Back in 2007 I issued a written challenge to camera companies (an echo of one wrriten by several other photography bloggers at various times over the years): build a large sensor compact.
Most of the feedback I got was "can't be done." As I responded at the time: "yes it can." The camera that came the closest to my original specification was the Fujifilm X100, and it's a good camera that changed Fujifilm's fortunes in cameras (now spawning X models galore).
Today Sony adds its second large sensor camera (the 1" sensored RX100 was the first). Today's RX1 announcement is for a full frame compact camera, with traditional controls and a 35mm Zeiss f/2 lens up front. So we now have the largest sensor compact camera yet. While the US$2800 price might scare a few of you off, I suspect this camera will be a hit. Full details are all over the Web, so I won't repeat them here. But I say Bravo, Sony, well done.
Indeed, I've been using the RX100 a lot lately, which is slightly more compact camera-ish vesion of the same thing (smaller, but still large sensor; modest zoom lens; more reliance on menus and the Control pad for changing settings). Given how good the RX100 is, the RX1 is going to be a real market changer, I think. Exactly as I thought something like that would be back in 2007 (actually well before that, but that's the date of my major article on the subject).
So let's see, Canon has a large sensor compact. Sony has two large sensor compacts. Fujifilm has a large sensor compact. Sigma has two large sensor compacts. Nikon has...doh! When do you think the Nikon large sensor compact project got green lighted? ;~)