Sony officially announced the QX1 and QX30 camera modules for smart phone. The price of the QX1 is $398, the QX30 is $348. Sample images can be found here.
Additional details:
Sony’s latest lens-style cameras give you the best of both words, uniting the spontaneity and easy sharing of your smartphone with the imaging power and creative options of a premium camera.
Simply connect the camera to your smartphone via Wi-Fi. One-touch connection speeds by NFC for all lens-style cameras is faster than previously experienced, thanks to firmware upgrades for the QX100 and QX10 cameras[i]and improvements to the PlayMemories Mobile app. If you’re an Xperia[ii] phone user, hook-up times are quicker still!
It’s easy to control each lens-style camera with the latest release of Sony’s free PlayMemories Mobile app version 5.0 for Android and iOS smartphones. A new user interface simplifies the photography experience and makes one-handed operation a lot easier. Framing shots on your phone is more intuitive thanks to on-screen gridlines that now feature in the app. GPS adds location information to images that’s transferred to your smartphone while shooting[iii]. The camera shutter can now fire from the touchscreen; and with photographs automatically transferred to your phone you can share those memories instantly.
ILCE-QX1
The ILCE-QX1 lets serious photographers make use of their precious E-mount lens collection. Just pick your favourite lens – zoom, wide angle, tele or macro – and unleash your artistry with control over exposure, focus and shooting modes.
The camera’s APS-C size Exmor CMOS sensor with 20.1-megapixels grabs huge amounts of flawless detail, just like you’d expect from a much bigger camera. It’s teamed with Sony’s advanced BIONZ X processor that now features improved area-specific noise reduction. You’ll relish the difference with stunning low-noise images, even if you’re shooting in near-darkness when small sensors struggle.
That big sensor inside the QX1 also lets you create pro-style ‘bokeh’ effects with creamy background blur – a trick that smartphones can’t match.
Serious snappers and casual users alike are spoiled with a wealth of other premium features. Superior Auto recognizes dozens of different scenes – like landscapes or backlit portraits – adjusting camera settings for top-quality results without fuss. For those photographers who enjoy post-production editing, the QX1 can now shoot RAW image files and in a lens-style camera first, the QX1 debuts a pop-up flash to brighten up portraits, gloomy interiors and night scenes.
The LCS-QXA Case and Strap Kit adds a touch of luxury with its tough brown leather-look finish. The QX1 is protected snuggly, with a choice of shoulder strap or belt-mounting options while you’re out and about.
DSC-QX30
Smartphone owners know that high-zoom shots are a headache, often resulting in grainy images and camera-shake when you’re trying to get the big picture. The compact DSC-QX30 keeps things crisp and clear with its powerful 30x optical zoom lens, aided by Optical SteadyShot image stabilisation that helps eliminate blurring.
Users can smoothly zoom from a wide angle 24mm shot to a huge 720mm[iv] equivalent length at the telephoto end, for frame-filling full-length close-ups of somebody standing 40m away. If you want to go bigger still, Clear Image Zoom blows things up to a massive 60x magnification without sacrificing pixel count.
Awesome zoom power is matched by Lock-on AF and speedy continuous shooting at up to 10fps, letting you capture fast-moving action with a crisply-focused burst of split-second images. It’s a movie magician, too, shooting fabulous Full HD video at a smooth 60p frame rate at the touch of a button[v].
Both new lens-style cameras are compatible with Sony’s wearable RM-LVR1[vi] and RM-LVR2V[vii] Live View Remote controls[viii]. These wrist-mount controllers let you check images and select shots from up to five connected cameras simultaneously – great for ambitious multi-angle recordings.
New colours for DSC-QX10
Meanwhile the QX10 gains two on-trend new colour variations to coordinate with today’s smartphones. As well as black and white, it’s now also available in eye-grabbing pink and copper finishes to add a splash of funky colour to your shooting.
ADP-FSK1
While Sony’s lens-style cameras make great tools for flexible shooting, the optional ADP-FSK1 dramatically expands your choice of shooting style. Shipping as standard with the ILCE-QX1 and available as an optional accessory for all other QX models, this Free Angle Shooting Kit includes a tilt adaptor and a grip, allowing you to shoot from low or high angles or take effortless selfies.
The QX1 and QX30 lens-style cameras and new colour variations of QX10 are available to pre-order now from www.sony.co.uk. QX30 and QX10 colour variants will be generally available in Europe from Mid-September 2014. QX1 will be generally available in Europe in October 2014.
