 "Just a Mom who wants to take good photo's.." | 2008-09-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: AASFP1243Q36O |
| This camera is the best thing i've ever invested in..Crystal clear photo's easy to operate and fun to shoot..I even bought an extra battery and fast action soccer photo's are fantastic..buy it..you will love this camera..video's are awsome too..oh yea the disk that organizes you film is supurb..enjoy.. |
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| "Two years with the D1" | 2007-10-24 |
| - Reviewed By lekfx3 |
I have had mine for over 2 years and I LOVE this thing. In my opinion it is a classic digital camera. I have taken so many stunning shots with it, and when I hand it to others, less skilled than I, they take them too. It's true, that a camera can't make you a better photographer, unless it has a superb noise reduction algorhythm, a spectacular lens, a big CMOS chip and a fast response time. It turns on so quickly that I can leave it off and turn it on for a grab-shot, and extend the spectacularly long (530 minutes plus!) battery time indefinitely. The only down side is that I end up keeping so many shots, well over 5000 now, that my poor drive is full! I really love this thing. It's been all over the world with me, contributed to high-end visual effects jobs, created truly memorable shots and therefore gifts, web content, commemorations, art pieces etc. that I will never part with it. Find it for sub-$500 and you will never look back. I also recommend the instructional DVD they sell here. Moderate production value, but high instructional value. This camera is not a simple snap-shooter if you want to make art, so the DVD is the fastest way to learn the features and refresh memory. VERY helpful indeed. The added feature that it uses two different memory media if nice too. I am currently carrying 12 gigs of memory!!! That translates to something over 2,700 10mp JPEG pictures! I will never max out. Impressive, huh? Well, I think so!
Enjoy it! I love mine so much.
Lekfx |
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| "Marvelous Piece of Photographic Equipment" | 2007-09-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: A21F6GZXI43IH8 |
I have owned my R1 for nearly a year now and I must say that I am confident that I made a wise decision. I debated going the dslr route and decided against it after exploring the R1 option. I found this camera loaded with the features that I wanted and I didn't feel hampered by the fixed lens. The picture quality is outstanding! The lens is sharp and wonderfully bright! There is no fringing or wide angle distorting. The digital crop is very impressive and the live preview (one of the reasons I went with the camera) is a wonderful feature.
The bang for the buck that is available with the R1 is quite impressive. I am a very satisfied customer. |
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 "Excellent quality, poor performance" | 2007-08-25 |
| - Reviewed By harryshinphoto |
1. I've had the R1 essentially since it came out (2yrs?).
2. As has been documented in many reviews--> this is a camera that can produce excellent results, IF you shoot in RAW.
3. With the above being said, this camera will or will not work for you mainly depending on the type of photography you normally do.
a. Poor macro: the in camera macro ability is a joke--> if macro is important, you'll need to get the screw on close up filter.
b. Obviously fixed lens 24-120mm. I think that 24mm is going to be wide enough for most folks (including me... most of the time). However, I would think that most folks may want to shoot more than 120mm episodically. There is a wide angle convertor lens (which is good) and a tele convertor lens which is terrible (read my review on that).
c. Burst rate: terrible--> only 3 shots in JPEG. Thus, if you're into sport, shooting action shots, taking shots of the kids--> forget it. And by the way--> fast focusing is not a strong suit with the R1 either.
d. RAW write times: slow and subpar for this caliber of camera. And as noted above, if you want to get the highest quality image, you really need to shoot in RAW.
4. Translation: if you're mainly into landscape photography--> this might be a very good camera for you. However, like me--> you'll find that the lack of the ability to shoot beyond 120mm, the lack of true macro capabilities, the slow RAW write times (when you really want to capture a fleeting scene)... can all be very frustrating--> which then brings the realization upon oneself of "perhaps this is why most (all) professionals use DSLRs." It's a great camera which is capable of excellent images, but the poor performance is a significant limiting factor which becomes more and more apparent over time and in different shooting situations. |
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 "After a year and a half, still good..." | 2007-08-20 |
| - Reviewed By xclnt |
I pre-ordered this camera from Sony way back in November of 2005. It was shipped to me before Christmas that year. Ever since, I have used the camera as a stock photographer and a family photographer. The personal photos have been excellent and print very sharp to at least 8.5x11 (though in Photoshop the linear dimensions are poster size).
Unfortunately, the main failing has been in the color noise and artifacting for stock photography. Because I do not use a tripod for on-the-fly outdoor shots, I have gotten used to either spending hours with Photoshop fixing the "purple fringes" (also cyan and red shifts) or just submitting the full-sun shots and hope the inspector will tolerate a bit of color noise for the shadier areas.
