Sony RX1 - thoughts?
Discussion
I’ve been a very satisfied Sony RX100 user for many years as it has fulfilled my needs, which are portability and decent quality. However, I am realising that it’s never going to be brilliant in very low light and you struggle to get decent bokeh.
I really don’t want to go back to a DSLR (had one years ago when the kids were tiny, and guess what - the only pics I have of them was taken on an iPhone as I never took it out with me).
I am, therefore attracted to the Sony RX1R as it’s still relatively small but has a full frame sensor. Has anyone got any real world experience of them? The main thing that puts me off is the fixed lens as I’ve been used to zooms for so long (including my 35mm days). I’d want to use it for night photography and getting some decent shallow depth of field pics.
Any experiences welcome!
I really don’t want to go back to a DSLR (had one years ago when the kids were tiny, and guess what - the only pics I have of them was taken on an iPhone as I never took it out with me).
I am, therefore attracted to the Sony RX1R as it’s still relatively small but has a full frame sensor. Has anyone got any real world experience of them? The main thing that puts me off is the fixed lens as I’ve been used to zooms for so long (including my 35mm days). I’d want to use it for night photography and getting some decent shallow depth of field pics.
Any experiences welcome!
Love them and hate them in equal measure. The RX1RII has improved quite a lot of things (at a cost) but the RX1 (and RX1R) are very much first generation kit. Awful battery life, slow AF, poor UI, difficult to use in bright sunlight etc. But...the lens is great, the output is lovely and nothing comes close for the size and cost of a used RX1 these days.
Here's an album from London a few years back: https://www.flickr.com/photos/harry_s/albums/72157...
I'd recommend one but only if you go in fully aware that it's terrible camera with incredible output. They are much smaller in practice than an a7/35mm 2.8 combo, it will actually go in a (large) pocket, which is undeniably cool for a full frame sensor camera.
Here's an album from London a few years back: https://www.flickr.com/photos/harry_s/albums/72157...
I'd recommend one but only if you go in fully aware that it's terrible camera with incredible output. They are much smaller in practice than an a7/35mm 2.8 combo, it will actually go in a (large) pocket, which is undeniably cool for a full frame sensor camera.
Edited by ch37 on Wednesday 8th July 09:44
Would you find the fixed 35mm lens a little limiting on that Sony?
Have you thought about the Panasonic DC-LX100M2? Micro 4/3 sensor, so not full frame but still a bigger sensor than the 1" chip in the RX100 cameras, and still quite pocketable!
https://www.panasonic.com/middleeast/en/consumer/c...
F1.7 at the wide end, and a 24-75 (equivalent) zoom
To me, it's the ultimate pro pocket cam!
Edited to correct a typo!
Have you thought about the Panasonic DC-LX100M2? Micro 4/3 sensor, so not full frame but still a bigger sensor than the 1" chip in the RX100 cameras, and still quite pocketable!
https://www.panasonic.com/middleeast/en/consumer/c...
F1.7 at the wide end, and a 24-75 (equivalent) zoom
To me, it's the ultimate pro pocket cam!
Edited to correct a typo!
Edited by Fordo on Wednesday 8th July 16:19
I have been using my Rx1r for last 5 or 6 years and still love it.
Yes, AF is slow and menus are not too friendly but it still takes amazing photos. I shot cars at Nurbugring with it, weddings, dogs and plenty of travel.
In my opinion it's a vastly superior camera to any 1inch compact (I also have Canon G7X and had an Rx100).
I have an A9 and sometimes take it with a pancake lens but although the speed of use and convenience is greatly improved then, it still doesn't match the pocketability of the Rx1r.
Ah yeah, don't worry too much about poor battery life - it really isn't that bad, they charge quickly in the camera with any micro USB and they are cheap and small to carry multiple with you if you are planning to shoot a lot.
Yes, AF is slow and menus are not too friendly but it still takes amazing photos. I shot cars at Nurbugring with it, weddings, dogs and plenty of travel.
In my opinion it's a vastly superior camera to any 1inch compact (I also have Canon G7X and had an Rx100).
I have an A9 and sometimes take it with a pancake lens but although the speed of use and convenience is greatly improved then, it still doesn't match the pocketability of the Rx1r.
Ah yeah, don't worry too much about poor battery life - it really isn't that bad, they charge quickly in the camera with any micro USB and they are cheap and small to carry multiple with you if you are planning to shoot a lot.
Edited by mudnomad on Tuesday 21st July 20:00
Up to now I had the view (owning neither) that 'one inch' was quite big, probably Nikon DX-ish, and 'micro 4/3' was quite small, not least because somebody had put 'micro' in the name.
So I was surprised that 'one inch' is actually only 13.2 x 8.8mm. I can't make 'one inch' out of that; even the diagonal is nowhere close. And so the format with 'micro' in the name is actually about twice the area of the one that sounds bigger...
So I was surprised that 'one inch' is actually only 13.2 x 8.8mm. I can't make 'one inch' out of that; even the diagonal is nowhere close. And so the format with 'micro' in the name is actually about twice the area of the one that sounds bigger...
I use an RX1 as a travel camera, as others have alluded too it's main strength is its weight/dimensions and for that I can forgive it any shortcomings, about half of any recent travels here have been taken with it: https://www.flickr.com/photos/54675298@N07/with/48...
I'm probably going to part with that and my 6D to move into either an A7R IV or the Canon R5
D
I'm probably going to part with that and my 6D to move into either an A7R IV or the Canon R5
D
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