Sony DSC-RX1 Full Frame Mirrorless Digital Camera

[Chris Dodkin]

Sony have responded to the ongoing success of mirrorles cameras, and produced a new fixed lens, full frame model - the DSC-RX1.

Product Highlights

• Full Frame 24MP Sensor with 14-bit RAW
• Fixed f/2.0 Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* Lens
• Full HD 24p Video with Manual Controls
• High Speed AF as Fast as 0.13 Seconds
• Full Frame 24MP Bursts at up to 5fps
• Dedicated Focus, Iris and Macro Rings
• Shoe for Flash, Light or External Mic
• Auto HDR Protects Highlight and Shadow
• Xtra Fine 3" LCD Display
• ISO Range 100-25600

Priced at a whopping $2,798! Note no OVF or EVF on this camera....

DPR seem to think it's main competitor is the Fuji X100 - not sure how true that is giving the price differential and the FF vs Cropped sensor differences. Sony RX1 Hands-on Preview: Digital Photography Review

Certainly a very interesting time in the development of these mirror less systems.

More details here: Sony Cyber-shot RX1 | 35mm Full Frame Digital Camera | DSC-RX1/B | Sony USA

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Probably a master stroke on Sony's behalf. History shows with other recent camera makers that, this will lead to a changeable lens version. I have often wondered why this camera has not yet hit the streets. My only conclusion is ,that no company wishes to be associated with the the demise of Leica cameras. Time will tell, lets hope both companies can exist together.

 

[Larry Bolch]

The X100 has certainly validated the concept. As I understand it, this camera carries a full-blown 35mm f/2.0 Zeiss Sonnar T* lens. When you consider the 35mm F/2.0 Leica Summicron costs $400US more than the whole camera, it looks like a bit of a bargain.

That said, I would not trade my X100 for this, even if price were not a consideration. Image quality is such that the difference would be immaterial—for a pocket camera. I love the hybrid viewfinder, and the ease with which I can move between the OVF, EVF and LCD. With the flash as close as physically possible to the optical axis, and the metering so good it is almost spooky, fill-flash has never been this good. Sync to 1/2000th making it entirely useable in the most harsh sunlight, with the secondary shadow being almost undetectable.

With wide-angle lenses, "bokeh" is rarely a consideration, so having a full-frame sensor for this purpose is of little relevance unless you enjoy people asking why your pictures are somewhat out-of-focus. When I bought the D700, a full-frame sensor was truly magic in low light. Five years later, both Fuji cameras produce image quality at the same ISO settings that are on-par or better with APS-C sensors.

 

[Hamish Gill]

my opinion ... a great sign for what the future holds ... ... ...

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I reckon you could swap for the RX100 and your missus would never notice Hamish!

 

[Larry Bolch]

my opinion ... a great sign for what the future holds ... ... ...

During the first decade, camera companies struggled to make the transition from film and stay in business. You had your choice of low, medium and high end, P&S or dSLR. The D700 was the first camera that really felt finished and mature. Everything before it seemed like a work-in-progress. The m4/3rds cameras should have set off a revolution, but instead, a slow evolution which happened much slower than I hoped, and deeply confined to the consumer marketplace.

Like it or not, the Fuji X100 was the wakeup call—nothing like it since the compact rangefinder cameras of decades back. It remained back-ordered for the better part of a year. I think we will finally see some truly innovative products within the immediate future.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I reckon you could swap for the RX100 and your missus would never notice Hamish!

Nah, she would miss the zoom
more to the point she would miss the cash ...

- - - Updated - - -

Like it or not, the Fuji X100 was the wakeup call—nothing like it since the compact rangefinder cameras of decades back. It remained back-ordered for the better part of a year. I think we will finally see some truly innovative products within the immediate future.

I couldn't agree more!
the recent bout of Sonys - rx1,rx100 and the new nex's ... Not to mention the new full frame e mount (in its self an interesting concept) shows a lot of future promise from Sony alone I think
now with the Nikon d600, the first full frame consumer camera firmly on the horizon it seems we have hit interesting times!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Have a look at the sample shots on DPR ... There is one taken at 12800iso of some pool balls ... It's remarkably noise free!