Sony Cybershot DSC-RX1

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 31 expert reviews

Excellent:

13
Good:

16
Average:

2
Bad:

0

Pros:

Smallest full-frame camera on the market.
Fantastic image quality.
Excellent, fast f/2 prime lens.

Cons:

Fixed, single focal length lens.
Slight tendency to underexpose.

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Last revision on January 14, 2015

Reviewers Liked

Smallest full-frame camera on the market
Fantastic image quality
Excellent, fast f/2 prime lens
Images are sharp corner to corner, even wide open
F/2 with full-frame sensor gives incredibly shallow depth of field
Excellent image quality in both JPEG and Raw
Dedicated aperture and exposure compensation controls
Exceptional build-quality - solid feeling without being too heavy
Superb high ISO output in both JPEG and Raw

Reviewers Didn't Like

Fixed, single focal length lens
Slight tendency to underexpose
Produces unattractive bokeh when the subject is close to the lens
Focus can be slow under dim lighting
Subtle magenta/cyan tint across frame when shading compensation enabled
Autofocus speed not quick enough for fast-moving subjects
Autofocus struggles in low light
Significant vignetting, with any correction baked into Raw files
Multiple button presses required to move AF point
No built-in viewfinder

Expert reviews and ratings

The Sony RX1R flies very close to being our perfect camera, but the occasionally slow autofocus keeps it from being a camera you can rely on 100 per cent. It is small enough to be taken anywhere, able to take incredible photos and easy to use. Sadly the...

By digitalspy.co.uk on August 01, 2014

Buying Guide Best compact camera Sony is very keen to prove itself as a serious player in the imaging market. It doesn't have the decades of heritage that the likes of Canon and Nikon have in the cameras world, and so it tends to pioneer technologies...

By TechRadar AU on August 29, 2013

The more we mull it over, “suiting your vision” is an apt description for the RX1. This Cyber-shot is a wonderful photography tool and if you can imagine the shot, the camera will deliver it – within reason, of course. At this price, the RX1 is clearly...

By Digital Trends on June 18, 2013

All technical and pricing issues aside, one of the things I love about the RX1 is that, in this digital world, it brings me back to thinking before I shoot, much like the Leica M9 does. Sure, there are faster and more clever digital cameras than the RX1...

By DigitalCameraReview on May 03, 2013

Near-breathless anticipation is pretty much how you'd describe the mood when Sony announced plans for what, on paper, looked to be the most advanced compact camera ever . So magnificently crafted is the RX1, a pro-level shooter with a full-frame sensor...

By Wired on April 25, 2013

Sony’s attempt at a fixed-lens, compact-style camera in the RX1 is an excellent one. It’s well on the way to being one of the best cameras we’ve tested in terms of image quality, and has a control scheme that’s easy to understand and use manually....

By Good Gear Guide on March 27, 2013

With a terrific lens and a great full-frame sensor, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 delivers the best photos we've seen from a fixed-lens camera. But that doesn't come...

By cnet on March 26, 2013

If you want a high-resolution full-frame camera that can fit into a coat pocket, the Sony RX1 fills the bill. Its control layout makes it pleasing to use and its performance is generally excellent (particularly at high sensitivity settings)As a compact,...

By Photo Review Australia on March 25, 2013

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 is the smallest full-frame camera you can find right now, and while it pumps out gorgeous images, its price is likely to induce sticker...

By PC Mag on March 08, 2013

It’s not for the faint hearted, or for the beginner, but if you are looking for the ultimate compact camera, the RX1 is the one to beat. Now we just need a full frame NEX camera with interchangeable lenses and we’d be able to leave those pesky DSLRs behind for good.

By The Verge on March 07, 2013

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