Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 reviewed

If you've been waiting to see whether Sony's 10-megapixel, $1,000 DSC-R1 would emerge as a competitor for DSLRs, well, you can stop waiting. PC Magazine has reviewed the high-end EVF, and has declared it to be only fair. Sure, the reviewer liked the camera's 5x Zeiss zoom lens, flip up LCD display, and "excellent" image quality. But these pros were overshadowed by such complaints as bulkiness, lack of anti-shake tech, and lack of video functions. In the end, the review concludes that the R1 might appeal to customers with lots of cash, an unwillingness to change lenses, and a distaste for viewfinder framing. For others looking for a camera in this price range, PC Mag recommends going the DSLR route, where you can even get a multi-lens kit for less than Sony's charging for the R1.

[Moose_Head @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I would never, never buy a Sony camera. I have no idea what kinds of crazy "Easy Share" DRM junk they have on there and I'm not going to spend the time to find out!

Buy a camera from a company with a history in the business such as Cannon or Nikon. The lenses alone are worth it.

[Michele Johnson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

It's still a pretty high end camera.

mj
http://www.junglemungle.com

[Robert Aitchison @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Not to mention that the device only supports Memory $tick so by the time you are done buying memory for it you are paying even more compared with it's competitors.

[Robert Aitchison @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Moose_Head,

If you don't like the idea of a Sony Digital Cameera because of the fear of DRM, you won't like the Nikon either because of the encrypted white balance that's designed specifically so you will have to use only Nikon software to manage your RAW images.

[Pip @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

#2, quit spamming this site with your web link.

[Adrian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/sonydscr1/

The top-down shooting you can do with the movable LCD is totally unique. The camera is quite high end though the lack of changeble lenses kind of sucks.

[cuby @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

say what you will about sony cams (and i will agree with you), but this is a revolutionary camera with a revolutionary sensor, and it spells the beginning of the end for DSLR's. PC Mag is the last outfit i would trust in reviewing this kind of equipment; as expected, they came at it from the wrong perspective, which is to say, the retarded perspective.

go to dpreview and look at the images this camera takes. and they're complaining about "bulk"?

[Jin Kim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Robert Aitchison: I believe the R1 supports CF cards as well.

[Clint @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have the F-828 and it works just fine for me. I can't believe the R-1 has no video, the older model has excellent video. By the way, I believe that the R1, like the F-828, takes both memory stick and CF.

[Wes Felter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Surprisingly, pro protographers are more positive on this camera than PC Mag:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/sonydscr1/

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sony-r1.shtml

"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."

[Moose_Head @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

If this camera forces Cannon and Nikon to add more features to entry level cameras then this is good news.

#4 I was not aware of the encrypted White Balance in Nikon cameras because I do not work with RAW files. My next camera purchase will probably be Cannon.

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I don't understand why the lack of video is such a big deal. None of my film cameras take movies; why should my digital cameras? I'd much rather have a good still camera and a good camcorder than one device for which one of those functions was an afterthought.

Here's why I like my R1: its images are comparable in quality to those I'd get from a DSLR, and it has a very nice lens that, if I wanted to duplicate its range and quality in a DSLR, I'd have to spend a ton more money on. It can shoot at up to ISO3200 with acceptable (to my eyes) noise levels, which no other non-DSLR digicam can. And it has a swivel screen that I can use to frame shots that would be very difficult to take with an SLR.

I bought my R1 as an upgrade from a Coolpix 995 (which did video, but without audio, so I never used it), so maybe I'm not representative of the general camera-buying public, but for my needs, this thing is perfect. It was either this or a DSLR, and if I was going to get a DSLR, I'd want to get one which costs three times as much anyway.

As for bulk, it's less bulky than my 1960s Pentax SLR, especially when you consider that to get the same zoom range I'd have to carry two or three lenses.

I dunno. I see where PC Magazine is coming from, and I guess they know what features their readers will be interested in. But my opinion of the R1 is much more in line with dpreview and luminous landscape's reviews.

[Saint Zany @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

They should compare Apples to Apples. Find a DSLR with $1000 price and tell me what kinda lens you can get with that. And compare that with the lens and features R-1 comes with and then tell me which one is better. Image stabilization? video? Video doesn't happen on DSLR and IS can get pretty expensive on a lens R1 comes with.

I am not saying R1 is better in all regards but it is better for some people in some applications. And I think that "some" people are numerous. IMHO.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

It's no longer true that you can't do Nikon RAW images with all other software. It was never totally true in the first place as Adobe would guess the whitebalance (really just decrypted the not really encrypted data). Nikon released an SDK to handle their white balance data and the latest software handles Nikon RAW just fine.

