I have just read the reports on the Sony R1 and I am wondering about some
things. First of all, they gave this camera a 'large' sensor and this is
said to be the main reason for the 'better' picture quality. But, as an
owner of an EOS 10D, the sensor in which is quite large, I wonder why Canon
when they brought out the EOS 20D decided to make it with the sensor
'smaller' than the one in the 10D. EOS 10D has a 6MP sensor measuring 22.7 x
15.1mm. EOS 20D has 8MP sensor measuring 22.5 x 15mm. Might not seem like
much, but bearing in mind that the 20D has 2 more MPs on the chip this makes
it effectively a smaller sensor. Now Sony tell us "bigger is better". Canon
told us that "more MPs on the 20D's sensor meant higher sensitivity", now
Sony has this 10MP animal with a huge APS-C size sensor. So, bigger is
better....?!  The R1's sensor is a 10MP job at 21.5 x 14.4mm...'compare this
to the Sony F828 which has an 8MP sensor at 8.8. x 6.6mm. This is a BIG
sensor by 'any' standards, and HUGE for Sony. Oh, it's a CMOS sensor in the
R1, not CCD. So, is this the future of digital cameras and DSLRs?! Big
buggers with big lenses which can't be changed like on a DSLR? Live preview
is a great idea though...'is it? :) Hmm. With Canon having sold their 30
millionth lens this month, does this mean we'll be seeing them bringing out
a "1Ds MK II" in a digicam with a fixed lens to take on the Sony R1? :) Some
passing thoughts on the R1...'that flash looks very low and might cast a
shadow at telephoto range..? Also, the lens itself...'sure it starts at
24mm, but the 120mm is not particularly long. Is this lens really that good?
Opinions please! Big issue coming up now....'I can take a portrait with my
EOS 10D and obtain great DOF no probs with a basic lens, but should I expect
to see the same DOF effect from the Sony R1? (Can anyone post a link to a
portrait exhibiting DOF taken using the R1 please?). With the noise levels
kicking in at 400 ISO, isn't the R1 more a digicam than a challenger to the
DSLR models like 10D, 20D and Nikon D70 etc.,? I'm trying to like it, but
having some reservations. Then there's the positioning of that LCD
display...'who decided the orientation of that then?! Useful, but dumb place
to put it! This puts the external flash right off-set to one side. ;o) It
weighs 995gms btw. All in all, it looks sort of nice...'but is it a GREAT
camera? Should I dump my 10D and by the R1? Opinions appreciated.
Thx.
G.