Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1

Japan
★★★☆

Can a camera released in 2013 really still hold its own in 2020? I’d normally say ‘NO’ but the Sony RX1 is no normal camera and on its release was the world’s first compact digital camera with a 35mm full-frame sensor and with a stunning f2.0 lens this camera can certainly hold its own in 2020.

The ZEISS 35mm f2.0 Sonnar T* lens is, what can I say, just special, and makes up for the modern technologies we’ve become used to like eye auto focus and clean high ISO’s missing in this camera. The lens alone is almost worth the high price of this camera which is still for sale on Sony’s website for $2,399.

For me the fact this is a fixed lens camera is not a concern as the 35mm focal length is what I shoot 90% of my pictures with anyway, add to that the quality of that lens and this is my favourite camera to use. I love the images it captures, and the size means I bring it everywhere.

Of course, this is not a perfect camera and the fact it doesn’t have weather sealing does seem a misstep by Sony at this price. Similarly the accessories, like the essential digital viewfinder (FDA-EV1MK) or the optical viewfinder (FDA-V1K) both around $450 are crazily priced! However, as I’ve used this camera over the years I’m always glad to look back at pictures taken with it and I’m looking forward to capture more into the future.

Technical Specifications:

Sensor

SENSOR TYPE: 35 mm Full Frame (35.8 mm x 23.9 mm) Exmor® CMOS sensor, aspect ratio 3:2

NUMBER OF PIXELS (EFFECTIVE): Approx. 24.3 Megapixels

Lens

LENS TYPE: ZEISS® Sonnar® T*

F-NUMBER (MAXIMUM APERTURE): F2

FOCAL LENGTH (F=): f=35mm

ANGLE OF VIEW (35 MM FORMAT EQUIVALENT): 63deg.

FOCUS RANGE (FROM THE FRONT OF THE LENS): 24 cm - Infinity (14 cm - 29 cm in Macro mode)

FILTER DIAMETER: 49mm

Screen

SCREEN TYPE: 2.95 in (3.0 type) (4:3) / 1,228,800 dots / Xtra Fine / TFT LCD

BRIGHTNESS CONTROL: Auto / Manual (5 steps) / Sunny Weather

Flash

FLASH MODE: Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)

FLASH TYPE: Built-in, manual pop-up

BRACKETING: 1/3, 2/3, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 EV steps, 3 or 5 frames selectable (1.0, 2.0, 3.0 EV: only 3 frames)

EXTERNAL FLASH MODE: Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)

FLASH RANGE: ISO Auto: approx. 0.75 m to 21.7 m (approx. 2.5 feet to approx. 71.2 feet), ISO 25600: up to 43.4 m (142.4 feet)

Size & Weight

DIMENSIONS (W x H x D): 113.3 x 65.4 x 69.6 mm

WEIGHT: 17 oz / 482g (With battery and media)