Sony Cybershot DSCR1 10.3MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom | List Price: $1,815.86
Discount Price: $989.00
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Brand: Sony
Binding: Electronics
Features: - 10.3-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
- 5x optical zoom; 2.0-inch vari-angle LCD display
- "Live" preview using Sony's Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology
- Three color modes and RAW capture
- Records images on Memory Stick PRO and Compact Flash Type 1/II media; powered by one NP-FM50 InfoLithium battery
The Second "Flawed Jewel" in a Series? [Posted on 2007-04-03]
When Sony put out the DSC-F828 back in 2004, the camera was immediately tagged "the flawed jewel" by many reviewers. The reasons were obvious: with the new four-color HAD sensor, incredible ergonomics, and multiple control features often paralleling a DSLR, Sony positioned the device to become the camera of choice for pros and semi-pros who wished to have a second camera to escape from carrying around a DSLR and a set of lenses on every trip. Unfortunately, the camera, though taking wonderful photographs for the most part, suffered from strong purple fringing ("chromatic aberration," as it is called), and it was one of those love-hate relationships. Most people loved their F828, but just were aggravated that Sony had chosen to release such a gorgeous unit with such an obvious flaw.
Fortunately, we don't have to say the same for the DSC-R1, and it is worthwhile to report that most all the issues surrounding the F828 have been corrected in the R1. In fact, the DSC-R1 outpaces all current non-DSLR's by a significant amount in the ostensibly most critical area: image quality. The camera is capable of producing some of the most beautiful images one will ever take with a non-DSLR rig. In fact, SO good, that one will begin to seriously question whether a DSLR is even necessary for most people who are non-pros. The camera does most everything that a DSLR will do, and to boot, has a built-in lens that, if purchased as an equivalent combination of lenses for a DSLR, would easily cost twice as much (some say even more). And those pictures are just gorgeous. Striking detail, rich color, surprising sharpness, and few missed shots. To boot, battery life is superb, the best I've seen in a camera thus far. And the lens, while only providing a 5x optical zoom, also provides a very wide 24mm landscape shot, and so there is actually a tremendous range between its widest and most zoomed settings.
Now, the inevitable caveats. There are indeed some factors which do not make this camera a "no brainer" for every user. And, without fanfare, let me list some of them for consideration before you make the plunge to purchase one.
First, the camera has an unusual physical design which lends itself more to waist-level shooting, with the user looking DOWN onto the top of the camera, where the LCD can be seen. It is true that the LCD pops up and can be positioned upright so that one can shoot straight-ahead, but at 2.2 pounds, let me know how far you go until you decide arm fatigue forces you to rethink that decision. Although I actually prefer the waist-level shooting of the R1, I have to admit that the configuration is somewhat unconventional, and not everyone will get used to it. Some downright hate this physical configuration.
Next, there is one area where image quality does take a small hit, and that is in the level of distortion when shooting at the camera's widest "(i.e., 24mm) setting. Particularly when shooting architecture, but in reality for most any setting, the wide-angle setting will produce significant inward bending ("vertical perspective distortion") of the image, requiring you to use an image editing program, such as Adobe Photoshop, to correct the image. (If you are not familiar with this phenomenon, a photograph of a building with this type of distortion will make the sides of the building not appear to be straight, as though the building's walls, appearing tilted inward, would eventually meet each other if extended long enough.) This is not an insurmountable obstacle, as one can correct this relatively easily with image editors, but it is one of the few areas in which the camera underperforms. However, when looking at the overall image quality of shots the R1 takes (clarity, detail, and color), it's pretty easy to forgive this one issue.
Finally, there are a few specification issues one should taken note of before purchase. The optical zoom of the camera tops out at 5x, which is not all that bad, but many people may wish for a greater zoom amount. (A Sony add-on lens boosts zoom by 1.7x, but this conversion lens is expensive, heavy, and bulky.) Macro focus performance is also not nearly as good as the old F828: one must be a good number of inches away from any object to achieve a focus, even when the "macro" mode is selected. Also, should you choose to shoot in RAW mode, the resultant images, while of superb quality, take up a whopping 20Mb per shot, quickly overwhelming both your storage and your patience as you try to copy, open, and transfer files. And because the R1 was released before the specifications for the new Memory Stick Pro Duo were released, the camera can only accept up to 4Gb Memory Sticks, and the camera is also just old enough not have included anti-shake technology, so these limitations are unfortunately present in the R1. Mitigating these shortcomings is the fact that the R1 does possess a second slot for Compact Flash cards for capacities up to 4Gb (making total potential memory capacity equal to 8Gb), and the fact that a three-inch mini-tripod can easily be used for difficult shots (which often yields better results than anti-shake technology).
