More detailed RX1 image analysis (and poll)
I am quite busy at work today but I found a bit of time to check the Sony RX1 pictures posted today by Sony. And I liked them at all. Here are just some early thoughts:
Image at ISO 100 and ideal f/5.6 aperture (Click here):
On that picture taken at the ideal aperture you can check the edge to edge sharpness of the lens. I see only a little sharpness loss on the edges of the frame but I guess we would have seen a sharper image with f/8.0 aperture. Overall this is a very Zeiss alike sharpness rendering!
Image at ISO 1.600 and f/5.6 (Click here):
This image has been taken at ISO 1.600. This is usually the top ISO limit in real daily use. You will not go above that considering the f/2.0 lens aperture. Noise is a little visible in dark areas but it’s very harmonic and not disturbing at all.
Image at ISO 100 and f/5.6 (Click here):
Pictures of clouds. Almost ideal to see how the camera renders the dynamic range, particularly the white highlights.
Image at ISO 100 f/2.0 and macro (Click here):
The bokeh is extremely smooth and beautiful. And just look at that nice sharp detail!
Image at ISO 6400 (Click here):
As I told you before you will you want shoot at 6.400 very often. Noise is very visible but again, no fancy pattern or chrome noise. It’s definitely a surprise to see such a result on a Sony JPG sample.
And now……
Loading ...RX1 preorder links Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Wex UK ,Wex Germany, Sonystore DE-UK-FR-IT-ES-NL-SE-FI-CH and more links at Alphacameradeals.
JW
8 months ago |It’s nice but I’m not paying 2800 for a fixed lens camera like that
Woodent
8 months ago |actually, in the first ISO100@f/5.6 image the corners are pretty visibly smeared. It’s normal, but not spectacular
Rolleiflex
8 months ago |Only the top left, if you look at the other 3, they’re not smeared. So the top left must be a tad out of focus.
Robert
8 months ago |For god’s sake!!!
Most of us are looking at a non-calibrated LCD monitor, in best case with an HD (2 megapixel) resolution.
How could we say anything seriously about a 24 MP resolution, the colors, anything???
Honestly, I have exactly as nice pictures, made many years ago with a 4 MP Canon Ixus, you would never see the difference on a computer monitor.
It looks like a beautiful camera, and the pictures are fantastic for sure.
Kudos for Sony!
Catalin
8 months ago |What ? You are looking at a very small portion of the picture at a time, that’s how you do it.
John Wang
8 months ago |I am really disappointed by these sample images. Recently i bought the Sigma DP@ Merrill and the low ISO sharpness is say superior than this overpriced RX1. Just go the Sigma website and view the sample images shot by the DP2M you will be blown away! Of course Sony bests the high ISO performance of Sigma, but if you only shot landscape and travel images in good lighting, don’t waste money on this rich man’s toy!
Rolleiflex
8 months ago |Congrats. So apparently you can’t understand the technical difference between a Foveon and a Bayer sensor.
passer-by
8 months ago |Foveon sensor is not very good in low light situation, that’s probably the reason why Bayer sensor is still alive and kicking. As for sharpness, DP2M has topped every camera in the world, not just Sony’s, as long as you use ISO 100.
JMi
8 months ago |@ Robert : What you say makes sense, that most people in their current photographic practice, can never justify the price difference in pay between APS-C and FF to gain quality actually announced.
Since the start of Photokina, brands multiply rumors and announcements that go into the FF mirrorless, but technologically, the challenges to achieve this are enormous. Flange distance problem with wide angles, size of the large-aperture lenses in FF, etc … I even heard someone in a forum, saying that he will not buy APS-C mirrorless because FF will arrive in 2013. It is a dream! Or, the FF will have a volume close to DSLR. And lenses lineup are slow to come. Already, for the owners of Nex’s, the range of lenses is a problem!
Better to enjoy today’s gears like Fuji EX-1 or Nex-6, even with multiple lenses, without having to be complexed to wait for FF for a few years. These gears perfectly matche to 95% of their usual photographic use for the majority of photographers.