The lack of any image stabilizing process (as the newer Sony/Minolta cameras have) is the major problem. Because my acceptance rate is less than 50%, and the most common reason given for rejection is color noise and artifacting, I'm waiting for the release of Canon's new DSLR (the 40D?), which might or might not have the same MP resolution as the Sony DSC R1, but it's a true SLR with image stabilization. For prosumer use, therefore, the R1 is not adequate because of its lack of in-camera image stabilization.
Nonetheless, the built-in flash is bright enough for most medium- and close-range use (especially since it's positioned right above the lens, minimizing the outline shadows where the flash is offset), the focal range goes from wide angle to medium telephoto, the Sony tripod with remote control works fine with this camera (if you can tolerate using a tripod), the memory cards in 2 formats (MS and CF) allow for great utility (e.g., in-camera backup), the interfaces are handy (I back up in the field on an iPod 80GB), iPhoto runs fine with the R1 connected, and the camera's fake shutter sound can be turned off for absolutely silent candid photos (especially since people don't realize that you're focusing using the top-mounted LCD viewfinder). The diopter adjustment of the optical viewfinder can be set precisely.
Not so nice is the placement of the hot shoe for the external flash to the right, above the grip/battery compartment. The shadows cast are dense and distracting, although the Sony smart flash works extremely well. Also, I have lost 2 Memory Sticks and 1 Compact Flash card--all 2 GB--until I read on the web the recommendation that memory cards should be formatted by the camera rather than by a computer. I did that with one card which I eventually filled with pictures of our first grandchild (a couple of hundred photos), when the camera suddenly showed "Format Error." I couldn't get a professional recovery company to rescue anything, even when I said they could open up the card to get inside, voiding the money-back guarantee. So...I've been deleting pictures one by one, using the camera itself (very tedious), rather than having the R1 or my iMac do the re-formatting. (A couple of e-mails to Sony resulted in polite replies, but no action.)
Another limitation of the R1 is that it is hard to protect it. The Sony hard-leather case is so strangely shaped that putting the cover on and taking it off take too much time for field use. So I use the camera without the rather costly leather case I bought from Sony.
The LCD viewfinder, being on top of the camera, puts off subjects who are in groups waiting for their souvenir photo because they think you're adjusting the camera instead of composing the picture. So I find I use the optical viewfinder most of the time, especially with the superimposed grid to help me align vertical and horizontal planes. I do wish that Sony had provided some kind of bellows hood for the optical viewfinder. In bright sunlight, the LCD viewfinder is hard to see, and the bright reflections in the optical viewfinder requires me to wear a baseball cap or use my hand to shade it.
The self-timer (with camera on a tripod) is excellent--people can be warned that the amber light will flash slowly when the self-timer is on, and will flash rapidly just before the shutter trips. Still, if I have forgotten to turn on the audio shutter sound, people stand there for a few seconds, not realizing the photo has been taken.
After a year and a half of using this camera, I am very glad I had it as my starter camera for semi-pro photography. And I still have another year and a half to go on the service/repair extended warranty I bought and have not needed. But I'm saving money to take a step up, perhaps to a true SLR from Canon or Nikon. |
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| "The Second "Flawed Jewel" in a Series?" | 2007-04-03 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2VODABWSVHV8E |
When Sony put out the DSC-F828 back in 2004, the camera was immediately tagged "the flawed jewel" by many reviewers. The reasons were obvious: with the new four-color HAD sensor, incredible ergonomics, and multiple control features often paralleling a DSLR, Sony positioned the device to become the camera of choice for pros and semi-pros who wished to have a second camera to escape from carrying around a DSLR and a set of lenses on every trip. Unfortunately, the camera, though taking wonderful photographs for the most part, suffered from strong purple fringing ("chromatic aberration," as it is called), and it was one of those love-hate relationships. Most people loved their F828, but just were aggravated that Sony had chosen to release such a gorgeous unit with such an obvious flaw.
Fortunately, we don't have to say the same for the DSC-R1, and it is worthwhile to report that most all the issues surrounding the F828 have been corrected in the R1. In fact, the DSC-R1 outpaces all current non-DSLR's by a significant amount in the ostensibly most critical area: image quality. The camera is capable of producing some of the most beautiful images one will ever take with a non-DSLR rig. In fact, SO good, that one will begin to seriously question whether a DSLR is even necessary for most people who are non-pros. The camera does most everything that a DSLR will do, and to boot, has a built-in lens that, if purchased as an equivalent combination of lenses for a DSLR, would easily cost twice as much (some say even more). And those pictures are just gorgeous. Striking detail, rich color, surprising sharpness, and few missed shots. To boot, battery life is superb, the best I've seen in a camera thus far. And the lens, while only providing a 5x optical zoom, also provides a very wide 24mm landscape shot, and so there is actually a tremendous range between its widest and most zoomed settings.
