Sony QX1 becomes official with E-mount lens and RAW support

Sony has officially announced the first QX-series lens-style camera which allows users to swap lenses. The brand new QX1 has arrived with a 20.1-megapixel APS-C sensor and support for RAW shooting.

IFA Berlin 2014 is a consumer electronics trade fair where lots of devices related to the mobile world are being unveiled. This year, Sony has decided to announce new QX-series cameras, which can be mounted on smartphones and tablets.

After plenty of rumors and speculation, the Sony QX1 has become official as the first device of its kind with support for an interchangeable lens system.

Sony QX1 is the company’s first lens-style camera which allows users to swap lenses.

Sony fixes all the flaws of the QX family of lens-style cameras, courtesy of the new ILCE-QX1 module

Sony has decided to address some of the biggest concerns that users have expressed regarding the QX family of lens-style cameras. The ILCE-QX1 is compatible with all E-mount lenses, which is one step further in becoming a tool for professionals.

The second step (and considered more important by lots of people) consists of support for RAW files. This new lens-like shooter is the only QX model that is capable of capturing RAW photos, meaning that photographers will be able to post-process the shots using Adobe Lightroom or other editing software.

The third major step is the addition of a larger image sensor. Sony has put a 20.1-megapixel Exmor CMOS APS-C sensor into the QX1. The previous record holder was the QX100, which featured a 1-inch-type sensor.

Finally, the PlayStation maker has added a pop-up flash that lights up darker environments. A smartphone’s flash is not very powerful and, in some cases, the lens-like camera would cover the flash on a mobile device, so low-light photography has not been a pleasant experience for the users.

How the Sony QX1 kit looks mounted on a smartphone.

Sony QX1 specs list includes most things that you can find in a good mirrorless camera

The specs list of the Sony QX1 is quite impressive and it resembles the one of the A5000 mirrorless camera. The new QX-series module features a 20.1-megapixel sensor (borrowed from the A5000), as stated above, and a Bionz X image processor.

An extended ISO sensitivity range is available, too, with a maximum setting of 16000. Since it allows users to mount E-mount lenses, this camera does not feature optical image stabilization, but it will allow photographers to adjust the focus manually, when they decide that the 25-point autofocus system is not enough.

Sony’s lens-style shooter offers a shutter speed range between 1/4000th of a second and 30 seconds with a continuous shooting mode of up to 3.5fps.

The battery life is also promising, as users will be able to capture 440 shots on a single charge. The ILCE-QX1 also captures full HD movies at up to 30fps and it can do so for about 150 minutes until the battery runs out.

Sony will release the QX1 this fall for a price around $400, which does not include an E-mount lens.

Release date, price, and other Sony ILCE-QX1 details

Sony has confirmed that the QX1 comes with an integrated stereo microphone and the ability to store content on a microSD/SDHC/SDXC card.

The files can be transferred to a mobile device via WiFi or NFC. Both these functions are built-in and they allow users to take control of their camera remotely. As expected, smartphones or tablets will be used as a viewfinder to help users compose their shots, as the module does not have a built-in viewfinder.

The new ILCE-QX1 measures 74 x 70 x 53mm / 2.91 x 2.75 x 2.09-inches and weighs 216 grams / 7.62 ounces with the battery and card included.

This device will be released in the US in November for a price of $399.99. Amazon is already offering the lens-style camera for pre-order for a price a little under $400 with a shipping date set for October 15.

Please note that the prices do not include a lens, which must be purchased separately.