Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX1 Digital Camera {24.3MP}

Full-frame 24MP compact with a fixed Zeiss 35mm f/2

The RX1 puts a 35.8 x 23.8mm, 24-megapixel CMOS sensor inside a body that fits in a coat pocket. The lens is a Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*, 8 elements in 7 groups, three aspherical elements, a leaf shutter for near-silent operation, and flash sync all the way to 1/2000 sec. That combination is rare at any price. The fixed 35mm focal length forces a specific way of seeing, and the f/2 maximum aperture gives you real control over depth of field at a scale that smaller-sensor compacts simply cannot match.

ISO runs from 100 to 25600, and the sensor shares its lineage with the full-frame SLT A99, optimized for light collection at the photosite level. Continuous shooting reaches 5 fps, RAW capture is supported, and the leaf shutter design lets the lens sit unusually close to the sensor plane, contributing to the optical performance. Minimum focus sits at 25cm in standard configuration, and rotating a ring at the front of the lens shifts the focus group for even closer work. Five user-customizable buttons and a multi-interface hot shoe round out a feature set that serious photographers will recognize as deliberately considered, not spec-sheet padding.

At 482 grams and 113 x 65 x 70mm, the RX1 is dense for its footprint. This is a camera built around one specific creative tool, and for photographers who have made peace with a single focal length, that constraint is what makes it worth carrying every day.

Who It's For

Street and documentary photographers who want full-frame image quality without a system camera's bulk will find the 35mm f/2 Zeiss and near-silent leaf shutter directly suited to close, discreet work. Travel photographers covering editorial or personal projects benefit from the 24MP sensor's output in a genuinely pocketable form. Portrait shooters who prefer the intimacy of a 35mm perspective and need the f/2 aperture for subject separation in available light have everything required here. Photographers already deep in deliberate, slow-paced shooting, whether street or documentary, will find the manual focus ring and five customizable controls worth the fixed-lens commitment.

Key Features

• Full-frame 24MP CMOS sensor optimized for light collection
• Fixed Carl Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f/2 with leaf shutter
• Flash sync at 1/2000 sec via leaf shutter design
• 25-point autofocus with manual focus override
• RAW capture, 5.0 fps burst, ISO 100–25,600
• 1920x1080 AVCHD video at up to 60 fps
• 3-inch 1.23M-dot Xtra Fine LCD display
• Five user-customizable buttons plus multi-interface hot shoe

FAQ

What lens does the RX1 use?

A Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* with 8 elements in 7 groups, including three aspherical elements. The leaf shutter design allows flash sync at 1/2000 sec and lets the lens sit closer to the sensor plane than a conventional focal-plane shutter design permits.

Can you change the focal length or swap lenses?

No. The RX1 is built around a fixed 35mm f/2 lens. That constraint is intentional-the entire design optimizes optical performance and portability around that single focal length.

How close can it focus?

25cm from the lens in standard configuration. Rotating a focus ring at the front of the lens shifts the focus group, allowing focus as close as 20cm from the sensor plane.

What is the sensor and how does it perform in low light?

A full-frame 24MP CMOS sensor with the same lineage as the A99, optimized at the photosite level for light collection. ISO runs 100–25,600. The f/2 aperture and full-frame size give meaningful depth-of-field control and gather more light than smaller-sensor compacts.

Does it shoot RAW?

Yes. RAW capture is supported alongside JPEG, and the camera records to SD/SDHC/SDXC or Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo cards.

What about video?

1920x1080 recording in AVCHD and MPEG-4 at up to 60 fps. The camera also includes a stereo microphone and mini HDMI output.

How compact is it really?

113 x 65 x 70mm and 482 grams. It fits a coat pocket but is dense-this is a full-frame camera, not a ultralight travel compact.