Now that the Sony Cybershot DSC-R1 is in the hands of many reviewers the rush is on to give us some preview style reviews of the ground-breaking digital camera. This is the first all-in-one digital camera to utilize a large (APS size) sensor, to be precise a 10.3 megapixel CMOS unit measuring 21.5 x 14.4 mm which is essentially a slightly smaller version of the sensor used in the Nikon D2X. It’s also the first APS size sensor to provide full time live preview to the camera’s LCD monitor or EVF (electronic viewfinder). This means that there’s no mirror box or prism making the camera more compact and allowing the lens to be positioned much closer to the sensor. Equally as important and interesting is the lens which provides a 24 - 120 mm (equivalent) five times zoom with a maximum aperture of F2.8 - F4.8. It sounds awesome.

Sony Cybershot DSC-R1

Today The Imaging Resource posted their Hands-on preview of the Sony R1. Here’s just a small portion of their comments-
“You’ll have to take our word for it until we can show you some sample images, but the Sony DSC-R1 is a very compelling entry in the high-end “enthusiast” category. It offers an absolutely unique focal length range, with very high optical quality, attractive color, and very appealing tonality in its images. We found some of its ergonomics decidedly awkward, and both timing performance and high-ISO noise levels aren’t up to the best of the digital SLRs currently on the market. As such, it’s clearly not an SLR-killer, nor does it seem intended to be. (Sony after all has announced plans to develop their own line of digital SLRs, in cooperation with Konica Minolta.) If you can live within its 24-120mm effective focal length range though, the combination of lens and camera can’t be equalled for less than twice its selling price of $999. US availability is slated for November 20 of this year, so Sony fans (and others looking for a lot of camera for the price) should saving their pennies. (This camera will almost certainly be a Dave’s Pick, we’re just holding off on posting it in that list until we complete our full review.)”

Click here to read the entire Sony DSC-R1 User Report

So, what do you think?
Will this camera suffer the purple fringing the f828 did? How much better will it be than the H1?