Sony's Camera Remote API allows WiFi-equipped devices to control its cameras, act as a second screen
This year's IFA has been rather eventful for Sony: the company unveiled a new handset, some interesting cameras and even a recorder that can turn you into the next Justin Bieber. But lost in the shuffle was an announcement that the Japanese outfit's also releasing its Camera Remote API, albeit in beta. Sony says the idea here is to provide developers with the ability to turn WiFi-ready devices, such as smartphones and tablets, into a companion for many of its shooters -- i.e. act as a second display or be able to shoot images / video remotely.
The Camera Remote API will be friendly with novel products including theAction Cam HDR-AS30, HDR-MV1 Music Video Recorder and both DSC-QX lens cameras, as well as older models like the NEX-6, NEX-5R and NEX-5T. This is definitely good news for current and future owners of any of the aforementioned, since the new API can certainly add much more value to Sony's cameras via the third-party app creations that are born from it.
Filed under: Cameras, Software, Sony
This year's IFA has been rather eventful for Sony: the company unveiled a new handset, some interesting cameras and even a recorder that can turn you into the next Justin Bieber. But lost in the shuffle was an announcement that the Japanese outfit's also releasing its Camera Remote API, albeit in beta. Sony says the idea here is to provide developers with the ability to turn WiFi-ready devices, such as smartphones and tablets, into a companion for many of its shooters -- i.e. act as a second display or be able to shoot images / video remotely.
The Camera Remote API will be friendly with novel products including theAction Cam HDR-AS30, HDR-MV1 Music Video Recorder and both DSC-QX lens cameras, as well as older models like the NEX-6, NEX-5R and NEX-5T. This is definitely good news for current and future owners of any of the aforementioned, since the new API can certainly add much more value to Sony's cameras via the third-party app creations that are born from it.
Filed under: Cameras, Software, Sony
Sony Hopes You'll Carry A Lens In Your Pocket
Remember that time when your smartphone camera just wasn’t good enough? That time when you wanted a picture that was just slightly better? You know, the time you lugged a pocket camera to your kid’s karate lesson or significant other’s colonoscopy. Well. Sony will soon have a product for you, friend!
The Sony QX10 and QX100 are leaking from all corners of the Internet following their surprise appearance last month. The products are essentially two-thirds of a camera designed to connect to a smartphone wirelessly or through a dock. Sony has created a whole new system that replaces a phone’s camera with a new sensor and glass. For better or worse, of course.
According to Sony Alpha Rumors, the QX10 will feature a 1/2.3-inch 18-megapixel sensor paired with an f/3.3-5.9 lens. The QX100 will have a high-quality 1-inch 20.2-megapixel Exmor R sensor and a f/1.8-4.9 Carl Zeiss lens. Reportedly, the QX10 will be $250 and the QX100 will be $450. The QX line is based on fantastic Sony point-and-shoot cameras with the QX10 looking most like the WX150 and the QX100 grabbing most of the RX100m2′s magic.
The concept is solid, but the market might be tepid. With the right software, a smartphone packs all the goods necessary to process a photo. These products essentially allow smartphones to capture higher-quality images and more importantly, share these images a whole lot quicker.
It’s just too bad these first-generation models are so expensive.
Let’s not forget this has been done before. Will.i.am and Fusion Garage (and CrunchPad engineer) Chandra Rathakrishnan beat Sony to this idea with the fashion-focused i.am+ foto.sosho V.5. But it doesn’t appear to have ever hit the market. Thankfully. It was ludicrous and smelled of vapor from the start.
Sony’s take is much more legitimate and original. As Chris explained when the products first started leaking online, Sony has created a product that moves the camera hardware outside of the smartphone, creating a platform that’s device-agnostic and gives consumers the option of using this device on future hardware.
Don’t expect these little lenses to be a huge hit right out of the gate. Sony probably doesn’t. This is clearly a low-volume product designed to test the market. But Sony as of late is back to its slow and steady product cycle. This product line is a clever cross between two of the company’s main product categories with mobile and digital imaging. Sony is going to do its damnedest to get consumers to carry a lens in their pocket instead of a pocket shooter.
Sony QX10 and QX100 Press Release Leaked, Pricing and Full Details Now Known
Why wait for IFA and Sony’s official announcement when we live in this amazing digital age? Today, a press release and product video for the SonyQx10 and QX100 hit the web, so now there are no more secrets about these two accessories. If you wanted to know pricing, availability and full specs, then read on.
The QX100 will be the more expensive of the two, coming in at around $500. It features the same sensor that is found in the RX100 II, capable of taking very low-noise and “exceptionally detailed” photographs. The QX10 will come priced in at around $250, featuring an 18.2 megapixel Exmor R™ CMOS sensor and 10x optical zoom.