Technical specifications:
| ILCE-QX1 | DSC-QX30 | ||
| Image Sensor | Sensor Type | APS-C type Exmor CMOS sensor | 1/2.3 type Exmor R CMOS sensor |
| Number of Pixel | [Effective] 20.1M [Gross] 20.4M | [Effective] 20.4M [Gross] 21.1M | |
| Lens | Lens Type | Sony E-mount Lens | Sony G LensF3.5(W)-6.3(T) f=24-720mm[ix] |
| Optical Zoom | - | 30x | |
| Clear Image / Digital Zoom | Clear Image Zoom Up to 2x | Clear Image Zoom Up to 60x | |
| Camera Function | Imaging Processor | BIONZ X | BIONZ X |
| SteadyShot | - (image stabilization supported on lens) | Optical | |
| Focus Mode | AF-S/Manual Focus/Touch AF / Lock-on AF | AF-S / Touch AF / Lock on AF | |
| Focus Area | Contrast AF | Multi Point AF | |
| Light Metering Mode | Multi Pattern | Multi Pattern | |
| Exposure Control | Yes | Yes | |
| ISO Sensitivity | Auto, ISO 100-16000 | Auto(ISO 80-12800[x]), ISO 80-3200 | |
| White Balance Mode | Auto / Daylight /Shade /Cloudy / Incandescent / Fluor(Warm White) / Fluor(Cool White) / Fluor(Day White) / Fluor(Daylight) / C.Temp / Flash | Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Incandescent/ Fluor(Cool White) / Fluor(Day White) / Fluor(Daylight) | |
| Shooting Mode | Superior Auto / Intelligent Auto / Movie Mode/ P mode / A mode / S mode | Superior Auto / Intelligent Auto / Movie Mode/ P mode / A mode / S mode | |
| Drive Modes | Single shooting / Continuous shooting / Speed priority continuous shooting / Self-timer(10 sec. delay / 2 sec. delay) | Single shooting / Continuous shooting/Self-timer(10 sec. delay / 2 sec. delay) | |
| Flash | Built-in flash (GN4 in meters at ISO 100) | - | |
| Recording | Compatible Recording Media | Memory Stick Micro, Memory Stick Micro (Mark2), microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC | Memory Stick Micro, Memory Stick Micro (Mark2), microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC |
| Recording Format | Still image | JPEG/RAW+JPEG | JPEG |
| Movie | MP4 16M(1920x1080 30p) | MP4 28M(1920x1080 60p) / 16M(1920x1080 30p) | |
| Interface | Input and Output Terminal | Multi/Micro USB Terminal (USB2.0) | Multi/Micro USB Terminal (USB2.0) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | |
| NFC | Yes (One touch remote) | Yes (One touch remote) | |
| Power | Battery System | NP-FW50 | NP-BN |
| USB Charge / USB Power Supply | USB Charge Only | Yes (shooting, playback)[xi] | |
| Still images (CIPA standard) | Approx. 440 Shots | Approx. 200 shots | |
| Movies (Continuous / CIPA standard) | Approx. 150 min | Approx. 45 min | |
| Others | Dimensions WxHxD(without Smartphone Attachment) | 74.0 x 69.5 x 52.5 mm | 68.4 x 65.1 x 57.6 mm |
| Weight (without Smartphone Attachment) | 216g (Battery and Memory Stick Micro included) | 193g (Battery and Memory Stick Micro included) | |
| Multi Camera Control | Yes | Yes | |
| Supplied Accessories | NP-FW50 battery/ Smartphone Attachment /Micro USB cable / Wrist Strap / Quick Start Guide | NP-BN battery, Smartphone Attachment /Micro USB cable / Wrist Strap / Quick Start Guide | |
[i] Requires LA-EA4 adaptor for A-mount lenses
[i] DSC-QX100, DSC-QX10
[ii] To check compatibility of Xperia phones, please visit www.sony.co.uk
[iii] Location info is not tagged in the images stored in the camera
[iv] 35mm equivalent (aspect ratio 4:3)
[v] A memory card must be inserted into the camera for movie shooting, continuous shooting, and some other shooting modes
[vi] Software version 2.0 or later
[vii] Supplied with HDR-AZ1VR, HDR-AZ1VB and HDR-AZ1VW
[viii] These accessories are optional extras
[ix] 35mm equivalent (aspect ratio 4:3)
[x] Achieved by using overlay burst shooting
[xi] AC Adaptor AC-UD10 not supplied
