Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/02/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I had the opportunity to test a Sony RX1 briefly. I sent it back due to defects, but it is an interesting camera and has a few attributes that are an exciting glimpse of the future. The Zeiss optic has edge-of-the-frame sharpness that is really remarkable. The bad news is that just in from the edges the image falls apart. My Zeiss ZM 35mm f/2.8 Biogon is better outside the very edges -- even at f2.8. If the Zeiss soft do-nut is not just some assembly quirk, I'd say Zeiss poorly balanced the performance of the lens. (The cynic in me says they were gaming some standardized testing protocol.) The 24 MP Sony sensor does not seem to be able to capture quite as much fine detail as the M9. I may be totally spoiled by the M9's lack of a diffusion screen (AA filter) over the sensor. An interesting surprise is that the noise and ISO advantage of the Sony CMOS does not totally transfer to my B&W shooting. The green and blue channels of the CMOS image have way less noise at iso 1600 and 3 stops down into the shadows. However, the red channel of the CCD is essentially as good as that of the Sony CMOS. I don't know if this is typical of CMOS v. CCD or just these samples. The Sony manual focusing isn't close to what I like. I did not have the electronic viewfinder, however, so I can't say if there is potentially a way to get more accuracy out of the system. The peaking has way too much DOF -- just insensitive to seemingly significant moves of the focusing ring. Manually opening the lens to f/2 should not be necessary. The electronic level that one can make visible in the viewfinder is just fantastic. Now I don't want any camera that does not have that feature. The system sucked the little batteries dry way too fast. Carry a pocket full of OEM batteries (the third party sample would not fit). So, interesting, but not ready for prime time for me. Paul www.PaulRoark.com