“The Sony R1 might have been conceived in response to many photographers’ complaints about recent super zoom compact cameras. Perhaps Sony took note of the many users who want more attention paid to the wide angle end of the zoom range and a bigger and better sensor in a compact. Perhaps Sony listened to users who wanted a $1000 camera that performs well straight out of the box, not just after the user dumps the kit lens for more rarified glass.”

Those are the words of Patrick Singleton of DigitalCameraInfo.com in his Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 Digital Camera Review.

Sony’s latest top of the line Cyber-shot R1 is encased in a black, body, and is the first to use Sony’s new 10.3-megapixel CMOS imager. Its also the first “APS-C imager” digital camera to offer live preview. The R1 features a Carl Zeiss T* 5x wide angle zoom that is matched to the imager and covers a 35mm equivalent focal length of 24mm to 120mm and has both a manual zoom and focus ring on the lens barrel. The R1 has both a high resolution color viewfinder and a top-mounted 2.0″ color LCD that tilts and swivels to nearly any angle.


Sony DSC-R1 Features
Records images on Memory Stick PRO and Compact Flash Type 1/II media; powered by one NP-FM50 InfoLithium battery
10.3-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
5x optical zoom; 2.0-inch vari-angle LCD display
“Live” preview using Sony’s Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology
Three color modes and RAW capture