Sensor size in digital p&s

[Chris_T]

In a recent thread about P&S camera choices, there was a reference to the Sony R1.

http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....pic=12603&st=20

The review of this camera described it as the "First non-SLR (fixed lens digital) camera to feature a large format sensor (APS-C size) First use of a CMOS sensor in a non-removable-lens digital camera."

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscr1/

Question: Are there other P&S digital cameras that use larger sensors like this?

[michael]

No, there aren't.

Michael

[Chris_T]

No, there aren't.

Michael
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=88596\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

That's too bad. As mentioned in your review, with improved RAW speed and a stabilizer, the R1 could have been a real contender. Hope Sony will follow up with another model to address these. But it probably depends on how well the R1 is received in the market.

[BJL]

As I was writing the following, I discovered that the Sony R1 seems to be discontinued: it is no longer listed on Sony's website, or at B&H. No surprise to me, as you can read below.


Now that Sony has an interchangeable lens DSLR system, I doubt that there is much future for using larger "DSLR" sized sensors in cameras that restrict the user to a single permanently attached lens. With sensors of this size and cost, adding the flexibility of interchangeable lenses seems to add little to the cost or bulk. As far as cost, note that film SLR's can cost as little as about $100: the sensor cost dominates with DSLR's. AS far as weight, the R-1 with its 14.3-71.5mm, f/2.8-4.8 lens weighs more that an Olympus E-400 with both 14-42/4.5.6 and 40-150/4-5.6 lenses. (And f=150mm, f/5.6 is a far larger aperture size than f=71.5mm, f/4.8: 27mm vs 15mm effective aperture diameters.)

The one possible advantage of the R1 approach is that eliminating the reflex mirror system might allow reduced size and weight, partly through more flexible lens designs: lenses that reach very close to the sensor, as the R1';s lens does.  But interchangeable lenses would still be doable and desirable in that case: the EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens) camera that many have been speculating about for a while.
Jonathan Weinke spells out one vision for this in the thread
http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....showtopic=13371

[Chris_T]

As I was writing the following, I discovered that the Sony R1 seems to be discontinued: it is no longer listed on Sony's website, or at B&H. No surprise to me, as you can read below.
Now that Sony has an interchangeable lens DSLR system, I doubt that there is much future for using larger "DSLR" sized sensors in cameras that restrict the user to a single permanently attached lens. With sensors of this size and cost, adding the flexibility of interchangeable lenses seems to add little to the cost or bulk. As far as cost, note that film SLR's can cost as little as about $100: the sensor cost dominates with DSLR's. AS far as weight, the R-1 with its 14.3-71.5mm, f/2.8-4.8 lens weighs more that an Olympus E-400 with both 14-42/4.5.6 and 40-150/4-5.6 lenses. (And f=150mm, f/5.6 is a far larger aperture size than f=71.5mm, f/4.8: 27mm vs 15mm effective aperture diameters.)

The one possible advantage of the R1 approach is that eliminating the reflex mirror system might allow reduced size and weight, partly through more flexible lens designs: lenses that reach very close to the sensor, as the R1';s lens does.  But interchangeable lenses would still be doable and desirable in that case: the EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens) camera that many have been speculating about for a while.
Jonathan Weinke spells out one vision for this in the thread
http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....showtopic=13371
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=88832\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I tend to agree with your analysis, and won't hold my breath that there will be another R1-like model from any manufacturer.