digital cameras
The 3:2 format revival
The Sony R1, together with a small handful of other prosumer cameras, captures images in the
longer 3:2 format instead of the squarer 4:3 format that is typical with most prosumer and DSLR
cameras. Only the Canon EOS 5D and EOS 1Ds DSLR cameras capture images using the ‘full-
frame’ 3:2 format that replicates the format of 35mm fi lm (the Fuji s9500 surprisingly has a 3:2
format option in the ‘Photo Mode’ or ‘F’ menu). This may not sound like a big deal but for landscape
photographers looking to create the ‘wider look’, the 3:2 format saves them from having to crop
away 10% of the pixels that would normally be surplus to requirement if captured using an overly
square 4:3 format. Given the fact that screens are going wide-screen this is an excellent feature.
A good lens should be a strong selling point for any digital camera
The Carl Zeiss 24-120 lens puts some of the kit lenses with budget DSLRs to shameLens quality
One of the factors that really should to be taken into account when comparing prices of the R1 with
a typical budget DSLR is the lens that the Sony R1 comes equipped with. A high quality 24 to 120
zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f2.8 would represent a signifi cant purchase for any DSLR
owner. Most budget DSLR cameras come equipped with lenses that are not in the same ballpark
as the lens that is standard on the Sony R1. At the wide range of the zoom, a very impressive
24mm (35mm equivalent), the maximum aperture is a healthy f2.8. Unfortunately this drops to
f4 by the time you pass 50mm - I have to admit that I found this slightly disappointing as the
predecessor to this camera (the Sony DSC-F828) has a 1-stop advantage across the zoom range
to the DSC-R1 (the larger CMOS sensor may have presented Sony with a different problem).
Although not as bright as its predecessor it still has a signifi cant advantage when compared to the
typical zoom lens provided with a budget DSLR kit.
If the size of the R1 is not a deterrent and you have no need for a long zoom then the difference
between the R1 and a DSLR (with a good lens) is reduced to just one factor - the preview. The
type of preview that these fi xed lens prosumer digicams offer is probably the single most important
factor that will decide which system you buy into.