Is the RX1 the compact photojournalists are waiting for?

By Paul Carroll - Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Camera Review
Introduction | Measurement | Comparisons | Conclusion

The new Sony RX1 offers discerning photographers the unique proposition of a full frame CMOS sensor and fixed 35mm f/2 prime lens in a compact shell. Perfect if you’re after great image quality without the bulk, weight and inconvenience of a large DSLR. But how will the RX1 perform in the DxOMark Sensor Scores?

Launched in October 2012 the Sony RX1 is the world’s first compact camera with a full-frame 24x36mm CMOS sensor. Featuring a fixed 35mm f/2 lens and 24 megapixel sensor in a petite shell the RX1 is designed for professionals after a discreet compact with excellent image quality. This places the RX1 firmly in the photojournalist and street photographer category and its unique offering of a full-frame sensor in a compact means it comes with a hefty $2,800 price tag.

The second release in the RX range of fixed lens compacts the RX1 sits above the more consumer orientated RX100, which features a 20-megapixel 1" sensors and costs $649. The RX range complements Sony’s existing NEX range of Hybrid cameras featuring an APS-C sensor, as well as their line-up of DLSR style SLT cameras featuring Sony’s own Translucent Mirror Technology.

The RX1 doesn’t offer a viewfinder as standard, although the V1K optical viewfinder is available separately for $600. There is however a built in flash and a hotshoe that’s compatible with both standard and Sony proprietary flashguns. The ISO range extends between 100-25600, there’s a dedicated aperture ring, 5 user-customizable buttons, 1.23M dot LCD, 1080p video capture and 14cm minimum focus for close-ups.

So lots on offer, but with a plethora of other Hybrids available and other fixed lens offerings like the $1,200 Fuji X100, $999 Sigma DP2 or $1,995 Leica X2 on the market is the RX1 the camera you want? The DxOMark Sensor Scores can help you decide…

Measurement

Comparisons

Conclusion

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Comments
Added by maxb |  June 05

RX1 Sonnar lens mid zone dip

Hi there,

I was wondering if you noticed a mild mid zone dip with the RX1 lens? I just got the cam and the lens seems to dip slightly about 1/3 out from the centre. I also find that the corners are sharper than this area....?

Cheers,

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First replies for this comment
Added by Emilie_DxOMark |  June 05

Re: RX1 Sonnar lens mid zone dip

Hello!

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

You can check the sharpness measurement for the RX1 lens here:
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Lenses/Camera-Lens-Database/Sony/Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX1-Lens/%28camera%29/833/%28cameraname%29/SONY-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX1
You are right, sharpness is lower at 1/3 of the field.

Best regards,

The DxOMark team

Reply
Added by martigorn |  March 06

Sharpness at f2.0 vs f3.2

Hello,
I like the RX1 a lot, but center sharpness gets A LOT better when stopping down from f2.0 to f2.8 or f3.2. At 100% view, this is fully field relevant: Details and sharpness at 2.0 are okay, from 3.2 they are brilliant. I must admit to be somewhat disappointed by that. Does this practical view fit to Your lab results (which are somewhat abstract to me), i.e. is that "perfectly normal" or did I get a bad copy ?

Yours sincerely

Martin

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Added by Emilie_DxOMark |  March 08

Re: Sharpness at f2.0 vs f3.2

Hello Martin,

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

You are right but we would not say "a lot", as we measured a slight loss of sharpness at f/2.0 and we did not measure any significant difference between f/2.8 and f/4.
To be convinced you should have a look to the acutance field map.

Best regards,

The DxOMark team





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Added by birdred |  March 03

nice review

Thank you for the review. Looks to be a remarkable camera!

Though not really cross comparable, the Pentax K5 apsc dslr's measure an equally very healthy 14.3 EVS... until one can afford the sony the K5 is still pretty remarkable, especially for those like me on a budget.
We live in a remarkable age to have so many great cameras and reviews at such an easy reach.

Thanks again!

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First replies for this comment
Added by Emilie_DxOMark |  March 04

Re: nice review

Hello!

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark and your kind comment!

Best regards,


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Added by masuraotic |  February 23

DXO: What is selected for RX1's Transmission to decide it's SNR Score?

