 With cameras there are always trade-offs. The best images require bulky DSLRs, while the most compact point-and-shoots are lacking in both image quality and control. That is until now. Enter Sony's RX1. The RX1 is an unassuming camera that's roughly the same size as Sony's NEX line of interchangeable lens cameras. It has a full-frame image sensor, something that's usually reserved for those super high-end DSLRs. Full-frame sensors offer much better image quality. Shooting with the RX1 almost feels like cheating. Low light, bad light, no light, all of those things that are difficult to manage with most cameras just disappear when you're shooting with the RX1. It's also littered with control dials, including three control rings on the lens. It's a system that requires some setup, but once you're set with it, it works really well. The RX1 isn't without its limits though. The sheer compact size of it means that it doesn't have the ability to change lenses, and it doesn't even have a zoom function. But the Carl Zeiss lens nearly makes up for those limitations. The lens is incredibly sharp edge-to-edge, even when open to its maximum aperture, and it doesn't have any vignetting in the corners or problems with chromatic aberrations. Images are contrasty and vibrant, and the lens's manual aperture ring clicks along with a satisfying feel. The manual focus ring is well-damped and precise, which is good because the autofocus kinda sucks, and the battery life is pretty disappointing as well. And then there's the price. The RX1 is nearly $3,000, and you'd be a fool not to buy it with the electronic viewfinder for another $450. It's definitely more of a luxury camera. The RX1 isn't perfect, it's not for the faint-hearted or the beginner, but if you do have deep pockets and a love for photography, the RX1 is the one to beat.
 With cameras there are always trade-offs.
 The best images require bulky DSLRs, while the most compact point-and-shoots are lacking
 in both image quality and control.
 That is until now.
 Enter Sony's RX1.
 The RX1 is an unassuming camera that's roughly the same size as Sony's NEX line of interchangeable
 lens cameras.
 It has a full-frame image sensor, something that's usually reserved for those super high-end
 DSLRs.
 Full-frame sensors offer much better image quality.
 Shooting with the RX1 almost feels like cheating.
 Low light, bad light, no light, all of those things that are difficult to manage with most
 cameras just disappear when you're shooting with the RX1.
 It's also littered with control dials, including three control rings on the lens.
 It's a system that requires some setup, but once you're set with it, it works really
 well.
 The RX1 isn't without its limits though.
 The sheer compact size of it means that it doesn't have the ability to change lenses,
 and it doesn't even have a zoom function.
 But the Carl Zeiss lens nearly makes up for those limitations.
 The lens is incredibly sharp edge-to-edge, even when open to its maximum aperture, and
 it doesn't have any vignetting in the corners or problems with chromatic aberrations.
 Images are contrasty and vibrant, and the lens's manual aperture ring clicks along
 with a satisfying feel.
 The manual focus ring is well-damped and precise, which is good because the autofocus kinda
 sucks, and the battery life is pretty disappointing as well.
 And then there's the price.
 The RX1 is nearly $3,000, and you'd be a fool not to buy it with the electronic viewfinder
 for another $450.
 It's definitely more of a luxury camera.
 The RX1 isn't perfect, it's not for the faint-hearted or the beginner, but if you do have deep pockets
 and a love for photography, the RX1 is the one to beat.