Sony What I Don't Like About the RX1

rx1noob

New Member
I would like to start of by saying I love this camera and have sold all my Olympus and Fuji gear to fund this bad boy. However after owning the Olympus OM-D EM5 and Fujifilm X100 and X100s, here are some of the things I'm not happy about with the sony:

  • no viewfinder (built in)
  • no memory card writing LED (don't know when camera has finished writing to SD card)
  • no IS (Sony IS for video is not very good)
  • no external charger supplied
  • cannot show level and histogram on same screen
  • auto focus speed is a bit slow
  • SD card write speed not as fast as X100S

I know there is no such thing as a perfect camera, but these are the things I wish my RX1 has.
I'm interested to know if you agree/disagree with me and what do you not like about the RX1?
 
My OM-D had IS and it allowed for at least an extra stop in low light. Plus for video it provided excellent results.
When you are taking daylight shots with a 35mm then IS generally has no value, however in low light situations it can be a godsend.
 
You are wrong.
Well we'll agree to disagree then.
Personally, I think there is nothing better than 'mechanical IS' in the form of a more competent photographic style. For example, I find more light saving in using a soft release and thumb rest and monitoring my breath. Also I didn't much like soft rendering that came off some of my previous compacts when IS was turned on.

But then again :eek:fftopic:
 
Well we'll agree to disagree then.
Personally, I think there is nothing better than 'mechanical IS' in the form of a more competent photographic style. For example, I find more light saving in using a soft release and thumb rest and monitoring my breath. Also I didn't much like soft rendering that came off some of my previous compacts when IS was turned on.

But then again :eek:fftopic:
I hear you Mark, but OTOH, this is an 8/10 of a second handheld exposure with the OMD. The soft parts are the point, but check out the parts that aren't.

8289828028_022b3e17be_b.jpg

Rush Hour... by ramboorider1, on Flickr

-Ray
 
I agree on the LED light for writing to the SD card.
I don't mind the lack of level+histogram screen.
I do agree on the external charger (serious money pinching there)

However, I disagree on two things:

1) The AF speed

In the great perspective of things, the only other true option for a camera with a FF sensor and a similar performing lens of this size category is not only larger but also manual focus. So, any AF is good AF. That camera also costs a great deal more than the RX1 alone in order to, essentially, deliver similar goods.

Yes, SLR this and MFT that and what not....smaller sensors, different lens designs, different compromises.

2) IS

I know this because I have read a great deal about lens design and technology implementation in lens designs.

It is very likely that to implement IS and RETAIN the same transfer function properties of the this design (wide open and so on) and RETAIN the leaf shutter (something needed to get the rear element very close to the sensor) the lens would have to be considerably larger. How much? I don't know.

You need to ask yourself whether an IS design with the same properties and about, say, 3-5cm larger (needs mechanics and small lens elements to move which means it needs a change in design) would still be attractive on this camera given its size.

It would make the camera more expensive, for sure. There is only one lens in this world with leaf shutter and IS and that is for a sensor that is not only smaller, but the lens design (in order to perform respectably) was made telescopic to keep the camera size down. That lens is on the RX100. That lens has considerable sacrifices to achieve what it achieves. One of them is great distortion (software corrected) and more CA than the RX1 Sonnar. It also covers a tiny area compared to FF.

We are already taking about a lens that is a great feat in engineering, only because the camera allows it so (not interchangeable lens) so it delivers like a manual focus only lens priced as much as the camera+lens+EVF combo.

I would take any of these trade offs mentioned just because there is nothing like it.

Still, though, the battery charger joke is a bridge too far. Seriously, who thought about that?
 
  • no viewfinder (built in)
  • no memory card writing LED (don't know when camera has finished writing to SD card)
  • no IS (Sony IS for video is not very good)
  • no external charger supplied
  • cannot show level and histogram on same screen
  • auto focus speed is a bit slow
  • SD card write speed not as fast as X100S
I'd love a built in finder, but it's not like this was a surprise and the accessory finder is really good.

The card writing stuff doesn't bother me in the least - it has never slowed down my shooting. Are you using burst mode a lot? The AF has actually been a pleasant surprise for me - I'd heard such horror stories about how bad it is and I find it just fine. It's not DSLR fast, but it's adequate for anything I've tried with the camera. The histogram and level don't bother me, nor does the lack of IS. The only thing that REALLY ticks me off is the lack of a charger, which is just kind of insulting in a $2800 camera! I bought a charger, but not from Sony - I wasn't gonna reward them for that nickel and dime stuff.

But other than that, I've been overwhelmingly pleased with the camera. About the only operational thing I don't like is the inability to set a minimum shutter speed with auto ISO. Which isn't really an issue for the kind of shooting I do with this camera, but I think that's a feature that every camera with auto-ISO should have.

-Ray
 
I haven't used the RX1 but solely based on the many samples I've seen, that darn thing is so bloody amazing at even very high iso that the need for IS will be far less important than what it would be with the OMD.
 
As you can see in my New York City thread I have been on the streets with the RX1 for a few days and have taken hundreds of shots. None of these shortcomings concern me. The camera just produces, and has all the controls I need to do what I want to do.
 
I bought mine a few days ago and when it came I was a bit shocked...it's very small...I came from DSLR-world.

I was annoyed by the weird little pop up flash.

I didn't relish the idea of buying new flashes because of the special hotshoe.

I had a hard time gripping it securely because of the flat shape.

I wasn't used to the EVF.

Now after having shot it for a day, I can say that I'm getting used to the quirks and considering the amazing files this thing produces...all else is secondary.

I gave some serious thought to getting a cheaper camera that felt better in my hand but in the end...none....not one could match the beautiful images this thing is capable of.

So i got a grip, got a soft release, got a hood, sold a Canon flash, bought a Sony Flash, and am a happy camper.
 
I really can't find much wrong with the RX1 that I didn't know would be a compromise going in. One thing I have been noticing that surprised me is a consistent 1 to 1 1/3 stop underexposure. I did some tests with a external meter shooting the same subject with fixed lighting in manual mode on a tripod and I was able to confirm a persistent 1 stop underexposure using the built-in meter. The external meter was bang on exposure every time. I know this has been a major complaint for users of Sony's "Translucent Mirror" lineup.

Has anyone else found this?

Cheers,
Rob

(I solved the problem by mounting a Gossen Digisix meter in my Thumbs Up shoe. My exposures are bang on now and there is much less work to do in post.)

IMG_0150.jpg


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=gossen+digisix+2&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ta
 
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