Image courtesy: Cameras.reviewed.com
According to Amazon US (Click here) the QX cameras will ship in exactly seven days. But there is already a very first QX LensCamera now in Stock on [shoplink 21249 ebay]eBay US (only one left)[/shoplink]. The question is…does the LensCamera idea really work? Cameras.reviewed.com posted the first full QX10 review. And there is a surprising conclusion. They write the QX10 is “a dumb camera for your smart phone”
The QX10’s image quality is better than your smartphone’s, yes, but not by much. The biggest gain is in terms of optical zoom, but the camera’s awkward handling makes actually utilizing that 10x telephoto a challenge. And while the QX10’s pairing behavior and user interface are better (or at least less convoluted) than any other WiFi implementation we’ve seen, shooting with the app still felt arbitrarily limiting—almost like a chore.
A bit disappointing! But I think most of the issues (interface and limited APP) can be improved via firmware.
P.S: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX10 Sample Images (Photographyblog). Unboxing pics at SonyBlog.
Here are all direct links to preorders in USA/Canada:
QX100: Amazon (Click here), SonyUS (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), SonyCA (Click here).
Soft Carrying Case for DSC-QX100 at Amazon (Click here).
Black QX10: Amazon (Click here), SonyUS (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), SonyCA (Click here).
White QX10: Amazon (Click here), SonyUS (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here).
Soft Carrying Case for DSC-QX10 Amazon (Click here).
Xperia Z case with QX mount on Amazon (Click here).
Here are all direct links to preorders in Europe:
Black QX100 at SonyDE, Amazon.de (via DealsRunner), Amazon France (via DL), SonyUK, SonyES, SonyIT, SonyNL, SonyBE, SonyAT, SonyCH, SonySE, SonyFI, SonyNo.
Black QX10 at SonyDE, Amazon.de (via DealsRunner), Amazon France (via DL), SonyUK, SonyES, SonyIT, SonyNL, SonyBE, SonyAT, SonyCH, SonySE, SonyFI, SonyNo.
White QX10 at SonyDE, Amazon.de (via DealsRunner), Amazon France (via DL), SonyUK, SonyES, SonyIT, SonyNL, SonyBE, SonyAT, SonyCH, SonySE, SonyFI, SonyNo.
Xperia Z1 at SonyDE, SonyUK, SonyES, SonyIT, SonyNL, SonyBE, SonyAT, SonyCH, SonySE, SonyFI, SonyNo.
38 Responses
In short, they screwed up the software, as expected.
What a surprise.
I’m not surprised about the conclusion because it is and will feel weird to handle that thin on a phone.. Way more messy than a dedicated camera. Pick up 2 things, turn 2 things on, connect them, then start handling them and watch out that you don’t drop 2 things and break 2 things
+1
I love common sense!
wow that is a great summery have some love
you do pick up 2 things, connect them, then start handling them and watch out that you don’t drop 2 things and break 2 things – every time you change a lens on a dslr as well.. and dslr weights 5+ times more than that combo + is way more expensive 😮
I don’t change lenses as often as I take pictures.
yes, we all don’t. The point is to not blow things out of proportion. Stucking a spring loaded clip on a phone is hardly a challenge for anyone with 2 hands
btw, check out this vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi9X3-mYDEo at 2min mark, how easily it’s mounted on a camera. Admittedly I’d still prefer it to have some magnetic type of attachment, and perhaps a steel thin plate that you can glue to the back of your phone (so the magnet could work, kind of like police uses for their car emergency lights, dunno if you’ve seen thing like that before)
+1 for Dan. It’s the same as people today who complain about having to hit two buttons to make something happen. I sincerely don’t want to hear it. Are you going out to create or not? Are you looking for better content on your mobile devices or not? If the answer is yes, the QX lenses will help you do so. If not, don’t buy them. I think it’s pretty straight forward, really. The Nokia LUMIA that has recently been vomited all over anything having to do with photography is NOT the answer.
I actually wrote the first QX review much earlier here on SAR: http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/next-announcement-on-september-4-qx-lenscameras-and-honami-z1-smartphone/
The QX is a dedicated camera. It just happens to work with smartphones to allow smartphone photographers better ability to network immediately after the shoot. It’s not for everyone. It does however bridge the gap nicely between a better small camera and the smartphone, since something like the RX100M2 costs $250 more. The preorders on the lenses would indicate that there are a lot of people who are truly casual photographers that tire of their phones being pretty awful at a great many photographic things. Low light, Zoom, Stability, Optics, the ability to actually separate foreground and background…
The cellphone is always on. If you have NFC, the one touch process is ridiculously simple. The start up time is not instantaneous but cellphone photographers are absolutely used to the idea of not instantaneous as that idea permeates everything they do on their phones with the exception of texting and talking.
