Overview

The Sony Cybershot DSC-R1 is a dSLR like digital camera with an impressive wide angle lens and 10 megapixel resolution. The DSC-R1 is clearly aimed at the serious photographer and offers a range of professional features, such as a through the lens viewfinder, full manual controls, high ISO sensitivity and an adjustable TFT monitor.

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Available Reviews

• Sony Cybershot DSC-R1 review at DigitalCameraInfo
• Sony Cybershot DSC-R1 review at Macworld
• Sony Cybershot R1 review at LetsGoDigital
• Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-R1 review at Designtechnica
• Sony Cyber-shot DCS R1 review at Steve's Digicams
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 review at Popular Photography
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 at dpreview
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 review at Camera Labs
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 review at PCMag
• Sony Cybershot DSC-R1 review at imaging resource
• Sony Cybershot DSC-R1 review at DCRP

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Features

Wide Angle Lens
At 24mm focal length (35mm compatible) the DSC-R1 is capable of ultra wide angle shooting that most dSLR cameras can’t achieve.

Through the Lens Viewfinder
The Cybershot R1’s viewfinder allows you to preview your target through the lens, like a digital SLR camera.

Creative Controls
The Cybershot R1 supports a range of exposure modes, including Aperture Priority, Exposure Priority and full manual control. ISO sensitivity ranges from 160 to an impressive 3200.

Angle adjustable 2 inch TFT Monitor
The TFT monitor of the Cybershot R1 can be rotated and twisted, allowing you to shoot from a wide range of angle and perspectives without loosing the ability to preview your composition.

Dual Media Support
The DSC-R1 not only accepts the Sony Memory Stick media, but also CompactFlasha nd Microdrive media, giving you greater choice and flexibility on what storage medium to use.

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Specifications

Resolution: 10 megapixels
Focal Length: 35mm equivalent: 24 mm-120 mm
Optical Zoom: 5x
Exposure Modes:
Shutter Speed: 1/2000 - 30 seconds; Bulb up to 3 minutes
LCD Display: 2 inch TFT
Storage Media: Memory Stick®/Memory Stick PRO™ media; CompactFlash™ Type I/ CompactFlash Type II / Microdrive™ media
Battery: battery pack
Dimensions (H x W x D): 5 1/2 x 3 7/8 x 6 1/8 inch, 139.4 x 97.7 x 156mm
Weight: 5 oz, 1047 g

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Press Release

Sony intends to create a new benchmark in digital photography with the introduction of its high-end Cyber-shot® DSC-R1 camera.

The Cyber-shot® R1 camera is the world’s first integrated lens digital still camera to combine a professional-grade, 10.3-megapixel image sensor and the flexibility of live preview while shooting. With its ultra-wide Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* zoom lens (24mm - 120mm) and free-angle, two-inch LCD, the Cyber-shot R1 brings professional level imaging performance to mainstream consumers.

“The R1 represents a breakthrough in digital camera technology and construction,” said James Neal, director for digital imaging products at Sony Electronics. “You can grab this camera and go, confident that you will be prepared for a wide range of shooting situations. Its many convenience features and exceptional performance can not easily be matched with a typical consumer-level digital SLR.”

A Class of Its Own

Photo enthusiasts know that image sensor size is one of the most important influences on picture quality. Professional-grade image sensors, sometimes referred to as advanced photo system (APS) or APS-class, are many times the size of compact sensors used in point-and-shoot cameras; large sensors deliver extraordinary resolution, high sensitivity to light, and lower image noise or graininess for exceptional pictures. At 10.3 megapixels, the R1’s sensor offers one of the highest resolutions available in the APS class.

Unlike digital SLRs, the Cyber-shot R1 unit’s sensor allows for a “live” preview thanks to Sony Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Until now, the extraordinary power consumption of these large sensors has limited their operation to image capture only - unable to support the benefit of a live preview. Sony’s distinctive design is employed to reduce power consumption, as well as increase image processing speeds.

The camera’s electronic viewfinder or two-inch LCD lets you evaluate scene conditions, such as exposure and how color is rendered before taking a shot. Because the R1 camera can preview electronically, using the image sensor itself in real-time, framing is always 100% accurate.

Built Digital from the Ground Up

The R1’s integrated Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens was carefully crafted to take full advantage of the resolution, clarity and color performance of its APS-class CMOS image sensor. Because of the sensor’s live preview capability, there is no need for the camera to have a traditional “mirror and prism” construction common to digital SLRs. This allows a lens-to-sensor distance of as little as 2 mm, optimizing image quality and color accuracy.

Another benefit of this structure is the ability to incorporate an extraordinary wide field of view and zoom range. The 24 mm wide end of the lens is particularly suited for architectural photography, landscapes and large-group portraits, while the 120 mm telephoto end is perfect for filling the frame with distant subjects. This is a range not easily matched by any other lens for use with cameras using large-scale image sensors.

Furthermore, no mirror and prism construction means that the R1 is a quiet camera, perfect for shooting at a tennis match or in nature without disturbing wildlife.

Get the Shot without the Backache

The Cyber-shot R1 sports a two-inch, LCD screen that folds flat and swivels so you can shoot from nearly any position. This flexibility allows you to get the shots that other cameras miss. For example, you can hold the camera low - down to the ground - for eye-level view shots of kids and pets without having to bend yourself into a pretzel or crawling on the ground.

The Power of Optimal Image Processing

A 10.3-megapixel camera needs a fast processor. Sony harnessed the power of it Real Imaging Processor™ LSI to achieve fast response times, low power consumption and clear images.

The new camera features a one-second shot-to-shot time, three frame-per-second burst shooting, and a shutter release time of only 7.5 milliseconds. Because it consumes 70 percent less power than Sony’s previous processing circuitry, the camera has a battery life of up to 500 shots per charge, which can vary according to use and camera settings.

For enhanced versatility, Cyber-shot R1 offers three different modes of color reproduction: Adobe RGB used for professional graphics and offset color printing, Standard sRGB for most computer-based uses, and Vivid sRGB for more intense primary colors.

The camera’s user selectable Advanced Gradation Control System (AGCS) optimizes image contrast, in order to avoid “blown out” highlights in high-contrast scenes and “crushed” blacks in low-contrast ones. AGCS evaluates the distribution of brightness and then automatically applies the appropriate gamma curve to achieve better pictures.

Users will also enjoy the added convenience of storing images onto Memory Stick PRO™ media, as well as CompactFlash® Type I and Type II media or Microdrive® media. The camera supports both JPEG and RAW formats, which can then be manipulated on a PC using the supplied Sony Image Data Converter SR software.

The Cyber-shot R1 camera will be available in mid-November for about $1,000
(source: Sony)