Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-R1 Review

Sony's new DSC-R1 10.3 Mega-Pixel digital camera is smoking hot. Find out why you should wait and purchase this camera when it's out.

Summary

This was one of the most anticipated digital cameras of 2005 and it arrived in November for under $999. The just-introduced 12.8MP Canon EOS 5D ($3,299) was the other object de lust since it’s the world’s "smallest and lightest" full frame D-SLR. With full frame cameras there’s no "digital factor" so all lenses including fish-eyes are their true focal lengths. Before the 5D you’d have to spend seven grand to get this convenience. At this price the 5D is targeted to very serious photographers; the DSC-R1 is for mere mortals.

What makes this Sony so unique is its 10.3MP CMOS sensor (3888 x 2592 pixels) that’s far greater than price-competitive D-SLRs with their "puny" 6- and 8-megapixel sensors. Also of tremendous importance is the fact the imaging device is much bigger than those found in typical point-and-shoot cameras. One of the biggest issues in digital camera land today is the fact 8- and 9-megapixel compact digicams have major issues with digital noise once ISO settings increase. Without going into a boring riff on sensor technology, smaller sensors cram pixels onto 2/3-inch or smaller pieces of silicon. With D-SLRs and the Sony DSC-R1, sensor size is referred to as APS class (Advanced Photo System) that is 21.5mm x 14.4mm in the case of the R1. Simply put these larger sensors deliver improved picture quality. Personally I’ve been much more impressed with 6MP D-SLRs such as the Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D  with their APS-sized sensors than point-and-shoot 8MPs like the Panasonic DMC-FZ30  with a 1/1.8-inch CCD. Nothing against the companies involved; it’s just physics.

Sony has now brought APS-sized sensors to point-and-shoot digicams for a price slightly more than a Maxxum 5D, Canon Rebel XT or Nikon D50 kit. Also of note: with this new technology you can also frame your images on the 2-inch LCD screen, something no D-SLR can offer. There are lots of other improvements as well. Now should you hold off buying a D-SLR until you get your hands on the DSC-R1? Check out our take