new Sony 10 MP CMOS based fixed lens Camera

[Cosmica]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0509/05090801sonydscr1.asp

So what y`all think?

[Spectrum]

From the link:
"...The R1's APS-C size sensor is also unique in providing full-time live view video for the camera's EVF (electronic viewfinder) and LCD monitor. This means that the R1 can do away with the mirror box and prism arrangement of a a traditional digital SLR and hence have a more compact integrated lens / body design."


How is that 'unique'?

This is precisely the problem with every single 'SLR-like Professional-Style' camera on the market today. They look the business, until you try and perform some critical focusing, and then you can't work it out through their cruddy electronic viewfinders (or worse still, rear panel LCD).

The whole point (and benefit) of an SLR is the fact that it's an SLR. You get an optical look through the lens before the shot's taken.

For this reason, for similar money, my preference would be towards the Pentax and Olympus true SLR models.

Of course, just my opinion! :D

(...and 10MP is great, asssuming the quality of the lens supports such detail.)

[mxmai]

it's unique because it's never been done before, most likely for the reasons you listed above.

i agree with you, but i think you'll find this isn't aimed at the pro market at all. it's aimed at people who want professional looking cameras with ridiculous resolution.

correct me if i'm wrong (and i admit i may be), but i don't think anybody actually buys a Sony for a quality camera, do they?

[Cosmica]

This camera will be brilliant for low light photography work at clubs, due to the low noise at high ISO.

It is unique because it is the first large CMOS sensor placed in a prosumer camera, this flags the days of high noise at high ISO into the future, which is one of the main complaints of high end non DSLR digital cameras.

[phunkdust]

cosmica - don't be so sure of that

I'll put money on the fact that despite the ISO3200 rating it will not be usable at that level. Because of the live preview design, the sensor is constantly powered up, thus it's getting hot. Hot sensors = mega noise.

The beauty of the DSLR is the sensor is only powered up to take a shot.

I think it's a nice idea though, and it's good to see at least someone is thinking about photographers for a change and putting in a usable focal range into the lens. Panasonic and their superzooms are great but when the range starts at 38mm, it's useless. 24mm is nice and wide, and much more useful.

About the lens... For that price, being a zoom, no I don't think the lens comes anywhere near the resolution of the sensor. For a $1600 integrated lens setup there isn't a great deal of money to spend on glass. It's not a bad lens but it's not brilliant. Mr Zeiss himself would be spinning in his grave if he knew the crap that Sony was putting on their cameras.

[Cosmica]

Sorry phunky, I just cannot agree on the quality of the lens,

Having used f series cameras for the last few years I am a strong supporter of the lens quality in the high end sony camera.

ISO 3200 may be not so worthwhile, but even in most DSLR cameras it is pushing the limits.

A prosumer with usable ISO up to 800 and possibly 1600? Great news.

The feature set of this camera do not really appeal to me however, it lacks fast RAW and burst speed in JPEG. which a DSLR has a strong advantage of. This camera will set the scene for the next two years of some fantastic products coming out from all vendors.

The only thing I hate about this camera, no nightshot and IR like the old f series.

[phunkdust]

sure, the zeiss lens isn't to be laughed at, but it's no fkn leica :thumb:


if you want nightshot it's not hard to make an IR flood


I try to stay away from ISO3200 on my 20D, if i *really* need the shot I can use it but I try to get around it first (reframe, get more light, use IS or a makeshift support)

Oh and that Sony is certainly not the first integrated digital to extend up to a usable 1600ISO

[Spectrum]

it's unique because it's never been done before, most likely for the reasons you listed above.

Not sure if you understood what I was getting at. :)

I was saying it wasn't unique because it's the same as every SLR-like camera before it (ie. electronic viewfinder).

I don't know why Sony would suggest it's "unique in providing full-time live view video for the camera's EVF (electronic viewfinder) and LCD monitor", because it just is not. Even the crummiest camera phone does that.

i agree with you, but i think you'll find this isn't aimed at the pro market at all. it's aimed at people who want professional looking cameras with ridiculous resolution.

Agreed.

Though I have no doubt pro results could be pulled from it.

Having said that, some of my best images (35mm film) have been 4 to 8 minute exposure before sunrise/after sunset. No digital camera will allow you to do that without a disgusting level of video noise.


correct me if i'm wrong (and i admit i may be), but i don't think anybody actually buys a Sony for a quality camera, do they?

Still camera or video?

Canon, Panasonic, and JVC make semi- and/or fully professional video cameras, though it's Sony that's leading the field (though sometimes with Canon lenses).

:)