Sony QX30

[darkswordsman17]

Anyone have one of these? I realize the limitations, but am interested in getting one, but not sure how well it will really work. I'm also hoping that Sony will have some new improved versions in a couple of weeks, that will either do a lot to mitigate the drawback and improve them, or if nothing else put the 30 into cheap sales like the 10 saw.

One of the main reasons I wanted to upgrade my Note 3 is the lackluster camera. It's ok, and that's about it. I know this wouldn't be a huge improvement (and could very possibly get bigger ones from buying a comparatively priced digicam), but it might be enough for me to keep using my current phone. Plus I could use it with a tablet when that might be a good use (i.e. use it as a stationary camera with the tablet being a nice big viewfinder), a remote camera, or even a standalone. Curious if it might be possible to use it as a webcam too.

I believe Olympus made a similar device but its only sold in Japan and there's a Chinese group that got rights to make ones using Kodak branding. I'm hoping that they keep improving them and get some competition going.

 

[paperwastage]

I own a QX10 (1/2.3" + 10x zoom instead of QX30's 1/2.3" + 30x zoom)

it's not really worth it. quality will be similar/slight-better than your smartphone (Note 3 has a smaller 1/3.06" sensor). main draw will be the optical zoom

for me, the wifi connection sometimes can be buggy/laggy/slow (if there is a lot of wifi interference, bad..). you can use the device untethered from camera, but it's limited(only zoom toggles and shooting mode available, cannot execute video-mode when untethered)

get an actual camera instead? for that price, I'd suggest a Panasonic TZ60 or Sony HX90 (1/2.3" + 30x zoom for both as well), just slightly bulkier (but more useful/user-friendly IMO) than a QX30 without a screen

for the sony one, you can make the HX90 act as a QX30 as well (wifi-connect to camera from smartphone, remote shoot). not sure about the panasonic one



if you read reviews (and I agree) - it's a good concept, but not polished enough yet

 

[darkswordsman17]

The 10 and 30 have different sensors. From what I gathered the 30 has better image quality, not sure if it comes down to the sensor, something else, or just overall improvements. I don't really need that zoom level but it might come in handy.

I don't expect magic, but I do think the 30 should offer a noticeable improvement over the Note 3's camera, which hasn't impressed me too much (I think the problem is as much in the Samsung software, the process of the images isn't consistent and can often cause pics to end up poorer than they should).

Yeah I read the Wi-fi can be iffy, I'd plan on using it via NFC most of the time.

There's actually a decent possibility that it won't fit my phone with its current case on, although there might be ways to get around that.

They definitely need to add some sort of flash and make a more compact version that could tether to the phone through USB or something (so it can get power, transfer pics/vids, and control things better). Would be nice if they could work in conjunction with the phone's camera and let apps control it like the normal camera so that mabe it can help cut down on the lag of it.

That's a bummer about it not shooting video untethered. Do you know if that applies to the 30 as well? Being able to use it as a daschcam is another potential use. I would plan on getting one of those flexible tripods and maybe have a dashmount.

Yeah definitely needs improvements. I'm hoping there'll be a QX50 announced in a week or two.

 

[paperwastage]

since QX10 was released in Feb 14 and QX30 in Sep 14, it's possible for the QX30 to have a newer generation (aka better) sensor

you don't use it via NFC. NFC is used to launch the app on phone, then both devices communicate via WiFi (you touch the NFC portions together, app auto launches on phone, QX10 auto starts up.. takes 3-10s?)

the iPhone has a new accessory (DxO One, lightining connector), likely will be better than the QX line.

Too bad, there is no defined microUSB standard (looks like the horrendous and inconsistent support of MHL/Slimport/OTG), so Sony can only certify a wired version for their own Sony phones (I doubt they will do this - Sony Mobile doesn't really speak to Sony Camera)

The QX1 has flash and APS-C (interchangable lens)

there are apps available on Android that use the QX line (Sony has a Remote App API available). Still doesn't fix the lag issue

Last I checked, QX30 has the same button layout as QX10, so same limitations to video? (read the manual... maybe I can't figure out a way to start video recording untethered)

 

[darkswordsman17]

Yeah they stuffed I think the sensor from their Micro 4/3s in there? Of course the full camera has better image processing and other hardware to make much better use of it.

