Sony Announces Wi-Fi Smartphone Lenses

Sony's new QX10 and QX100 lens modules support Android and iOS handsets and are designed to provide optical zoom functionality along with other abilities usually associated with purpose-built digital cameras.

SONY PRESS RELEASE:

Cyber-shot™ DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 lens-style cameras turn your smartphone into a power-packed specialist camera

    Links with your phone via Wi-Fi, shoots fabulous photos
    NFC for easy one-touch connection
    Get better-looking pictures with high resolution sensor, optical zoom, Optical SteadyShot and manual controls
    Shoot from any angle then frame scenes and adjust settings on your phone’s touchscreen
    A perfect partner for new Xperia™ Z1 and other Android and iOS smartphones

The number of digital photographs shot on smartphones continues to increase. Now Sony launches two new products that dramatically increase the quality of these shots, uniting the creative power of a premium camera with the convenience of your smartphone.

Now you can shoot and share fabulous photos and HD video using your phone, with image quality and creative options to rival a premium standalone camera. The Cyber-shot™ DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 lens-style cameras are a perfect partner for the new Xperia™ Z1 and other smartphones – transforming your mobile into a power-packed camera.

It’s a dream come true for anyone who loves their smartphone, but wants the photo quality that only a dedicated camera can deliver. And whilst they look like lenses, the DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 are complete cameras in their own right.

The DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 attach in a moment with the supplied smartphone attachment that fits several popular smartphone models (width 54-75mm/max. thickness 13mm). Connection to your phone is made via Wi-Fi and the latest version of Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile application. Linkage is even simpler for NFC smartphone owners, with easy one-touch connection made without any complicated settings.

Then you’re all ready to start snapping… and explore a whole new world of creative imaging possibilities. Use your smartphone’s large, bright screen as a real-time viewfinder; fire the shutter, start/stop movie recordings, and adjust settings like shooting mode, zoom and Auto Focus area. Also use the phone’s screen to share the memories instantly via any of your usual phone apps.

You don’t even need to have the phone and camera attached. Place Cyber-shot™ exactly where you want it, and fire the shutter direct from your mobile – it’s perfect for grabbing high-angle shots or self-portraits.

Weighing just 105g (with battery and Memory Stick Micro), the Cyber-shot™ DSC-QX10 partners an 18.2 effective megapixel Exmor R™ CMOS sensor with a high-quality Sony G Lens. Boasting a powerful 10x optical zoom range, it’s great for power-packed close-ups of people, fun-filled events and distant landmarks that are just not possible without a dedicated zoom lens. Built-in Optical SteadyShot combats camera shake, keeping handheld pictures and videos steady and blur-free, even in low-light conditions.

The Cyber-shot™ DSC-QX100 features a large 1.0-type Exmor R™ CMOS sensor with 20.2 effective megapixels. You’ll really see the difference with sumptuous, ultra-low noise images – even indoors or at dusk when many cameras and camera phones struggle. It’s simple to frame shots and tweak camera settings like aperture control and exposure compensation and photo/video record mode on your smartphone’s big touchscreen. And there’s far more creative control than you’d ever get with your phone’s regular camera, enabling the user to capture beautifully background defocussed shots. Everything’s easily accessible, with extra dedicated keys for fingertip control of zoom and shutter release on the camera body. It’s teamed with a wide-aperture Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with 3.6x optical zoom with Optical SteadyShot, giving all the picture quality you’d expect from a premium pocket camera.

The powerful BIONZ processor in the DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 refines your image for beautifully natural, detail-packed stills and HD video. Superior Auto helps get the best from any scene, automatically recognising dozens of different shooting conditions and adjusting camera settings to suit. As an extra refinement, the DSC-QX100 sports a dedicated control ring for camera-like adjustment of manual focus and zoom.

Accessory options include a soft carrying case[1] and dedicated camera attachment case[2] for a perfect fit with latest models from Sony Mobile including the brand new Xperia™ Z1.

The new Cyber-shot™ DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 from Sony are available to pre-order from sony.co.uk now. They’re on general sale in Europe from the end of September 2013.