Rolleiflex
8 months ago |Indeed, if your purpose is web-sharing only, going FF would be an over-kill. However, there are people out there that actually do large-size printing. I appreciate the additional DOF control and dynamic/tonal range and a bit better ISO performance. And I especially want to fully utilize my thousands of dollars FF lenses.
Mark
8 months ago |The only thing bad about this camera is my lack of funds….
不告訴你
8 months ago |So very true.
Shah
8 months ago |Impressing
Steve
8 months ago |Nice, I guess I need one with a 35mm and a second at 85mm and a third at 150mm
let’s see……….hmm $8,400
oh yes, a lighting system for the new hotshoe
Looks as if this could be the start of something, and I think the next generation of pro cameras are in for a change, with new designs and some fresh thinking, and maybe Sony in third place with old lenses and a much smaller user base to piss-off as it makes these changes may come-out ahead.
Tristan
8 months ago |I don’t think there ever will be a version with a long lens. That would ruin the point: a small camera (with perfect IQ).
saiman
8 months ago |Those given are not examples of “perfect IQ”.
The way I see it: Buying/carrying RX1 is like buying/carrying the 35mm FF lens only. Yes, it has a built-in sensor, but so does all other 35mm lens when attached to an FF body.
Now, does this $2800 lens outputs IQ like a $2800 lens should? – NO!
So, that’s far from perfect.
Rolleiflex
8 months ago |LOL, what kind of logic is this? So to you a lens + a sensor (cost and function) combo simply equals to a lens (even though you can’t take picture with just a lens). Now, if we are talking about this particular combo value, please give me a comparable set-up (full frame at the same price point at this size) that is markedly better. I doubt that any of the fast Voigtlander lens on a Leica camera would be as good. I doubt that the Summicron 35 ASPH (a $3200 lens btw) would be this good as well, simply because of field curvature. If you really expect “perfect” in its true sense, then you have not shot long enough to understand. Will I buy this combo? No, simply because I have a better, faster 35mm in mind.
saiman
8 months ago |The idea is… when you cannot use the sensor with any other lens… it is the same as buying just one lens.
Rolleiflex
8 months ago |The point is not about interchangeability. Without a camera, any lens would be worthless. We are talking about the value of the combo as a whole, so compare it to another lens+camera is the only valid point. Even by following your logic (treating the whole camera as immaterial), the Leica Summicron 35 ASPH would not do any better.
Sky_walker
8 months ago |And what exactly you don’t like in an output of this lens? Which similarly priced lens does a better job?
saiman
8 months ago |To me, corner sharpness is extremely important for a 35mm FF lens.
And, I can tell you that the old Minolta 35mm f2 can render similar sharpness, if not better… for 1/7th of the price.
Rolleiflex
8 months ago |Please post a similar shot (i.e. a flat subject) at 5.6, then we’ll judge. I highly doubt that the Minolta 35/2 is that good. I have shot with the ZE 35/2, 35/1.4 and Contax 35/1.4, and this lens is just fine.
crazydoctor
8 months ago |2800 dollars is the price without tax? Why does it cost 3200 euro in europe?
tiger-europe
8 months ago |Well 3100 EUR, but yeah… why does it costs diffrent to the US? The A99 costs $2,800 or 2.800 EUR, so why is there a diffrence at the RX-1? I hope they are not making the A99 more expensive Oo
Sky_walker
8 months ago |Where were you during last… erm… century?
It’s always been like that, always will be like that. Get used to it.
tiger-europe
8 months ago |Playing in my sandbox not interesting in photography at all
but it doesnt make sense to increase the price for europe, because in that way its way more cheaper to import it by yourself from the US. I mean, its not my business how or why sony is giving their product those diffrent prices, but for me it just looks weird.
…and i really hoped that the answer is a little bit longer than: it always have been this way.
Judd
8 months ago |VAT
RVN
8 months ago |this is camera i’am waiting for, if this camera have IS or SSS this would be great!!
but i don’t mine about that, still i will buy this little cam for my 2nd camera
absolutely i will combine this little gem with my 1st camera and lens 50mm/1.4 and 135mm/1.8 that would be great!!
