Fun with the DXO ONE in 2023

In 2015, Dxo decided to sell a tiny camera that connected to the iPhone. They used the 1inch 20MP sensor from the Sony RX100 m3 that I really love a lot, 32mm equivalent lens that is pretty bright: F/1.8 and shoots RAW.

September 24, 2023

When I saw it brand new, boxed, in a tech store getting rid of unsold stuff, I just bought it. I know I could have it for less on eBay, but I couldn't pass.

All has been said about that tiny camera. It has been commercial failure despite being actually pretty good with the latest firmware that added wifi connection and sort of a super low res black and white viewfinder in the minuscule OLED screen.

When it is connected to the iPhone, the phone is the viewfinder, and you can adjust everything: aperture, speed, isos, PASM mode, some crappy automatiques modes. It work quite well, the picture quality is that of the Sony RX100 mIII, framing is a delight especially when using it as a TLR. The 1 inch sensor beats any computational wizardry Apple puts in any iPhone. AF is super fast and accurate, the lens quality is great, the only thing that underwhelming is the battery.

But it isn't how I actually like to use it: when it is connected to the iPhone, it will remember the last settings: I set it to aperture priority, F/1.8, ISO auto, and when it is disconnected, it will keep these settings, making it a super tiny non conspicuous 32mm camera.

Using it this way, framing is at best approximative, but it isn't really an issue. It is a very interesting different way of taking photos.

It is worth noting it can also shoot super-RAW, a Dxo proprieritary format that combine a few photos to improve noise and dynamic range. It is slow, eats the battery like crazy, but it is also pretty good in extreme circumstances. it requires DXO software to process it properly (Lightroom will only process the first of the 4 images)

You may also like

Sony RX100 m3: all you need from 24 to 70mm

I got this little camera for $200 a couple years ago and didn't write about it yet.

Improving cheap flatbed scans

I still shoot film from time to time, not enough to invest in am excellent neg scanner or bother trying to shoot my negs with a camera. I tried that, don't like it. I love the scanning - editing process.

Nikkor Plastic 70-300 F/4-5.6 AF-D ED

This Nikkor 70-300 has been one of the most poorly reviewed Nikkor lens ever.

Shooting the Olympus OM-D E-M1 in 2023, 2024 and later.

One month ago, I was fed up with travelling with camera gear. Air travel became a miserable experience: arguing with check-in people, Unpack all that expensive shit at security, having gear damaged in the plane when frantic fellow passengers trow their hard cases in the overhead bins. I want to travel light: then a classified caught my eye: EM1, grip, charger, 2 batteries and 45-150 for 300.

Birding with a cheap Sigma 135-400?

When it comes to birding, the common advice is to get a camera with low noise, fast AF, fast burst, big buffer and some long lens, preferably a super fast telephoto. It is indeed good advice, but you'll have to pay thousands of dollars to buy that gear, even on the used market. What if you want to shoot birds on a super tight budget? You'll still need some camera and lens. Maybe consider buying some older inexpensive gear?

Sony alpha A200: a Nikon D80 with IBIS

After Sony bought the Minolta photography department, they released the A100 in mid 2006, the A700 in mid 2007, and the A200/A300/A350 in early 2008. Two years after the Nikon D80, we find the same SONY ICX493AQA CCD sensor (wich is basically a slower ICX483AQA that was in the Nikon D200 released 3 years earlier) in what is basically a Minolta body with Sony branding imitating a Nikon D80..

Sigma 500mm F/7.2 AF APO

How good can be a Sigma 500mm F/7.2 AF lens from 1990? Simple answer: definitely worth 89 bucks BUT there are lots of BUT...

Shooting the Sony Alpha 700 in 2022

I really never was really interested in Sony after they bought Minolta and started their "own" line of DSLRs. 15 years later, I buy a pristine Alpha A700 for peanuts and I quite like the Minolta DNA.

Nikon N50 / F50 shooting Kodak UltraMax 400

I didn't shoot film for years. Didn't really plan to. Not that I don't like it, because I love film, but I just didn't have an opportunity to do so. When I saw that Nikon F50 with a 35-80 for 20 bucks, I just bought it. Ordered a new battery on amazon and a couple rolls of Kodak Ultramax 400

Shooting the Sony Alpha 77 mk II in 2022

I wrote about the A77. But what about the noticeably more expensive used A77m2? You’ll have to pay $600 to $800 to buy a used one in good condition. Is it worth it? The A77m2 came a few years after the A77. in my opinion, the improvements are mostly marketing stunts. Despite a lot more AF sensors, a so-called new AF system, better video and a bigger buffer, I keep thinking the A77m2 used isn’t a very good deal.

↑Back to Top