Both lens-style cameras work over WiFi to connect to any Android device that is running Honeycomb or over. Connecting to devices is easy, with NFC capabilities that allow users to easily bump the two devices to begin the connection. From there, you can either use a special attachment to connect the lens to your phone or even utilize a special tripod for taking still shots.
The devices will be available later this month through Sony’s online store. Interested?
Click here to view the embedded video.
Via: Sony Alpha RumorsNew Sony QX100 and QX10 “Lens-Style Cameras” Redefine the Mobile Photography ExperienceNew Concept Cameras Link Flawlessly to Smartphone, Offering High-Zoom, Stunning Quality Images and Full HD Videos for Instant SharingMerging the creative power of a premium compact camera with the convenience and connectivity of today’s smartphones, Sony today introduced two “lens-style” QX series cameras that bring new levels of fun and creativity to the mobile photography experience.
The innovative Cyber-shot™ QX100 and QX10 models utilize Wi-Fi® connectivity to instantly transform a connected smartphone into a versatile, powerful photographic tool, allowing it to shoot high-quality images and full HD videos to rival a premium compact camera. It’s an entirely new and different way for consumers to capture and share memories with friends and family.
With a distinct lens-style shape, the new cameras utilize the latest version of Sony’s PlayMemories™ Mobile application (availablefor iOS™ and Android™ devices, version 3.1 or higher required) to connect wirelessly to a smartphone, converting the bright, large LCD screen of the phone into a real-time viewfinder with the ability to release the shutter, start/stop movie recordings, and adjust common photographic settings like shooting mode, zoom, Auto Focus area and more.
For added convenience, the app can be activated using NFC one-touch with compatible devices. Once pictures are taken, they are saved directly on both the phone and the camera*, and can be shared instantly via social media or other common mobile applications.
“With the new QX100 and QX10 cameras, we are making it easier for the ever-growing population of ‘mobile photographers’ to capture far superior, higher-quality content without sacrificing the convenience and accessibility of their existing mobile network or the familiar ‘phone-style’ shooting experience that they’ve grown accustomed to,” said Patrick Huang, director of the Cyber-shot business at Sony. “We feel that these new products represent not only an evolution for the digital camera business, but arevolution in terms of redefining how cameras and smartphones can cooperatively flourish in today’s market.”
The new compact, ultra-portable cameras can be attached to a connected phone with a supplied mechanically adjustable adapter, or can be held separately in hand or even mounted to a tripod while still maintaining all functionality and connectivity with the smartphone. They can also be operated as completely independent cameras if desired, as both the QX100 and QX10 cameras have a shutter release, memory card slot and come with a rechargeable battery.
Premium, Large-Sensor QX100 CameraThe Cyber-shot QX100 camera features a premium, high-quality 1.0 inch, 20.2 MP Exmor R™ CMOS sensor. Identical to the sensor found in the acclaimed Cyber-shot RX100 II camera, it allows for exceptionally detailed, ultra-low noise images in all types of lighting conditions, including dimly lit indoor and night scenes.
The sensor is paired with a fast, wide-aperture Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with 3.6x optical zoom and a powerful BIONZ image processor, ensuring beautifully natural, detail-packed still images and Full HD videos. As an extra refinement, the QX100 sports a dedicated control ring for camera-like adjustment of manual focus and zoom.
Several different shooting modes can be selected while using the QX100 including Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto, which automatically recognizes 44 different shooting conditions and adjusts camera settings to suit.
High-Zoom Cyber-shot QX10 modelBoasting a powerful 18.2 effective megapixel Exmor R™ CMOS sensor and versatile 10x optical zoom Sony G Lens, the Cyber-shot QX10 camera allows mobile photographers to bring distant subjects closer without sacrificing image quality or resolution, a common problem in smartphones. It’s also extremely portable and lightweight – weighing less than 4 oz and measuring about 2.5”X2.5”x1.3”, it’s a great tool for travel photography.
Additionally, the camera has built-in Optical SteadyShot to combat camera shake, keeping handheld pictures and videos steady and blur-free. It has Program Auto, Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto modes to choose from, and will be available in two different colors – black and white.
Pricing and AvailabilityThe new Cyber-shot QX100 and QX10 lens-style cameras will available later this month for about $500 and $250, respectively.
The cameras and a range of compatible accessories including a soft carry case and dedicated camera attachment for Sony Mobile phones like the Xperia™ Z can be purchased at Sony retail stores (www.store.sony.com) and other authorized dealers nationwide.
Please visit www.blog.sony.com for a full video preview of the new Sony Cyber-shot QX Series cameras and follow #SonyCamera on twitter for the latest camera news.
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