NEW CONCEPT: The Sony DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 lens-style camera

90 Comments

1. wow……..ingenious technology……what is the cost of this camera???????and it is water proof???????????

2. I ordered the QX100 today. I think it’s a wonderful concept. It’s just 179 grams and it’s basically the same camera as the RX100 II. Will be easy to walk around with in my coat pocket. Ideal for travel.

3. If Sony can add an small LCD on the back of the battery cover(for composition), this lens camera can become a stand alone unit. It may fly off the shelf a lot of quicker.

4. Looks as if Sony has cured a problem that did not really exist! I can already control a small but brilliant camera from my phone if I want to – which 99% of the time I don’t. I’m all for invention and new ideas so bravo on that front just not sure outside of their domestic market how many they will sell. Android has just under 90% of the smartphone market so I guess it makes sense for Sony (who use Android) to push this OS and their own phone range first.

5. It’s for teenagers and geeks.
   At least it takes photos, nothing wrong with that, even if it may be clumsy and inadequate for the more, how do you say, “enthusiast” style of shooter.
   Like someone perceptively pronounced in a previous post,………..it aint for us!
   Admittedly was initially a bit disappointed too, but, nothing wrong with more choices is there?

6. For me it’s not about the lens. It’s all about the software. I’d be intersted if it allowed you to make custom interface for specific niches in photography and video. It’s also about having the ability to shoot, edit, and share with one device.

7. Heck after what I seen and witnessed on vacation this weekend, most people have significant problems holding and operating their cell phones as cameras. Now adding and holding this strange looking device against a cell phone or using it in conjunction with one will only add to the users mania.
   IMHO this is the dumbest idea I’ve ever seen. As some have said earlier, this won’t be use by most.people that have only two hands. Just my opinion.

8. This product is DOA. The real market for a product like this is the Go Pro, and these can’t compete with those at all, and the price point is ridiculous. This is classic Sony over pricing. Their current camera line up is finally good (as long as u don’t count their dslr’s) but they have priced themselves as a luxury brand, which in photography they just are not.

   • I have used Sony dslr and slt camera’s for some years now. What’s wrong with them that i didn;t notice? Probably the missing Canon or Nikon logo?

9. Bully for Sony. No RAW. For me and NOT the rest do the market this is an issue. I want one anyway – I do have a V1- and what counts is Sony has moved the Market. Bully for Sony!

10. Sony’s inspiration?
    http://www.artefactgroup.com/wvil/

11. I’m a film guy and I always enjoy the video assist on Panavision and other movie cameras: to be away from the camera and able to view/control. This kind of tool looks poor (no RAW,… read other comments) but honestly this is the kind of tool I’ve been dreaming since 10 years: a modular system with controls/EVF away from a lensor (Ricoh GXR Mount were a good start).

    Of course the OLED screen is unreadable in direct sunlight and the whole system seems clumsy but imagine a augmented reality Google Glass-like system: the display in front of your eyes, the lens in one hand and simple movement of the other hand to focus/trigger/record.

    It will be a gadget for sure but I predict there will be interesting clones. It’s a beginning…

12. I certainly don’t want one, however I will be interested to see how people use it. It’s got some potential to be used in very creative ways, probably should have video too, or maybe it does?

13. Obviously many of the enthusiast shooters who like physical controll points are not impressed. But the QXs are for a completely different kind of breed. People who own, and only shoot with, their smartphones can upgrade for little buck and have their images DIRECTLY on their phones, process them there and upload them instantly.
    And I must say that framing with a 4″+ screen doesn’t sound too shabby.

14. one day they will sell you a car without steeringnwheel and tell you you can steer it with your iphone and call it an innovation.

    • And it certainly would be!

    • I already have a remote control helicopter that works this way. It is scarily unpredictable to fly. Still, I haven’t killed anyone with it yet so it must be fine…

15. It is an interesting concept but I don’t see me buying it. I really respect Sony and their advances and lack of fear in taking new products to market. Making Canon/Nikon/Leica look slow and clumsy. I am more interested in the FF NEX or the successor to the NEX7.

16. It is definitely not the camera for you or for anyone dedicated to super-top-notch quality pictures.
    Taking pictures for a cellphone/tablet may be horrible for you, put cellphones/tablets take more pictures than all cameras combined.
    Why would you need TWO lens caps? You don’t need ANY caps. The front closes automaticaly and the back is plastic.

