The one phrase that I was looking for at the bottom of this review was the "Tested and recommended." The review seems a bit coy in this area.
Is its absence an indication of a change in editorial style away from that or that it isn't recommended (in its current form)?
That the auto-ISO rounds to the nearest single digit is rather intriguing. Are there any reviews or indications if this is just a software thing or is the hardware really able to do this?
This makes me think that if it is continuously variable ISO then if someone were to
hack the firmware, doing ETR right to the line and not just within whatever fraction is allowed by aperture/shutter speed would be possible.
The one aspect that I think is missing from the GXR reviews that I've read is that not only can new sensor modules be used as sensor technology improves, but as the technology in the
back improves, that can be replaced independent of the sensor. I think that this is the dark horse here. Whilst replacing the back won't improve SNR or ISO performance, it can address many of the other shortcomings with the camera if they were not able to be fixed with a firmware update - and for not nearly the same cost as going from one NEX camera to the next NEX (for example.)
p.s. To nit pick, the transmission in Formula 1 cars is not automatic, it is semi-automatic. The paddle shifting in current high end road-legal sports cars such as Ferraris comes directly from Formula 1 racing. For reference, see "
Understanding Formula 1 engines." And whilst North America has largely moved away from manual shift in cars, other parts of the world - such as Europe - have not yet done so. A visit to a car rental website for Europe such as
www.hertz.co.uk will typically present you with all of the cheapest options being manual. Some European locations may only offer one or two models with an automatic transmission, if any. In contrast, do not be surprised if it is impossible to find a manual shift car via
www.hertz.com for a North American destination. The design of cars is heavily influenced by local culture.