With the IFA trade show in Berlin less than a day away, pre-show gadget announcements and a final round of leaks have been appearing across the technology blogosphere. Perhaps the biggest leak, by sheer amount of content, involved the shutterbug friendly Sony “lens cameras”—also known as the QX10 and the QX100.
Two full galleries of press images, showing both of Sony’s upcoming lens cameras, were posted by PhotoRumors yesterday. The high quality photographs were leaked by an anonymous Korean source (watermarked with anti-Japanese text that the blog graciously blurred out before posting).
According to Sony Alpha Rumors, the detachable smartphone lenses will be part of a new line called “Smart Shot”—a mash-up that combines “smartphone” and Sony’s “Cyber-Shot” brand.
“The Sony Lens Cameras are smartphone-attachable lenses that contain their own image sensor, processor, and stabilization,” explained PetaPixel. “They’ll (be) connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth and basically turn your phone into a high-end point-and-shoot.”
The QX10 is expected to feature an 18MP sensor (similar to Sony’s WX150), while the QX100 will be equipped with a 20.2MP sensor (similar to Sony’s RX100 Mark II).
Both lens cameras will work with Android and iOS devices that download an app called “Playmemories” and connect via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth or NFC. They will be capable of shooting 1080p video “with low noise even in dark places.” Photos and videos can be stored on both the lens camera’s internal memory and the device that it is attached to.
In some of the leaked images, a model holds the lens camera away from his smartphone, using his screen as a viewfinder. In another, he holds the lens camera out to take a “selfie” of himself and another model. The freedom of separating the lens from the “body” of the camera will surely inspire photographers to seek out unique angles and shooting techniques.
The QX10 is expected to retail for $250 and the QX100 is expected to cost $450—which is $300 less than the RX100 Mark II point-and-shoot that shares the same sensor.
Bonus iPhone 5S rumor: Sony Alpha Rumors posted photos earlier this week that show the upcoming lens camera in a white/champagne color combo—adding more credibility to previous speculation that the new iPhone will be available in a “gold”-like finish.