Sony CyberShot DSC-RX1R Review

The Sony CyberShot DSC-RX1R was launched in the month of June 2013, the Sony CyberShot DSC-RX1R is the new sister version of the highly acclaimed sister camera, the Sony CyberShot DSC-RX1. The Sony CyberShot DSC-RX1 was introduced in September 2012 and it was the first digital compact camera with a 35mm full frame sensor.

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The Sony CyberShot DSC-RX1R was available for a review and I took it around for events, personal projects and daily camera to use.  I brought the RX1R to Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall Open House, Launch of SG HeritageFest 2014, Bukit Brown Exhibition at National Library; construction of Star Wars Lego Snowspeeder, Universal Studios Singapore Jonah Goodwill Inauguration Ceremony and Lego Star Wars Snowspeeder goes Exploring!

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Here are the technical specifications of the Sony CyberShot DSC-RX1R

Model DSC-RX1R
Image Sensor 35mm full-frame (35.8mm × 23.9mm) Exmor CMOS Sensor, aspect ratio 3:2(Effective resolution) Approx. 24.3 megapixels(Gross resolution) Approx. 24.7 megapixels
Lens Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*, 8 elements in 7 groups (3 aspherical elements including AA lens); maximum aperture F2; focal length = 35mm (Still Image 3:2)
Zoom Clear Image Zoom (still image): 2xDigital Zoom (still image): 24M approx. 4x / 10M approx. 6.1x / 4.6M approx. 9.1xDigital Zoom (movie): Approx. 4x
Screen 7.5cm(3.0type)(4:3) / 1,228,800 dots / Xtra Fine / TFT LCD
Imaging Processor “BIONZ” Yes
SteadyShot EIS (blur reduction) for Movie
Focus modes Auto Focus (AF) / Direct Manual Focus (DMF) / Manual Focus (MF)
Focus area Multi point AF (25 points) / Centre weighted AF / Flexible spot AF / Flexible spot AF (tracking focus) / Flexible spot AF (face tracking)
Light Metering Mode Multi Pattern / Center Weighted / Spot
White Balance Mode Auto / Daylight / Shade / Cloudy / Incandescent / Fluor.: Warm White / Fluor.: Cool White / Fluor.: Day White / Fluor.: Daylight / Flash / C.Temp./Filter / Custom
Shutter Speed Program Auto(30″-1/4000sec.) / Aperture Priority(30″-1/4000sec.) / Shutter Priority(30″-1/4000sec.) / Manual Exposure(Bulb, 30″-1/4000sec.) / iAuto(4″-1/4000sec.)
Sensitivity (still image) ISO100-25600(1/3EV step)(expandable to ISO 50/64/80), AUTO(ISO100-25600, selectable with upper / lower limit), Multi Frame NR: ISO100-102400(1EV step), AUTO(ISO100-25600, selectable with upper / lower limit)
Continuous shooting Speed Priority Continuous Mode: Approx.5 fpsContinuous mode: 2.5 fps (AF-S)
Image Control Colour Mode / Contrast / Saturation / Sharpness / Creative Style / Colour Space (sRGB / Adobe RGB) / Quality (RAW / RAW & JPEG / Extra fine / Fine / Standard) / 14bit RAW / Long Exposure ND (Normal / Low / Off) / High ISO NR (Normal / Low / Off) / Multi Frame Noise Reduction
Shooting modes Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual Exposure, MR (Memory Recall) 1 / 2 / 3, Movie Mode (Program Auto, Aperature Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, Manual Exposure), Panorama, Scene Selection, AUTO (Intelligent Auto / Superior Auto)
Creative Style modes Standard / Vivid / Neutral / Clear / Deep / Light / Portrait / Landscape / Sunset / Night Scene / Autumn Leaves / Black & White / Sepia
Picture Effect modes Toy Camera / Pop Colour / Posterisation / Retro Photo / Soft High-key / Partial Colour (R/G/B/Y) / High Contrast Monochrome / Soft Focus / HDR Painting / Rich-tone Monochrome / Miniature / Watercolour / Illustration
Flash ISO Auto: approx. 0.75m to 21.7m(approx. 2.5feet to approx. 71.2feet), ISO 25600: up to 43.4m(142.4feet)
Other Shooting functions Smart Teleconverter (approx. 1.4x / 2x) / Face Detection / Face Registration / Smile Shutter / Quick Navi / Grid Line / Digital Level Gauge (pitch and roll) / Exposure Bracketing / White Balance Bracketing / DRO Bracketing / Flash Bracketing / Peaking / MF Assist /  Auto Portrait Framing
Recording format Still Image: JPEG, RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format)Movie: AVCHD Ver.2.0, MP4

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During my short stint with the Sony CyberShot DSC-RX1R, here are some of my thoughts on the Pros and Cons of the RX1R –

Pros

  • Full frame sensor
  • Carl Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f/2 lens
  • High megapixel
  • Excellent photo quality output
  • Rich colours output
  • Aperture ring on lens (purist photographers like it)
  • Minimum distance of 0.2m
  • No Optical Low Pass Filter (OLPF)
  • High ISO Sensitivity up to 25,600
  • Nice ergonomic design and buttons for easy operation

Cons

  • Fixed 35mm lens
  • Auto ISO can be inaccurate sometimes
  • The auto focus can be inaccurate sometimes
  • Heavy for a compact digital camera
  • No electronic viewfinder (separate additional optional accessories – Optical Viewfinder Kit or Electronic Viewfinder Kit)

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The Sony DSC-RX1R is available for a Recommended Retail Price of $3,999 (Do check out Sony Singapore website for more information and current pricing) at selected Sony Stores and authorized outlets.

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The Sony DSC-RX1R is a powerful digital compact camera with its full frame sensor and 35mm f/2 Carl Zeiss Sonnar lens. The price is on the higher side compared to the other digital compact cameras and digital single-lens reflex cameras available in the market. The Sony DSC-RX1R will definitely appeal to photographers who are into street/documentary photography when they need a small yet powerful compact digital camera with the full frame sensor and 35mm lens combination (along with the viewfinder option).

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Do check out my photographs that I took with the Sony CyberShot DSC-R1XR on Flickr and 500px! I had an interesting and fun time with the RX1R!

I would like to thank Sony Electronics Asia Pacific and Waggener Edstrom Worldwide for the Sony DSC-RX1R review opportunity.

* Information and Details Courtesy of Sony Electronics Asia Pacific and Waggener Edstrom Worldwide *


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