The ability to not have it on the phone is what interests me. I wouldn’t attach it unless I needed to do low light work with steadier hands. To me the idea would be to attack the strangest of angles, to see the world at utterly different points of view.
I give Sony a lot of kudos here for thinking outside the box. It’s first gen. The second set is going to do ever so much more… but for now the point and shoot phone kids get a toy that will take them further.
As for the reviewer stating that their cellphone shots weren’t that much less quality than the QX10… I can dispute that solely based on physics and low light capability. No phone takes a shot that’s as high quality as the QX10. Period. That’s not hyperbole. That’s just how it is.
engadget has a more positive review..
I got my QX100 already yesterday and can say that is quite nice. The connection with android phone an iPad works extremely good.
But as written in the first review, the software is still lacking. I hope an update will add more control possibilies.
Apart from that it really is a great idea and the hardware is impressive! And about the handling when attached to a smart phone. It is a bit off in the beginning but separately this is a very nice and versatile tool.
I look forward to app improvements and further development of the idea.
If you have it, please make a short review, tell us how is the experience of taking pics with it, if is a lag in live view, in saving pics, how the pics looks to you, anything you like.
ouch! too bad. I have preordered the Xperia Z1, and the QX10 is coming for free. If I had pay what Sony ask for it, I would complain if it becomes awkward to use for sure, but since it’s coming for free… whatever, sneaky shots, here I come haha
Rooru – Did you preorder z1 in Europe? Can’t find one in US
Yeah, only from UK at the moment. Clove and Handtec will ship worldwide, and have them in stock to ship out. If you want a US based shop, you may try Negri Electronic and ShopBLT. Though Negri’s is the European version, C6903, which does not have band 17(700Mhz)for ATT LTE.ShopBLT only has the C6902, which does not have LTE at all. Both US based shop are still only pre-order status.
not quite sure from where it’s coming the Z1. I preordered it via local dealer that get their stock from Canada.
Are people complaining about “turning on two things”? Is that how lazy you’ve got?
You also turno on two thing when your fire a flash and my tripod suck because i need to extend the legs.
Wow! just wow!
-When it’s clamped there is no “handling two things”
– The whole point of the QX series is being detached from the pone/table, it’s a feature, not a bug.
– many of the complaints are classic of a first-time user. When you switch from a poit-and-shoot to an SLT you don’t complain “I need to move the lens to zoom”?
– I get tired of the complaints because it can’t shoot like an A99 with Zeiss glass or an M9 with the 50/0.95.
+1
Sony? Firmware updates? Does not compute.
This one is a phone app. So let’s hope it’s a bit better.
Have you ever actually used any well made Sony software? Didn’t think so.
Absolutely. It’s called Vegas. And it’s not just good, it’s an industry standard.
It’s good Sony think outside the box. Hope they have more innovative ideas.
Here is another review…
http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/18/sony-qx10-review/?%3Fncid=rss_full
Dont you mean more “practical” innovative ideas?
The question is, do you want a camera that makes phone calls, or a smartphone that takes photos, neither of which will be great at either, or a dedicated device for each, and accept the extra inconvenience of lugging around a massive few more grams of weight and size. Last time i looked, most pants have more than 1 pocket.
You know, if you read the actual article, it isn’t as negative as the selected quote Andrea placed under the headline.
“A bit disappointing! But I think most of the issues (interface and limited APP) can be improved via firmware.”
the problem is, will Sony do it? Sony is not really into improving through firmware, just bug corrections and lens upgrades.
Sony has released the API, so expect dozens of third-party apps for ever operating system,
looks like Andrea is turning against Sony. First the rumors about how FF lenses are slow now this 😛
Just kidding…
Y-A-W-N
Why would anyone buy QX10 when there’s S4 zoom? QX100, OTOH, is a different story…
Because…it’s ugly as hell with mediocre specs?And it’s Samsung LOL
But seriously people shouldn’t be paying attention to the QX10 instead of the QX100.
Can this camera be used on Iphone? Idungetit
Beware, in DXOMark tests, Sony DSC QX10 true resolution is only 9.7 MPx with its 18 Mpx sensor while Sony DSC QX100 hasve a real true resolution of 20 Mpx
Got my write QX10 yesterday. Preorder from german Sony Store.
I think it’s a cute little camera. Works well with iPhone 4s (I found 1 issue: date and time in exif is wrong: Jan. 1st 2013 :-).
You can find full res pics in my flickr account “energytouch1”