Such a small full frame. Review of compact camera Sony DSC-RX1. Sony rx1 - full frame compact Sony rx1 sample photos

Other camera samples:

To be honest, until the very exit Sony DSC-RX1 I didn’t believe that Sony would still release this camera on the market. From the time of the announcement to the actual appearance on the shelves, the camera was stubbornly perceived by me as some kind of conceptual model, a kind of manufacturer's whim, designed to tickle the nerves of the public. I was very surprised when I saw industrial designs RX1 at the exhibition (the largest exhibition of photographic equipment, which is held every two years). Then they could only be viewed - they were either in the hands of stand attendants, or in glass cubes:

First working samples Sony DSC-RX1 at the exhibition Photokina-2012

Some cameras were dismembered so that everyone could see with their own eyes - yes, there is a really full-format sensor inside the compact body:

"Dismemberment" with Sony DSC-RX1

Matrix Sony DSC-RX1 in comparison with sensors 1 "and 1 / 1.7" (which are often put in compacts)

I must say that even then, at the exhibition, I did not leave the feeling that it was still such a concept and the camera would not go into production - the design was too extravagant: a compact mirrorless camera, a full-frame sensor, a fixed 35 mm prime lens, a huge declared price ... But we must pay tribute to Sony - the camera saw the light of day in a commercial embodiment. And this camera is now in my hands:

Appearance Sony DSC-RX1

The camera is very well cut and tightly knocked down. Everything is metal, even the lens cap (which, by the way, is quite weighty in itself). All the knobs and buttons are in their places, everything is conveniently located (except, perhaps, the video recording button), the efforts on all controls are verified - nothing rotates by itself even when the camera touches the clothes. In general - beauty! You hold it in your hands and understand - a thing! The case fully justifies its premium quality.

Appearance Sony DSC-RX1

Separately, I would like to dwell on the dimensions RX1... On the one hand, the camera is oh-oh-very compact for its capabilities. On the other hand, the general form is not suitable for carrying RX1 in pockets - the lens bulges out. The situation is certainly much better than with Canon 5Dm3 + 35mm f / 1.4 or Leica M9 + 35mm f / 1.4. But a little worse than with the FUJIFILM X100S:

Size comparison Sony DSC-RX1 with other cameras with similar characteristics (click to open a larger picture)

For convenience, I have collected all the most important characteristics RX1 in the table:

And this camera shoots like this:

01 | 1/400 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | beautiful Nastya in natural light

02 | 1/320 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | beautiful Nastya in natural light

03 | 1/500 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | beautiful Nastya in natural light

04 | 1/2000 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | beautiful Nastya in natural light

05 | 1/800 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | beautiful Nastya in natural light

06 | 1/160 | f / 5.6 | ISO 200 | RAW + Lr | beauty Masha in natural light

07 | 1/500 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | beauty Masha in natural light

08 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 4000 | RAW + Lr | fountain in Vienna

09 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 3200 | RAW + Lr | night shot in artificial light

10 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 800 | RAW + Lr | library in Vienna

11 | 1/400 | f / 8 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | Vienna panorama

12 | 1/125 | f / 5.6 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | cafe in Lisbon

13 | 1/125 | f / 5.6 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | vegetable shop in Lisbon

14 | 1/80 | f / 4 | ISO 3200 | RAW + Lr | church in lisbon

15 | 1/160 | f / 8 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | tram in Lisbon

16 | 1/80 | f / 5.6 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | pier in hong kong

17 | 1/320 | f / 3.5 | ISO 100 | RAW + Lr | sergeydolya on a trip along the Golden Ring

pros

1. High image quality

18 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 320 | mode A | RAW + Lr |
A bunch of "high-aperture lens" + "large matrix" + "competent setting of the control software" do their job perfectly well! The main and indisputable plus RX1- this is a very high quality of the received frames. Moreover, the camera copes well with daytime scenes:

19 | 1/500 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | P mode | RAW + Lr | ice cream maker in lisbon

20 | 1/800 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | charming valentine
So with the evening:

21 | 1/80 | f / 2.8 | ISO 5000 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Vein
And at night:

22 | 1/100 | f / 4 | ISO 5000 | S mode | RAW + Lr | in hong kong
Moreover, if we compare RX1 with "the public's favorite", the picture is as follows. When comparing JPEGs, the clear advantage on the side of Sony:

Canon 5D mkIII + EF35mm f / 1.4L| Av mode | 1/1000 | f / 5.6 | ISO 200 | JPEG | by clicking in a new window, the source will open: 8.1 Mb

Sony DSC-R1| mode A | 1/1250 | f / 5.6 | ISO 200 | JPEG | by clicking in a new source, the source will open: 9.1 Mb
In the center, the picture is as follows:

And on the sides, the differences are even more noticeable:

If we compare RAW developed with the same settings, then everything is closer to parity:

Canon 5D mkIII + EF35mm f / 1.4L| reim Av | 1/1000 | f / 5.6 | ISO 200 | RAW + Lr | click to open full size: 3.6 Mb

Sony DSC-R1| mode A | 1/1250 | f / 5.6 | ISO 200 | RAW + Lr | click to open full size: 4 Mb
In the center, everything is something like this:

Comparison of the central parts of the images
And around the edges like this:

Comparison of side parts of images

Comparison of side parts of images
It's nice that high sharpness is achieved almost over the entire field of the frame. There is, of course, a drop in detail to the edges, but it is completely insignificant, in my opinion. Especially when compared to other full-frame cameras equipped with similar lenses. So, for me personally, everything is pretty obvious here. Bravo Sony!
2. First-class lens

Aperture ring y Sony DSC-RX1
Lens barrel RX1 Like other parts of this camera, by the way, it is entirely made of metal and has two rings - diaphragm (allowing you to set the desired aperture) and focusing. It is pleasant that both of these rings are located in such a way, and the forces of their switching are such that an accidental change of parameters is almost excluded. It seems to be the same solution as FUJIFILM cameras, but no!
There is also a macro switch in the form of a half-ring. When you flip it, the lens can focus either only at a distance from 30 cm to infinity, or only from 20 cm to 35 cm. "Macro" is not entirely fair, but it is allowed to shoot something at close range:

23 | 1/125 | f / 5.6 | ISO 100 | P mode | macro | RAW + Lr
The lens gives a soft and pleasant picture at open apertures:

24 | 1/80 | f / 2.2 | ISO 160 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Tanyusha in natural light

25 | 1/80 | f / 2.2 | ISO 125 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Tanyusha in natural light

26 | 1/80 | f / 2.2 | ISO 200 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Tanyusha in natural light
Of course, in close-up portraits, perspective distortions are very visible, although I would not say that this is so critical:

27 | 1/80 | f / 2.2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Tanyusha in natural light
But already on the belt they become almost invisible:

28 | 1/80 | f / 2.2 | ISO 160 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Tanyusha in natural light
After reading all sorts of Western forums and having seen enough samples before the camera fell into my hands, I was convinced that the lens had absolutely no bokeh, it was too painful there to scold him for it and the test pictures looked painfully unattractive. But after my test, I can say that "... do not read Soviet newspapers before dinner! Do not read any at all! .." everything turned out to be completely wrong! The bokeh is very pleasant for my taste:

29 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 4000 | mode A | RAW + Lr | evening Vienna

30 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 6400 | mode A | RAW + Lr | restaurant in Vienna

31 | 1/2000 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Julia against the backdrop of the panorama of Vienna
In general, even if the lens is not so fast and its maximum aperture is "only" f / 2.0, in my opinion it gives a very beautiful, soft picture, and at the same time very detailed in the depth of field. Here, too, there is nothing to say, except how bravo, Sony!
3. Camera construction

View of the controls Sony DSC-RX1 above
Here I would just like to emphasize once again very high quality manufacturing of the camera. It is pleasant to hold it in your hands, it is a pleasure to work with it. However, this can often be said about Sony devices, I have said this more than once.
Well, all the knobs (exposure correction, switching operating modes, aperture control, and so on) are located very well, the efforts on them are selected very correctly (you can only complain about the excessively tight inclusion, but this can also be considered as a plus - by chance the camera itself will definitely not turn on!). It seems that, as I said earlier, everything here is the same as that of the latest FUJIFILM cameras (in terms of the set of functions, it is a complete equivalent: there is even a thread for the release cable on the shutter button), but in the aggregate it all works in a different way. and clearer. Also - bravo Sony!

minuses

1. Autofocus system
Alas, alas, alas ... There must be a fly in the ointment in this huge cistern of honey? Unfortunately Achilles' heel RX1- autofocus system. Not only that, he often smears, which is very noticeable at an open aperture, in shots with a small depth of field (as, for example, in this "greenhouse" in every sense of the picture with a stationary model):

33 | 1/800 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Nastya: look in the eyes! = :)

100% crop from the previous frame
And that's half the trouble! So the AF system is on RX1 also oh-oh-very slow! For example, in Vienna, we accidentally got to some kind of demonstration, in which people walked quite calmly, did not run, did not gallop. Ideal shooting conditions, straight. I started taking pictures of people and realized that I miss almost every second interesting shot only because the autofocus system does not have time to hover! It was very sad ...

34 | 1/1000 | f / 2.8 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

35 | 1/1000 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

36 | 1/1000 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr
That is, the camera is not for fast events, obviously.
2. Weak battery

Battery compartment Sony DSC-RX1
The battery that now has RX1(1240mAh) is clearly not designed for this system, which, let me remind you, is equipped with a large matrix, a powerful processor and a large screen. The battery lasts for half a day, maximum. This is about 200-250 frames. Very little! Moreover, if you use a very convenient and pleasant electronic viewfinder (we will talk about it a little later), then the battery charge melts right before our eyes ... The power consumption with an external EVF is much higher than when shooting "on the screen".
So at any convenient opportunity, you need to buy a spare battery for the camera, and preferably two at once. However, there are also pitfalls here, which are discussed below.
3. Price

Price Sony DSC-RX1 on Yandex.Market
The camera is definitely overrated. It's clear: premium, image, fullframe, highest build quality, brand markup ... It's all understandable. But not so much! This camera would cost in the range of 60,000-80,000 rubles - everything would be more explicable. And so - at RX1 there are no prospects for high sales.
In principle, everyone who held this camera in their hands and filmed it, everyone said about the same thing. Of course, here one could recall the start of sales of the FUJIFILM X100, then, as I recall, everyone was almost unanimously talking about the fact that for 40,000 rubles (that was the price for this camera then) no one would buy this camera! However, the very first year of sales put everything in its place: 2 times more "hundred parts" were sold than planned. But here, with RX1, clearly not the option ...

additionally

1. Optional electronic viewfinder

Optional electronic viewfinder FDA-EV1M installed on Sony DSC-RX1
Basically, this mega-convenient accessory FDA-EV1M with an excellent OLED screen could be attributed to the advantages of this camera, however, it is still supplied separately and is suitable, by the way, not only for RX1 and other Sony mirrorless cameras. And the cost of this EVI, of course, is also somewhat discouraging - almost 15,000 rubles! For that kind of money, you can buy a whole camera ...
But what not to take away from this EVF is that it gives an excellent picture and is very convenient when shooting outdoors. And not only on the street. Now I shoot with him almost always: turning the EVF allows you to frame well from chest height, for example. So, if you don’t have money for money, I recommend buying this EVI as well.
By the way, in the system RX1 there is also an optical viewfinder FDA-V1K, which is even more expensive than its electronic counterpart - almost 20,000 rubles! It looks like this on the camera:

Optional optical viewfinder FDA-V1K installed on Sony DSC-RX1
So I didn’t understand him. Well, kind of "peephole". No confirmation of camera functions in it, just glass. Why so much money?
2. Video
Traditionally, I want to say that I consider the video in the camera to be completely superfluous. But if people ask, then this is it:
3. Design

