"Well here, at last waited till!" - perhaps, exactly these words most exactly reflect the common mood, appear in the environment of enthusiasts of digital photo after announcement by the company of the Sony new compact digital camera of the class prosumer - DSC-R1. Moreover, certainly the appearance Cybershot R1 did not pass unnoticed and producers of digital camers, becoming for them a serious occasion to be thoughtful. By what is this model so notable and why after its market fate does all industry look after so attentively?
The first and basic difference R1 from previous Cybershot models and from other compact cameras is its 10-mpx CMOS-matrix, by the sizes only a little yielding such in digital «mirrors». However much construction of camera does not foresee a mirror - the mode of the permanent reading of image from the matrix of Live preview is used, and for his vise an electronic view-finder and LC-display are used.
Why is the size of sensor so important and that does it give in practice? Actually, exactly the larges of light receiving cell of such matrices (naturally, in combination with a high-quality optics) provide that level of quality, for which to many photographers pleased DSLR: natural color transmission, high sensitiveness and permission, good correlation is a signal/noise, small depth is sharp the represented space and etc.
However, justified application of mirror construction for a CyberShot digital camera far is not always. The block of mirror is the difficult mechanical device complicated and rising the price of construction and multiplying weight of vehicle. Besides from considerable distance between the last lens of lens and by a lightreceiving element to the optics of mirror cameras the additional requirements are pulled out: it is necessary to provide serious correction of chromatic abberation in a lens, that, again, complicates his construction and multiplies a cost.
For this reason the market entry mirror not camera with large sensor caused so stormy delight among those, who would like to be in a position to get quality of image comparable with «mirrors» by a compact camera with an unremovable optics. But their hopes will justify oneself?
Sony construction. So, basic in R1 - large CMOS-sensor in default of mirror, due to what the back lens of lens succeeded to be accommodated only in 2 mm from the surface of matrix. Optics, as usual, developed Carl Zeiss, this universal fivefold zoom (24-120 mm in a 35-millimetric equivalent). On the corps of lens two rings are placed: mechanical for zooming and with an electronic drive for focusing.
The processor of Cybershot Real Imaging R1 was improved on purpose provide more clean, natural and detailed transmission of color. A microprocessor is optimized for CMOS sensor, that allowed to obtain considerable reduction of time of response and it is considerably to bring noises down of image. Possessing technology of STAMINA energesave and «intellectual» battery Info LITHIUM, R1 can do about 500 pictures without recharging of battery.
On the design a vehicle slightly reminds the previous model of series, F828, but it is clean external likeness. Unusual construction of LC-screen surprises foremost: he is folding and turning, thus in the closed position is disposed from above corps. From a backside, where he usually took place, there are numerous custom controls - buttons and switches.
Possibility to look over a shot «alive» allows an user to see an eventual result yet till a picture is done. On the display R1 are represented, without imposition on an object in area of picture, basic options of camera, putting in the speed of self-control, F-number and display diagram in lower part of display and view-finder. In addition to basic options, the following functions allow to provide more high quality of photography:
Histogram of Cybershot
A display shows a «living» histogram during a survey, what is ideal for tuning of brightness. Besides it, during viewing a histogram for each of three colors RGB appears also, what the detailed balance of every color and proper change of tuning is achieved due to.
Indicator of reexposition (Zebra)
The Cybershot uses black and white bars (Zebra Pattern) for the indication of regions in which a brightness exceeds certain levels, resulting in spoiling. On results the indication an user can adjust a display.
The lines of net are useful at photographing of vertical or horizontal objects. It is also possible to show freedom of creation, using them for creation of snapshots with unusual composition.
Sony Ergonomics. The corps of camera is executed from a plastic. The device comfortably lies in a hand, to the location of organs of management quickly you get used. The use for the vise of the LC-screen placed above a camera can not all have to liking: unusually somehow, and the corner of vertical review would be rather better. However, in this case it is possible to involve an electronic view-finder, the dedicaded mode of the automatic switching is foreseen even between him and LC-screen (although it would be not bad some to bring a sensitiveness down of the proper sensor).
Work with a Sony camera abandons mixed impressions. Actually, prevents to take pictures of nothing: due to a ring zooming shoting is produced with lightning speed, autofocusing in most cases is rapid, the hand focusing is comfortably executed also. And management organs, which here quite a bit, not always work how you expect. However, again, to all it is possible to get used. The traditional asceticism for the Sony menu, however, there is all necessity in him.
Speed of Cybershot work. R1 is enough quickly included and prepared to the survey, and, as it was stated, very friskily (how for a compact camera) focused. All other, including a record and treatment of photo, is executed unhurried, 10 million pixels image - considerable volume of data. A serial survey does not glitter: only 3 fps and buffer only on three shots; most unpleasant - work with the RAW format, which here extremely slow.
There are two modes of vise of picture from sensor R1 on a LC-display or view-finder: Framing and Preview. In the first from them a camera supports a brightness at necessary level regardless of the chosen options of self-control, diaphragm and ISO; the second, vice versa, is intended for pre-viewing taking into account them, and with his help it is possible to see the image to such, what it will be on a photo. At insufficient external illumination in both modes a screen begins to «brake». To avoid it, it is necessary to set self-control of the order 1/30 (for what accordingly to adjust a sensitiveness and diaphragm).
Quality of the got image. In spite of subjectivity of the given index, estimating quality however will be necessary. Foremost about noises: Cybershot R1 on noisiness is approximately in the meadle of between the «advanced» compact disks on the CCD matrices and the famous low noises by the Canon EOS cameras. Up to ISO 400 it is possible to take off quite quietly; ISO 800 stands to apply in the cases when without him not to do. As for ISO 1600 and ISO 3200, that their use under a question: all the same a bit too much noises, color transmission suffers besides. Thus, fitness R1 to the survey in the conditions of weak illumination (in particular, in the apartments without the flash) - under a question.
But made happy the optician of camera: at first, by the presence of rare for the digital compact cameras of corner in 24 mm (in an equivalent), secondly, by a high sharpness and small distortions practically in all range of transfokation. Visibly, the closeness of lens to the surface of matrix indeed positively tells on quality of pictures. Enough mediocre macropossibilities are distressed only, however there is nothing to be done, such the atonement for the largeness of sensor.
R1 is equipped by the system A.G.C.S (Advanced Gradation Control System), intended for the receipt of pictures with the optimum contrasting. The system estimates distributing of brightness in screen and applies the proper curve of gamut-distributing (distributing of luminosity), that allows to multiply the clearness of image. Photography in difficult terms, for example, survey is weak the lighted object up on the brightly lighted background up, is not a problem for the camera R1 - due to the function A.G.C.S balance of brightness is achieved and, as a result, - is even the lighted picture up.
Sony common impressions. By the considerable failing for a compact camera it is possible to count absence of the mode of survey of video - probably, taking into account the unusual thing of set sensor, it while is a task unbanal. As for all other, Cybershot R1 fully under force to make deserving competition to the budgetary models of digital «mirrors», foremost due to a high-quality lens. At the same time of possibility of such camera (unlike «mirror») in the future can be extended in enough narrow limits only, therefore she will be on a soul to the amateurs which do not want to contact with DSLR from a necessity to pick up an expensive optics for different types of survey.
Market prospects. Sony - the second company at the market after Canon on the volumes of sales of digital cameras, however, unlike the last, in its arsenal while there are no mirror devices with a removable optics. Although before long such will appear certainly - the recent report Konica Minolta about the Sony transmission of the assets and waiver of photobusiness literally shocked a market, in fact exactly Minolta in many spheres was his leader and earliest explorer. So the adherents of products of this company need only to hope on the quick output of new models of digital «mirrors» under firm bayonet, but already under Sony brand - it is necessary to suppose, the first from them will be shown at the end of February on PMA'2006.
As for Sony Cybershot R1, predicting its market fate is now difficult. A boom round budgetary digital «mirrors» proceeds that, sure, on a hand to their producers, and scarcely efforts of one only Sony will appear enough, to over-persuade experimental users again to take the vehicles of class of prosumer in hands.
Other business, if it will appear, whatever next models in general in anything will concede «mirrors», here offering additional advantages, somehow vise on a turning LC-screen, survey of video and etc At the same time of «mirrors» are also perfected: quite recently Olympus announced the model E-330, in which due to the unbanal technical devices a LC-screen can be used and as a view-finder.
In a word, Sony Cybershot digital camera is just a begining and following years for the amateurs of digital photo promise to be extremely interesting and saturated.
Posts
