Sony reveals QX10 and QX100 camera modules for smartphones

I'm seriously liking this concept.

Too bad though ... there's no SONY dealers nearby likely to offer these super flexible cameras ... & too bad too that SONY has their MSRP mindset.

Still ... I like the possibilities ...

Cheers.

imo

These devices, while new and prohibitively expensive for a lot of ppl, are important because they open up a lot of new photography potential, especially being able to mount and position the camera on a tripod or mini tripod in awkward locations and then control remotely UP TO 30 FT AWAY from the master control unit (smartphone) via NFC or wifi. I think a lot of ppl question the value because they don't understand these two components do not have to be in physical contact to actually work.

Can anything out there look uglier and make less sense then these two Baron von Frankenstein creations? What was Sony thinking here, OMG?

Could I use one with my wifi laptop and capture images that way, it would make a good covert observation tool.

Is RAW output too much to ask?

I bet Ricoh would have liked there GXR to work like this.

If the optics in the QX100 are as good as the RX100 then I am interested and hopefully the price will come down.

Good work Sony.

Cheers

The application of this as a smart phone upgrade is irrelevant, the remote controlled compact module is what has the potential.

my first reaction was that this is dum but Sonyalphrumors says that this just may be the most preordered camera in Sony's history. Many average people like using their smartphones, these cameras will put far better pics on their phones.
They will probably be a lot of fun too since the screen and the camera don't need to be connected.

DP Review - Make this these 11th in the list of Back to the future: ten one-of-a-kind cameras from the 21st century !

Innovative, Niche, but the initial 'soda pop' enthusiasm will fizzle away soon.

May be use this as a spy camera somewhere!!

Look, to those saying they'd simply buy the RX100, thats completely missing the point. You are getting RX100 quality on a device that can do almost everything, vs the RX100 that can only make calls.

While it remains to be seen if smartphone users who are snap happy would adopt such a large add on, clearly Sony is leading the way with innovation and that is something to be commended.

The prices at the top summary says $250 for both models, you should fix that. I almost ran for my credit card to find the QX100.

I hate Wifi and all that microwaves that are more and more polluting our environment... So I will never buy such a device.

This is an incremental improvement in camera connectivity, but the real innovation here is in separating the lens from the viewfinder/monitor (I can come up with precedents, but not in this usage space). This opens up a world of possibilities beyond what articulated monitors offered in prior consumer cameras. The Sony video illustrated this well.

I'd just get a Lumia 1020.

Can I pair multiple QX cameras to a single smartphone?
Can they be used simultaneously?

I honestly believe this *conceptually* is the future. But this first implementation is not that exciting.

What would excite me is a range of pancake primes with larger sensors.

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS?! I am better off getting the damn Sony RX 100 for this price than buy this module!

I didn't see any mention of a tripod mount. If I'm going to be carrying around another device so I could take better pictures, I might as well carry a tripod for even better pictures.

Not so much for smartphone still shooting, but I think this idea portends many further developments in small wireless videography, starting with security systems with good low light full colour cameras.

isn't a Canon 6D controled by a smartphone much better, i can't see the big inovation in this.

Make a GoPro version and you might have something.
Helmet mounted fish eye.
Clip on to your Google/NSA Glass ;)

If the QX100 was the size of the QX10, it would be a LOT more attractive.

Kudos for the innovation. Best is the compatibility with iOS for my use case: I'm a frequent flyer and still like window seats for the view. Mostly I do hesitate to take a 'real' camera due to noise and bulk and end up shooting with my iPhone. I was already considering the rx100 but didn't need a second camera. This fills the gap extremely well, although I admit this is very niche.
I can see other interesting uses depending on the wifi reach too. Nice.

Edit: hope they add iso and more manual controls at least via apps though

Charge the same for less? Brilliant for the stupid ones.
At least Hasleblad gave you wood grips while they were robbing you.

Consumer: "If only my cellphone had the zoom range and low light capability of a larger sensor P'n'S"

Sony: "Here's a camera but it has no LCD, so you hold it in one hand and your LCD panel (phone) in the other, or use this kludge adaptor making the whole thing pretty much back to the same size you were just gripping about."

This will fail.

Whether you buy into this concept or not, you have to give kudos to Sony for trying something different here. Will it sell? Who knows. I hope it does. And I hope it wakes Nikanon from its slumber.

A strong candidate for a back-to-the-future article in 2023. Kinda like that camera with a built-in beamer.

Sony has balls! This is simply ingenious!

After years of a market conflicting another. Sony has the balls to connect them with a clever solution.

Sorry but you cannot be negative about this kind of clever bravery.

Battery issues of smartphones will quadruple:
1) 2x because now 2 battery to care about/recharge (one of them will discharge just as you need to take a photo)
2) 2x because constant WiFi streaming of live view will discharge both batteries very quickly. I don't know about QX, but WiFi antennae in smartphones have low gain.

Better solution is something like Nokia 808 or 1020 plus specially made add-on lens-converters (WA, macro, tele).

Sony has lost their marbles.

Interesting. We will see. I thought the reason people ditched the P&S is so they wouldn't have to carry two devices. With this, they have to carry two devices again.

Sony is definately on the cutting edge- just wait and see if they sell bucketfulls of these- I can just see teenagers with these, and alot of others too. Innovative idea, fairly cheap, Sony realizes the phone market is where its at-

actually i think sony made more progress witht he xperia z1 than these two cameras. We finally have a company that put a p&s-sized sensor inside a smartphone that isn't nokia/windows phone. It also has manual controls..

i think the xperia z1 just retired my canon s90

We've come to expect great ideas and great products from Sony. These are no exception. The stumbling block will be what is the single biggest problem with all smartphones: battery life.

Cool!
Must pick one to try.

The argument in favor of using a smartphone for all your imaging needs is that you don't have to carry two devices (Not sure what's so difficult about two small devices, but OK).

With this item, you are still carrying two devices. But now you'll need to assemble the two into one camera and hope that you are not too late for that special photo op.

But innovation and testing the market is always a good thing. This device does seem to fall between the needs of the average person and those of the enthusiast photographer, but we will see.