ISO sensitivity.

The image sensor of the DSC-R1 is more than twelve times the size of the typical digital camera sensor. So the R1 is far more sensitive to light, providing you far more flexibility in low-light conditions. For this reason, you can continue to shoot handheld in circumstances where previous cameras require external flash, tripod support, image stabilization or and/or very long exposures.

Sony enables you to put this sensitivity to work by dialing up the camera's ISO setting. Where previous Sony cameras went to a maximum ISO setting of 800, the DSC-R1 offers ISO settings of 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and a phenomenal 3200!