Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 Review: Digital Photography Review

Rear of camera controls

The rear of the DSC-R1 looks quite unlike any previous Sony prosumer digital camera, and for that matter even a 'typical' digital SLR, because the LCD monitor is mounted on the top of the camera controls are more spread out across the back. One important and very useful addition to the rear of the DSC-R1 is the sub command dial which surrounds the multi-way controller. In shooting mode this dial can be used to adjust exposure compensation, in play mode it controls magnification. One other noteworthy change (compared to the F828) is that the R1's play mode is now shooting priority, that is there is no play mode on the mode dial, instead you enter play mode by tapping the play button, you can return to shooting by simply tapping the shutter release.

Exposure mode dial

	Auto Exposure This is the cameras 'point and shoot' mode, it has a much reduced menu system and access to other settings. You can select Image size, Flash mode, Macro focus, Continuous mode and Self-timer. All other settings are 'locked out'.
P	Program AE Standard program exposure mode, the camera selects shutter speed and aperture based on the metered exposure and ISO sensitivity. All camera settings are available in this mode. This mode is also 'flexible' which means if you turn the command dial you can select alternative combinations of shutter speed and aperture (indicated by P*).
S	Shutter Priority AE In this mode you select the shutter speed and the camera calculates the correct aperture based on the metered exposure and ISO sensitivity. All camera settings are available in this mode. Turn the main command dial to select shutter speed. Available shutter speeds: 30, 25, 20, 15, 13, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.6, 1.3, 1, 1/1.3, 1/1.6, 1/2, 1/2.5, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/13, 1/15, 1/20, 1/25, 1/30, 1/40, 1/50, 1/60, 1/80, 1/100, 1/125, 1/160, 1/200, 1/250, 1/320, 1/400, 1/500, 1/640, 1/800, 1/1000, 1/1250, 1/1600, 1/2000 sec
A	Aperture Priority AE In this mode you select the aperture and the camera calculates the correct shutter speed based on the metered exposure and ISO sensitivity. All camera settings are available in this mode. Turn the main command dial to select aperture. The R1's "preview" monitor mode is especially useful in aperture priority because it allows you to instantly preview the depth-of-field effect of the selected aperture. Available apertures: • W: F2.8, F3.2, F3.5, F4.0, F4.5, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1, F8, F9, F10, F11, F12, F14, F16 • T: F4.8, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1, F8.0, F9, F10, F11, F12, F14, F16
M	Manual Exposure In manual mode you can select any shutter speed or aperture, the difference to the metered exposure is indicated on the digital exposure meter from -2.0 to +2.0 EV. Turn the main command dial to select shutter speed, sub command dial for aperture. Note that manual mode also has a special 'TIME' exposure mode which allows you to take very long exposures of up to 3 minutes (press shutter once to start, again to stop).

Scene modes

In addition to the normal exposure modes the DSC-R1 also features four scene modes, each mode presets the camera for optimum results for a particular situation. The table below indicates what settings can be selected in each mode ('Yes' means they can be changed).

Name	Macro	Flash	White balance	Burst / bracket
Portrait	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Landscape	-	Some	Yes	Yes
Twilight portrait	Yes	Some	Some	-
Portrait	-		Yes	-

Switches

FRAMING / PREVIEW	Monitor mode In FRAMING mode the camera attempts to always produce an image bright and clear with which to frame the shot. In PREVIEW mode the image you see is most representative of the final shot (taking into account the final exposure). PREVIEW mode can be most useful in aperture priority where it effectively gives you a live depth of field preview, as you change the aperture you see the effect on depth of field instantly. Note you can't use FRAMING mode with manual focus.
FINDER / AUTO / LCD	Display output The second switch selects the output screen, either the LCD or EVF or Auto mode, in the later the camera uses a proximity sensor to detect if you are using the EVF and switches output to it.
/ CF	Storage select Allows you to select between the Memory Stick or Compact Flash card for storage and display.

Buttons

	Metering mode Hold button and turn command dial. • Multi-pattern • Center-Weighted Average • Spot
/BRK	Drive / Bracket mode Hold button and turn command dial. • Single • Burst (3.0 fps, max 3 frames, not in RAW mode) • Bracket
	Self-timer / Thumbnail index In shooting mode pressing this button engages or disengages the self-timer. In play mode it switches to a 3x3 thumbnail index view.
	Digital Zoom / Magnify In shooting mode this button engages or disengages digital zoom. In play mode this button is used to magnify the displayed image (you can alternatively use the sub command dial to magnify).
	Multi-way joystick / AF area mode The joystick is used to navigate menus, it can be pressed to select options. In shooting mode press the joystick in to change AF area mode (Multi-Point, Center AF, Spot AF). In Spot AF mode you can move the AF area around the frame (using the joystick) to an almost limitless set of positions.
MENU	Menu Enter or leave the current mode menu, just like previous Cyber-shot digital cameras the DSC-R1's menu is presented as a bar along the bottom of the screen. If you hold this button for more than two seconds the camera jumps directly to the setup menu.