Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1

Value (6.5)
For about $1000, the R1 offers an excellent lens and an APS-sized sensor. It's the only camera that does that – the kit lenses on low-end DSLRs don't touch the R1's Zeiss glass. They aren't nearly as wide angle, and they just aren't as good. They distort more, do not handle color as well, and they have smaller apertures.

Still, buying an R1 means giving up interchangeable lenses and reflex viewing, both of which should be powerful draws to most photographers shopping in this price range. All the DSLRs we have tested are faster and more responsive than the R1, and of course, none have the viewfinder "smearing" problem we noted in low light on the R1. Also, the R1 does not offer optical image stabilization or video capture – both strong draws to fixed lens designs.

For a small, defined group of photographers, the R1 poses an adequate value and ideal camera. For other, general consumers, the simplicity of the R1’s system might prove too limited to justify the $1000 purchase.

Comparisons
Panasonic Lumix FZ30 - The FZ30 has been called everything from "the future of photography" to "the Chuck Norris of cameras" by users who expect all-in-one cameras to make SLRs and interchangeable-lens cameras obsolete. Listing for less than $700, the 8 megapixel FZ30 is much less expensive than the 10 megapixel Sony R1, and it has a 12x zoom range with optical image stabilization and video recording. The lens extends to a strong telephoto, but does not offer nearly the wide angle capability of the R1. The R1 wide angle is equivalent to 24mm on a 35mm camera, while the FZ30 only reaches 35mm on a 35 camera. Of course, on the telephoto end, the FZ30 matches a 420mm lens on a 35, while the R1 goes out to a portrait length 120mm equivalent. The R1's Zeiss lens is sharper and shows less distortion than the FZ30's glass. The R1 also has a much larger sensor, yielding better noise results and overall image quality.

Kodak EasyShare P880 - The Kodak EasyShare P880's Schneider-Kreuznach zoom has just about the same 35mm focal length equivalent as the R1's lens. The P880 acts like a 24-140mm, while the R1's lens is like a 24-120mm. The P880 lists for $599, and is an 8 megapixel camera. Its fit and finish aren't as nice as the R1’s, and we found its resolution performance disappointing compared with other 8 megapixel cameras. We weren't happy with the 115,000 pixel LCD, but that's not much worse than the R1's 134,000 pixel display. The P880's controls are inferior to the R1's, but users on a budget who want wide angle capability might save $400 with the P880, and still get the features they want.



Fujifilm FinePix S9000 - The Fujifilm FinePix S9000 is a moderate super zoom, but unlike the FZ30 and most other super zooms it adds a bit at the wide angle end. Its 28mm wide angle equivalent is not as broad as the R1's 24mm equivalent, but it's still a fairly wide angle; many similar cameras start at a 35mm wide setting. Its telephoto setting looks like a 300mm. Its 9 megapixel sensor is 1/1.6" format, which is larger than some of the competition, but smaller than the R1's. Its color accuracy is not as good as the R1's, though it barely over-saturates colors at all. With a list price of less than $700, the S9000 offers a different mix of features than the R1, along with high sensitivity settings.

Canon Rebel XT - For $200 less than the Sony R1, the Canon Rebel XT offers much faster operation, an optical viewfinder, the option of interchangeable lenses, a burst mode and better focusing, but a very much inferior lens. There's no need to pick exclusively on Canon – Nikon's kit lens, Olympus's kit lens, Pentax's kit lens are all very lightly built. Their maximum apertures are annoyingly dim, and their wide angle coverage is insufficient. Super zoom worshipers have a point: to get an entry level DSLR to live up to its potential, the user really has to spend several hundred dollars more on extra lenses.


Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters - The R1 skimps on features for the point-and-shooter in favor of more advanced users. For $1000, the point-and-shooter ought to buy a $300 camera, a couple memory cards, and spend the rest traveling somewhere scenic to take pictures.

Budget Consumers - The R1 charges a premium for its high-quality optics and imaging system. Budget consumers ought to look elsewhere.

Gadget Freaks - Gadget freaks ought to love the unusual design, the snob appeal of the Zeiss lens, the way it switches automatically from the viewfinder to the LCD and the cool factor of the APS-size sensor. It's a great toy (if you can afford to call something that sells for a grand a toy).

Manual Control Freaks - Manual control freaks may be attracted here. The R1 has complete manual controls, with the optics and chip to justify them.

Pros/Serious Hobbyists - The R1 is not flexible nor fast enough for most pros to use as a primary camera, but it may appeal to some who want an additional all-in-one camera with an excellent lens.