Photoappart Sony DSC-RX1 with case and optical viewfinder
I cannot say that I absolutely like the design of the camera, but this is a matter of taste, so I put it in the "additional" section. Yes, the camera is very handy (which is surprising given such a compact size). Yes, the ergonomics have been verified. Yes, the materials are expensive and everything is perfectly assembled. But here's the look of everything RX1 in general - I don’t like it, I don’t have a heart for him! Although, in general, the camera fundamentally repeats the FUJIFILM X100 (S) - all the same solutions, as I said earlier. Some details are very nice, but together - some kind of him ... Cheburashka. = :) Unlike X100 (S), which is certainly beautiful to me. Although for the way RX1 removes - you can forgive and unsightly appearance, as I think. = :)
4. Lens cap

Lens cap Sony DSC-RX1
Oh-oh-oh-oh! This is a sore subject for almost all modern cameras! Lid at RX1 Is not attached to him in any way and can easily get lost. Considering that it is quite weighty, metal, equipped with a lock and topped with an embossed Sony logo, it can be assumed that the price tag for this "consumable part" will be just a huge horse!
Once again I am surprised: what prevented a small eyelet for a lace on the lid? I tied it with a string and that's it, there is no such problem! Don't like the lace? Well, don’t tie it, business! I’m afraid I don’t understand this topic from manufacturers. After all, this can not be a little bit of desire to cash in on those who lose these caps? ..
5. Charging by cord only
In a huge box with RX1 no charger. The camera is charged only from the microUSB cord. On the one hand, it is very convenient - the camera can be charged even from a laptop, even from a cigarette lighter in a car, such chargers are sold on every corner and cords cost a penny. On the other hand, it turns out that the camera itself is required to charge the battery. What if I have two batteries? So I could charge one, put it in the camera and go to shoot, while the spare is quietly charging at home in the charger. Now you can't do that.
However, I'm sure there is an external charger for these batteries, you just need to find and buy one. The only strange thing is that for that kind of money it is not included in the delivery set of the camera.
6. Shooting in the studio and hot shoe

37 | 1/125 | f / 2 | ISO 50 | mode M | RAW + Lr | trying to shoot with studio light
Alas, in spite of a full-fledged hot shoe, use RX1 For shooting with synchronized studio light, it did not work: when the aperture is closed (usually in the studio they shoot at f / 8-11), absolute darkness is shown on the screen and the camera completely refuses to focus! It is, of course, sad, but I suppose still RX1 not for the studio and, moreover, works great in low light conditions and at high ISOs, so I didn't have to grieve for a long time. = :)

38 | 1/500 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | shooting with natural light

39 | 1/320 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | shooting with mixed light
UPD: Solution: Menu -> Setup -> Live View Display -> Setting Effect OFF
7. Built-in flash

Built-in flash Sony DSC-RX1 extended
Have RX1 there is a built-in flash that works quite correctly and as a fill-in:

40 | 1/2000 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | shooting with natural light + fill from the built-in flash
And as a pulling out of the dark:

41 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | shooting with lighting from the built-in flash
In general, she is small, but remote!
8. Non-replaceable 35mm lens
On the one hand, it is, of course, excellent in terms of characteristics and output. And it is great for event photography, although the shooter has to come up close to get interesting shots, which not everyone likes:

42 | 1/320 | f / 2 | ISO 125 | P mode | RAW + Lr | demonstration in Lisbon

43 | 1/640 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | P mode | RAW + Lr | demonstration in Lisbon

44 | 1/400 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | P mode | RAW + Lr | demonstration in Lisbon
On the other hand, sometimes you still want something more telephoto, especially in portraits. But this RX1, alas, it does not ... So what is focal - also for an amateur.
9. Various programs and shooting modes
V RX1 crammed into a huge number of all sorts of programs and art shooting modes. At the same time, it is felt that the manufacturers are proud of all this set. Well, I don’t know, I don’t know ... Honestly, it seems to me that exactly this the camera does not need all this. In my opinion, for RX1 it would be quite enough just a good implementation of the basic modes of operation (and it has it) and that's it. Such a camera, in my opinion, absolutely does not need additional modes of whistling - it is clearly not designed for dummies, judging by the price, at least.
You can see how some of the art modes work here: http://d-konstantinov.livejournal.com/638354.html In my opinion, this is one of the best implementations of these functions.
Perhaps the only thing that of these programs can certainly be useful for me is panoramic photography:

45 | 1/500 | f / 6.3 | ISO 100 | Panorama Mode | JPEG | handheld panorama shooting | click to open the full-size version: 9.9 Mb
Although, in all honesty, RX1 this mode does not shine with any high quality of work and does not amaze with the beauty of the result.

Some conclusions

So, perhaps the most interesting part. Having used this camera for a while, I can say that this is an excellent example of the technical genius of Sony engineers, and, moreover, with minimal influence from evil marketers (which is, of course, quite a rarity for this company, let's say). The camera turned out to be excellent, even despite some rather serious shortcomings. RX1 pleasant to use, it gives excellent picture quality, it is very comfortable (albeit a little unsightly, in my opinion) ... And, I think, like many fans of the company, now I am looking forward to the same full-frame camera, but only with interchangeable lenses under E-mount! That's when this system will be able to fully open up, I believe. And then you will no longer have to carry with you on your travels large DSLRs, such as the same "tripyatak".
Until then Sony DSC-RX1- This is a niche camera, it is for very wealthy advanced photographers who will take it as a second or even third camera exclusively for shooting on trips. It's just that "rich buratins" too, I suppose, may like it, but for them the fullframe is not so important as the wow factor, and Leica M * and even FUJIFILM X100S will look even more preferable here, in my opinion.
Additionally, different opinions about Sony DSC-RX1 can be read here:

Pictures taken with this camera:

46 | Nastya in natural light

48 | 1/500 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

49 | 1/640 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

50 | 1/640 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

51 | 1/800 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

52 | 1/1250 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

53 | 1/1600 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Nastya in natural + blue light filter

54 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Tanya in natural light

56 | 1/80 | f / 2.2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

58 | 1/80 | f / 2.2 | ISO 160 | mode A | RAW + Lr

59 | 1/80 | f / 2.2 | ISO 125 | mode A | RAW + Lr

60 | 1/80 | f / 2.2 | ISO 200 | mode A | RAW + Lr

61 | 1/250 | f / 2.2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

62 | 1/80 | f / 4 | ISO 320 | mode A | RAW + Lr

63 | 1/250 | f / 2 | ISO 200 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Masha on the street

64 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 250 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Masha in the light from the window

65 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 4000 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Vein

66 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 2000 | mode A | RAW + Lr | fur shop in Vienna

68 | 1/40 | f / 2 | ISO 6400 | mode A | RAW + Lr

69 | 1/500 | f / 8 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Vein

70 | 1/2000 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

71 | 1/80 | f / 4 | ISO 5000 | mode P | RAW + Lr

72 | 1/50 | f / 2 | ISO 6400 | mode A | RAW + Lr | restaurant in Vienna, shot from the street through glass

73 | 1/250 | f / 3.2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | on the Vienna tram

74 | 1/80 | f / 3.2 | ISO 800 | mode A | RAW + Lr | in the vienna metro

75 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 400 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Julia in the Vienna metro

76 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 250 | mode A | macro | RAW + Lr

77 | 1/80 | f / 5.6 | ISO 100 | P mode | RAW + Lr | Viennese workers

78 | 1/100 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | studio, light from the window

79 | 1/100 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

80 | 1/125 | f / 8 | ISO 100 | mode P | RAW + Lr | lisbon sidewalk

81 | 1/250 | f / 8 | ISO 100 | mode P | RAW + Lr | Lisbon funicular

82 | 1/80 | f / 4 | ISO 6400 | mode P | RAW + Lr

83 | 1/320 | f / 8 | ISO 100 | mode P | RAW + Lr | on the street of Lisbon

84 | 1/125 | f / 8 | ISO 100 | mode P | RAW + Lr | lisbon elevator

86 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 125 | mode A | RAW + Lr | studio, light from the window

87 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 200 | mode A | RAW + Lr

88 | 1/100 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr

89 | 1/80 | f / 2 | ISO 400 | mode A | RAW + Lr

90 | 1/100 | f / 3.2 | ISO 6400 | S mode | RAW + Lr | Hong Kong

91 | 1/100 | f / 2.8 | ISO 2500 | S mode | RAW + Lr | Hong Kong

92 | 1/100 | f / 2.8 | ISO 4000 | mode M | RAW + Lr | Hong Kong

93 | 1/160 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | S mode | RAW + Lr | Hong Kong

94 | 1/800 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Valentine

95 | 1/125 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr | Valentine

96 | 1/2000 | f / 2 | ISO 100 | mode A | RAW + Lr |

Today I will gut the camera Sony RX1, a sensational and ambiguous toy. Over the past few months, the camera has gone through several expeditions with me (on the ascent to Kazbek, it almost flew into a crack) and now it looks like a veteran of battles, I can issue my detailed verdict ... So, what do we have? Full frame compact camera with non-replaceable optics Carl Zeiss Sonar T * 35 / 2.0 and a petal shutter. Sensor 24.3 Mp (CMOS, 36x24 mm), range of values ISO 50-25,600... Shooting in RAW / JPG (or both). Shutter in the range of 30s - 1/4000. The aperture values are f / 2.0 - f / 22.0. And another 3 "screen, macro mode, video (MPEG4 / AVCHD), built-in flash and other fish food is a set of already familiar standards.

Contents of delivery

A black (to minimalism) box, inside is the same asceticism: a camera, a battery for it, a USB cord, a Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo 8 GB flash drive, a couple of thin brochures with pictures of available accessories and a user manual. Just in case, I take apart the box into its components in search of a battery charger. There is not. The Internet confirms: no! Gentlemen, this is disgusting - do not put the charger in the standard delivery! It, they say, can be bought separately from the catalog, and charged via a USB-lanyard from a computer. Yeah. Judging by the price tag of the camera itself, half of this catalog could be included in the package, also with delivery.

First impressions

Sadhu and two sticks

Solid metal body, good balance. The camera fits comfortably in the hand. There is a rubber insert on the rear right side of the case to prevent the camera from slipping to the floor. The thumb rest is a little lacking (in the list of optional accessories there is a Some Mythic Pad, which allows you to improve the grip with one hand, but I never got it live). The lens is non-replaceable, but with a wide (read - convenient) aperture ring. Each aperture value has a click and locks in place. The lens has a separate (front) switch from the normal shooting mode (30 cm - infinity) to the macro mode (20-35 cm).

The camera has a large and high quality screen. Navigation is convenient, performed by a circular joystick ring. At the top of the camera there is a connector (ISO 518) where you can connect an electronic viewfinder (ordered separately from the catalog) or an external flash. An internal flash pops up by pressing a special button, causing allusions with the robot from the "Short circuit". The wheel for switching shooting modes does not protrude from the body, which means it will not arbitrarily change these modes when rubbing against clothing.

Separate respect for mechanical exposure compensation wheel- perhaps this is the greatest joy from the appearance. There is nothing worse than looking for an exposure compensation item in the menu - brr! But where is the dedicated ISO quick control button? There is not?! Only the third time I found it. It is located in the same upper part of the chamber and for some reason is designated as "C". I still did not understand what the relationship between ISO and "C" was, and at first I decided that there was something deeply Japanese about it. The User's Guide (RTFM) clarified the situation: the "C" (customizable) button is configurable to any of the 27 functions (ISO default). Be that as it may, the combination of "C" and the joystick changes ISO quickly enough.

Shooting

I am not a supporter of synthetic tests, but for those who like to shoot brick walls in different forms, I also make my own contribution to the brick business.

Brick wall. Nepal, Bhaktapur, XXI century

ISO 800, f / 4.0, 1/200; a 1300 px frame lives on.

And yet, what can the camera do? In fact, a lot of what the "older" mirror brothers are.

Expo metering... Matrix, center-weighted and spot. A small feature: the camera tends to underexpose frames by about 2/3 stops, and therefore carefully monitor the histogram while shooting.

Expo correction... A mechanical wheel is responsible for the correction, which is nice to mention once again. Offset correction +/- 3 stops, minimum step 1/3.

Automatic white balance detection... I always shoot in auto white balance. Firstly, automation rarely makes mistakes, and secondly, the white balance can always be corrected only later, sitting in the quiet of the cabinet with a cup of coffee. In the field, the camera behaved quite well - no differences from top-end DSLRs were found.

Autofocus... Autofocus (25 points) works on the principle of detecting contrasting scenes. Focusing is fast and accurate - the electronics have been brought to mind. In addition, focal LED illumination has been added for dark scenes. In addition to automatic, you can use spot or tracking focus, face recognition system.

Bracketing... Three-frame by exposure, in 1/3 or 2/3 increments. With the dynamic range of modern sensors, the 1/3 step has no practical meaning. I would like to be able to raise it from 2/3 to one stop.

Screen... LCD 3 "screen, high quality, although quite standard for modern cameras. There is no built-in optical viewfinder, so the picture goes to the screen in live-view mode.

bar graph... The camera builds it in real time, showing it in the lower right corner of the screen. When viewing footage, "burned-in" areas are underlined in blinking black. The only drawback is the impossibility to turn on the mode of displaying "burned-out" areas in the big picture.

Virtual horizon... I don’t know why they inserted it here (the grid is already displayed on the screen in thirds), but it looks like a military one.

Optics: Carl Zeiss

The camera uses a non-replaceable (!) Carl Zeiss Sonar T * 35 mm lens, aperture f / 2.0. For the high quality of this glass, the manufacturer can even be forgiven disgusting with non-replaceable optics. Sharp, flexible lens with low vignetting. I did not notice chromatic aberrations at all.

Example at f / 2.8

Comrade Sadhu - Man and Steamer

ISO 800, f / 2.8, 1/800; a 1300 px frame lives on.

A couple of examples at f / 10-11.0

Monk in meditation

ISO 1600, f / 10.0, 1/800; a 1300 px frame lives on.

View of Gosaykund

ISO 100, f / 11.0, 1/640; a 1300 px frame lives on.

Optics: sharpness in the frame

In order not to be unfounded, I expose several frames of our Nepalese sadhus, shot with RX1 in RAW. The frames are full, without cropping. Under each cut area is 100%. Basic processing, Smart Sharp (radius 0.3, amount 30%). Two weeks ago, Sony released a version of the RX1 with the AA filter removed, designed to be "even sharper", albeit with the risk of moiré. In my opinion, this is overkill. The "basic" sharpness of the camera is quite enough.

1. Sadhu and a mirror

ISO 400, f / 2.8, 1/160; a 1300 px frame lives on.

Sadhu and mirror - 100% plot

2. Sadhu and the pipe

ISO 800, f / 2.8, 1/500; a 1300 px frame lives on.

Sadhu and Pipe - 100% Plot

3. Sadhu and the second pipe

ISO 800, f / 2.8, 1/500; a 1300 px frame lives on.

Sadhu and second pipe - 100% stretch

Battery life

The camera is powered by tiny 1240 mAh NP-BX1 Li-ion batteries (3.6V, 4.5 Wh). The passport promises 270 shots on a single charge, but this is in a kind of ideal world of Sony. In fact, focus on 180-200 frames, and even then in favorable temperature conditions. It is clear that everyone has their own preferences for shooting, but just for statistics: moving forward this spring in the Himalayas, where no charging was expected for ten days, I bought one spare "original" battery and six "left" ones, Chinese. The Chinese worked for almost the same amount of time. Six batteries lasted for nine days of continuous shooting. At night, of course, all the batteries slept in my sleeping bag. Three full batteries went with me to climb Kazbek, one battery worked out the final rush to the top (15 hours, 200 frames).

Sensor: DD, shadow detail

Full-frame, low-noise CMOS sensor with good color rendition and high dynamic range (DXO tests assure that the DD is 13 stops - it seems to be true). As far as I know, this is a slightly cropped version of the Sony A99 sensor. Some sources claim that the RX1 has a 14-bit sensor. After many tens of processed frames, I would venture to assume that there are no fourteen bits there. The sensor is generally good, on a subjective five-point scale - a solid four. Details from the shadows stretch well, but with halftones and "halo" around the contrasting areas, it is weak. Who cares, I can post RAW for analysis. However, I am spoiled with the D4 and D800.

A very dark, underexposed forest

A foot and a half more cheerful forest (from the same RAW)

ISO 100, f / 8.0, 1/500; a 1300 px frame lives on.

Full ISO range

I expose a series of Langtang sunrise shots (tripod, correct exposure, no processing) for ISO analysis (50-25,600). Each frame has a 100% crop area.

1.ISO 50

2. ISO 100

3. ISO 200

4. ISO 400

5. ISO 800

6.ISO 1600

7. ISO 3200

8. ISO 6400

9.ISO 12800

10. ISO 25600

Separately by high (6400+) ISO values

Finally, we have lived to see the time when the range of values 3200-6400 became working. I would not go higher without the need, but under LJ / Facebook it will pull even 12,800 with a small noise reduction.

Nepalese musicians over the book

ISO 6400, f / 2.0, 1/50

Musicians over the book (section 100%)

Granny with a candle goes nuts from ISO 12,800

ISO 12800, f / 2.0, 1/60

Macro shooting

I'm not an apologist for macro photography, but someone might find this feature useful.