Having said all of this, the final judgment comes after using the camera over time, viewing the images it produces, and comparing it to other fine cameras on the market. You'll find few people who own a R1 who will say anything other than the images it takes are superb. And the reason why is because the photos ARE superb. If you find that the minor issues described above are of little concern to you and that the physical design of the unit is one to which you can adjust (or even, as me, can even prefer), then this could be a great find for a semi-professional, non-DSLR camera. It may be somewhat of a "flawed jewel" like its predecessor the F828, but with fewer outstanding issues and greatly improved picture quality over the F828.
After a year and a half, still good... [Posted on 2007-08-20]
I pre-ordered this camera from Sony way back in November of 2005. It was shipped to me before Christmas that year. Ever since, I have used the camera as a stock photographer and a family photographer. The personal photos have been excellent and print very sharp to at least 8.5x11 (though in Photoshop the linear dimensions are poster size).
Unfortunately, the main failing has been in the color noise and artifacting for stock photography. Because I do not use a tripod for on-the-fly outdoor shots, I have gotten used to either spending hours with Photoshop fixing the "purple fringes" (also cyan and red shifts) or just submitting the full-sun shots and hope the inspector will tolerate a bit of color noise for the shadier areas.
The lack of any image stabilizing process (as the newer Sony/Minolta cameras have) is the major problem. Because my acceptance rate is less than 50%, and the most common reason given for rejection is color noise and artifacting, I'm waiting for the release of Canon's new DSLR (the 40D?), which might or might not have the same MP resolution as the Sony DSC R1, but it's a true SLR with image stabilization. For prosumer use, therefore, the R1 is not adequate because of its lack of in-camera image stabilization.
Nonetheless, the built-in flash is bright enough for most medium- and close-range use (especially since it's positioned right above the lens, minimizing the outline shadows where the flash is offset), the focal range goes from wide angle to medium telephoto, the Sony tripod with remote control works fine with this camera (if you can tolerate using a tripod), the memory cards in 2 formats (MS and CF) allow for great utility (e.g., in-camera backup), the interfaces are handy (I back up in the field on an iPod 80GB), iPhoto runs fine with the R1 connected, and the camera's fake shutter sound can be turned off for absolutely silent candid photos (especially since people don't realize that you're focusing using the top-mounted LCD viewfinder). The diopter adjustment of the optical viewfinder can be set precisely.
Not so nice is the placement of the hot shoe for the external flash to the right, above the grip/battery compartment. The shadows cast are dense and distracting, although the Sony smart flash works extremely well. Also, I have lost 2 Memory Sticks and 1 Compact Flash card--all 2 GB--until I read on the web the recommendation that memory cards should be formatted by the camera rather than by a computer. I did that with one card which I eventually filled with pictures of our first grandchild (a couple of hundred photos), when the camera suddenly showed "Format Error." I couldn't get a professional recovery company to rescue anything, even when I said they could open up the card to get inside, voiding the money-back guarantee. So...I've been deleting pictures one by one, using the camera itself (very tedious), rather than having the R1 or my iMac do the re-formatting. (A couple of e-mails to Sony resulted in polite replies, but no action.)
Another limitation of the R1 is that it is hard to protect it. The Sony hard-leather case is so strangely shaped that putting the cover on and taking it off take too much time for field use. So I use the camera without the rather costly leather case I bought from Sony.
The LCD viewfinder, being on top of the camera, puts off subjects who are in groups waiting for their souvenir photo because they think you're adjusting the camera instead of composing the picture. So I find I use the optical viewfinder most of the time, especially with the superimposed grid to help me align vertical and horizontal planes. I do wish that Sony had provided some kind of bellows hood for the optical viewfinder. In bright sunlight, the LCD viewfinder is hard to see, and the bright reflections in the optical viewfinder requires me to wear a baseball cap or use my hand to shade it.