I suspect this Sony uses the same sensor that will be in the new Nikon D200 also 10mpixel using a Sony sensor.

As far as these kinds of cameras killing off DSLR I don't think so. Too many other advantages of DSLR over these other cameras.

[Plantronics @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Consider the Nikon D50 kit. It's a much better camera. or the new D200 if you are a professional:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond200/

[AG @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Yep, I also own a F-828. I love it, I purchased it a few months after it came out to replace my F-717.

I was VERY surprised to see no video mode (And quite shocked when I saw only 5X Optical Zoom). I use the video mode on my F-828 often, and at 30fps its sweet.

I'll wait and see if or when Sony brings up another model that will replace the R1. I know it may be a long time, so Im going to hold on to my F-828.

Yes, I know the sensor is super huge on the R1, but it still wont move me to buy it.

[Russell @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

The number one reason why I wouldn't ever consider this camera is the EVF (Electronic View Finder)

Give me a sealed non-SLR point and shoot with through the lens viewing, mirror, shutter etc and I'll buy it as a less bulky user friendly second camera to my pro DSLR and SLR.

[sk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Russell the R1 actually displays exactly what you will get when taking the picture. I think this feature is more helpful than a viewing mirror. This is from the sales pitch:

Full-Time Live Preview
Pros count on being able to see what the camera sees. Live Preview in the electronic viewfinder and LCD monitor shows 100% framing accuracy for total confidence. You can preview exposure and depth of focus so you know what you're getting before you take the shot!

[Whitney @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"Give me a sealed non-SLR point and shoot with through the lens viewing, mirror, shutter etc"

Wouldn't that, by Definition, make it an SLR?

[Gerard Hedderman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I held the sony dscr1 in my hand fof the first time yesterday.its just arrived in ireland,at least in my local store.my first impression is that it is a truly wonderful piece of kit.I love its size and i look forward to testing it out.I currently use a fuji 9500 which iwould hate to part with.

[Geir E @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

End for DSLR? Sony and Konica Minolta are codeveloping SLR cameras now. this is merely a showcase of what they can do, and combined with what konica minolta offers - and packed into a dslr with minoltas great optics. it's going to be a killer.

[Luke Chu @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have owned 2 Sony DC. s85 is not too good in quality, but F717 never disapoint me. I love the wonderful nightshot mode & IR photography is my favourite, too. see here:
http://www.fotop.net/lukechu/infrared

[Jon Mark Hancock @ Dec 21st 2005 1:04PM]

At $999 you don't get the best camera for all tasks. Sony didn't try to be all things to all people with this camera. It doesn't replace my Nikon D70, but rather complements it.

With it's specialized design it DOES offer very low chromatic aberration and excellent focus even at the image edges. It offers low barrel distortion at 24 mm, and miniscule pincushion at telephoto settings. It's relatively quiet, has very nice color balance and rendition, and apart from size, it's a great point and shoot or landscape camera, but with image quality you'd have to pay close to $3K to achieve with a DSLR. In that sense it's a bargain at $999, and I'm quite pleased with mine.



What it isn't is a sports or action camera. Or a macro shooter. Or an extreme telephoto (unless you want to add their accessory adapter and lens, with a fixed focus). So, flexibility and do anything are not it's forte. There's still many things I'll use my Nikon D70 for instead.



On the side, the included RAW converter is fairly good, but not very fast in the Mac version. Raw+JPEG Files are large (~20MB), and it's useful to have both a large Memory stick and Compact flash card- since there's a backpanel switch, you can switch quickly between the two.



The value proposition will only be in the eyes and perception of the user. Many will like what the DSC R1 has to offer. I do, and consider it money well spent. Ironically, my first and only other Sony camera was their early SLR, the DSC770.

[Bob Regester @ Dec 22nd 2005 7:47AM]

Just bought one and have to say, for an amateur it is a great camera. Didn't need the video. One reason I bought it is that I didn't want to carry a kit of lenses with me, didnt' want to deal with having to clean the sensor, and it will use CFII cards and take raw images. I bought a 2gig CF 100x card and it should prove adequate. Maybe more than I wanted to spend $899 but I will be happy with it for a long time and that is the point, isn't it?

[Anthony Mwangi @ Dec 28th 2005 6:14AM]

The Sony DSC-R1 is a camera to have!

I am currently using the F-828. I have evaluated the new features online and I am Convinced it is the thing!

Where Can I buy Sony DSC-R1 in Dubai? I am going there next week from Kenya. I wish to upgrade forthwith!