Kevin Bostic
A set of images leaked on Monday claim to show off a new device from Sony aimed at turning smartphones like the iPhone into something approaching a full-fledged camera.
The photos supposedly reveal Sony's "lens-camera" device, which the company is preparing to release in the near future, according to Sony Alpha Rumors. The devices will essentially pack the power of a high-end point-and-shoot camera into a lens that attaches to a smartphone and pairs with an Android or iOS app over Bluetooth.
Of the two variations planned, one will feature the same sensor-lens pairing from the Sony RX100, one of Sony's more celebrated point-and-shoot cameras of late. That will mean a 1-inch, 20.2-megapixel Exmor R sensor with a 2/1.8 Carl Zeiss lens. The other device is said to have an 18-megapixel CMOS sensor with a 10x zoom lens, similar to the $400 Sony WX150.
The DSC-QX10 and the DSC-QX100 will have built-in camera sensors, Bionz processor, Wi-Fi, near-field communications connectivity, and an SD card slot. Those wireless connectivity options, paired with the requisite mobile apps, will allow users to control the lens-cameras with their smartphones.
Judging from the leaked press shots for the devices, users will not be required to center the lenses over the built-in lens of a smartphone. A number of manufacturers have attempted to push lens attachments for devices like the iPhone, but both the success and the quality of those products have been questionable.
The new lens-cameras do not yet have a specific release date, as they have not even been announced. Some speculate, though, that Sony could well reveal them on September 4.
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32 Comments
Interesting concept, if they could get it to work seamlessly with the phone.
Interesting approach. But I'd probably just as soon see them keep making good cameras (Bluetooth-enabled) smaller and smaller, and leave the phone in my pocket. And that's certainly happening. If it weren't for telephoto (and maybe light field tech), I'd have no interest in any camera beyond my iPhone.
Apple should make a camera smartphone that's more camera than phone. Call it the iPhone Photo, or whatever. Give it a real optical telescopic lens. Sure, it would be "fatter," but something the size of a Canon Powershot SX260 or so would be manageable for me and probably lots of others.
Apple should make a camera smartphone that's more camera than phone.
Except it's a phone. If you want a camera, buy a camera. They won't ever do this, nor "should" they.
The best camera is the one you have on you.
That's why I used a Canon PowerShot as an example. It's not that much bigger than a phone, and I'd carry it on me in exactly the same way as I do my current iPhone 4S. Don't get me wrong, what Apple can do with the current iPhone camera is superb, but in so many instances I find it lacking (such as a lack of zoom for videos). Everything's a tradeoff in life. I'd gladly tradeoff a little more width and heft for a smartphone with a much better camera. Sure, it's not what everyone would want, but it should at least warrant a study to see if such a market existed (if they haven't done one already, that is).