Sony · Cyber-shot

Cyber-shot DSC-R1

Released November 2005

A fixed-lens bridge camera with a large CMOS sensor, a 24–120 mm zoom and a swivelling screen mounted on top.

Type: Bridge
Sensor: APS-C
Megapixels: 10.3
Lens: 24–120 mm equivalent
Video: –
Body weight: 926 g

What reviewers say

Cameralabs and digitalkamera.de praised lens quality, detailed images, the flexible screen and battery life. Both found the three-frame burst restrictive and eye sensor overly sensitive. Cameralabs saw disappointing high-ISO noise; digitalkamera.de considered it competitive with entry-level DSLRs but criticised sharpening and controls. Both noted absent video and more limited focusing or close-up capability than DSLR alternatives.

From cameralabs.com, cameralabs.com, cameralabs.com, cameralabs.com and digitalkamera.de

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Bridge
Sensor format: APS-C
Sensor type: CMOS
Sensor dimensions: 21.5 × 14.4 mm
Effective resolution: 10.3 MP
Largest image: 3888 × 2592
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 160–3200
Sensor detail: Progressive-scan CMOS, 21.5 × 14.4 mm; maker 10.3 million effective and 10.8 million total photosites. The native 3888 × 2592 image contains approximately 10.08 million pixels. APS-C-sized description follows Cameralabs and digitalkamera.de, with actual maker dimensions retained
Image formats: JPEG Fine or Standard and SR2 RAW; RAW records a JPEG companion, with no TIFF option

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 24–120 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.8–4.8
Optical zoom: 5×
Lens detail: Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T*; actual 14.3–71.5 mm, equivalent 24–120 mm; f/2.8–4.8 maximum aperture; 12 elements in ten groups, four aspherical elements; seven-blade aperture; 67 mm filter thread; mechanical zoom and electronic manual-focus rings
Autofocus: Five-area automatic selection, centre or flexible spot contrast autofocus; AF illuminator rather than Hologram AF; single, monitor and continuous focus. Normal focus from 0.5 m; macro approximately 0.35 m wide or 0.4 m telephoto from sensor plane, as clarified by maker archive
Shutter: Automatic 1/8–1/2000 second, program 1–1/2000, aperture priority 8–1/2000 and shutter priority/manual 30–1/2000; TIME exposure up to 180 seconds
Burst detail: Maker archive specifies approximately 3 fps for a maximum of three full-resolution JPEG frames; no RAW burst. This brief buffer-limited rate is detail only, rather than maximum sustained continuous capture
Flash: Pop-up flash, Advanced Accessory Shoe and ACC connector; maker range 0.5–8.5 m wide and 0.4–5 m telephoto; ±2 EV flash adjustment and first/rear-curtain slow sync
Exposure controls: Automatic, program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; Standard, Vivid and Adobe RGB colour; three-level sharpening, saturation and contrast; live histogram, RGB playback histograms, zebra highlight warning and grid

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 2″
Screen dots: 134,000
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Top-mounted free-angle 2.0-inch TFT LCD with 134,000 dots and 100% coverage; 235,000-dot 0.44-inch electronic viewfinder with eye-sensor switching; body does not swivel

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim): 500 photographs
Body weight: 926 g
Release detail: Sony Japan original 13 September 2005 announcement specifies 18 November 2005 sale; documented Japanese first-sale date. UK support ISO 100 minimum conflicts with original maker and archive ISO 160, corroborated by both reviews
Recording media: Separate Memory Stick/Memory Stick PRO and CompactFlash Type I/II/Microdrive slots; Duo formats require adapter; FAT16/FAT32; cards selected by switch, without simultaneous recording
Ports: Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Mini-B, video output, ACC connector, DC input and Advanced Accessory Shoe; PictBridge printing
Battery life detail: NP-FM50 InfoLithium; approximately 500 shots/250 minutes with Memory Stick or 460 shots/230 minutes with Microdrive, maker CIPA conditions: Fine quality, LCD on, alternate full zoom, flash every other shot, power cycling every ten shots and photograph every 30 seconds
Charging: In-camera charging with supplied AC-L15-series adapter, confirmed by maker archive; UK support accessory line incorrectly lists NP-FR1/AC-LS5, contradicting its own NP-FM50 field and original maker sources
Dimensions: Approximately 139.4 × 97.7 × 156 mm (width × height × depth), at wide zoom and excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Sony Japan original launch and archive specify approximately 926 g camera only; archive loaded figure 1047 g includes NP-FM50, Memory Stick, shoulder strap and lens hood. UK support lists 929 g camera-only; main follows consistent original maker 926 g figure, with no inferred regional hardware difference
In the box: NP-FM50 battery, AC adapter and power cable, video and USB cables, shoulder strap, lens cap, lens hood and two software CDs

Video

Video detail: No video recording, confirmed by maker archive; live view does not imply movie recording

Pros and cons

Pros

21.5 × 14.4 mm sensor and RAW recording
24–120 mm equivalent f/2.8–4.8 mechanically controlled zoom
Swivelling screen, electronic viewfinder and histogram

Cons

No video recording
JPEG bursts limited to three frames
Fixed lens and approximately 926 g camera-only weight

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H1	Bridge	Other	5.1	36–432 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	438 g	Jun 2005
NikonD200	DSLR	APS-C	10.2	Nikon F mount	–	830 g	Dec 2005
NikonD50	DSLR	APS-C	6.1	Nikon F mount	–	540 g	2005

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

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