Sony RX1R II
MSRP $3300.00
“Sony’s RX1R II is one of the best compact cameras money can buy”
Avg
-
Superb full-frame 42 megapixel photos
-
The first variable optical low-pass filter
-
Excellent built-in viewfinder
-
Fast fixed lens
-
Compact size
Against
-
There is no built-in image stabilization
-
4K video support is missing
-
Expensive
The luxurious Cyber-shot RX1R II is Sony’s over-the-top camera. At $3,300, it’s easily one of the biggest (if not the the most expensive compact cameras you can buy. But let’s ignore the price for a moment and see it for what it is: a showcase of great Sony engineering, packed into a small form factor. Powered by a 42-megapixel full-frame (35mm) sensor (one of the highest you can get right now), it’s equipped with a flash lens, has a built-in electronic viewfinder, and is the world’s first camera with a variable optical low-pass filter. It’s a camera that takes stellar photos comparable to larger full-frame interchangeable lens (ILC) cameras. This is not a camera for the masses, but it is excellent.
Features and design
Considering what’s inside, the RX1R II is compact and light, but feels very solid – incredibly well built, in line with Sony’s A7 series. Now we say this with a disclaimer: it’s not as light as a pocket point-and-shoot, but you do get a full-frame sensor, and those tend to be found in much larger cameras. And you can put the RX1R II in your coat pocket.
[specifications align=”right”]
To keep things as small as possible, the camera has a fixed 35mm f/2.0 lens carried over from its predecessor, the RX1R II. This means that there is no optical zoom. We like to work with 28mm and 35mm fixed lenses, so this wasn’t an issue during testing (especially since the RX1R II has an excellent lens). But we usually use fixed lenses with interchangeable lens cameras, so we could easily switch to a zoom lens when needed. That’s not the case here, so you’ll have to think about it before you buy. However, we think that most buyers of this type of camera – street photographers, for example – are aware of this “limitation”.
The lens has an adjustable aperture ring, and with a nine-blade aperture design, it creates beautiful blur effects at low numerical settings (bokeh). In addition to the focus ring on the short barrel, there are also settings for macro close-ups and more distant subjects (0.3 meters to infinity). There is a dial on the front of the camera that allows you to select the type of focus.
From an engineering point of view, the fixed lens has an advantage over the interchangeable variants: according to Sony, the lens is built into the camera and the sensor is mounted on the lens structure, with alignment precision down to the micron level and allows the lens to make the most of the sensor. This is how the camera achieves that all-around sharpness, while also giving the camera a low profile. Sony engineers have pulled off some incredible feats with many of the company’s new cameras, and the RX1R II is no exception.
The all-black RX1R II measures 4.5 by 2.6 by 2.8 inches and weighs 1.1 pounds, similar to the dimensions of the older RX1 and RX1R. Those cameras had 24.3-megapixel full-frame chips, compared to almost double the RX1R II’s 42.4-megapixel back-illuminated sensor – the same as that used in Sony’s much-vaunted A7R Mark II.
One difference between the original RX1 and RX1R was the elimination of the optical low-pass filter (OLPF) in the RX1R (hence the “R” designation). There’s a trade-off: without a filter (also called an anti-aliasing filter) you get extra sharpness, but certain shots add moiré (you’ll sometimes see this effect in images of patterns, like clothing). With the RX1R II, however, Sony implemented the world’s first variable OLPF setting (off, standard, high). We’ll go into this feature in more detail below, but it essentially lets you turn on anti-aliasing when you need it.
On the upper deck are the pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF), hot shoe, mode dials and exposure compensation, and the shutter button, power lever, and C1 (Custom 1). The pop-up EVF has a 0.39-inch OLED screen with 2359K dots (the same as the one in the RX100 III and IV), and it’s a real plus for bringing the camera closer to your eye instead of using the LCD to frame your shot. With the original RX1 models, you had to purchase an additional $400 EVF for this convenience. The downside of the built-in EVF meant that Sony had to sacrifice the built-in flash (available in older RX1 models), so you’ll need to buy an additional flash or light.
Sony’s engineers have pulled off incredible feats with this full-frame compact.
Sony supplies a really nice eyepiece cup for the EVF. It is difficult to lock it into position with the screw attached. Once you’ve tightened it, there’s no way to slide the EVF back into the body without messing with the screw again. We kept it on the whole time, and while it’s not a deal breaker, you’d think Sony would have designed something better for a $3,300 camera. Also, the diopter adjustment on the EVF side is difficult to fine-tune.
Complementing the EVF is a tilting 3-inch LCD monitor (1228K-dot resolution) on the back, a nice upgrade from the original’s fixed LCD. We wish Sony had added touchscreen capability to the display. There are countless camera buttons near the LCD, but since it’s not a big camera, don’t expect a ton of controls – just the basics here.
On the right is the NFC tag and the ill-placed video recording button found on so many Sony cameras. Make your life easy and set the Custom 1 button to Movie Capture and you’ll be good to go. On the left side is the EVF pop-up button and a compartment for HDMI, microphone and multiple A/V ports.
