Sony Introduces New Palm-Sized RX1R II Camera with 42.4 MP Full-Frame Image Sensor
by Communications 10/14/2015, in Digital Cameras, News, Photography
Sony’s Latest Premium Compact Features Back-Illuminated Full-Frame Sensor, ZEISS® Sonnar T* 35mm F2 Lens, High Speed AF, retractable XGA OLED Viewfinder and World’s First Optical Variable Low Pass Filter1


Sony Electronics, a worldwide leader in digital imaging and the world’s largest image sensor manufacturer, has today introduced the latest addition to their acclaimed Cyber-shot RX compact camera line, the full-frame RX1R II (model DSC-RX1RM2).

Joining the original RX1 and RX1R cameras in the family of the world’s smallest full-frame cameras, the new RX1R II delivers the highest picture quality of any Sony compact camera ever made. This can largely be attributed to the new camera’s high resolution 42.4 MP sensor paired with its large aperture, fixed focal length ZEISS Sonnar T* 35mm F2 lens, which have been fine-tuned to optimize performance together.

Additionally, the new model features a 30% improvement in AF response speed compared to the original award-winning RX1 models and is equipped with the world’s first optical variable low pass filter that can be set to “off”, “standard” or “high” based on user preference, with low pass filter bracketing available. The camera also has a convenient retractable XGA OLED viewfinder for eye-level shooting, which has been implemented with minimal change in overall body size from its predecessors.

“The new RX1R II offers a combination of size and performance that has never before been realized in the world of compact cameras,” said Neal Manowitz, Vice President of Digital Imaging for Sony Electronics. “We’re giving imaging enthusiasts and professionals the opportunity to enjoy a camera with one of the most powerful combinations of sensor and lens in market today that can easily fit in the palm of your hand. It’s simply the latest example of the progressive innovation that Sony is bringing to the world of imaging.”

Ultimate Image Quality in the Palm of Your Hand

The new RX1R II camera utilizes a back-illuminated 35mm full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor with approx. 42.4 effective megapixels paired with a powerful BIONZ X processing engine to achieve superior levels of image resolution and sensitivity (ISO 100-25600, expandable to 50 – 1024002) with wide dynamic range. The sensor’s back-illuminated structure, with an expanded circuit scale and copper wiring design, enables faster transmission speed and outputs data approximately 3.5x faster than the original RX1R, ensuring high-speed performance.

Matched specifically for the image sensor, the large aperture 35mm F2 ZEISS Sonnar T* lens ensures that all images captured by the camera are impressively sharp from the center to the corners. The lens also has a unique Macro shift ring for focusing on subjects as close as 14cm in front of the lens and has nine aperture blades that produce smooth, even background defocus or ‘bokeh’ in the most commonly used aperture ranges.

Another unique benefit of the new camera is its fixed lens design, which allows the positioning of its sensor and lens to be precisely adjusted to maximize all benefits of the sensor’s extremely high resolution. The closer the two components are to one another, the wider the angle through which light can pass through the lens and directly reach the sensor, resulting in imagery that is rich in detail and resolution. Also, unlike the focal plane shutter common to interchangeable lens cameras, RX1R II utilizes an in-lens shutter, allowing 1/2000 sec flash synch speed and a significant reduction in overall body size.

The new RX1R II also offers uncompressed 14-bit RAW image capture to maximize the benefits of the image sensor’s wide dynamic range, while also still supporting existing compressed format.

High Speed AF to Capture the Decisive Moment

The RX1R II model is the first in Sony’s acclaimed RX line of compact cameras to feature Fast Hybrid AF capabilities. The camera’s sensor features 399 focal-plane phase-detection AF points that cover about 45% of the image area – the world’s widest AF coverage on a full-frame sensor1 – that work together with 25 contrast AF points to achieve focus response that is about 30% faster than the original model. Additionally, the camera has adapted an advanced motion-detection algorithm that offers superior tracking performance of moving subjects and allows for the addition of AF-C mode that accurately tracks a subject after focusing. It also can achieve up to 5fps continuous shooting with AF tracking.

Other focusing improvements on the new model include multiple AF area settings including Wide, Center and Flexible Spot and Expand Flexible Spot. The camera also has Eye AF and lock-on AF.

World’s First Optical Variable Low Pass Filter

In a first for digital cameras, the RX1R II features an optical variable low pass filter that allows shooters to manually adjust the balance of image resolution and presence of moiré or color artifacts to match the subject.

