The DSC-QX100 Digital Camera Module for Smartphones from Sony is an innovative camera that combines DSLR-like image quality with the ever-present convenience and sharing capability of the smartphone. With a 20.2MP 1.0" Exmor R Backside-Illuminated CMOS sensor and the BIONZ image processor, the QX100 creates sharp, high-resolution images with effective low light capabilities at ISO sensitivities that run to 12800 and are expandable to 25600.
What is original about the QX100 is its form factor. It looks less like a camera and more like just a lens. However, despite the fact that it has no viewfinder or LCD, it is indeed a camera. Its innovation is that it can be clipped directly to almost any smartphone and via its built-in Wi-Fi connection, utilize the phone's large display screen for composition and playback viewing and touch menu control. It can also be used off the smartphone, either handheld or mounted utilizing its integrated tripod thread.
The lens of the QX100 is the 3.6x optical zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* f/1.8 lens which has the 35mm format equivalence of a 28-100mm lens. Its focal range includes wide-angle to portrait length telephoto and its maximum aperture at the wide-angle end is effective in low light and able to create a shallow depth of field. Four aspherical lens elements minimize aberrations for clear and color-accurate images. Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization reduces the effects of camera shake as well, so shots taken with slower shutter speeds will be free from blur. Single shot autofocus, manual focus and Touch autofocus from your smartphone are all supported.
The built-in Wi-Fi of the QX100 connects to your iOS or Android smartphone and once the Wi-Fi connection is established and the free PlayMemories Mobile App is installed, your phone will act as viewer and menu control for the camera. With Android smartphones, NFC (Near Field Communication) enables a Wi-Fi connection with just a simple tap between the phone and camera. Furthermore, with the Wi-Fi connection enabled, you can use your smartphone as a remote control and shoot with the camera detached from the smartphone. Also, thanks to a physical zoom lever and shutter button on the camera, you are able to shoot without a smartphone and view your images later. Images are saved to both the camera's memory and the smartphone's memory. The camera can utilize Memory Stick Micro, Memory Stick Micro Mark II and microSD and microSDHC cards for image storage.
HD 1080p at 30 fps in the MP4 format is supported by the QX100 for quality video capture and a built-in stereo microphone records audio. Also, the camera offers numerous assistive features such as Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto and Face Detection, it even provides Aperture Priority exposure control. There are 44 scene modes in Superior Auto and 33 in Intelligent Auto to enable the camera match your scene with one of the numerous programmed scenes and automatically adjust the settings to create a well-balanced and accurate photo.
Your smartphone gives you access to countless apps for editing and sharing your photos so thanks to the QX100, you will have high quality photos already stored in your smartphone ready to share to social media sites.
Image Sensor | 1.0 type (13.2 x 8.8mm) ExmorR CMOS sensor |
Pixels | Number of gross pixels: Approx. 20.9 Megapixels Number of effective pixels: Approx. 20.2 Megapixels |
Lens | Carl Zeiss "Vario-Sonnar T*", 7 elements in 6 groups (4 aspheric elements including AA lens) |
F-number (Maximum Aperture) | F1.8(W)-4.9(T) |
Iris Diaphragm | 7 blades |
Focal Length (f = ) | f=10.4-37.1mm |
Image Stabilisation (movies) | Optical SteadyShot image stabilization with Active Mode |
35mm format equivalent (Still Image 3:2) | f=28-100mm |
35mm format equivalent (Still Image 4:3) | f=30-108mm |
35mm format equivalent (Still Image16:9) | f=29-105mm |
35mm format equivalent (Still Image 1:1) | f=36-127mm |
35mm format equivalent (Movie 16:9) | f=29-105mm (SteadyShot Standard), f=33-120mm (SteadyShot Active) |
35mm format equivalent (Movie 4:3) | f=36-128mm (SteadyShot Standard), f=41-146mm (SteadyShot Active) |
Focus Range (from front of lens) | iAuto: AF (W: Approx.5cm (0.16') to infinity, T: Approx. 55cm (1.80') to infinity) / Program Auto: AF (W: Approx, 5cm (0.16') to infinity, T: Approx. 55cm (1.80') to infinity) |
Optical Zoom | 3.6x (Optical Zoom during movie recording) |
