Sony’s Cyber Shot DSC-R1 represents a transition between the fixed lens all-in-one prosumer cameras and the more complicated digital SLRs. The DSC-R1 comes fully loaded with features like a Carl Zeiss lens, and a 10-megapixel CMOS sensor. CNET reviews thought the DSC-R1 was was easy to operate despite a slightly quirky interface.
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[Full Sony Cyber Shot DSC-R1 Spec Sheet at Digital Photography Review]
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Digital Camera Info – 4/4/2006 – The Sony R1 will ultimately serve a small portion of consumers quite well: sightseers, realtors, and those looking for a casual high-performance imager without concern for speed. The quality rivals or surpasses many entry-level DSLR kits and will not disappoint those willing to invest $1,000 for it. Unfortunately, the sharp lens and clean images come at a significant expense. Users will have to sacrifice an optical viewfinder, lens interchangeability, autofocus performance, shooting speed (all around) and durability. While the R1 is not likely to appeal to those graduating from an FZ30 or other ultra zoom model, the camera offers a unique combination of exceptional Zeiss-branded glass and APS-C sized CMOS sensor unavailable on any other model.
[Sony Cyber-shot DSC R1 Review At Digital Camera Info]
Lets Go Digital – 1/23/2006 – The Sony Cybershot R1 is far from your average digital camera. It is a definite trendsetter, a digital camera that has noticeably raised the bar another notch for the competition. Not only does the camera radiate quality, it shows it in every aspect and truly deserves all praise. Sony have every right to be pleased with the end result. We can only conclude we were lucky to have had an opportunity to work with such a top quality camera. Hats off to Sony!
[Sony Cyber-shot DSC R1 Review Lets Go Digital]
A Digital Eye – R1 is the first digital camera to offer an APS-C sized sensor combined with a lens-integral design. It offers an impressive feature set at a competitive price (after you factor in the cost of a decent lens for a DSLR). Impressive not only on paper, but the images it delivers. They are detailed and nicely saturated with very little noise capable of very large enlargements. Combined with easy operation, it becomes the perfect camera for a variety of situations. But R1 is clearly not for everyone. For those seeking more flexibility (like shooting action and sports), you’d be better looking at DSLR’s. There are drawbacks for each type of cameras; but for the things R1 is designed for, it does them very well.
[Sony Cyber-shot DSC R1 Review At A Digital Eye]
Designtechnica – The DSC-R1 took great photos-as a $999 10-megapixel camera should. I highly recommend it for anyone who doesn’t want to spend a small fortune on lenses or doesn’t have any to begin with. The camera isn’t perfect but none are-it is heavy and a wider focal length would be a nice bonus. It’s also not as fast as a D-SLR with slower frames-per-second rate and response time. Still it is an excellent camera–and one of the best that arrived in 2005.
[Sony Cyber-shot DSC R1 Review At Designtechnica]
Camera Labs – The Sony Cybershot R1 is a unique digital camera which not only redefines the all-in-one category, but questions whether you really need a digital SLR. One of the greatest advantages digital SLRs always had over all-in-one models was a larger sensor, allowing high sensitivities and low noise even at high resolutions – but now the R1 offers such a sensor in a sealed body. Couple this with high resolution and an excellent lens and you’ve got what should be a winning package.
[Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 Review At Camera Labs]
Digital Outback – The RAW support is as poorly implemented as with the F828. Sony does not use any compression to store the RAW files (20MB for the RAW file and the R1 also always stores a JPG). The R1 is also not buffering more than 2 RAWs at a time. For the R1 this is even more disappointing as we want and will use RAW to get the maximum image quality from the R1. For us this is a signal that Sony does not take RAW really serious because we think can do better if they want. We still hope this will change over time. Maybe also a good chance to use DNG for the next cameras.
[Sony Cyber-shot DSC R1 Review At Digital Outback]
Steve’s Digicams – With its APC-C sized image sensor, the Sony DSC-R1 defines a new category in the prosumer digital camera market and offers a compelling alternative to enthusiasts who might otherwise consider a dSLR. Thanks to its high quality lens and large image sensor, the R1 sets a new standard for image quality among prosumer cameras, especially at high ISO settings. As an alternative to dSLRs, the R1 offers enthusiasts terrific image quality, good shooting performance and 10-megapixels of resolution without the complexities of interchangeable lenses and the inevitable presence of dust on a dSLRs image sensor. If the R1’s fixed 24-120mm lens meets your image composition needs, you may have found the 2006 version of digicam nirvana.
[Sample photos taken with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC R1]
[Sony Cyber-shot DSC R1 User Review At Steve's Digicams]
Megapixel –
Positives:
- Very good image quality.
- 24mm equivalent wide angle.
- High resolution images.
- Low noise up to 400 ISO.
- Well-supported RAW format.
- Excellent ergonomic design.
