Sony Cyber-shot QX100

[Phinius]

Does anyone know anything about this intriguing new iPhone/iPad camera? I understand that it attaches to the device and uses it as the viewfinder. It can also be used alone (but without a viewfinder obviously).

[BernardLanguillier]

Does anyone know anything about this intriguing new iPhone/iPad camera? I understand that it attaches to the device and uses it as the viewfinder. It can also be used alone (but without a viewfinder obviously).

It seems to be a re-packaging of the RX100II with the screen replaced by a wifi module to connect to the controlling smartphone.

Considering that we already have a good screen on our smartphones, it sounds like a good idea if the shooting experience is at the right level.

The price point puts it in competition with serious cameras from a usability standpoint and you don't save that much compared to buying a RX100 in the first place... so I am unsure how well it is going to sell.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Rhossydd]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/09/04/mobile-madness-sony-creates-qx10-and-qx100-clip-on-connected-cameras

Just daft. The module is bigger than an RX100 with all the really great features like RAW capture removed. As the title says Mobile madness.

[RFPhotography]

Apparently Sony is betting the farm on mobile and digital imaging for its long-awaited (and unlikely) recovery, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/tech-news/sonys-big-picture-smartphones-must-help-its-turnaround/article14120420/.

It makes sense that the module is larger than the lens housing on the RX100 because the small module has to contain all of the necessary electronics and the image sensor.  The lack of RAW is likely do to the inability to put the necessary computing options into the module to extract the JPEG preview embedded in the RAW image.  They could, and should be able to, put the capability into the companion phone app; however.

I can see several applications for them.  Particularly where being hidden is a good thing.  Setting them up for shooting wildlife, for example could allow the shooter to be away from the camera and controlling it with the phone.  Video quality should be a fair bit better than what comes on a camera phone, although in the right circumstances that can be quite acceptable.

Do I think these will be a huge success?  No.

[BJL]

Like the other unusual new "camera" of the week, the Samsung Gear smart watch, I will give some credit for trying to innovate, but in each case it seems a highly imperfect first attempt, that will likely only sell to gear-head early adopters. Maybe these efforts will help to develop more worthwhile successors. Not having even a choice of JPEG quality levels (let alone raw output) is a worry, though may be forced by WiFi bandwidth limits.

But anti-LCD composition traditionalists who forever perpetuate the myth of having to hold the camera at arms' length, instead of braced against one's eye socket where a camera belongs, should rejoice: you can mash these cameras against your forehead, or any other body part, or a wall, or a tree, while composing and tripping the shutter with your phone in the other hand!

[RFPhotography]

Like the other unusual new "camera" of the week, the Samsung Gear smart watch, I will give some credit for trying to innovate, but in each case it seems a highly imperfect first attempt, that will likely only sell to gear-head early adopters. Maybe these efforts will help to develop more worthwhile successors. Not having even a choice of JPEG quality levels (let alone raw output) is a worry, though may be forced by WiFi bandwidth limits.

Not really an issue.  The CamRanger allows control of a DSLR via wifi and you can shoot RAW with it.  And review the images on your phone or tablet; albeit just the JPEG preview.  

But anti-LCD composition traditionalists who forever perpetuate the myth of having to hold the camera at arms' length, instead of braced against one's eye socket where a camera belongs, should rejoice: you can mash these cameras against your forehead, or any other body part, or a wall, or a tree, while composing and tripping the shutter with your phone in the other hand!

I'm waiting for someone to fashion one up like a monocle and walk around sort of like a cyborg.  

[BJL]

Good point: it could store raw (or at least SHQ minimally compressed full resolution JPEG) in the camera, and just send "web quality" JPEG to the phone for review and instant sharing.
 

Not really an issue.  The CamRanger allows control of a DSLR via wifi and you can shoot RAW with it.  And review the images on your phone or tablet; albeit just the JPEG preview.  

[Rhossydd]

But anti-LCD composition traditionalists who forever perpetuate the myth of having to hold the camera at arms' length, instead of braced against one's eye socket where a camera belongs,

LCD viewfinders are hopeless, irrespective of whether you can brace the camera against a bit of the body or not.
Not enough output to see in bright sunlight, covered in distracting reflections, anyone needing reading glasses has to be swapping glasses on and off to take pictures, they're just AWFUL.
The lack of a proper viewfinder is the biggest single flaw of the RX100.