Sony Announces Two New QX Lens Style Cameras – ILCE-QX1 and QX30

Sony Announces Two New QX Lens Style Cameras

Sony updated its QX smartphone attachable lens style camera line up at IFA with two new products – QX1 E-mount module and QX30 with 30x optical zoom. The very first QX cameras were launched at last year’s IFA.

The more interesting of the two new QX cameras is the ILCE- QX1. It is actually a Sony E-mount module featuring the same technology that you find in Sony’s compact mirrorless Alpha cameras. It has a 20.4MP APS-C CMOS sensor and support for the entire range of Sony E-mount lenses. You get all the usual features that you expect from a full-sized mirror less camera – manual controls, RAW shooting and the ability to change lenses. The only difference being that this is actually something that you will mount at the back of your smartphone and use your smartphone display as the viewfinder and also control all the available options. You have to be choosy about what lenses you get for it as it lacks in body image stabilization. So you will need to use only stabilized lenses with it. It can also work with Alpha lenses using Alpha to E-mount adaptor. Unlike the QX100 last year, this one does come with a built-in flash. It also features Sony’s BIONZ X image processor, built-in Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, NFC, PlayMemories camera apps, AVCHD 1080p video recording at 30 fps. The supported ISO range is between 100-16000. Despite a large APS-C sized sensor the ILCE-QX1 is not very hefty. It weight 158 grams for the body only and 216 grams with battery and media. Battery stamina is also quite impressive at up to 440 shots.

The other QX camera is the QX30 which comes with 30x Optical zoom and 60x Clear Image Zoom(Sony’s advanced digital zoom). There is also Optical SteadyShot and Lock-on Auto Focus for capturing images of moving subjects. This one also has the same 20.4MP resolution but comes with significantly smaller 1/2.3” Exmor R BSI-CMOS sensor that is commonly seen in Sony CyberShot digital cameras. BIONZ X image processor is also present allowing maximum ISO of 12800, 10 frames per second burst mode, and 1080 60p video recording. Thanks to the smaller sensor and optics, the QX30 weighs just 193 grams. Battery stamina on this one isn’t as impressive as the QX1 and it can manage just about 200 shots or 100 minutes of video footage. Connectivity options are similar to the QX1 with NFC One-Touch functionality, built-in W-Fi, and support for PlayMemories camera app.

Both the QX lens style cameras will ship by next month and are already listed on major online retail stores. The ILCE-QX1 carries a price tag of $398 and the smaller QX30 is said to cost just a little less at $348. The QX1 will also be available with a Kit 16-50mm Power Zoom lens in select markets at a slight premium.