- Solidly built.
Negatives:
- Wide angle images a bit soft.
- Noise beyond 800 ISO.
- Minimal Burst mode.
- Slow AF in low light.
[Test Sony Cyber-shot DSC R1 Photos]
[Sony Cyber-shot DSC R1 User Review At Megapixel]
Popular Photography Magazine – The DSC-R1’s image quality is the best we’ve ever seen in a Sony camera and comparable to the best DSLRs in its class. If the R1 has an Achilles’ heel, it’s the electronic viewfinder, which might be a hard transition for those who are used to composing with a sharper, higher-magnification 35mm or digital SLR’s optical viewfinder.
[Sony Cyber-shot DSC R1 Review At Popular Photography Magazine]
Luminous Landscapes – I am very ambivalent about the Sony R1. With its large and high resolution sensor, excellent lens, and first rate build quality for under US $1,000 it offers photographers a combination of features and abilities that in a DSLR would cost 2-3X as much to implement.
But, it still is a digicam – or FLD, and therefore lacks some of the features that DSLR users take for granted, such as fast frame rates and snappy autofocus.
In exchange the R1 offers a waist level finder, a real-time histogram, and totally silent operation – features that no DSLR can provide.
Is this the camera for you? Only you can decide, based on the type of shooting that you do and where your needs fall. This could well be an ideal second camera, especially for pros using medium format equipment; someone just testing the waters with digital, or anyone on a restricted budget who wants high image quality, a great lens and a reasonable price. Anyone wanting to travel very light, hiking, camping, or an extended foreign trek, might also find the R1 an ideal companion.
Many though will find one of the sub $1,000 DSLRs with a kit lens to better suit their needs at a comparable price
[Sony DSC-R1 Review At Luminous Landscape]
Imaging Resource – You can buy a digital SLR kit (including lens) for less, but our lens tests reveal that you’d have to spend two or three times as much to get a lens of equal quality on that same budget d-SLR. Faced with the choice, there will clearly be many photographers who will opt to go the d-SLR route in the interest of future system expansion, or for the somewhat greater shooting speed and responsiveness most d-SLRs offer. By the same token though, our tests and shooting with the Sony R1 show that it will present a compelling proposition for a lot of advanced amateur photographers.
[Sony DSC-R1 Review At Imaging Resource]
PC Magazine – If you’ve got deep pockets, absolutely abhor changing lenses, and don’t mind a 5X optical zoom limit, perhaps this camera’s great image quality will offset its heft and make it a good buy. For everyone outside that narrow subset of photographers, however, there are just too many good enthusiast cameras and affordable D-SLRs to consider spending so much on this one.
[Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 Review At PC Magazine]
CNET – Sony’s Cyber Shot DSC-R1 represents a transition between the fixed lens all-in-one prosumer cameras and the more complicated digital SLRs. The DSC-R1 comes fully loaded with features a Carl Zeiss lens, and a 10-megapixel CMOS sensor. CNET reviews thought the DSC-R1 was was easy to operate despite a slightly quirky interface.
[Read more Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 Reviews]
Designtechnical – Sony’s 10.3 megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-R1 has just been reviewed at Designtechnica and here is their opinion. “There are no definitive conclusions to reach at this time but this camera offers a cornucopia of photographic delights. It’s in a strange spot since it’s the price of a quality D-SLR but doesn’t offer the flexibility of interchangeable lenses, a potential deal breaker for many photographers. Your usual rambunctious reviewer will hold his fire for a couple of weeks. That said-unless Sony seriously falls flat on their faces– the DSC-R1 has the potential to be our camera of the year.
[Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 Review At Designtechnica]
Digital Photography Review – However it’s not the body design which makes this camera unique (many have copied the DSC-D700), it is the camera’s sensor and lens. This is the first all-in-one digital camera to utilize a large (APS size) sensor, to be precise a 10.3 megapixel CMOS unit measuring 21.5 x 14.4 mm which is essentially a slightly smaller version of the sensor used in the Nikon D2X. It’s also the first APS size sensor to provide full time live preview to the camera’s LCD monitor or EVF (electronic viewfinder). This means that there’s no mirror box or prism making the camera more compact and allowing the lens to be positioned much closer to the sensor. Equally as important and interesting is the lens which provides a 24 – 120 mm (equivalent) five times zoom with a maximum aperture of F2.8 – F4.8.
[Full Sony Cyber Shot DSC-R1 Preview at Digital Photography Review]
Digital Camera Resource – The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 ($1000) is arguably one of the biggest revolutions in consumer digital photography in recent years. While most companies continue to pile more and more pixels into small sensors (Sony has been guilty of this too), the DSC-R1 uses a new CMOS sensor that is dramatically larger than what most cameras offer.