The three settings for the low-pass filter3 include “off”, which provides comparable effects to having no low-pass filter and is suitable when prioritizing resolution, “standard”, which strikes a balance between resolution and removal of moiré and color artifacts, and “high”, which places more emphasis on reducing moiré and artifacting. This unique feature allows photographers to achieve the desired image quality and resolution based on the presence of moiré-inducing high spatial frequency objects in the scene, essentially combining two cameras – one with and without a low-pass filter – into one body. Low-pass filter bracketing is also available and can be used to compare the effects of different settings.

New Retractable XGA OLED Viewfinder, Tiltable Screen, HD Video and more

New for the RX1 series, the RX1R II has a built-in retractable 2.4 million dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder that pops up and down with simple one-push operation. The viewfinder features ZEISS T* Coating and four glass elements including two aspherical lenses that work together to deliver a magnification of 0.74x4 and clear corner-to-corner visibility with minimal distortion. The new camera also has a 3.0 type WhiteMagic™ 1.2 million dot LCD display that can tilt upwards up to 109 degrees and downwards up to 41 degrees, allowing for a greater range of shooting angles and positions.

On the video side, the camera’s advanced sensor and processor deliver exceptionally detailed movies with low levels of noise. It is able to support full HD 1920×1080 video recording at frame rates of 60p, 30p or 24p through use of the versatile XAVC S movie recording format5.

The new RX1R II camera is also Wi-Fi® and NFC compatible and fully functional with Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile™ application available for Android™ and iOS platforms, as well as Sony’s growing range of PlayMemories Camera Apps™.

A new version of the popular “Smart Remote Control” app (version 4.0) from PlayMemories Camera Apps, which enables remote shooting from a connected smartphone, will be released that features updated bulb and continuous shooting functionality to match the new camera. Learn more at www.sony.net/pmca.

Pricing and Availability

The Sony RX1R II full-frame compact camera will be available in November for about $3300 US and $4200 CAD at a variety of Sony authorized dealers in both countries. There is also a new camera case (model LCJ-RXH) that will be available at launch that fits snugly on the new RX1R II as well as the original RX1 and RX1R models.

A series of exciting new content shot with the RX1R II camera can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, Sony’s new community site built to educate, inspire and showcase all fans and customers of the Sony imaging brand.

The new content will also be posted directly at Sony global sites https://www.sony.net/Product/di_photo_gallery/.

For US customers seeking more information on the new RX1R II camera, please visit http://www.sony.com/electronics/cyber-shot...eras/dsc-rx1rm2 .

First Impressions: Sony RX1r Mk II



by CHRIS GAMPAT on 10/14/2015



Today, Sony is announcing their brand new RX1r Mk II–the follow up to what seems to be both the RX1 and the RX1 R. While the original R version didn’t include the low-pass filter, the Mk II has the option of incorporating it or not just by selecting it in the menu. This also allows you to dial in how strong you want its effects to be on the image quality.
But that’s not all: the new Sony RX1R Mk II also has a 42MP full frame 35mm sized sensor inside (the same as the A7r Mk II) the same 35mm f2 Zeiss lens from the original camera, 399 phase detection AF points, and essentially the same pop-up viewfinder from the RX100 series of cameras. With that said, there is still a hot shoe and the camera has flash sync speeds of up to 1/4000th due to the leaf shutter design.
Tech Specs

Ergonomics


Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Sony RX1r Mk II first impressions images (7 of 7)ISO 2001-50 sec at f - 2.8
The Sony RX1R Mk II is a camera that not only looks very pretty but also has lots of functionality to it. From the front, you can tell by the looks of it that it’s clearly a flagship compact camera. There is a focusing type switch near the lens, a 35mm f2 Zeiss lens with an aperture ring, focusing ring and a focusing distance switch, and of course, Sony’s logo.



Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Sony RX1r Mk II first impressions images (3 of 7)ISO 2001-80 sec at f - 4.0
Move around to the top and you’ll find similar settings to an RX100 camera. However, the 35mm f2 lens on this camera is a fixed focal length, so there is no zoom rocker. What you’ll find here is the EVF on the left, the hot shoe in the middle, the mode dial, shutter release that’s threaded, on/off switch, a function button and the exposure compensation dial.
It’s quite standard. Here you can also see that street photographers will really need to rely on autofocusing here since there is no depth of field focusing scale on the lens. However, there is that very nice aperture ring and a smooth focusing ring.


Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Sony RX1r Mk II first impressions images (4 of 7)ISO 2001-80 sec at f - 4.0
Then there is the back of the camera: here you’ll find the EVF activation switch, the playback button, dials and more buttons for control of the camera. As with many modern cameras, the LCD dominates the back of the camera. This one is 3 inches.


Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Sony RX1r Mk II first impressions images (5 of 7)ISO 2001-80 sec at f - 4.0
This new LCD screen flips up and down just like the Sony ILC cameras. It’s much more comfortable due to the fact that in real life this makes shooting from different angles much easier to do. In fact, this is a standard feature on cameras now that really should be included when you’re paying over $3k for a camera–and now we finally have it.


Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Sony RX1r Mk II first impressions images (6 of 7)ISO 2001-80 sec at f - 4.0
The RX1R Mk II is truly for the advanced photographer as is evident by the new EVF. This EVF will pop out from the body and extend automatically for you to view what the camera sees. From there, you can push it back in and the camera won’t automatically shut off if you tell it not to.
While the EVF is out, you can also use the hot shoe–and that can hold a wireless flash trigger of some sort.
Of course, we’re super duper excited to test that out.

Build Quality


Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Sony RX1r Mk II first impressions images (1 of 7)ISO 2001-125 sec at f - 2.8
Pure metal–it feels super solid in the hand and is very comfortable to hold. Later on, we got a chance to see it with a special Sony leather half case that Sony’s Mark Weir said involves him taking special care of the cows–he specifically stated that they were the same cows that give Kobe beef.
Of course, he was joking (and I was the one who initiated the joke) but the half case is very subtle and comfortable. It’s optional, of course and quite pricy too.

Autofocus

Earlier on, we went Live on our Meerkat channel with Sony’s Kenta Honjo. He demonstrated and talked about the new camera as well as showed off how quickly it autofocuses. Check out the video and you’ll see just how well it does.

Ease of Use

Sony put an automatic mode on it–meaning that it should be as simple for amateurs to use it as professionals. Essentially, it really will be and the cool thing is that the camera has a lens with a working aperture ring. Fujifilm fans will appreciate this as will all those that love the retro feeling of a camera. To be fair though, the camera doesn’t really feel retro but it’s surely a wink and a nod to specific design cues.

Image Quality

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to stick an SD card into the camera to bring back images; but if it’s the same sensor as the Sony A7r Mk II, then consider looking at our Sony A7r Mk II review for a glimpse at what this camera can do.

First Impressions

So far, I’m in love. A point and shoot, with a Zeiss lens, fast flash sync, an EVF for my astigmatism-ridden eyes, a great image sensor, and solid build quality–what’s not to love?
I’m going to need to reserve my final judgement for the review, but so far the only thing putting me off is the price point.

Read more at http://www.thephoblographer.com/2015/10/14...F8gYMfsLQi36.99

Chokia, how does this fare against the competition right now?

Being a current RX1R owner I must say I'm not too excited with it. Wifi is really nice though, along with the better low light performance. Adding built in ND filter will be really nice but that probably require some redesigning of the lens I think (hate taking on and off filters).

I wonder why they would opt for higher megapixel count, as the 24 megapixel seems to be just the sweet spot for the lens, I don't see the lens out resolve the sensor on most of what I do, which is landscape, unlike the FE55 which is one heck of a high resolution lens. They could've benefit from lower megapixel count, or simply stay the same with much improved low light performance. High megapixel count is a huge market but I haven't find I needed more than 24 megapixel. Most of the time I tried to crop quite a bit and I still find the resolution pretty big, and 24 megapixel is already some huge files to handle.

And...I always wanted to use the camera for mighty quality selfie, but sadly still no 180 degree tilt screen, next!

(Ok I admit, I don't have the cash to upgrade haha! )

Tempting.... But the price tag can be easily RM13k?

wait for lazada voucher code

Went to Sony at The Curve, malaysia not yet launch the M2

Official price of RX1RM2 is out today, on Sony Malaysia website = RM 14,999.

Outrageous

Yea, but from the get-go Sony RX1s' target market has been a niche of "premium users" who want FF performance and small-form factor all rolled into one. Now with higher megapixel, a built-in EVF, a tilting LCD, faster AF, surely these are all the more reasons to buy/upgrade. *I would upgrade too if money were no object*

Been reading lotsa rave reviews about M2, which recently scored an overall 97 on DXOmark, only behind leaders Sony A7Rii and Nikon D810.

I'm biding my time patiently for the price to drop....