No one can accuse Sony of simplification and profanation of photographic equipment, but few could imagine that the leader of the mass market would be on the crest of a wave of rebirth of a serious approach to the cameras. Sony literally rode the wave: mirrorless NEX-6, available full-frame SLT-A99, small compact with a large sensor RX100 – experienced amateurs have rarely received so much attention and so many unusual novelties. The crown of the series, the extraordinary Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 compact, the most powerful compact for professionals.
24.3 megapixel 35 1x 3″
The list of the camera’s features is short and significant. Full frame 35.8 x 23.9 mm Exmor R CMOS sensor with 24 million pixels. pixels. and sensitivity from 100 to 25,600 ISO or 50-102,400 ISO in the extended range . Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* lens with fixed focal length of 35 mm, f/2 aperture and 9-blade aperture. Dimensions 113×65×70 mm and weight in full gear 482 grams.
There is little point in comparing RX1 with any other compacts: the area of the sensor is thirty times larger than a 1/2.3 inch sensor and twenty times larger than “large” sensors of advanced compacts. A similar ratio will turn out for the area of individual light-sensitive cells, which determines the available range of brightness and noise level. However, a comparison in general is unlikely to make sense.
RX1 is not a camera for everyone. The price of the novelty, when it appears on sale, will approach 100 thousand Dollars. Even Sony SLT-A99 SLR with the same sensor but with much wider possibilities can be bought for this money. Affluent amateur photographers will be uncomfortable with the fixed focal length lens. The principle “the price is not important”, as well as status reasons – not the best reason to buy RX1.
This is a camera for professionals and experienced photographers who are into genre and reportage photography, understand the value of full frame sensor in an extremely compact body for such a sensor and accept the given limitations. For such photographers, the RX1 offers the highest image quality in its class – and on the entire market – with easy operation and almost pocket-sized dimensions. It’s worth the price. In every sense.
I would like to know more about the image quality and low light performance of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 compact camera. Can you please provide some insights into its sensor size and ISO range? Additionally, I’m interested in understanding if the camera offers any features specifically designed for portrait photography. Thank you in advance for your response!