Tsvetocheg

ISO 400, f / 4.0, 1/320

Shutter and shooting speed

The shutter in RX1 is limited to 1/4000. You can't catch a bullet with this camera, but a shutter faster than 1/2000 is rarely required. At the very least, the flying spray or the movement of the wings of the RX1 will freeze without difficulty.

Malcheg und pigeons

ISO 1600, f / 8.0, 1/1600; a 1300 px frame lives on.

The frame-by-frame shooting speed determines whether the camera will be used in real field conditions or will turn into a dusty "soap box" for occasional trips with the family to nature ... The RX1 passport offers a speed of three frames per second (3 fps). Subjectively, this is the minimum speed that must be met. Below is a series of four consecutive shots of a fishing trip in Nepal. Shooting in RAW. Acceptable. You need a clay machine gun - take the Nikon D4.

Fishermen in sight

ISO 200, f / 9.0, 1/800

Panoramic shooting

Well, a little fly in the ointment. Over the past few years, it has become fashionable for manufacturers to provide audiences with various panoramic options. RX1 is no exception. For optimists, I'll tell you right away: all panoramas (not only in this camera) are stitched on the fly in JPG. I have not met a single manufacturer that could boast of delivering panoramas in RAW (dreams, dreams!). God bless him, with RAW. Let it be JPG. But I have three questions:
- why are ALL stitching parameters set automatically?
- why, in order to make a vertical panorama, you need to look for this option in the depths of the menu?
- why automatics with manic persistence tries to adjust reality to the shutter speed of 1/500?

1. Dawn on Langtang... Gloomy, tripod. I slowly move the camera horizontally, but the automation still fails, producing vertical stripes.

ISO 3200, f / 4.0, 1/500; a 1300 px frame lives on.

2. A day at Langtang... Could it be the lighting of the scene? And again the same picture.

ISO 100, f / 8.0, 1/500; a 1300 px frame lives on.

3. Climbing Kazbek... Vertical stitching (there was still an option in the menu) does not save you from deja vu with vertical stripes and a fixed speed of 1/500.

ISO 1600, f / 4.0, 1/500

conclusions

In the review, I did not specifically touch upon the cost of the RX1 ($ 2600 in America and one and a half times more expensive in Russia). Often, the price tag does not play a big role, but only if the product is truly revolutionary, devoid of fatal flaws and involves development. With the release of the RX1, Sony has created a storm in forums and photosites; the main criticism is permanent optics, and the main message to the audience is annoyance. For today, the RX1 has no competitors (in a bundle of form factor + full frame + high working ISO); there was a real chance to blow up the market, and so - the presence of a non-replaceable lens turned the novelty into a purely niche product. Yes, stylish. Yes, high quality both in the picture and in the assembly. Yes, with excellent optics. But - focused only on 35 mm film "classics". From the excuses, we can only say that you will never get dirt on the sensor :) Most likely the RX1 is a working prototype. I think Sony is gaining technological experience, and we are on the verge of the birth of a new mount for some future RX10.

Addition: At Exler's request, I will say a few words about the control: for convenience I set a subjective 8.5 out of 10 (I removed half a point out of harm for too "refined" grip under the right hand). The main plus is that they combined the exposure compensation wheel and the ISO switch button in one (upper right) corner, and I only use them "on the fly" (usually I shoot in aperture priority). Very fast and no hell with menu searches. I have already mentioned the aperture ring on the Zeiss lens. Even on the central button of the joystick, the tracking focus (point, tenacious) is instantly activated, and it turns off. Comfortable.

Advantages
- "full frame" in a compact, high-quality body
- good, sharp and fast optics
- excellent quality and high shooting speed
- comfortable mechanical controls
- wide dynamic range RAW

disadvantages
- permanent optics
- low battery life
- small step AE bracketing
- poor delivery package
- very weak implementation of panoramic shooting
- inhuman price tag

I have not compared the dimensions and weight of the Sony RX1 with other cameras, but the following picture is hanging around the net:

I want to note right away that I am completely indifferent to photo equipment and do not have any reverence for brands. I don't read technical forums. I buy what at this point in time is optimal in terms of price-quality ratio and meets the tasks that I have to solve in the course of work. I used to shoot with various narrow-, medium- and full-format film cameras, later digital. Now I shoot with Canon Mark II complete with Sigma 20mm f = 1.8, Canon L 50mm f = 1.2, Sigma 70-200mm f = 2.8, Sigma 180mm Macro f = 3.5, Canon L 100-400mm lenses. Sometimes with a 6x9 cm Fuji film rangefinder with a 65mm lens.
My only compact camera was Smena-8M, back in the days of the USSR. She died in some karst mine in the Caucasus a quarter of a century ago. In the future, I did not use this type of technique.
The RX1 was given to me by Sony. Ignoring the popular wisdom about the teeth of donated ungulates, I will try to describe my experience of using this camera. The impressions described here are based on photographing plants for an hour and 2 walks in Moscow. So it makes no sense to expect any extraordinary depth from this post. But there is intrigue. I don't know if I will keep this camera for myself or sell it.

First impressions
According to the instructions, camera manufacturers have very vague ideas about their own product. Some of the functions of the camera are simply not described. We have to master the method "at random". Depending on the character and temperament of the user, the first experiences of using the RX1 can cause both uncontrollable rage and tenderness from the act of learning the secrets and mysteries of a magic instrument.

Handheld photography at night
The quality of the pictures is very high. Sometimes it is appropriate to use the "Cheap Camera" or "Auto HDR" modes.

ISO-2000, 1/40 sec, f / 2.8, handheld shooting, "Cheap camera" mode

Fragment

ISO-3200, 1/80 sec, f / 2, handheld

Fragment

ISO-2000, 1/30 sec, f / 3.5, handheld, three options for "Cheap Camera"

ISO-2000, 1/30 sec, f / 3.5, handheld shooting, second picture in Auto HDR mode

ISO-2000, 1/30 sec, f / 3.5, handheld shooting, Auto HDR mode

In Auto HDR mode, moving objects (usually cars) at relatively long exposures such as 1/30 sec double and triple. But, if necessary, it can be easily retouched.

