11. Image Quality

• Cyber-shot DSC-R1...
• • Usa-Camera-Outlet
  • $975.00

Aside from its 24 mm wide angle, about the only justification for choosing the R1 is its image quality - which is better than on bridge cameras with smaller sensors - and its ability to use higher sensitivity settings, somewhat like SLRs (ISO 800 to 3200). From this point of view, the R1 delivers the goods. The R1's zoom is really excellent quality, clearly better than the zooms supplied in kits with most SLRs (except for the Nikon 18-70 mm). The level of image noise is very comparable to typical SLRs as well. That means that the range of sensitivities is fully usable up to ISO 1600, and ISO 3200 is usable if you're ready to accept some visible noise and a perceptible reduction in image sharpness.

Given the large size of the files as they come directly from the Sony R1 (in maximum-quality JPEG), we recompressed them with the Paint Shop Pro X optimization module to keep them below 3 MB. No difference was visible on our monitor (a 22" at 1600X1200) between the original and the reduced version.

Our usual test image at the minimum focal length for an average aperture (f/5.6). You can see that the definition is excellent, except for the extreme corners of the image.

A shot taken at full aperture (f/2.8), still at the minimum focal length. The lens was fully usable under these difficult conditions!

Under the same conditions, at an aperture of f/5.6, the definition and contrast are a little better. That's quite normal.

At the other end of the focal length range, telephoto also produced images with good contrast and definition.

As you can see, shots taken at ISO 800 show very little noise, but a little sharpness was lost.