[Full Sony Cyber Shot DSC-R1 Preview at Digital Camera Resource]
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[Digital Photography Review User Comments]
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Press Release:
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 8, 2005 – Sony intends to create a new benchmark in digital photography with the introduction of its high-end Cyber-shot® DSC-R1 camera.
The Cyber-shot® R1 camera is the world’s first integrated lens digital still camera to combine a professional-grade, 10.3-megapixel image sensor and the flexibility of live preview while shooting. With its ultra-wide Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* zoom lens (24mm – 120mm) and free-angle, two-inch LCD, the Cyber-shot R1 brings professional level imaging performance to mainstream consumers.
“The R1 represents a breakthrough in digital camera technology and construction,” said James Neal, director for digital imaging products at Sony Electronics. “You can grab this camera and go, confident that you will be prepared for a wide range of shooting situations. Its many convenience features and exceptional performance can not easily be matched with a typical consumer-level digital SLR.”
A Class of Its Own
Photo enthusiasts know that image sensor size is one of the most important influences on picture quality. Professional-grade image sensors, sometimes referred to as advanced photo system (APS) or APS-class, are many times the size of compact sensors used in point-and-shoot cameras; large sensors deliver extraordinary resolution, high sensitivity to light, and lower image noise or graininess for exceptional pictures. At 10.3 megapixels, the R1’s sensor offers one of the highest resolutions available in the APS class.
Unlike digital SLRs, the Cyber-shot R1 unit’s sensor allows for a “live” preview thanks to Sony Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Until now, the extraordinary power consumption of these large sensors has limited their operation to image capture only – unable to support the benefit of a live preview. Sony’s distinctive design is employed to reduce power consumption, as well as increase image processing speeds.
The camera’s electronic viewfinder or two-inch LCD lets you evaluate scene conditions, such as exposure and how color is rendered before taking a shot. Because the R1 camera can preview electronically, using the image sensor itself in real-time, framing is always 100% accurate.
Built Digital from the Ground Up
The R1’s integrated Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens was carefully crafted to take full advantage of the resolution, clarity and color performance of its APS-class CMOS image sensor. Because of the sensor’s live preview capability, there is no need for the camera to have a traditional “mirror and prism” construction common to digital SLRs. This allows a lens-to-sensor distance of as little as 2 mm, optimizing image quality and color accuracy.
Another benefit of this structure is the ability to incorporate an extraordinary wide field of view and zoom range. The 24 mm wide end of the lens is particularly suited for architectural photography, landscapes and large-group portraits, while the 120 mm telephoto end is perfect for filling the frame with distant subjects. This is a range not easily matched by any other lens for use with cameras using large-scale image sensors.
Furthermore, no mirror and prism construction means that the R1 is a quiet camera, perfect for shooting at a tennis match or in nature without disturbing wildlife.
Get the Shot without the Backache
The Cyber-shot R1 sports a two-inch, LCD screen that folds flat and swivels so you can shoot from nearly any position. This flexibility allows you to get the shots that other cameras miss. For example, you can hold the camera low – down to the ground – for eye-level view shots of kids and pets without having to bend yourself into a pretzel or crawling on the ground.
The Power of Optimal Image Processing
A 10.3-megapixel camera needs a fast processor. Sony harnessed the power of it Real Imaging Processorâ„¢ LSI to achieve fast response times, low power consumption and clear images.
The new camera features a one-second shot-to-shot time, three frame-per-second burst shooting, and a shutter release time of only 7.5 milliseconds. Because it consumes 70 percent less power than Sony’s previous processing circuitry, the camera has a battery life of up to 500 shots per charge, which can vary according to use and camera settings.
For enhanced versatility, Cyber-shot R1 offers three different modes of color reproduction: Adobe RGB used for professional graphics and offset color printing, Standard sRGB for most computer-based uses, and Vivid sRGB for more intense primary colors.
The camera’s user selectable Advanced Gradation Control System (AGCS) optimizes image contrast, in order to avoid “blown out” highlights in high-contrast scenes and “crushed” blacks in low-contrast ones. AGCS evaluates the distribution of brightness and then automatically applies the appropriate gamma curve to achieve better pictures.
Users will also enjoy the added convenience of storing images onto Memory Stick PRO™ media, as well as CompactFlash® Type I and Type II media or Microdrive® media. The camera supports both JPEG and RAW formats, which can then be manipulated on a PC using the supplied Sony Image Data Converter SR software.
The Cyber-shot R1 camera will be available in mid-November for about $1,000 online at SonyStyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), and at select authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders begin online today at http://www.sony.com/r1.
The new camera is supplied with a NP-FM50 InfoLithium battery, an AC-L15 adaptor, a USB and video cables, shoulder strap, and CD-ROM software with PicturePackage and Image Data Converter SR for RAW. There are a variety of optional accessories (sold separately), including wide angle and telephoto conversion lenses, adaptors, filters, tripods, flashes, carry cases, a neck strap and a battery.
