Sony RX1 Review vs Fujifilm X100
For years I have wanted to explore a camera that has always intrigued me, the Sony RX1. This full-frame, fixed-lens wonder was groundbreaking when it first hit the market in 2012, and while it has some quirks, it just might be the most charming little powerhouse you can still get your hands on today.
The Year was 2012...
Let's rewind to 2012. The Olympics dazzled in London, the original Fuji X100 made waves among street photographers, and Sony released the RX1—the smallest fixed-lens, full-frame camera ever at the time, priced at a staggering $2,800. It was a camera ahead of its time, and it showed.
Sony’s RX1 came with a lot of features that were both ahead of their time and surprisingly quaint by today’s standards. For example, it didn’t have a touchscreen. In fact, Sony hadn’t yet hopped on the touchscreen trend, so navigating through menus was a bit of a dance with the D-pad. Still, this hasn’t stopped me from capturing fast-moving scenes with it. And later, I’ll share a trick that makes focusing a lot more manageable than you might think.
With a full frame sensor and full manual controls, you can swap from a slow paced compact camera to a responsive street camera in no time.
Sony RX1. Edited with my King St. Lightroom Preset.
A Throwback in Controls
These days, we’re spoiled with cameras that have sleek interfaces—think customizable buttons, dials, and smooth touchscreens. Sony’s RX1 may seem dated in this context, but for its time, it offered a surprising amount of customization. It was loaded with buttons you could program to suit your style. There’s a customizable button above the exposure compensation dial, a dedicated rear dial for your shutter speed, and a physical aperture ring on the lens.
With all these options, you can speed up your shooting experience almost as if you were using a modern compact camera.
The Sony RX1 vs. The Fuji X100: A Comparison of Lenses
Now, let’s talk lenses. The most obvious similarity between the RX1 and Fuji’s X100 line is the fixed lens. The Sony RX1 has a 35mm f/2 Zeiss lens, while the X100 features a 23mm f/2 lens (equivalent to a 35mm field of view in full-frame terms). The Zeiss branding on the RX1 makes it extra “crispy” (that's the technical term, right?) and just feels right for street photography.
One great advantage shared by both the RX1 and X100 is their leaf shutters. These shutters are nearly silent and offer benefits that traditional mechanical shutters don’t. You get the responsiveness and speed of a mechanical shutter without the noise—perfect for capturing those candid street moments.
This has to be one of the most surprising little lenses I've ever tried, perhaps I shouldn't be surprised but it's a great performer.
Sony RX1. Edited with my King St Lightroom Preset.
Handling and Portability: Does the RX1 Make the Cut?
One of the main reasons photographers are drawn to the X100 line is its portability. It’s light, compact, and ideal as an everyday carry. The RX1, despite its full-frame sensor, is actually smaller than many Micro Four Thirds cameras. It feels great in hand, even for someone like me with larger hands. The ergonomics are surprisingly on point for a camera that is over a decade old.
I've even found myself using the RX1 in places like airports (yes, I shot street photography inside an airport terminal in Geneva!), where other cameras might have felt too conspicuous. It's that good.
The Autofocus Puzzle: Tips to Get Sharp Shots
Admittedly, autofocus technology in 2012 was nowhere near what it is today. The RX1's autofocus isn’t fast, and it makes this little worrying motor sound as it locks onto a subject. Not ideal for street photography, right? But, with a few tricks, you can make it work like a charm.
Here’s my go-to method: I’ve customized the AEL button to toggle between autofocus and manual focus. For street shots, I usually set the aperture to f/8 or f/11 and focus on the ground about 1.5 to 2 meters in front of me. Then, I switch to manual focus mode and rely on the depth of field to keep my subjects sharp. It's surprisingly effective!
A full frame sensor with a 35mm Zeiss lens in a compact body... what's not to love?!
The Missing Viewfinder: A Creative Workaround
One of the biggest complaints about the RX1 is its lack of an integrated viewfinder. But don’t worry; there are solutions! Sony offered an optional electronic viewfinder (EVF) that mounts onto the hot shoe, and while it’s not cheap, it’s still possible to find one secondhand. Alternatively, you can attach a simple optical viewfinder to get a feel for framing.
Final Thoughts: The RX1’s Charm is Hard to Beat
So, is the RX1 the perfect street camera? Maybe not in the traditional sense. It’s quirky, the autofocus can be slow, and it lacks some modern conveniences like a built-in EVF or tilting LCD screen. But its small size, leaf shutter, and the quality of that Zeiss lens make it a uniquely satisfying camera to shoot with, especially if you enjoy a challenge and love the art of photography.