The lower part contains a tripod mount and a compartment for the battery and SD card. The battery is designed for only 200 shots using the EVF, 220 for the LCD. This is very limited and a spare should be on the list of accessories to buy along with a high speed, high capacity card and that flash mentioned earlier.
What is included
You will find the camera, lens cap, hot shoe cap, very attractive leather neck strap, battery, charger, USB cable and eyepiece cap. You also get a cleaning cloth, a 92-page instruction manual and a Wi-Fi guide. Not included, but available as free software downloads (PlayMemories Home, Image Data Converter, and PlayMemories Mobile) for handling photos, developing RAW files, and connecting the camera to your smartphone or tablet. The full manual is also available for download.
Warranty
Sony has a one-year parts and labor warranty.
Performance and use
The RX1R II has the same processor/sensor combination as the A7R II, the camera we named our “Best of 2015.” Since we love the results of that mirrorless ILC, we were confident in the photos from the RX1R II (7952 x 5304 pixels) before we started shooting. Of course, the results of the RX1R II lived up to expectations. DxOMark tested the sensor and found it ranked very close to the A7R II (98 for the A7R II, 97 for the RX1R II) and comparable to the much bulkier Nikon D800E full-frame DSLR. To get a bit more, you need to spend $8,500 for the Pentax medium format 645Z with its fantastic 101 rating.
The new compact has a completely renewed autofocus system. If there was a complaint about the original models, it was the AF. The RX1R II features high-speed hybrid AF that combines 399 phase-detection AF points and 25 contrast-detection points; older models only had 25 points of contrast detection. Again, this is similar to the A7R II’s AF system. We had no problems with the RX1R II; it locked focus quickly in various lighting situations.
The RX1R II felt very comfortable in our hands. It has a typical Sony control layout that is fairly intuitive, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a learning curve for some new users. The main mode dial has all the main recording modes plus three Memory Recall settings for the depth parameters of your choice (saturation, dynamic range optimization and so on).
A variable optical low-pass filter lets you turn on anti-aliasing when needed – the first time.
Now let’s go back to the OLPF setup mentioned above. The RX1R II gives you a choice of Standard, High and Off. As a nice touch, the camera offers LPF Bracketing, so if you’re not sure which setting works best, you can take one shot from each. The Off setting increases resolution; High reduces moiré and color artifacts; and Standard combines the two. As for our particular preferences, the Off setting with maximum sharpness caught our eye. What’s not so nice is that this option is completely buried in the menu system under the drive mode setting. For the most part, Sony’s menu system is pretty easy to follow, but lesser-used functions are just hard to find. Just like the layout of the controls, there is a learning curve to get the most out of everything this camera has to offer.
The RX1R Mark II has a native ISO range of 100-25,600, but can go as low as 50 and as high as 102,400 once you exit the auto settings. This is a huge increase over the original’s maximum of 25,600. As we’ve reported many times, nosebleed ISO settings aren’t where you want to be unless absolutely necessary. The quality is simply not there. In our tests, there was almost no noise up to ISO 6400, with 12800 still usable and relatively clean. Our limit would be 32,000 if we had to go there, but even 102,400 could be used in small sizes. The results were similar to the A7R II, but the mirrorless camera has built-in five-axis image stabilization, which makes a difference when the camera is handheld. The A7R II’s IS helps produce sharper images in low light, although the RX1R II is lighter and easier to handle.
With videos, the RX1R II reaches Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 60p resolution, the same as the first generation, rather than the 4K offered in the A7R II. However, Sony has upgraded the codec from AVCHD to the more fluid XAVC-S. Clips are good, with targeted color accuracy and detail, but 4K would be a nice addition. While the RX1R II doesn’t have optical IS, electronic IS is available for video – it’s not five-a-side, but it’s something.
In terms of wireless capabilities, the camera has built-in Wi-Fi/NFC connectivity that works with Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile app (iOS or Android). Pairing the camera with the Samsung Galaxy S5 is very easy, and the same is true for iOS devices. Sony is one of the few companies actually trying to do something in the app realm; they send updates and tips, as well as suggestions for $10 apps like Sky HDR that can be loaded into the camera.
Conclusion
The RX1R II is an amazing camera with its 42.4 megapixel full-frame sensor, variable OLPF, built-in EVF, compact size if/2.0 35mm fixed lens. However, it’s still $3,300 for a point-and-shoot, and as sophisticated as it is, it’s a lot of money (albeit a lot cheaper than the Leica Q). There is probably a customer for this type of camera – street photographers or anyone who wants the ultimate point-and-shoot – but it’s not the mainstream consumer. Like the original RX1, it deserves our recommendation for its excellent technology and, for anyone who owns one, is well worth the investment. On that note, we also don’t suggest you put down a down payment to buy one.
If it was our money and we were buying a full-frame camera, we would go for the A7R II. While it’s bigger and more expensive, especially when you factor in the cost of optional lenses, its overall performance and capabilities are far superior, not to mention flexibility. If you can do without a full-frame camera, there are many excellent compact cameras with cropped sensors that cost half the price; there are also new compacts with 1-inch sensors that are more practical and affordable for everyone else. But for the lucky few who get to own one, the RX1R II will not disappoint.
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn