Product Listing

Sony RX1 - High Performance, Low Stamina

By Alvin Soon - 10 Feb 2013
Launch SRP: S$3999

Conclusion

Conclusion

This is the way we see the Sony RX1: It’s a niche, proof-of-concept camera that’s pushing the limits of camera design, built for the photographer who appreciates a 35mm f/2 lens, and is a luxurious second (or twenty second) camera for the person who can afford to drop S$3999 on one.

If you love 35mm f/2 and want the power of a 24MP full-frame sensor, the RX1 will not disappoint you with its solid construction, smooth handling and gorgeous images. As photographers know, it can be refreshing to play within the constraints of a prime lens, and the RX1’s compact size makes it a delight to just drop in your bag for the casual day out, to hold in your hands when you’re walking the streets looking for a decisive moment.

Sure, you can always get a full-frame DSLR camera and a 35mm f/2 lens and still be able to swap out lenses in the future. You'll spend slightly less, a Nikon D600 (S$2999) with a Nikkor 35mm f/2 (S$659) will set you back S$3658, a Canon 6D (S$2899) with a EF35mm f/2 (S$529) will cost S$3428. With a DSLR, you’ll also get a camera with a tried-and-proven phase detect AF system which works great for still or moving subjects and in bright or low light, as well as a built-in optical viewfinder. But you won’t get the RX1’s compact size and nearly silent shutter, two factors which will help you remain inconspicuous and unthreatening when photographing people.

Now, the camera isn’t perfect. We were ready to give the RX1 our full love when it first arrived - until the battery died out on us on day two of our testing. This was after shooting about 250 images on a full charge. Battery life is seriously low, rated at 220 to 270 images, which is easily half a day of shooting (well, depending on how trigger-happy you are). No use having a powerful full-frame camera in your hands with Carl Zeiss lens if it won’t turn on.

And it’s rather silly that the RX1 is its own battery charger. If you want a second battery you’ll need to pay an additional S$79 for it, and if you want to charge both at the same time you’ll need to get the optional external battery charger accessory which costs S$119. That’s an extra S$198 you need to cough up to work around the RX1’s low battery life. It's reason alone for us to hesitate recommending the RX1 for serious usage; despite its other overwhelming strengths, the camera has a pretty weak Achilles’ heel. And it’s one you’ll be paying a lot for.

No Other Camera Like the Sony RX1...Yet

At the moment though, there is no other camera quite like the Sony RX1…except possibly for Fujifilm’s X100S, successor to the highly acclaimed X100, which will be arriving at the end of March.

The Fujifilm X100S is also a camera with a fixed 35mm (in 35mm equivalent) f/2 lens and a new X-Trans CMOS II image sensor. Even though it’s a 16MP APS-C sized sensor, with the lack of an AA filter its image quality might be able to give the RX1 a run for its money, and for much less at US$1,299.95 (approx. S$1610 today; in comparison, the X100 launched here at S$1699).

From its cousin, the Fujifilm X-E1’s test images, it seems that Fujifilm’s sensor comes close, at 2600 LPH to the RX1’s 2800 LPH. If you compare their ISO 200 images, you’ll see that thanks to the lack of an optical pass filter, the Fujifilm X-E1 looks like it can capture slightly more detail than the RX1. The X100S doesn't use the same exact sensor though, so to know for sure how it fares against the Sony RX1 we’ll have to test if for ourselves when it comes out.

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8.5
  • Performance 9
  • Design 9
  • Features 9
  • User-Friendliness 9
  • Value 8
The Good
Well-made camera body
Smooth handling
Very high image quality
Fast f/2.0 lens
Silent shutter
The Bad
Meagre battery life
No external battery charger included
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