Oh I see. I just saw a lot of talk about how the NFC worked so much better.

That looks interesting. Seems like there's a few other companies looking into making cameras like the Sony ones. Hopefully some competition might improve things.

Yeah, a USB tethered one would be nice.

Ah, yeah it'd be nice if there was base Android support for external cameras, so it'd see it natively and hopefully improve on the performance.

Wouldn't surprise me if it has the same limitation. Due to the lag even if you could rig up the software to let it be used as a webcam it'd probably be so horribly laggy it'd be useless for that. Do you know what limitations on the video recording? Like can only shoot for a certain length of time or file size (that isn't dependent on the memory)?

I saw someone wanting to use a couple of these to make a cheap 3D rig. And others have been curious about it being an alternative to a GoPro (like say for mounting on a drone, where the optical zoom capability would have benefits). But yeah still needs a lot of polish.

The one that lets you mount the Alpha lenses is interesting as you could then get whatever lense to suit the situation as well as add flash, but at the price it just makes sense to get a full camera. If you're lugging around multiple lenses for it, none of which will do as good of justice on this as the real camera. With how much cameras have improved this year, they'll really have to step it up to make it worth while. I'm hoping they at least try to, but expect to be disappointed and likely all of the products in this category will just be figuring out flaws you can live with before you splurge for a real camera kit.

 

[paperwastage]

the qx1 makes sense if you are touting multiple lenses around - leave qx1 on one of the lenses and shoot from the hip if you really need to (rely on your main camera body for the normal shots), or niche purposes (amazon reviews for qx100 shows a wedding photograph getting good shots from qx100 since you can just leave it at the altar< "it" being the camera>)

it could be my phone - other phones may have less lag due to different wifi chipsets - i'd suggest testing one at a sony retail store (there's only 3 left i think in USA? cali, nyc, ???).

I doubt you'll see base android support (we still have issues with audio latency, and that's more important/useful/mainstream than this)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/32quo0/androids_10_millisecond_problem_the_android_audio/

i think it's limited to 29 min continuous video recording like all the other sony cameras (EU law - more tax if it can do >30). AFAIK, can't do webcam easily (no audio stream through WiFi, only continuous JPEG images)

see https://github.com/Bloodevil/sony_camera_api (and other apis that take advantage of the remote sony camera)


that's why I got a RX100 IV - 1" sensor, can wifi-connect to phone (same features as a QX100) to remote shoot/transfer photos

 

[darkswordsman17]

the qx1 makes sense if you are touting multiple lenses around - leave qx1 on one of the lenses and shoot from the hip if you really need to (rely on your main camera body for the normal shots), or niche purposes (amazon reviews for qx100 shows a wedding photograph getting good shots from qx100 since you can just leave it at the altar< "it" being the camera>)

it could be my phone - other phones may have less lag due to different wifi chipsets - i'd suggest testing one at a sony retail store (there's only 3 left i think in USA? cali, nyc, ???).

I doubt you'll see base android support (we still have issues with audio latency, and that's more important/useful/mainstream than this)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/32quo0/androids_10_millisecond_problem_the_android_audio/

i think it's limited to 29 min continuous video recording like all the other sony cameras (EU law - more tax if it can do >30). AFAIK, can't do webcam easily (no audio stream through WiFi, only continuous JPEG images)

see https://github.com/Bloodevil/sony_camera_api (and other apis that take advantage of the remote sony camera)


that's why I got a RX100 IV - 1" sensor, can wifi-connect to phone (same features as a QX100) to remote shoot/transfer photos

Yeah, it'd be nice if you already had the lenses and just wanted another camera to play with.

Sadly I'm nowhere close to any of the Sony stores, so will just have to bite the bullet and try it out, but hoping I can find one for cheap and/or Sony or someone else will come out with a really good iteration.

Yeah, I don't expect that ever, and knew about the audio stuff. Just another thing about Android that leaves me unimpressed. Actually, is it only compatible with Android and iOS? I'll be getting a Surface Pro, which I could do a virtual Android instance or something maybe.

Thanks for the link and the info.

Hmm, will have to look more, maybe there is a device that could function like I want that would be better.

Any idea when, if they were going to update it, they'd announce/show it off?