The self-timer (with camera on a tripod) is excellent--people can be warned that the amber light will flash slowly when the self-timer is on, and will flash rapidly just before the shutter trips. Still, if I have forgotten to turn on the audio shutter sound, people stand there for a few seconds, not realizing the photo has been taken.
After a year and a half of using this camera, I am very glad I had it as my starter camera for semi-pro photography. And I still have another year and a half to go on the service/repair extended warranty I bought and have not needed. But I'm saving money to take a step up, perhaps to a true SLR from Canon or Nikon.
Excellent quality, poor performance [Posted on 2007-08-25]
1. I've had the R1 essentially since it came out (2yrs?).
2. As has been documented in many reviews--> this is a camera that can produce excellent results, IF you shoot in RAW.
3. With the above being said, this camera will or will not work for you mainly depending on the type of photography you normally do.
a. Poor macro: the in camera macro ability is a joke--> if macro is important, you'll need to get the screw on close up filter.
b. Obviously fixed lens 24-120mm. I think that 24mm is going to be wide enough for most folks (including me... most of the time). However, I would think that most folks may want to shoot more than 120mm episodically. There is a wide angle convertor lens (which is good) and a tele convertor lens which is terrible (read my review on that).
c. Burst rate: terrible--> only 3 shots in JPEG. Thus, if you're into sport, shooting action shots, taking shots of the kids--> forget it. And by the way--> fast focusing is not a strong suit with the R1 either.
d. RAW write times: slow and subpar for this caliber of camera. And as noted above, if you want to get the highest quality image, you really need to shoot in RAW.
4. Translation: if you're mainly into landscape photography--> this might be a very good camera for you. However, like me--> you'll find that the lack of the ability to shoot beyond 120mm, the lack of true macro capabilities, the slow RAW write times (when you really want to capture a fleeting scene)... can all be very frustrating--> which then brings the realization upon oneself of "perhaps this is why most (all) professionals use DSLRs." It's a great camera which is capable of excellent images, but the poor performance is a significant limiting factor which becomes more and more apparent over time and in different shooting situations.
Marvelous Piece of Photographic Equipment [Posted on 2007-09-08]
I have owned my R1 for nearly a year now and I must say that I am confident that I made a wise decision. I debated going the dslr route and decided against it after exploring the R1 option. I found this camera loaded with the features that I wanted and I didn't feel hampered by the fixed lens. The picture quality is outstanding! The lens is sharp and wonderfully bright! There is no fringing or wide angle distorting. The digital crop is very impressive and the live preview (one of the reasons I went with the camera) is a wonderful feature.
The bang for the buck that is available with the R1 is quite impressive. I am a very satisfied customer.
Two years with the D1 [Posted on 2007-10-24]
I have had mine for over 2 years and I LOVE this thing. In my opinion it is a classic digital camera. I have taken so many stunning shots with it, and when I hand it to others, less skilled than I, they take them too. It's true, that a camera can't make you a better photographer, unless it has a superb noise reduction algorhythm, a spectacular lens, a big CMOS chip and a fast response time. It turns on so quickly that I can leave it off and turn it on for a grab-shot, and extend the spectacularly long (530 minutes plus!) battery time indefinitely. The only down side is that I end up keeping so many shots, well over 5000 now, that my poor drive is full! I really love this thing. It's been all over the world with me, contributed to high-end visual effects jobs, created truly memorable shots and therefore gifts, web content, commemorations, art pieces etc. that I will never part with it. Find it for sub-$500 and you will never look back. I also recommend the instructional DVD they sell here. Moderate production value, but high instructional value. This camera is not a simple snap-shooter if you want to make art, so the DVD is the fastest way to learn the features and refresh memory. VERY helpful indeed. The added feature that it uses two different memory media if nice too. I am currently carrying 12 gigs of memory!!! That translates to something over 2,700 10mp JPEG pictures! I will never max out. Impressive, huh? Well, I think so!
Enjoy it! I love mine so much.
Lekfx
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