John Koelsch
8 months ago |Let’s see, $2800. for the RX-1 with a fixed lens and no built-in view finder! Suddenly the idea of a Leica M doesn’t sound so silly. Sony appears to be at war with itself having already created a camera with built-in EVF and interchangeable lens capability costing almost a third less. Their NEX and RX divisions had better get their heads together or Sony is going to go the way of the Walkman…and I’ll take a long walk before buying an RX-1.
Freddo
8 months ago |Sure, just go ahead. In Sweden the M9+35mm Summicron f2 is approximately triple the estimated price for the RX1. The M will most likely not be cheaper.
Austin
8 months ago |It’s to give you a choice of optical or electronic, as opposed to making two specific versions. It’s more flexible that way.
pancanikonpus
8 months ago |Althought will not speculate RX1 will not sell much since it is fill under luxury digital camera segment, but RX1 is 100 time better than the Hex7 aka recon Nex7 by Hassleblad which is costs $6000
Kaigee
8 months ago |I wish to have it, but i think i still will stick with the a99, wish the quality of image will be the same…
emopunk
8 months ago |It will, when you use proper lenses.
Denis
8 months ago |Great IQ? http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonyelectronics/8028159648/in/set-72157631631658271
It’s either CZ has pronounced field curvature at f5.6 or Sony is incapable to create sensor that would works well with 35mm or both. Anyway, this doesn’t worth $2800. Sorry Sony, but you better learn how to build good sensors that would hanlde short flange distance well.
Rolleiflex
8 months ago |Please, Denis. Would you mind showing a better combo at $2800? And if you think that is a severe field curvature, then please again show me another 35mm that has a flatter field (please remember to factor in the cost of the camera). People can simple pixel-peep all day long and simply say “it’s not worth (insert the amount).” Yet, they, most likely, have not shot with a similar set-up to really have an informed opinion. The only valid assessment is when you shoot both combos at the same scene. You, sir, made a big fuss out of nothing.
Mars Observer
8 months ago |The images looked good to me, but they didn’t make me say “Wow”.
For that price, and being a fixed lens, the IQ has to be ‘Wow!’
Don Cox
8 months ago |Check out the DP2M.
Rolleiflex
8 months ago |I don’t think he would be happy with that when the ISO performance is only acceptable below 400.
Rolleiflex
8 months ago |The pictures didn’t “wow” me either. But I still think this combo is pretty good for the asking price. I don’t think you can find any FF set-up at $2800 that would have similar result.
WC
8 months ago |Love it,already pre ordered one. It will go great with my D700 system and V1 system.I will sell my other two point and shoots. This little baby will do everything I need for quick on the spot work.Price for the lens is worth it alone.While everyone is bitching about what it should or shouldn’t have I will be clicking away,not wasting my time.Many say wait for a year or two and then the next generation, well I might be dead by then.Happy shooting !
rudiruessel
8 months ago |I AM IMPRESSED WHEN IT IS SOLD
UNDER 799 $… so 2014 we talk again.
Is it then a RX-4…RXYZ_0,3
???
passer-by
8 months ago |Buy an RX-100.
Dirk
8 months ago |Firstly – a good image is primarily taken behind the camera.
Secondly – why shall the price exclude any tolerance for little weaknesses?
A DSLR FF Body and a 35 prime is minimum around 3,5k, and with neither manufacturer man has guarantee to capture perfect images with.
Just passes by
8 months ago |The beauty of photography is not all about sharpness and everything in perfection..
ssrdd
8 months ago |Price is a big factor.