Now, the inevitable caveats. There are indeed some factors which do not make this camera a "no brainer" for every user. And, without fanfare, let me list some of them for consideration before you make the plunge to purchase one.
First, the camera has an unusual physical design which lends itself more to waist-level shooting, with the user looking DOWN onto the top of the camera, where the LCD can be seen. It is true that the LCD pops up and can be positioned upright so that one can shoot straight-ahead, but at 2.2 pounds, let me know how far you go until you decide arm fatigue forces you to rethink that decision. Although I actually prefer the waist-level shooting of the R1, I have to admit that the configuration is somewhat unconventional, and not everyone will get used to it. Some downright hate this physical configuration.
Next, there is one area where image quality does take a small hit, and that is in the level of distortion when shooting at the camera's widest "(i.e., 24mm) setting. Particularly when shooting architecture, but in reality for most any setting, the wide-angle setting will produce significant inward bending ("vertical perspective distortion") of the image, requiring you to use an image editing program, such as Adobe Photoshop, to correct the image. (If you are not familiar with this phenomenon, a photograph of a building with this type of distortion will make the sides of the building not appear to be straight, as though the building's walls, appearing tilted inward, would eventually meet each other if extended long enough.) This is not an insurmountable obstacle, as one can correct this relatively easily with image editors, but it is one of the few areas in which the camera underperforms. However, when looking at the overall image quality of shots the R1 takes (clarity, detail, and color), it's pretty easy to forgive this one issue.
Finally, there are a few specification issues one should taken note of before purchase. The optical zoom of the camera tops out at 5x, which is not all that bad, but many people may wish for a greater zoom amount. (A Sony add-on lens boosts zoom by 1.7x, but this conversion lens is expensive, heavy, and bulky.) Macro focus performance is also not nearly as good as the old F828: one must be a good number of inches away from any object to achieve a focus, even when the "macro" mode is selected. Also, should you choose to shoot in RAW mode, the resultant images, while of superb quality, take up a whopping 20Mb per shot, quickly overwhelming both your storage and your patience as you try to copy, open, and transfer files. And because the R1 was released before the specifications for the new Memory Stick Pro Duo were released, the camera can only accept up to 4Gb Memory Sticks, and the camera is also just old enough not have included anti-shake technology, so these limitations are unfortunately present in the R1. Mitigating these shortcomings is the fact that the R1 does possess a second slot for Compact Flash cards for capacities up to 4Gb (making total potential memory capacity equal to 8Gb), and the fact that a three-inch mini-tripod can easily be used for difficult shots (which often yields better results than anti-shake technology).
Having said all of this, the final judgment comes after using the camera over time, viewing the images it produces, and comparing it to other fine cameras on the market. You'll find few people who own a R1 who will say anything other than the images it takes are superb. And the reason why is because the photos ARE superb. If you find that the minor issues described above are of little concern to you and that the physical design of the unit is one to which you can adjust (or even, as me, can even prefer), then this could be a great find for a semi-professional, non-DSLR camera. It may be somewhat of a "flawed jewel" like its predecessor the F828, but with fewer outstanding issues and greatly improved picture quality over the F828.
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| "My evaluation of R1" | 2007-01-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: ATRRNYRMBZSZ3 |
| Well this is not my first digital camera, I had the G5, G6 and A620. I am used to them focusing real well the first time around most of the time. I expected the R1 to focus well the first time I shot, it didn't though so I was very dissapointed in this. I found out that some of the auto focus features need to be turned off in order for it to focus better it does help alot but focus is slow. For the money I spent I expected better in the focus area. The lens is great and the photo quality is very good. It's just not that quick. Battery life is very good. The camera feels pretty good in the hands but I would have liked to see metal. I don't like plastic on cameras. I want to feel I own something when I hold it. I don't care about how light it is. I am happy with my camera at least by the fact that the quality of shots is as good as any digital slr. I am glad it has a good lens I don't like having to buy alot of lens so Sony did good in this aspect with the R1. If I knew what I know now I might not have bought the R1 maybe I would have went for something else. If something else was a little better in the speed area and focus. But when I think about it there are not many choices with something that has a good lens already and is not a mirror reflex where one has to worry about dust. This one is better in that respect. This is why I give the camera a 4 because Sony could have perfected this camera but they did not. |
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| "my review on sony r1" | 2006-12-30 |
| - Reviewed By kool100vr4 |
well, i finally bought the sony r1, after along wait for the price to drop, and read all reviews on it..i got it for 565$.