Panorama mode
Panoramas are filmed instantly, the gluing of simple scenes is of high quality. We turn the body, the camera does sput-tyr-tyr-tyr .., and then it glues the panorama itself (in this case, you can move the camera horizontally, vertically, right, left, up or down).

ISO-100, 1/500 sec, f / 10, handheld, Panorama mode, horizontal camera

Fragment

Joining complex scenes (when the camera is tilted up or down) with separate breaks (see wires against the sky), which is quite natural.

ISO-100, 1/500 sec, f / 5, handheld, Panorama mode, horizontal camera

If the blurred tracks of cars are not relevant, the "Panorama" mode can be used at night.

ISO-6400, 1/500 sec, f / 2, Panorama mode, vertical camera, handheld shooting

Sharpness

Sharpness is good throughout the entire frame.

ISO-100, 1/160 sec, f / 8, handheld

Fragment, upper left corner

Long exposure photography
In manual mode, when shooting a landscape at a shutter speed of 30 seconds, the picture is overexposed by 2EV. We twist the shutter speed and aperture while looking at the monotor until we get unearthly beauty, press the shutter button, wait for the shutter speed to work, then wait until the camera suppresses the noise, look at the picture and see this:

ISO-100, 30 sec, f / 16

Or a software flaw, or a reaction to a temperature of -15 C. Probably the first.
Glitch is not critical if you know about it. Over time, they will finalize.

We have to make an amendment and shoot again, after which we get a normal picture:

ISO-50, 30 sec, f / 22, tripod, sharpness slightly reduced by the presence of snow

Fragment

ISO-250, 5 sec, f / 18, shot from the underpass rail

An attempt to shoot this scene with a slow shutter speed in Auto HDR was unsuccessful. The camera did not combine the images into one final one and saved two photos. Apparently due to the fact that the intermediate pictures are too different. With moving water, HDR is likely to work.

Focusing

Autofocus is subjectively slower than that of a DSLR, but I did not compare this indicator on purpose. When shooting portraits, the following functions are convenient: "Face priority tracking focus" and "Face detection". Focusing in deep twilight without noticeable lag. Manual focusing for macro shooting in 0.2m - 0.3m mode is quite convenient. Allows you to focus very accurately.

Hand-held photography of small objects
Since some orchids are constantly blooming at my house, I tested the camera on them. The light from the window, the weather is cloudy, so the ISO is set from 800 to 1600. The quality of the pictures suits me completely.

ISO-1600, 1/125 sec, f / 5.6, handheld

ISO-1600, 1/640 sec, f / 2.8, handheld

ISO-1600, 1/60 sec, f / 11, handheld

ISO-800, 1/320 sec, f / 2.8, handheld

ISO-800, 1/60 sec, f / 4, handheld

ISO-800, 1/320 sec, f / 2, handheld

Design, ergonomics
The design is ascetic. Without a cover, the camera is for men, or for women 40 and older. With a cover such as http://www.leicatime.com/a000CasesOtherDigitalCameras.htm fits Marlboro and Camel Active styles.
It looks quite solid. The location of the buttons and wheels is relatively convenient. Nice lens cap. The LCD screen is of high quality, but like the flattering Marks, it shows pictures better than they really are.

Some preliminary considerations on the topic: "Why do I need a full-matrix compact with a 35mm lens?"
1. Absolutely not needed. What, I was experiencing any special problems while I did not have it? No, I have not.
2. With RX1, will I be able to shoot better? No, I will not.
3. Thanks to the RX1, will I shoot more and more often? Perhaps. But why is this necessary?
4. A DSLR camera is an ideal tool. But heavy, voluminous and assuming the presence of heavy and voluminous additional lenses. A compact camera does not have these drawbacks.
5. A person walking through the city with a good DSLR on the belly of his chest is no different from a person openly carrying 60,000-100,000 rubles in his outstretched hand. A compact camera, especially with a blurred brand and model name, almost does not attract attention and allows you to imitate a poor but inquisitive tourist.
6. RX1 allows you to work in such areas of photography as portrait, landscape, genre, flora. There is no such flexibility that a DSLR + zooms + interchangeable optics gives, and to hell with it, with this flexibility. But the eye quickly gets used to finding subjects and building a frame exactly under 35 mm. If I didn’t make money from photography, I would have a cheap DSLR + 100-400mm telephoto + 180mm macro lens and a 35mm full-matrix compact. The regrets of some users about the lack of interchangeable optics on the RX1 are not clear to me. The RX1 is a completely self-contained camera. Interchangeable-lens compacts are a dead-end branch of evolution; in fact, they are inconvenient DSLRs without a mirror.
7. For the professional photographer, the RX1 is a good safety camera in case the main camera breaks.
8. For the photographer who is bored with photography, the RX1 is a fun toy that brings back interest in creativity.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II: The camera has Wi-Fi and NFC for wireless transmission.

You will love the fast autofocus and excellent processing quality. True, the short battery life makes it necessary to constantly carry a spare battery with you.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II looks modest like no other luxury camera. Outwardly, it resembles an ordinary compact camera. But the high quality of the camera is also indicated by the magnesium body, weighing about 500 grams, with numerous direct-action buttons, two adjustment wheels, and a relatively large lens.

It's hard to believe what is actually hiding inside the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II: the camera is powered by a 42 megapixel full-frame sensor. Whoever remembered about the top model of the mirrorless camera Sony Alpha 7R II is absolutely right - the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II has a full-format matrix with the same high resolution. Therefore, it is not surprising that such a matrix produces great pictures, although perhaps some were expecting more.

Detail like no other camera

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II: 3-inch high-definition screen that can be rotated 100 degrees

Exactly 2132 line pairs per image height we will get with the Sony RX1R II at minimum light sensitivity. Good edge-to-edge sharpness, thanks to which the camera guarantees great pictures with great detail. Even increasing the sensitivity to light has almost no effect on the quality of the pictures: up to ISO 6400 (inclusive), the pictures are very clear.

