sony website.

Sponsored Post: I will receive financial payment for posting this article. Please be aware that I will never accept offers of paid posts where I am required only to give a positive opinion – objectivity is important to me and you can be sure that what I write, even in paid posts, is what I really think.