what i like about r1:
build quality, good zeiss lens, 24mm wide angle, iso change on cam just a botton..great colors balance, low noise and high iso, big cmos sensor, use both pro stick and cf card, long battery life , displays batt life in mins, useable high iso at 400, top view and swivel lcd, manual tele zoomring, good raw files.
what i dont like:
battery charges in camera is a big draw back, while you charge the batt, you cant use the camera to shoot, bad feature, hope sony improves it on next camera. the camera design is so weird, the grip is over size, off balance on hand, view finder housing is over size, to use external flash you have to go to menu and change it everytime, and change back to use pop up flash, cant use both flashes, missing OIS(opical image stabilizer), its heavy and big, tele at 120mm is at f4.8, AF is not that fast, its kinda slow, especially in dark, sony should learn from this cam and improves it on next camera, im sure they will.the price is abit too high for a point and shoot, no video mode, macro is too far from subject, about 15 niches.
other than that i love to use it, its my main camera to walk around with, i love the image result quality, thats why i bought it, i know no camera is perfect yet.for the price i paid im not complainning. its a dslr wanna be, very close to dslr results.
i strongly suggest to any one who wants a back up to dslr.. |
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| "Great camera for the money, but is it better than an SLR?" | 2006-12-04 |
| - Reviewed By rafcolectr1 |
I recently bought this camera as an upgrade from my Sony 8.0 MP 828. This is my third Sony SLR-like camera, with my first one being the 5 MP 717. I upgraded to this one in order to get photos that were as clear and as sharp as possible from the miniature items that I buy and sell.
As I found with the 828 when upgrading from the 717, there was a significant learning curve over previous cameras. However, now with my third Sony camera, I've discovered that the learning curve lasts for about a month - then one can start taking photos with good results.
The learning curve with the R1 was as predicted. Out of the box, the camera is impressive, if only just in size! It is probably double the weight (or at least close) to a 717, and is probably 25% larger than the 828. The lens is a whopping 67mm - a full increment larger than the 828. The next thing you notice on the camera is the lack of an LCD viewfinder, which Sony took off the camera and placed on an adjustable screen on top of the camera. Quite novel.
A quick walk around the camera shows that Sony learned from the cumbersomeness of the 828 with regard to adjustments on the camera and made the R1 very "user friendly." The camera is easy to hold (though heavy) with one hand, and the photographer is able to make the adjustments with his other - definitely making it two-handed operation. It seems that just about everything has a button on the back or side of the camera, and once you learn where everything is, it is easy to change the exposure, etc., with just a quick adjustment.
For what I do (and if you're planning to use it for photographing small objects, this is something to keep in mind) the major initial drawback was the focus length of the camera. Unlike the 828, where you could be within inches of the object and shoot beautiful closeups, this camera requires at least a foot, if not more, in order to focus. Once you get it to the right focal length (and after the purchase of a macro filter - a must have) the shots are glorious. HOWEVER, what does a long focal length with detailed photos mean? You MUST have the camera stabilized (tripod, etc.) in order to get good shots. Hand-held detail shots are a no-go with this camera. Also, if you like to take .mpg movies through your camera, you'll be disappointed. This camera does not have that capability.
As far as plusses, the camera is super high quality, and is relatively easy to use. The lens is fantastic, and the rest of the camera seems to be as equal in quality. I've gotten used to the LCD viewfinder, and have been able to use it for some great shots that I might not of otherwise been able to view with the fixed viewfinder.
I will also add that my wife has gotten quite savvy with this camera, which is a first for her. She has been able to get some phenomenal photographs, particularly portraits, thus far. She loves this camera!
Would I buy another? I'm not sure. I'm a fan of getting new toys, so I had to have it. However, I think my 828 may take better (or at least easier) close up shots. I must admit that I haven't taken this camera on a road trip just yet to take outdoor photos, and I can only imagine that with the lens and processor that it will be terrific. My word of advice would be: if you HAVE to have the highest-end quasi-SLR, then this camera is for you. Overall, I'm happy with this camera, but I just don't know if it might just be worthwhile moving over to the quality SLRs that don't cost much more than this, such as the Canon 20D. Though I'll happily use this camera for now and am giving it five stars as there are no significant detractors that I have found with it, I believe that my next upgrade will be to a quality SLR. |
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| "Awesome Camera" | 2006-11-14 |
| - Reviewed By bookman2u |
| I just had my R1 for a week now and I love it. In summary, it's an awesome camera. Takes great quality pictures with true colors and great details. I got it for $650 and at that price, I'd say it's a bargain. If you're in the market for a full size professional digital camera, R1 is the camera you've been looking for. In addition to the awesome quality pictures it takes, 5X zoom, long battery life, CF and memorystick options, swifel LCD screen, etc.. makes this camera even more competitive. |
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Expedited Available