Well, okay, thermal noise becomes noticeable at 100% image size starting at ISO 1600, especially in indoor photos. But the resolution is still great. Anyone willing to compromise can take a chance and see what results are obtained at ISO 102800 (see below).

More resolution than optics can handle?

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II: no built-in pop-up flash, only the system flash can illuminate the subject.

But I have to admit that the sharpness around the edge of the pictures taken with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II could have been slightly higher. The camera produces 90 line pairs per image height more than its predecessor model, which, moreover, has only 24 megapixels. The conclusion suggests itself that the technical characteristics of the camera's optics do not reach the level of the matrix.

Overall though, the 35mm / F2 fast prime lens leaves a very good impression. It is not spoiled by a slight loss of sharpness at the edges of the frame (less than 20%). It seems that the matrix is capable of delivering more resolution than optics can handle. Is it bad? Unlikely. For photographs are already a sample of sharpness and detail.

Add to that the fact that with 42 megapixels, you have tremendous opportunities for subsequent cropping. What we lacked in the settings of this camera is the function of digital cropping directly during shooting (digital change of frame boundaries), as, for example, in the Leica Q, which even during shooting saves an image with an indication of the corresponding focal length. Well, since we started to make wishes, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II would definitely not damage the touch screen and image stabilizer.

F8, 1/4 sec, ISO 50	F8, 1/30 sec, ISO 400
F11, 1/60 sec, ISO 1600	F11, 1/320 sec, ISO 6400
F16, 1/640 sec, ISO 25600	F22, 1 / 1250s, ISO 102 400

But the camera has what can be called a global novelty: an electronic low-pass filter. The filter, which operates in three modes, suppresses the so-called moiré effect by pressing the corresponding button. With the filter disabled, we get the maximum sharpness of the edges of the image in photos and videos. Speaking of video, the camera does not support Ultra-HD format due to possible overheating of the camera.

But we can confidently say that Full-HD resolution (60 frames per second), stereo sound and a microphone jack should be enough for high-quality video. The Sony RX1R II has a dedicated 120fps video acceleration mode, but only at 720p.

Good equipment with few downsides

For the target audience for which the camera is designed, still more interesting will be the possibilities of photography. And here we cannot fail to mention another nice technical detail of the Sony RX1R II camera: using a small slide switch on the rear panel, the electronic viewfinder can be pulled out.

This is a bit like its sister models, the Sony RX100 III and RX100 IV. The viewfinder with 100% field coverage and high resolution of about 2.4 million subpixels is also slightly larger than its sister models. It is especially convenient that you do not have to pull it out manually.

We really liked the fast autofocus, which, even in low light conditions, is quite fast when taking snapshots. Continuous shooting at a speed of 5 frames per second and 25 photos in each series for a full-format matrix is a very good result.

The bottom is traditionally a compartment for the battery and memory card. The tripod mount thread is to the right, but not far enough. Access to the memory card compartment may be blocked depending on the design of the tripod. There is also a system speaker underneath, hidden under the grille.

The lens has a separate ring for macro mode. By default, it focuses from a distance of 30 cm to infinity, but in macro mode, focusing is possible from a distance of 20–35 cm to the subject.

Screen and interface

The three-inch screen has a resolution of 1,228,800 pixels and is made using the proprietary WhiteMagic technology. Its essence lies in the presence of four color points per pixel - red, blue, green and white. This display is characterized by increased brightness and lower power consumption. This is a matrix with excellent color rendering and wide viewing angles. Shooting in sunny weather is possible without problems. However, it will be difficult to assess the correct exposure in case of direct hit of the rays, but the histogram, which is displayed on the screen by pressing the Disp button, can help in this.

Of course, from a professional point of view, this is not an equivalent replacement for the viewfinder. Alternatively, you can use an external electronic or optical viewfinder, but it would be better to adopt the experience of Fujifilm and implement an integrated viewfinder. The screen does not have a touch layer, and it is quite difficult to set the focus point, because there are no dedicated mechanical elements for this. In addition, the matrix of the display has plastic protection, although it would be good practice to put strong glass here. This is even surprising given the high cost of the camera.

The Sony RX1 menus are inherited from the Alpha series interchangeable-lens cameras. It was also implemented for the Sony RX100. It is extremely simple to organize and does not require a lot of getting used to, although it was not without mistakes. For example, you cannot switch shooting modes (RAW or JPEG) via the quick menu. At the edges of the display, both main and secondary shooting parameters are displayed. At the same time, they look unobtrusive and almost do not distract from cropping.

Another funny moment - in the settings you can change the picture quality on the display. This does not affect anything in terms of shooting and picture quality. Apparently, the camera turns off font anti-aliasing and image preprocessing before displaying it on the screen. Any noticeable decrease in screen quality does not even affect the battery life. So we can blame it on the mystery of the Japanese soul.

Functionality

Here, of course, it's worth talking about the matrix right away. This is a true full frame with a resolution of 24.3 megapixels. The same sensor (or at least very similar in technology) is used in the professional SLT-A99 translucent mirror camera. There is information that the sensor was specially modified for use in the RX1, and the noise characteristics at high ISO values look better than the SLT-A99. But Sony itself does not comment on this in any way.

The sensitivity of the sensor is adjustable between ISO 100-25600, and if desired, the lower limit is shifted up to ISO 50. This can be especially useful when shooting at full aperture in bright sunlight. For some unknown reason, the minimum shutter speed at F2.0 is 1/2000 s. In some cases, a neutral filter can come to the rescue, but you will have to buy it separately.

The sensor itself deserves the highest marks in all parameters - sensitivity, noise, dynamic range. Such a large matrix allows you to realize at least 2x digital zoom without significant loss of quality. In an emergency, it is not a sin to use it. Only two aspect ratios are available in the menu - 16: 9 and 3: 2. Well, when shooting in RAW, only the 3: 2 ratio is available.