Imaging Processor "BIONZ" | Yes |
SteadyShot | Optical |
Optical SteadyShot Active Mode (Movie) | Yes (Active Mode, Optical type with electronic compensation) |
Focus Mode | Single-shot AF Manual Focus Touch AF |
Focus Area | Multi Point AF |
Light Metering Mode | Multi Pattern |
Exposure Compensation | +/- 3.0 EV, 1/3 EV step |
ISO Sensitivity (Still Image) | Auto(ISO160-12800, selectable with upper / lower limit),160/200/400/800/1600/3200/ 6400/12800 (Extendableto ISO100/125),Multi-Frame NR:Auto(ISO160-25600), 200/400/800/1600/3200/6400/12800/25600 |
ISO Sensitivity (Movie) | Auto: (ISO160-3200 level) |
Minimum Illumination (Movie) | Auto: 3.2lux (Shutter Speed 1/60) |
White Balance Mode | Auto Daylight Shade Cloudy Fluor.: Warm White Fluor.: Cool White Fluor.: Day White Fluor.: Daylight C.Temp. Incandescent |
Shutter Speed | iAuto (4 - 1/2000) / Program Auto (1 - 1/2000) / Aperture Priority (8 - 1/2000) |
Aperture | iAuto (F1.8/F11) / Program Auto (F1.8/F11) / Aperture Priority (F1.8/F11) |
Self-Timer | 10sec. / 2sec. |
Shooting Mode | 10sec. / 2sec. Superior Auto Intelligent Auto Program Auto Aperture Priority Movie Mode |
Number of Recognized Scene | Still: 33 Movie: 44 |
Compatible Recording Media | Memory Stick Micro Memory Stick Micro (Mark2) microSD Memory Card microSDHC Memory Card |
Recording Format | Still Image: JPEG, Movie: MP4 |
Color Space (Still) | sRGB |
DCF/DPOF | DCF/DPOF |
Still Image Size | 3:2 mode: 20M (5,472 x 3,648) / 5M (2,736 x 1,824) / 4:3 mode:18M(4,864 x 3,648) / 5M(2,592 x 1,944) / 16:9 mode: 17M (5,472 x 3,080) / 4.2M (2,720 x 1,528) / 1:1 mode: 13M (3,648 x 3,648) / 3.7M(1,920 x 1,920) |
Movie Recording Mode | MP4: 12M (1,440x1080/30fps) |
GPS / Heading | N/A |
Maximum Playback Size | Under 20M (5,472 x 3,648) |
Share it Later | N/A |
Exif Print | Yes |
PRINT Image Matching (PIM3) | Yes |
Input and Output Terminal | Multi/Micro USB Terminal, Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) |
TransferJet | N/A |
NFC | Yes (NFC forum Type 3 Tag compatible) |
Wi-Fi | WiFi: Yes |
Eye-Fi | N/A |
Power Source | DC3.6V (supplied battery) / DC5.0V (supplied AC Adapter) |
Battery System | NP-BN (supplied) / NP-BN1 (not supplied) |
Power Consumption (Camera mode) | Approx. 1.2W |
USB Charge/USB Power Supply | Yes (Shooting, Playback) |
Still Images | Approx. 200 / Approx. 100min |
Movies (actual shooting) | Approx. 30min. (In [MP4 12M] mode, max. continuous shooting time is approx. 15 min. and max. file size is 2GB) |
Movies (continuous shooting) | Approx. 30min [example]. (In [MP4 12M] mode, max. continuous shooting time is approx. 15 min. and max. file size is 2GB. ) |
InCamera Guide | N/A |
Other Shooting Functions | Face Detection |
TRILUMINOS Color | Yes |
Operating Speed | Start-up Time (Approx. 6.9 sec.) / Shooting Time Lag (Approx. 0.21 sec.) / Shooting Interval (Approx. 1.0 sec.) |
Water Proof | N/A |
Digital Level Gauge | N/A |
Filter Diameter | N/A |
Linear Focus | Yes |
Scan System | Progressive scan |
Color Filter | R,G,B primary color mosaic filters |
Active Mode | Optical and Electronic |
Auto Macro | Yes |
Focusing Type | Contrast detection AF |
AF Illuminator | N/A |
ISO Sensitivity(REI) | Auto Controll Range Auto(ISO160-12800, selectable with upper / lower limit),160/200/400/800/1600/3200/ 6400/12800 (Extendableto ISO100/125),Multi-Frame NR:Auto(ISO160-25600), 200/400/800/1600/3200/6400/12800/25600 |
Face Detection | Auto / 8 faces |
Auto Orientation | On only |
Recording Format | Still Images: JPEG (DCF, Exif, MPF Baseline) compliant, DPOF compatible |
Card Capacity (Optional) | Memory Stick Micro: 16GB microSD Memory Card: 64GB |
Built-in Microphone | Stereo |
Speaker | Mono |
NFC | One-touch remote: yes |
WiFi | Ctrl with Smartphone: Yes Send to Smartphone: Yes (Select on Smartphone) |
Power Saving | 2 min |
Clock Function,Setting | Yes (Auto Clock ADJ) |
USB Connect | Mass storage: yes |
LUN Settings (Multi/Single) | Multi |
Tripod Receptacle | Yes |
Voltage (with supplied battery) | Maximum Voltage: 4.2V Nominal Voltage: 3.6V |
Body Material | Plastic |
Shutter Release Time Lag | Approx. 0.035 sec. |
Operating Temperature | 0 degrees C. - +40 degrees C. / 32 degrees F. - 104 degrees F. |
Dimensions (WxHxD) | 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.1" (62.5 x 62.5 x 52.2mm) |
Weight | 6.3 oz (179g) |
Reviews Sony DSC-QX100 Digital Camera Module for Smartphones (Free 8GB Memory Card) (Sony Malaysia)