Gunnar
8 months ago |what i`d love to see is a side by side of the RX1 and a NEX 7 with a Zeiss 24mm at similar settings.. the RX1 is a very nice camera but i`m not sure if the sensor size is having such a dramatic influence as claimed. anyhow, i love my Nex 7 and will stick to it
Hans
8 months ago |I also will stick to my NEX7 and Zeiss 24mm too, but however I would love to see the comparison. Of course high ISO on this new FF sensor is obviously better at the same MP count as the NEX 7, but not too important for me. The look of the pictures, colors, rendering and bokeh of the RX1 reminds me very much of the NEX7+Zeiss24F18 Setup. It’s just about the same combo at larger scale i suppose, howerever the RX1 is even smaller!
Gunnar
8 months ago |dpreview just put up the studio comparison for the D600, so i went and checked against the Nex7 and D3200.. Nex 7 to D600 differences do really show at ISO 1600 and up, which is expected.. but i never shoot up there and in the lower ISO the NEX seems to have better sharpness or lower/no AA-filter which tells me that the NEX 7 is my ideal camera
as if i didnt know allready…
Hans
8 months ago |The advantage of high ISO 6400 is not of high use in still pictures as the example one, too. It’s more for sports and stuff like that, which i dont’t do and noone really does with a Nex7. But for people that only want a combination of a camera with 35mm (eqv.) lens and not use other lenses (or own bigger DSLR bodys for that) it’s a small price upgrade from NEX+Zeiss for FullFrame quality pictures. However if you already own the NEX7+Zeiss like we do, the RX1 would be hardly a must have. Both fit into the pocket, make great pictures and have all the manual control at hand in a different concept. And EVF on NEX7 makes it even more joy to take pictures! EVF in the RX2, Sony?
Soso
8 months ago |And I’ll add a side-by-side comparison with the upcoming A99. Will a fixed lens bring much better quality over a changeable system? Or is it just the size-/quality-ratio that speaks for the RX1?
Just Passed By
8 months ago |The beauty of photography is not all about sharpness and doesn’t have to come in a form of perfection. It’s funny to see most people fond to the sharpness subject and tried to find a perfect camera no matter how much they have to pay for it.
Steve
8 months ago |The test I waiting to see is the ones between the Nikon d600 and the Sony a99.
Yes I know that the a99 is a much better camera but if the test images are better on the d600 the whining on the blogs will be something wild.
I see big changes (improvements) over the next year with all vendors cameras.
Canon has some work to do, so look for them to something soon.
Daniel
8 months ago |Not bad at all..for default jpegs…
Maxwell
8 months ago |First comes RX1, then NEX9 FF.
DSLR and SLT is dying.
Steve
8 months ago |Yes, agreed the Single Lens Reflex design and its SLT fix is going to be less and less of the market as Sony and other sensor makers put more and more in the chip.
I’m not going to go as far to say that the overall shape and size of the camera will be that much different as we still need to hold the device in our hands, and till lensmakers figure out how to make lenses smaller I don’t see everyone moving to something as small as the current NEX platform.
Maxwell
8 months ago |The A-mount also looks to be “old design” compared with E-mount.
If I have understand it right, the A-mount and lenses can’t transfer
lens “errors” to the camera. Such as vigetting, distortion etc.
So you have to update the camera firmware to include more lenses.
The E-mount lenses got this information so the camera just
get it from the lens and can adjust the output.
But a A-mount camera with app support could maybe get new lens
information without a complete new firmware.
For me (primary a landscape shooter) contrast auto focus is fast
enough. I don’t need a mirror or the SLT design. Also want a smaller
system. On sensor phase detection auto focus for video is maybe
wantet/needed, but for still shooting contrast auto focus is good enough
today.
Sky_walker
8 months ago |Everyone got something for their own needs.
I for one can’t imagine working with such a small camera. Yea, I had nex – gave it back after few weeks. Waste of money, waste of potential. I also can’t imagine working with a camera that barely lasts long enough to run through a single session on a battery. And finally I can’t imagine to work with a camera that doesn’t make any balance what so ever with a lens longer then 100mm, which is ridiculous to say at least.
