Sony Cybershot DSC-QX10 and QX100 Smartphone Cameras
Eight years ago, the photographic capabilities of smartphones still lagged far behind DLSRs and mirror-less options, but leaving a bulky camera at home and relying solely on your smartphone for photos was still a tantalizing prospect—one that Sony tried to accelerate with the Cybershot DSC-QX10 and QX100. Both devices were standalone cameras. The $500 QX100 sported a 1-inch sensor and the $250 QX-10 a 1/2.3-inch sensor, and both had shutters, zoom buttons, and lenses all integrated into a what looked like a stubby can of soup.
They could be used on their own for photography, but that was a challenge because each camera lacked an LCD preview screen. That’s where a smartphone came into play. Both cameras could be clamped to your mobile device, and through an app and wifi connection, your smartphone would not only become a preview screen, but would have access to all the photos snapped so they could be easily shared. The cameras definitely improved the photography chops of whatever mobile device they were attached to and paired with, but in the end they were still bulky accessories to remember to pack and tote around.
