Just a few months ago at PMA, Sony made it clear that the next extension of its Alpha brand would come in the form of an HD-video-shooting interchangeable lens compact. Now, those prototypes have become full-blown cameras in the form of the new NEX-3 and NEX-5, which will be hitting shelves in July. Both come packing the same new 14.2-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, which is almost 60% bigger (23.4mm x 15.6mm) than what you'll find inside a micro four thirds body. Both can capture HD video and stereo audio via the built-in microphone, but the NEX-3 tops out at 720p, while the NEX-5 can crab 1080i video in AVCHD format. Despite the extra sensor real estate, both bodies are impressively compact. The NEX-5, which has a magnesium alloy body, weighs just 10.1-ounces (with battery and media) and the NEX-3 checks in at 10.5-ounces. Compare that to the 11.1-ounce Olympus E-P2 and the 10.1-ounce Panasonic Lumix GF1.

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To accompany its new pint-sized bodies, Sony has introduced three new E-mount lenses: The 16mm (35mm equivalent: 24mm) f/2.8 ($250), the 18-55mm (35mm equivalent: 27-83mm) f/3.5-5.6 OSS ($300) and the 18-200mm 35mm equivalent (27-300mm) f/3.5-6.3 (fall, $800). The compact barrels are made from brushed aluminum and have steel mounts. They also boast ultra-quiet AF motors, enabling continuous autofocus during HD video capture. If you're not satisfied with three lens options (and you have a little extra room in your bag), the optional LA-EA1 Mount Adapter allows both NEX cameras to use the full range of Alpha lenses, plus a "huge range" of other legacy A-mount lenses if you don't need AF. It's worth noting that there's no internal image stablization on the NEX bodies, so you'll have to opt for the 18-55mm lens if you want to enjoy the Optical Steady Shot functionality.

In keeping with the compact part of its lineage, both the NEX-3 and NEX-5 have a redesigned and simplified interface, as well as a handful of Sony's specialty shooting modes like Hand-Held Twilight, Auto HDR and Anti-Motion Blur. Units will ship with the standard Sweep Panorama feature that they offer in other compacts, but a coming firmware update will allow both of the NEX cameras to capture 3D Sweep Panoramas, which can be played back on compatible 3D HDTVs.

Both models sport an impressive 3-inch TFT TruBlack LCD displays with 921,600 pixels and 100-percent Live View coverage. The screen can be angled approximatley 80-degrees upward and 45 degrees downward to allow for shooting at unique angles.

While the bodies lack a built-in flash, a clip-on flash, which attaches via the smart accessory terminal is provided in the box. If you want the FDA-SV1 Optical Viewfinder or the ECM-SST1 Stereo Microphone, you'll have to buy them sparately. There will be two different kits available at launch, including the NEX-5A ($650) and NEX-3A ($550), which come bundled with the 16mm prime. The NEX-5K ($700) and NEX-3K ($600) come with the 18-55mm zoom.

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Read on for the full specs.

CAMERAS

Sensor: 14.2-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS (23.4mm x 15.6mm)

14.2-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS (23.4mm x 15.6mm) Lens crop factor: 1.5x

1.5x Anti-dust: Charge protection coating on Low-Pass Filter and electromagnetic vibration mechanism

Charge protection coating on Low-Pass Filter and electromagnetic vibration mechanism Image processor: BIONZ

BIONZ Media Types: Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo/PRO-HG HX Duo media SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card

Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo/PRO-HG HX Duo media SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card Image Modes: JPEG (Standard, Fine), RAW, RAW+JPEG

JPEG (Standard, Fine), RAW, RAW+JPEG Video format: NEX-5 AVCHD / MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC (H.264)) - NEX-3 MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC (H.264)) only.