Hi!

I would like to know what is selected for RX1's Transmission Score to decide it's SNR.
T = 2.1 or 2.0?

And if the above selection is not correct, RX1's SNR Score may be changed?
(E.g. If the selected value is 2.0 and the real value is 2.1, the total amount of the light, which reaches to Sensor in real value, is about 10% lower than the selected value)

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Added by Emilie_DxOMark |  February 25

Re: DXO: What is selected for RX1's Transmission to decide it's SNR Score?

Hello!

Thanks for your comment.

You’re right regarding the potential bias. In the example you note, it could be close to 14% meaning less than ¼ of Stop.
As we cannot measure the TStop on compact camera we decide to use the aperture, so in this case 2.0.

Best regards,

Emilie

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Added by jorgemsoto |  February 12

DXO: How about the Lens on the RX1? Is it fully sharp on f2.0?

Hello!

I would like to know about the Lens on the RX1. The sharpness in F2.0???

Thanks!
:)

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Added by Emilie_DxOMark |  February 15

Re: DXO: How about the Lens on the RX1? Is it fully sharp on f2.0?

Hi,

The RX1 lens will be reviewed very soon on dxomark.com, so stay tuned ! :)

Regards,

Emilie

Reply
Added by msatlas |  January 09

High ISO way better than Sony A99

What's up with the RX1 doing so much better than the A99 on the high ISO score? I thought they're supposed to have similar sensors but the RX1 seems to perform significantly better. Is that all chalked up to the A99's pellicle mirror?

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Added by Calistoga Tony |  January 09

Another mistake?

First it's saying that Sony uses BSI type image sensors in their dSLRs, (they don't, those are Exmor "R") and now the RX100 has an APS-C sensor? It doesn't. The RX100 uses a 1 inch sensor, like the Nikon 1 series.

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Added by randybenter |  January 09

Re: Another mistake?

This is the RX1; it as an APS-C sensor.

The RX100 has a 1" sensor.

Reply
Added by darrask |  January 09

Re: Another mistake?

sorry lad, the RX1 is full-frame, not APS-C

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Added by darrask |  January 09

Re: Another mistake?

Sorry but... people are getting really confused here!!!

The RX1 has a full frame sensor, and the RX100 has a 1'' (one inch) sensor!

Reply
Added by Hakeem |  January 08

another fullframe camera review

Where is XTrans sensor camera? why not testing them? all the major review sites has pubslished their reviews ages ago.

and you call yourself "Camera Sensor" Only Analysts/ Experts?

The first camera you should review is xpro1 last year!

Don't know what's wrong with you guys!!

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Added by FredB |  January 10

Re: another fullframe camera review

Quote:

<div id="linkdxomark">This a comment for <a href="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Database/Sony/Cyber-shot-DSC-RX1">this page on the website</a></div>Where is XTrans sensor camera? why not testing them? all the major review sites has pubslished their reviews ages ago.

and you call yourself "Camera Sensor" Only Analysts/ Experts?

The first camera you should review is xpro1 last year!

Don't know what's wrong with you guys!!


Hi,
The DxO mark team has answered to this question of their facebook page. Here it is :

Quote:
The Fuji X-Pro 1 and X-E1 sensor does not use a Bayer matrix, but rather a very different matrix whose pixels are arranged in rows of three colors — a technology called “X-Trans”, inspired by the naturally irregular distribution of silver halide crystals on film. As for the Fuji X10, XF1 and X-S1, they use a CMOS EXR sensor with yet another different arrangement.
The demosaicing algorithms of DxOMark lab that allow it to analyse digital camera RAW photo files were designed to process the output of sensors using the Bayer matrix.
Testing these five Fuji cameras would necessitate completely rewriting our demosaicing algorithms to enable them to process the data received from this different matrix. Although DxO Labs tries to respond to photographers’ requests to provide test for specific camera models, there are no plans for testing these five Fuji cameras in the short term.

Reply
Added by bluevaping |  January 11

Re: another fullframe camera review

Time to start rewriting now.  X Pro-1 and its successors are not going away.

Reply

Further readings for the Is the RX1 the compact photojournalists are waiting for?

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

Tests and reviews for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1