17. Not sure whether this product will be a big hit but I suspect this is only the first of many similar ones. Clever move by Sony. It’s frustrating that the smaller size unit, which i could see actually taking out with me, lacks the more advanced controls while the much less portable one has them. Combine the size of the one with the controls of the other and I might get one. By the way, anybody know whether these things will drain smartphone batteries any quicker? That would be another downer.

18. An interesting idea, but I don’t see it doing well in the market, since I feel like it’s primarily advertised as more of an advanced-entry level level camera. This is just my opinion, but the success of the RX100 was due to its POCKETABLE size along with its image quality and low-ISO performance. The QX100 seems like a more tech-savy option because of how easily it links to social media, but it has no pocketability. For a slightly cheaper price than the RX100, I really wonder if people will spring for this over the RX100 (2).

19. Isn’t this an attempt to sell half a camera at the price of a full one?

    • not so sure, it has all a normal camera has, just stretched in a cylinder, not in a rectangular box. I don’t think that the release button and the program wheel make that much difference in price. The RX100-2 costs still a 200+ more.

20. Getting mine on September 27. Very excited!

21. At first I thought: very innovative but it will hardly be successful. However, some sources say: QX is already the most preordered Sony camera in history!

    Well, we’ll see…

22. Sony is truly desperate and they found the 1970s issue of Pop Photo for what future cameras would look like.

23. I fail to see the point. The QX100 is less pocketable than the RX100, not substantially cheaper, lacks flash and dials for direct control. There are two devices to be kept charged and the need for wireless communication between them drains batteries quicker. The main advantage of the combo is the larger touchscreen.

    Actually I would love to see a new digital Leica M body, slimmed-down to mechanical controls without LCD on the back. For a camera worn on a strap around the neck or dangling from the shoulder, the LCD is an achilles heel that gets scratched and breaks. And it makes the body thicker than the iconic M3. I would prefer to navigate in menus, view or edit images on a separate smartphone or tablet. And with no reading glasses at hand, I would even prefer to do that through an EVF.

    • 1) I totally agree with you.

      2) Wonderful idea! 🙂

    • Talking about Leica M3 thickness, the guys in Solms could retain it in digital models simply by extending the lens mount ring.

24. without RAW they can keep it , I am not interested

25. Howdy, It’s a real head scratcher to me. Why not just build a smart phone into a “real” camera?

26. I’m confused…given the ungainly size of these (particularly the qx100) why not just buy an rx100?
    It’d be much much less awkward control wise, and be vastly more ergomonic. Cool concept though…
    maybe gen 2 will include a less awkward prime lens based model?

27. Applications:
    –high quality substitutes for action cameras. Mount them on helmet, on car dashboard, bike handles, etc
    –cheap enough that one can set up a group of cameras for an event. Maybe even use one phone to control them all (if the software is implemented right).
    …
    I think it’s exciting, to create separate modules for the traditional one-body camera.
    More and better things will come.

    • Yep all one has to do is think beyond point and shoot

28. Finally a camera that can fit inside my pants and see life as I truly witness it! Gotta say I really love the extendable zoom. It’s just soooo Iron Man!

    • Is that a QX100 in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? 🙂

      • Hahahahaha. Now that’s funny! It should be their slogan!

    • Do you really want to witness life inside your pants or did I misread your post…?

      • Imagine that looong zoom drives out inside your pocket in a non appropriate moment, hahahaha

29. The smartphone as remote viewfinder/controller idea is cool but I think the physical size of these along with the “one extra thing to carry” is going to limit the appeal. However a RX100 style camera that could also pair with a smartphone for remote control would be a cool feature and I imagine will become a common feature over time.

    • It is easier to carry a round object as opposed to a small brick…………. compact camera is still that one extra thing

      • I don’t buy it… I don’t think carrying a round object the size of a small pop can is any easier to carry than a well designed compact And a compact is a full product with viewfinder / screen… this thing is useless without the smart phone as the screen. Don’t get me wrong I applaud Sony for trying something new… it’s just not for me and I don’t think it will appeal to the masses either. People either use there smart phone camera and consider it “good enough” or they want something more capable and make the decision to carry around a separate, better and more fully functional camera around with them !

        • Heaps easier put a cube in one pocket and a cylinder in the other……..

          Brilliant little teaching tool ……separate it from the phone , connect the phone to a projector or a computer that is linked with a bank of computers. Snap away under over in the nooks and crannies of objects etc

          The masses will lap it up maybe not people that post on photographic sites like theses but they are not the “popular culture” consuming masses

          • Cool teaching tool perhaps…. but still don’t think it will have mass market appeal… just look at the simplest use case from a time & motion perspective…

            compact camera: 1- pull out of pocket, 2- power up, 3-compose, 4-press shutter, 5- power down, 6- put back in pocket =3 seconds

            vs

            phone + QX: 1-pull out phone, 2- unlock it 3- navigate to and launch the QX app 4- Wait for app to load and connect to cameral 5- pull out the QX, 6-turn QX on 7- mount it to the phone (or hold in in position) 8- compose 9- press shutter 10- shut down QX 11- put QX away 12- turn phone off 13- put phone away = I’m guessing maybe 10 seconds if you are really fast !

