Cyber-shot DSC-RX1

Released November 2012

Sony's original RX1 combines a full-frame 24.3 MP sensor with a fixed 35 mm f/2 lens in a compact body.

Type: Compact
Sensor: Full frame
Megapixels: 24.3
Lens: 35 mm equivalent
Video: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Body weight: 453 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised the sharp lens, full-frame image quality and manual controls. Amateur Photographer found handling comfortable and autofocus sufficient for travel and street photography. PhotographyBlog found the grip less secure and autofocus sluggish, while criticising short battery life. Both considered the optional viewfinders expensive.

From photographyblog.com and amateurphotographer.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: Full frame
Sensor type: Exmor CMOS
Sensor dimensions: 35.8 × 23.9 mm
Effective resolution: 24.3 MP
Largest image: 6000 × 4000
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 100–25600
Image formats: JPEG and 14-bit RAW (Sony ARW 2.3); AVCHD 2.0 or MP4 movies
ISO detail: Standard single-frame ISO 100–25600; extended ISO 50/64/80. Multi-frame noise reduction reaches ISO 102400 by combining six exposures; it is not standard single-frame sensitivity.
Image processor: BIONZ

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 35 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2
Stabilisation: Electronic only
Maximum continuous burst: 5 fps
Lens detail: ZEISS Sonnar T* 35 mm f/2 fixed prime; eight elements in seven groups, nine aperture blades and 49 mm filter thread. Macro mode focuses from 20 cm measured from the sensor plane, or 14 cm from the lens front.
Autofocus: Contrast-detection AF with 25 points; AF, direct manual focus and manual focus. The original launch specification was revised before release to remove separate still-image continuous AF.
Shutter: Leaf shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second and Bulb. The 1/4000 limit requires f/5.6 or a smaller aperture; the fastest speed at f/2 is 1/2000 second.
Burst detail: Up to 5 fps in speed-priority mode with initial focus fixed; the Japanese maker table lists normal continuous shooting at 2.5 fps, rather than PhotographyBlog's rounded 3 fps.
Stabilisation detail: Electronic stabilisation applies only to movies and crops the field of view; no optical lens or sensor-shift still-image stabilisation
Flash: Built-in manually raised flash and Multi Interface Shoe for optional external flashes or viewfinders
Exposure controls: Program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual exposure; dedicated aperture and exposure-compensation rings/dials, three memory recalls, DRO and three-frame automatic HDR

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detail: Full HD AVCHD at up to 60p in NTSC mode or 50p in PAL mode, at 28 Mbit/s; NTSC also supports 24p and PAL 25p. Continuous clips are limited to approximately 29 minutes; MP4 12M recording ends around 15 minutes or 2 GB.

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 1,228,800
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed WhiteMagic TFT LCD; the maker's dots count colour subpixels rather than that many image pixels
Viewfinder detail: No built-in viewfinder; optional FDA-EV1MK electronic or FDA-V1K optical viewfinder uses the accessory shoe

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 220 photographs
Body weight: 453 g
Release detail: Sony's Japanese announcement gives 16 November 2012 for first sale; Hong Kong followed in December 2012
Recording media: SD, SDHC, SDXC and Memory Stick Duo variants; Micro and microSD formats require adaptors
Ports: Micro USB (USB 2.0), Micro HDMI, 3.5 mm microphone input and Multi Interface Shoe
Wireless connections: No built-in Wi-Fi; compatible Eye-Fi cards provide a separate wireless-transfer option
Battery life detail: NP-BX1 rechargeable battery. UK support claims 220 CIPA photographs; Japan specifies 220 with high-quality display mode or 270 with standard display mode. PhotographyBlog obtained around 150 shots in its usage, fewer with the optional electronic viewfinder.
Charging: In-camera USB charging and USB power with the supplied AC adaptor
Dimensions: Approximately 113.3 × 65.4 × 69.6 mm (width × height × depth)
Weight detail: 453 g body only, including the integral fixed lens; 482 g with battery and recording media
Materials: Magnesium-alloy body according to Sony's launch announcement; PhotographyBlog describes it as aluminium
Colours: Black
In the box: NP-BX1 battery, AC adaptor, Micro USB cable, shoulder strap, lens cap, shoe cap, cleaning cloth and instructions; adaptor model varies by region

Pros and cons

Pros

Full-frame sensor and 14-bit RAW recording
Dedicated aperture, focus and exposure-compensation controls
Built-in pop-up flash and accessory shoe

Cons

No built-in viewfinder or Wi-Fi
Fixed focal length and no optical still-image stabilisation

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-RX1R	Compact	Full frame	24.3	35 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	453 g	Jul 2013
SonyCyber-shot DSC-RX1R II	Compact	Full frame	42.4	35 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	480 g	Nov 2015
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H90	Compact	1/2.3-type	16.1	24–384 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	192 g	2012

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

Sony RX1, rear view: Sony, official Japan product gallery; shared rear body photograph explicitly published in both RX1 and RX1R exact product galleries
Sony RX1, front view with optional optical viewfinder, thumb grip and lens hood: Sony, official exact-model launch press photograph; FDA-V1K optical viewfinder, TGA-1 thumb grip and LHP-1 lens hood shown, all sold separately

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