Sony Cyber-shot RX1 / Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 2/35 review: Is this the ultimate moderate wide-angle lens?
By Kevin Carter - Friday, February 22, 2013 Camera Review| Introduction | Measurement | Comparison | Conclusion |
The high-end Sony RX1 was one of the most eagerly awaited cameras in our labs and while we assessed the camera’s full-frame sensor early in January, we’ve decided to publish the results of the Zeiss-branded Sonnar 2/35 T* lens. Readers will already be aware that it’s fixed, and can’t be purchased separately, but we can test it just as we would any other, albeit on one camera body only. Is this “fast”, moderately wide-angle lens an outstanding performer worthy of the Carl Zeiss name? Read on to find out.
When Sony announced the pro-level Cybershot RX1 at Photokina in September, the combination of full-frame 24-MPix CMOS sensor and high-quality Carl Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f/2.0 in a metal-bodied compact with manual controls sounded promising. Yet, while unique, with a hefty $2,800 price tag it’s not going to appeal to everyone.
There are for instance other rival offerings. The $1999 Leica X1/X2 and the $1299 Fuji X100 / X100s, both have fixed high-quality lenses offering the same field of view. The Fuji even offers the same f/2.0 maximum aperture (the Leica Elmarit lens used by the X1/X2 is f/2.8), although both cameras sport smaller APS-C sized sensors.
Besides those cameras, there are a number of new full-frame 35mm lens designs optimized for DSLRs. Nikon introduced their first AF 35mm f1.4G type lens 18-months ago while Canon has recently updated the EF 35mm f/2.0 to include IS. Third-party makers have also responded to the increased popularity of the 35mm lens. The ultra-fast and relatively accessibly priced $899 Sigma AF 35mm f/1.4 is an outstanding performer and even Carl Zeiss has two modern manual focus designs, both Distagon T* types, one at f/2.0 the other at f/1.4.
With a short back focus, the Sonnar design of wide-angle lenses like this one is particularly suited to mirrorless cameras, and was in the past reserved for rangefinders. This Sony made Zeiss designed prime is a complex design consisting of 8 elements in 7 groups. Information is sparse but it has three elements with aspherical surfaces, one being an “Advanced Aspherical” (AA) type, although what that means precisely isn’t clear. Unusual for this kind of lens is a dedicated macro mode, which allows focusing down to just 14cm. Also of note is the circular iris consisting of 9 aperture blades to help produce smooth gradients to out-of-focus areas.
Measurement
Comparisons
Conclusion
Comments
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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, Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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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 |
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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 Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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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 Reply |
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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! Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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Added by Emilie_DxOMark |
March 04
Re: nice review
Hello!
Thanks for your interest in DxOMark and your kind comment! Best regards, Reply |
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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) Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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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 Reply |
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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! :) Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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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 |
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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.
Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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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 |
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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 |
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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!! Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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Added by FredB |
January 10
Re: another fullframe camera reviewQuote: <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 |
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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 Sony Cyber-shot RX1 / Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 2/35 review: Is this the ultimate moderate wide-angle lens?
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.
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Test results for the two 100mm Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM and EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM are now available on DxOMark.com. We’ve also compared the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM vs. the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED vs. the Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro (see results here). |