I’ve been scouting for a good camera with NFC and WiFi connectivity for some time now. And instead of purchasing a full-pledged shooter, my curiosity got the best of me and ended up with the Sony DSC-QX10 lens camera instead. Read on to find out our first impressions of the device.
We first encountered Sony’s QX lenses cameras back in September 2013 during the Xperia Z1 regional launch in Malaysia. Sony launched two lenses – the DSC-QX100 and the DSC-QX10.
What is it?
To those who remain unfamiliar with Sony’s latest innovation, these QX lenses, simply put, are cameras without LCDs but come equipped with wireless connectivity, microSD card slot and battery. They are meant to be paired to a smartphone (or a tablet) via NFC WiFi, and used using Sony’s proprietary app – the PlayMemories Mobile.
Physical appearance
Moving on to its aesthetics, while the QX100 looks like a tiny barrel, the QX10 is smaller and resembles a hockey puck. The build is combination of metal and high-quality plastics. Found right on the front is the lens opening. On top is the NFC, along with the microphones and on/off button.
On the left side (facing the camera) is the tiny display which shows battery status, along with the lock release for the clamp and provision for a wrist strap.
On the right side are the manual shutter button, zoom control, and microUSB port hidden by a flap. While right at the bottom is the threaded hole for a tripod.
When the clamp is not attached, you’ll see the compartment for the battery and slot for the Sony M2 memory card or your standard microSD card.
Pairing the QX10
After switching on the QX10, you now have two options on how to connect to the camera. Since it broadcasts its own WiFi network, you can directly connect to it from your device like you’d normally do on a regular WiFi network using the device’s password hidden in the battery cover.
Or, if your device has NFC, you can just tap those NFC chips together and you’ll get paired instantly. You only have to do this once since your device remembers the QX10 after being paired. Do note that you don’t need a working internet connection or a third-party router to pair.
Using the QX10
If your device has NFC, it will automatically launch the PlayMemories Mobile app after pairing. If the device doesn’t have NFC, you will need to launch the app manually after pairing. From here you can either clamp it on your smartphone or use it unattached for more mobility.
You can then shoot stills of up to a maximum of 18 megapixels at 4:3 aspect ratio. The QX10 can save the images on the microSD card on board or wirelessly transfer it directly to your smartphone. We paired the QX10 to the Xperia Z1 and iPhone 4S during these tests. Take a look at the sample shots below:.
Regular stills:
Low-light:
Close-up:
10x zoom:
View full res images here.
To conclude our first impressions, we’re very much satisfied at the quality of photos the QX10 can produce especially in low-light. It’s not going to compete with full-pledged digital cameras especially those with larger sensors in terms of usability, speed and image quality. However, it’s miles better compared to your standard smartphone camera.
Sony DSC-QX10 specs:
1/2.3-inch 18.2 megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor
Sony G Lens
f/3.3 – f/5.9 aperture
10x optical zoom (25-250mm eq.)
100–12800 ISO (Superior Auto)
4–1/1600 shutter speed
62 x 62 x 33 mm
105 g
SRP: Php10,999
Sony will soon rollout a firmware update on the QX100 and QX10 at the end of the month which aims to improve the camera’s performance. We’ll tackle more about the camera along with its upgraded firmware in our full review.
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