The contrast detection AF might be enough, but for occasional movie recording – it’s crap. Not even saying about how stable the larger camera feels in your hands and allows you to make much more smooth transitions – to get anything alike with NEX I would need to either go for some years-long yoga training or buy entire steadycam rig for NEX. lol
Yea, NEXes are amazing for what they do – casual shooting – but repeating the BS “DSLR and SLT is dying.” over and over again won’t make it reality.
Nex User
8 months ago |What exactly are Sony’s margins on this camera? I get that it’s priced based on what it expects people to pay. But it seems that this area is ripe for disruption.
Daemonius
8 months ago |Couldnt care less about this camera. Its more in Leica territory (good luck with that) or Hasselblad.
Something thats just nice gadget, but you pretty much dont have real need for it (thats not Leica case).
Only thing special is FF sensor and Zeiss lens. But you can have that even with old Canon 5D (or even older stuff). Its not bad camera, but its not that amazing and frankly IQ from these JPEGs isnt amazing at all. And thing is, that cause its FF sensor and Zeiss lens, for that price it should be super-amazing.
andy
8 months ago |It’s nice that you have enough time to comment on things that you don’t care about , surely we need to hear your opinion…
Matt
8 months ago |the jpeg of this camera is brilliant, I wonder why Sony couldnt match that performance in a77? I am talking about the jpeg engine that has sever noise reduction mushy, and plastic look picture at ISO 800 onward.
Catalin
8 months ago |Maybe because in the A77 it needs to apply heavy noise reduction…
Magnus
8 months ago |When can we read reviews?
Adanac
8 months ago |Reviewers are getting access to the RX1 and other new Sony cameras at a Sony event in California during the week of October 8. As the image publishing embargo will be lifted, look to see a tsunami of images and hands-on reports, unfiltered by the company.
Should be exciting… and only just over a week away.
C
8 months ago |I love my Fuji X100 with the fixed lens. But Sony really got two things wrong – WAY WAY overpriced, and no viewfinder. I mean seriously.. a £2600 camera with no viewfinder.
Why the hell didn’t they give it the NEX-7 viewfinder? The add-on viewfinders are ugly, look fragile and add to the cost too!
passer-by
8 months ago |You answered your own question – viewfinder adds cost.
As for the price, USD2800 for a full frame sensor by the best sensor maker + a compact fast lens by the best lens maker.. is actually cheap.
It’s not for everybody, but it’s the best it can be.
Catalin
8 months ago |This camera is not in the same league as the Fuji X100, just because it has a fixed lens. These cameras are worlds apart.
Jim
8 months ago |(facepalm)
Andrea start reading books or leave it and do something else than writing about photo equipment…
For greatest corner quality at 24×36 frame you need to use F/11. That’s what everybody knows. Especially when u use wideangle lens like this.
Anyway thanks for posting the pictures. I thought new sensor would be better than A900, but it isn’t at any ISO. Well, A900 was great camera made by KM specialists, now they work elsewhere and Sony can’t compete with Canon anymore.
Fants
8 months ago |Newsflash: Major Camera Company in Bad Sample Image Shocker!
I’ve seriously never seen impressive sample images from a new camera’s manufacturer. Nikon, Canon, Sigma, Fuji, Sony…all of them have managed to put out pre-sale sample images for new cameras that at best tell us nothing about what the camera can do and at worst completely undersells its abilities.
As for these – I suppose what they do show us is how it performs at high ISO speed in JPEG mode. Hooray. All I see in the rest are boring subjects rendered in Sony’s typically mushy and awful JPEG engine. And really, who’s going to be spending $2800 on this camera and shooting in JPEG?
Oh, and I suppose that “landscape” shot does show us that sharpness is good at the borders (who knows about corners, though) at distance…which, honestly, is kind of impressive for such a compact package at a relatively wide aperture. Still worthless without RAWs.
Adanac
8 months ago |Agreed. Countless new cameras have been accompanied by crappy sample images made by the maker.
Fortunately the cameras will be in the hands of others real-soon-now, which should tell us a lot more about the image quality the camera is capable of producing but just as importantly how well the camera handles.
Kevin
8 months ago |such a fancy camera! i just need to win the lottery now…