            People may be drawn to the cool factor, but after half a dozen times of going through this song and dance… it will sit in a drawer.

          • stiffled thinking on your part it will go off like a bang in the Asian market not everything is made for Westerners.

          • So non-westerners a dont care about usability and convenience? Is that your argument ?

30. Nice concept but stripped of the basic necessities for most enthusiasts, no manual setting, no focus peaking, no magnification to confirm focus, no ISO adjustment and as mentioned no RAW. Maybe a next gen will be more photog friendly.

31. I want the phone/camera integration or mashup to flow the other way. With the smartphone operating system running on cameras, editing and posting to the internet could be easier than using EyeFi cards etc. Display size and quality would be important.

32. I could see it selling well, but not as much with enthusiasts or pros. I’m curious as to how quickly this will eat up the mobile phone battery. I think sales will start out briskly because it’s new and innovative, but once the newness wears off, I’d be surprised if it survives. In my opinion it’s a gimmick, much like interchangeable lenses for the iPhone.

33. I have a RX100 but will probably also be in the market for this great teaching tool that the young could relate to visually. Plus it saves me buying a new iphone as there is no reason to update the sensor in the camera

34. This is genius by Sony. Of course this isn’t targeted at someone who wants the RX100, or full camera controls, RAW, etc etc…those people will still buy the RX100. This is meant to replace the dying compact camera by directly tying it in with your phone. No one has created anything like this so it will take some time to shake out and be adopted by users, but, in the long run, Sony will win with these.

35. Nokia 808 or 1020?

36. I’m… really not sure how I feel about this.

    It’s great to see totally new / innovative design and ideas enter the photography world (and I love Sony for this!!)

    But I’m not sure if this is going to be a ‘home run’. It’s certainly not for me. Will Instagram shooters take to these? Or will it be too much cost and effort for people why typically want to take a quick snap?

    What I’m more interested in though is whether this will become a prototype of something more. Will Sony or other manufactures create ‘bodies’ more geared to accepting these lenses with some buttons and dials for those who like that sort of thing? How big of a sensor can you put in something like this? How much more can you bring the cost down? Will this be the genesis of some new, wacky, modular system??

    I’m interested to see what these ‘tadpoles’ turn into if/when the system starts to mature.

37. I think the QX10 will do better than the more capable QX100 just for form factor alone

38. This will appeal to those who love their phones and love gadgets that they can use with their phones. i’m guessing that once the novelty wears off, this thing will be left at home and the phone will once again be just used with its regular built in camera. in its regular much smaller and more convenient form.

39. I think these cameras, though awkward as depicted in the video, would end up just staying attached sometimes and in a bag or pocket other times, depending on what the user is up to at the time. In that case, they probably have a decent market. Basically, you’re either carrying a camera or a phone, with the option to change your mind without too much hassle.

    For me, though, the big one is too big to appeal. The little one is more interesting. A stand alone, tiny camera with better-than-tiny (presumably) image quality has its uses. Or, better, something I can attach to my radio controlled helicopter and not only take stills but zoom and control from the ground. Now, those opportunities, for the price, excite me!

40. This video is just a promo. I for one think its very innovative on the part of Sony. To get a real understanding of the Qx10 and Qx100 check out B&H photos hands on video presentation.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szgDn0-2sXs

41. Sony is really quite brilliant. I suspect that these gizmos will be hugely popular in Japan; the US, well, let’s wait and see. It seems, though, that people will find uses for these toys more as Smart Phone controlled cameras that anything else. Yes, I realize that process can be done already with many wifi enabled cameras, but these things could be a bit stealthier, and provide the ultimate in narcissistic (spying) enjoyment 🙂

42. I assume the intention is that you buy a clip attachment for your phone, with the Sony ones being available now.

    I agree with most of you above, would rather carry a smallish camera, or just use my phone as is. But it is an interesting concept. A fixed focal length would be smaller, better, could house a better sensor, but I can see why they are going for a novelty consumer item first.

    What next?, voice control? No idea where it leads but fun to watch.

43. Ten points for innovation, but probably not too many points for usability. Give up most of the physical camera controls for a flat glass screen interface? No thanks!

