News Sony debuts a new camera cateogry, the camera lens.

that's very interesting - I'm no smartphone user so it's of very little use to me, but I love how Sony is innovating in just about every area of digital photography!
 
This looks fun! I'm so definitely getting one.

Hated the controls on the RX100 and sold it. Since this doesn't look like it has any controls I'd have no complaints. :D

[video=youtube;0TWh3EvSZ_0]
 
The QX10 is tiny. That should be pocketable. Much more than a full camera. People always have a smartphone with them. Now you can bring a lens along with you. I definitely will keep an eye out for the QX100. I think many people still don't get why this is such a great idea.

The RX100, the RX1, this and AF for legacy glass. Is anyone doing more to revolutionize photography than Sony these days?
 
My prediction stands: these will have 15 minutes of fame and within a surprisingly short time they'll be selling on eBay and discount sites for very little money, lol.

But I've been wrong before.
 
entropic remnants said:
My prediction stands: these will have 15 minutes of fame and within a surprisingly short time they'll be selling on eBay and discount sites for very little money, lol.

But I've been wrong before.
Click to expand...

I thought the same when I saw a Hero camera for the first time. I thought it was a lowend camera at more than real camera prices. No screen, low res photos, OK video and I can get a "real" camera for cheaper. Who would want that? Look what happened there.

You can use these things in place of those cameras and get better video and better stills.
 
In the very first part of the video, where he's like "oooh, look at that" then spends two minutes+ fumbling to set up, would kill it for me. I'd rather just have a serious compact. But then, later in the video, the usefulness becomes apparent in the remote control (at least, until your buddy texts you or you get a call, lol).

But one things for sure -- you can kiss straight horizons goodbye, lol.
 
lenshoarder said:
I thought the same when I saw a Hero camera for the first time. I thought it was a lowend camera at more than real camera prices. No screen, low res photos, OK video and I can get a "real" camera for cheaper. Who would want that? Look what happened there.

You can use these things in place of those cameras and get better video and better stills.
Click to expand...

You and I had different opinions on the Hero then. I could see it's place in the "camera universe".

Why do people shoot cell phones? Because they're in their pocket, that's why. This is another bulky, odd shaped and fragile looking gadget that you need to carry around with you besides your cell phone. What is the point? Might as well have a camera that IS a camera and not something out of "Batman's Utility Belt" that has to be carried with you.

As a "gee whiz" it will sell. As something people will seriously want to use long term it will fail. I'm standing on that until I'm proved wrong.
 
Part of the reason for carrying a camera everywhere -- which modern phone-cameras allow easily -- is to be ready for anything and be able to take photos wherever one is on a moments notice. Truthfully, I don't think most phones quite get to that latter part especially if you have to unlock them, run the app, etc. But let's take a look at workflow when shooting, something nobody seems to consider as they gasp in awe at Sony's audaciousness.

"Joe" is carrying an iPhone and the Sony lens-camera while "Jack" is carrying say another iPhone and a Sony RX100 in his pocket.

Let's look at their kit:

  • Joe has a nice flat pocket where his iPhone is, but a huge misshapen lump in his other pocket where his lens-camera resides.
  • Jack has his iPhone comfortably in one pocket, and the RX100 comfortably in his other pocket.

Suddenly, a photographic opportunity presents itself that begs for something better than the iPhone -- say a low light situation.

Here's Joe's situation:

  • Pulls out phone
  • Struggles to remove the big lump of lens-camera from his trouser pocket
  • Removes whatever case protects the lens camera, and mounts it to the phone
  • Unlocks phone, powers up the lens-camera, runs app for the lens-camera
  • Now shoot! But the photo opportunity has passed... poor Joe!

Now let's look at Jack's experience:

  • Pulls out RX100
  • Switches camera on
  • Starts taking pictures
  • Reviews photos taken while Joe finishes getting his rig up

Joe frowns, and secretly plans to get a real camera... Jack posts his photos on Serious Compacts to much acclaim.

The lens-camera is a fancy toy that will not actually facilitate photography, but instead hinder it.
 
I know a couple of street shooters who are completely fascinated by those camera-lens modules. Just imagine: you have your phone in one hand and this lens-camera in another hand, you can move them independently and look in a completely different direction when taking photos. Heck, you can even hold it in such a way that it faces backwards and shoot people behind you.
 
stratokaster said:
I know a couple of street shooters who are completely fascinated by those camera-lens modules. Just imagine: you have your phone in one hand and this lens-camera in another hand, you can move them independently and look in a completely different direction when taking photos. Heck, you can even hold it in such a way that it faces backwards and shoot people behind you.
Click to expand...

Oh, that's a great idea.
 
stratokaster said:
I know a couple of street shooters who are completely fascinated by those camera-lens modules. Just imagine: you have your phone in one hand and this lens-camera in another hand, you can move them independently and look in a completely different direction when taking photos. Heck, you can even hold it in such a way that it faces backwards and shoot people behind you.
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm sure there are enough of them to establish this product in the marketplace, lol.

It is an intriguing idea for THEM -- but are they the market? I don't think so -- they are a specialty market which won't buy enough to sustain the product.
 
John, I half agree with you and half disagree. The half that disagrees is that half of me that doesn't and never will own a smart phone. The thing about that is that I am in an ever-shrinking minority. I look around my modern day life and see people consumed by their phones. They're totally into them. They play dress-up with them buying them fancy little jackets. They name them, they put their music library into them. A lot of them even use them to take photos. They would never even consider buying a camera. Why would they need one? They have one in their camera.

But if you tell them that if they use this fancy new lens in conjunction with their phone, they'll get better pictures....well, they might just sell a few million. I still don;t care much for the idea. But I'm quite sure they'll sell more of these than we could ever imagine.
 
The bigger one is about $400 and it not really pocketable. It's better to get a used RX100 (maybe even a new one.) The smaller (1/2.3) one looks small enough and cheap enough ($200) to be an actual compact alternative.
 
Luke said:
John, I half agree with you and half disagree. The half that disagrees is that half of me that doesn't and never will own a smart phone. The thing about that is that I am in an ever-shrinking minority. I look around my modern day life and see people consumed by their phones. They're totally into them. They play dress-up with them buying them fancy little jackets. They name them, they put their music library into them. A lot of them even use them to take photos. They would never even consider buying a camera. Why would they need one? They have one in their camera.

But if you tell them that if they use this fancy new lens in conjunction with their phone, they'll get better pictures....well, they might just sell a few million. I still don;t care much for the idea. But I'm quite sure they'll sell more of these than we could ever imagine.
Click to expand...

Ha ha! True that about our "connected devices" these days.

And they may sell a million... but people will get tired of them. They are more of a gee-whiz toy and I'm sorry but that's what I see. I don't see a sustainable market for this thing.

The smaller one I see TOTALLY as a toy, lol. The big one has some merit but it's still a solution in search of a problem, lol.
 
entropic remnants said:
Part of the reason for carrying a camera everywhere -- which modern phone-cameras allow easily -- is to be ready for anything and be able to take photos wherever one is on a moments notice. Truthfully, I don't think most phones quite get to that latter part especially if you have to unlock them, run the app, etc.... The lens-camera is a fancy toy that will not actually facilitate photography, but instead hinder it.
Click to expand...

John, there's much truth in what you say. But smartphones continue to inch toward to goal. I think, in a practical sense, the Nokia Lumia 1020 is closer than Sony's device. But at least Sony is trying. There'll be more misstarts by many before it's over.
 

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