NEX-5 AVCHD / MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC (H.264)) - NEX-3 MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC (H.264)) only. AF system: Contrast

Contrast Focus points: 25

25 AF modes: Single-shot AF, Continuous AF, Direct Manual Focus, Manual Focus

Single-shot AF, Continuous AF, Direct Manual Focus, Manual Focus Focus sensitivity: 0 EV to 20 EV (at ISO100 conversion with F2.8 lens)

0 EV to 20 EV (at ISO100 conversion with F2.8 lens) Sweep Panorama: Maximum Wide 23MP (12,416 x 1,856), 226° (16mm focal), 201° (18mm focal)

Maximum Wide 23MP (12,416 x 1,856), 226° (16mm focal), 201° (18mm focal) Face detection: Off, Auto, Child Priority, Adult Priority

Off, Auto, Child Priority, Adult Priority Smile shutter: Off, Slight, Normal, Big

Off, Slight, Normal, Big Metering: 49 Segment metering from CMOS image sensor

49 Segment metering from CMOS image sensor Metering mode: Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot

Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot Exposure settings: iAUTO, Program Auto (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter priority (S), Manual (M)

iAUTO, Program Auto (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter priority (S), Manual (M) ISO: Auto, 200 to 12800

Auto, 200 to 12800 Color temperature: 2500 - 9900 k with 19-step Magenta / Green compensation

2500 - 9900 k with 19-step Magenta / Green compensation Shutter type: Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type

Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type Drive modes: Single-shot, Continuous, Speed Priority, Self-timer, Continuous Self-timer, Bracketing; Remote Commander

Single-shot, Continuous, Speed Priority, Self-timer, Continuous Self-timer, Bracketing; Remote Commander Shooting speed: Continuous (2.3fps) Speed Priority (7fps)

Continuous (2.3fps) Speed Priority (7fps) Flash sync: 1/160 second

1/160 second Burst buffer: JPEG (unlimited to card capacity), RAW (8 shots), RAW+JPEG (5 shots)

JPEG (unlimited to card capacity), RAW (8 shots), RAW+JPEG (5 shots) Flash metering system: Pre-flash TTL

Pre-flash TTL Flash modes: Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear sync., Slow sync., Red-eye reduction

Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear sync., Slow sync., Red-eye reduction Recycle time: Approx. 4 sec

Approx. 4 sec HDMI port: TypeC mini

TypeC mini Connectivity: USB 2.0

USB 2.0 NEX-3 dimensions: Appx 4-5/8 × 2-1/2 × 1-3/8" (117.2x62.6x33.4mm) (W/H/D); 1" (25.4mm) excl grip and lens mount

Appx 4-5/8 × 2-1/2 × 1-3/8" (117.2x62.6x33.4mm) (W/H/D); 1" (25.4mm) excl grip and lens mount NEX-3 weight: Approx. 8.4 oz (239g) (excl battery & media) Approx. 10.5 oz (297g) (w/battery & media)

Approx. 8.4 oz (239g) (excl battery & media) Approx. 10.5 oz (297g) (w/battery & media) NEX-5 dimensions: Appx 4-3/8 × 2-3/8 × 1-9/16" (110.8x58.8x38.2mm) (W/H/D); 15/16" (24.2mm) excl grip & lens mount

Appx 4-3/8 × 2-3/8 × 1-9/16" (110.8x58.8x38.2mm) (W/H/D); 15/16" (24.2mm) excl grip & lens mount NEX-5 weight: Approx. 8.1 oz (229g) (excl battery & media) Approx. 10.1 oz (287g) (w/battery & media)

Approx. 8.1 oz (229g) (excl battery & media) Approx. 10.1 oz (287g) (w/battery & media) Battery: InfoLitium NP-FW50,7.2V with approximately 330 shots per charge

16mm F/2.8 LENS

Groups and elements: 5 groups, 5 elements (1 aspheric surface)

5 groups, 5 elements (1 aspheric surface) Angle of view: 83°

83° Aperture: 7 blades (Circular aperture)

7 blades (Circular aperture) Aperture range: f/2.8-f/22

f/2.8-f/22 Maximum maginification: 0.073x (APS-C)

0.073x (APS-C) Miniumum focus distance: 9.4" (0.24m)

9.4" (0.24m) Dimensions: 2-7/16 x 7/8" (62x22.5mm)

2-7/16 x 7/8" (62x22.5mm) Weight: 2.5 oz (70g)

2.5 oz (70g) Filter diameter: 49mm

18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS LENS