When the Rx1 1st came out, it was a incredible marvel to me, and it came out of left field, we weren't expecting such a offering. I took a chance on it, high price tag and all. When I took possession of it and started shooting, it immediately felt right in my hand. Aperture is very easy to set, it has a iso button and the dial button for shutter speed, I found shooting in full manual very easy and I found I could adjust my settings very quickly. After running around the house and yard taking some awful and boring shots, I went to see the files on the monitor and my tongue dropped. I couldn't believe the fullness, the richness I was seeing in the Rx1 files. This camera inspired me to shoot, just to see how the images would come out, how the sensor and lens was rendering whatever my subject was. I thought then, and I still think today, the RX1 has some of the best IQ my eyes have seen. A lot of you don't know much about me, let me just say I have shot with a lot of systems in a lot of conditions, I have done many paid jobs and many freebies as well as my own photo adventures. I do it because I have a burn inside of my soul that must do it, I must press the shutter button, it is who I am.
The Sony RX1 and I bonded and very quickly, it became a extension of my mind and hand. It also became the final nail in Canon's coffin for me, and I ran all of my Canon gear out the door. At that time I had no idea that there would be a A7, A7S, A7R, ect. All I knew is the IQ was so damn good, the RX1 basicly had ruined other cameras for me. As I used other systems such as my Micro 4/3rds, Fuji, Samsung, I would shoot images and always find myself wondering how that same image would have come out had I of shot it with the RX1.
I have never been one to complain about a cameras limitations, rather I work with it. Those that may know me from the Micro 4/3rds forums would say that I always uploaded some quality images that I shot from the lowly, slow, clunky Olympus Epl1. I didn't complain, I went out and shot and learned how to get the most out of the camera body.
The RX1 and me were love at 1st use. I took it everywhere with me, as it is small and so easy to carry, since I always had It I always seemed to get a good shot.
Though I don't complain about a camera, I wondered how the upgrade would be for the RX1, the Worlds smallest compact full frame beast. Little did I know it wouldn't come for years. I found this camera so good I was going to buy a 2nd body and not use it much, in the event the 1st one broke. I was close to doing that several times but I always thought just buy the next version, surely Sony will release one. As time passed I gave up hope, I wound up with a A7, A7R MII, A7S, all very nice and I love them, but they all lack that mojo, that soul that the RX1 has, I know not all will agree with this, but this is how it is for me. The RX1 did everything for me, it has been my main body for a few paid weddings I did. I would read about its struggles in AF and in lowlight, I never encountered this, my RX1 can focus pretty easily and quickly enough in lowlight, in fact this is where I use it the most. I love how it renders in black and white also. I am not one that spends a ton of time in post, maybe 3-5 minute a image, I try and get my look right in camera.
For me, shooting with a fixed lens 35mm improved my photography, I learned to see the world through a 35mm perspective, and zoom with my feet, I learned to compose better then I ever had before, I learned to do things and react to situations without thinking, if that makes sense. I learned to have fun, shooting with the RX1 is fun for me.
a long exposure selfie I did, RX1 on a tripod, timer used on the shutter as I stood still in this laser room
Night time and lowlight photography was fun, cool, it has a different look, not a lot do it, and the RX1 opened that door of creativity for me. I have shot a lot of cars in the darkness with the RX1.
I am very excited about the upcoming RX1R II, the original RX1 to me was a cult classic, I don't know how I will bond with the new RX1R II, I suspect I will, I just knew over 3 years ago, I was buying this camera. This camera changed my photography, and that is powerful.