44. just watched the video, complete with skinny unshaven guy who’s not smart enough to get out of the rain.

    geeking, holding it to his cell phone. The product may be “different” but the marketing is sickly the same.

    Nothing to see here for serious photography, or men for that matter…

45. I’m completely surprised by all the positive comments.

    • Having just seen the video, i was shocked by the size of the thing. Carrying one will not be any easier than carrying a dedicated camera.
    • Seems a pain to ‘pair’ the thing to the phone, then attach it, and use it.
    • It’s already a horrid experience holding a cell phone for photography. This only compounds the problem.
    • So, carrying it around, you have to keep TWO lens caps on it at all times….
    • You still get that ‘camera phone snapshot aesthetic’ with the tiny sensor DOF.
    • No RAW. If your target audience is people who don’t care about RAW or ‘best possible image quality,’ why would you expect those same people to need something other than what’s already in their cell phone? And, if someone’s in the market for a camera, how does this serve them better?

    It amounts to being ‘a neat trick.’ A novelty. Something you Do, Because You Can. But, the usefulness, aside from being able to take the lens off and put it into a nook, to photograph your kitty while you monitor her separately, seems quite limited.

    I predict it will be a tremendous success.

    • here`s another positive commie for you. I guess lot of war fotogs would love to take their Canikon lens off and stick it out round the corner to snap a price winner without risking their body being shot off. Not talking about papparazzis and their disguise tricks.

    • or all those sweaty boys with pimply faces in the clubs just roll them on the dance floor and checking girls’ knickers 😉

46. Oh, I get it. If I buy the camera I’ll get to meet a girl and fall in love. Looks kind of stupid to me. Sorry.

    • a stupid ad doesn’t mean the product is stupid 😉

47. Quite a hideous form factor here

    Clumsy no matter how you hold it

    Put it in your girl’s purse…? Not many women want more in their purses. Kudos to innovation, but this might sink like a stone.

48. Gee, what a news boy! Ricoh had for years fullgrown lensor system with their GXR line. If only Ricoh got it`s inventive … up and made a cell phone that fitted their lensors, you could even shoot with your Leica or Zeiss m-mount glass and make a call to Solms or Oberkochen at the same time.

49. I’m with the “why not just carry a RX100” idea.

50. Slow lens when zoomed. No RAW. Serious time lag in viewfinder and wireless shutter release. microSD slot.

    Color me unimpressed.

    • The intended audience for this product is obviously not us:
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/ri/top/electronics/502394/

      #1 preordered camera on Amazon.

      The majority of camera users don’t care about RAW and f-stops. There’s your target audience I’d say.

51. It seems I will be selling my M240 soon! 🙂

    • You are joking I hope.

      • With iPhone it’s gonna be a blast!

        • The iPhone needs a reliable decent camera so could be a match made in heaven. Sony now just needs to hugely over price it, use out dated copied technology and revamp it very six months and hey presto they will have suckers queuing around the block in droves 🙂

    • LOL!

      Leica, eat your heart out!

52. Can anyone think of a reason NOT to have one? I mean if you are dedicated to going out to shoot you’ll take your required gear.

    But if you are just going to dinner with the girl, just get her to put it in her purse!!! YEAH!

    • one reason: $500

      • +500

53. Thinking outside the box and recognizing mobile is handiest device to capture ‘the moment’. That said, another ‘thing’ you have to remember to carry with you, in which case why not carry a RX100 say… interesting to see how this plays out…

    • Good point!

    • Looks great and has a lot of potential… I’m just not convinced about “Look something is happening” “Wait for it I’m pairing this tool with this device and shit my mom is calling I can’t take the shot…” or any variation of “this app quit unexpectedly” and stuff…

      • LOL

54. After watching the video, I think I want one 🙂

55. These are amazing if you shoot JPEG, as they do NOT shoot RAW according to the leaked spec sheets. This was very disappointing to hear because I only shoot in RAW.

    If the end up allowing it to produce RAW files I can’t see WHY you wouldn’t want one of these with you all the time!

    Sony is really the best camera company out there, the only one innovating on ANY level.

    • Not sure the intended users will be shooting raw.

      It’s a brave move from Sony. A bit weird, but brave.

    • How about Fuji? They aren’t innogvating?

      • ..lets try that again sir..i n n o vat ling. No sir..please walk this line. No sir there’s only one line. Again sir.. ign o va ring….ah well

        • the second needless comments (after the usual hate and bash comments), are spelling comments

56. It’s to large compared with Sony RX100 size.

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