New Sony RX1: 35mm full frame fixed lens camera with Zeiss 35/2 prime

Hold on to your seats! The Sony avalanche has began! Sony has just launched one of the biggest unexpected surprises in the history of digital cameras with the new Sony RX1, a camera using a 24-megapixel 35mm full frame CMOS sensor with a fixed Zeiss 35mm f2 Sonnar T* lens!

But before you get too excited, the starting price of the camera is $2800 with a mid-December-2012 release estimate (see Amazon.com). It is a 35mm full frame sensor with a leaf shutter and a Zeiss prime lens after all! But you are not done paying - optical and electronic viewfinders and thumbelinas are available as optional accessories and their price is rather high.

Sony RX1 first impressions
+ four-page preview at dpreview
+ hands on at Steve Huff Photo
+ preview at Imaging Resource
+ first impressions at Digital Camera Info
+ hands on at The Pho Blo Grapher
+ first impressions at PDN Pulse
+ hands-on at Engadget
+ preview video by Sony embedded right below

Press Release Parade
+ dpreview
+ Focus Numerique
+ Photoxels
+ Photoscala
+ Sony Europe
+ 90-second promotional trailer by Sony, embedded right below

Sony RX1 Pre-Orders
+ Amazon.com
+ Sony Style (mid-December release estimate)
+ preorder price is $2800
+ estimates can change over time