Sony QX30 announced with 30x optical zoom lens

Sony has expanded the QX-series line-up with the introduction of the QX30, a lens-style camera that features a 30x optical zoom lens.

The rumor mill has caught this one quite early. Earlier this summer, sources pointed out that Sony would announce a QX-series camera with a superzoom lens. Shortly after the initial leaks, the name of the device was found out.

At IFA Berlin 2014 and in anticipation of the Photokina 2014 event, Sony has officialized the QX30 lens-like camera with a 30x zoom lens.

Sony QX30 lens-style camera can be attached to smartphones and tablets. It features a 20-megapixel sensor.

Sony launches QX30 lens-style camera featuring a 30x optical zoom lens and 20-megapixel sensor

The new Sony QX30 features a 20-megapixel 1/2.3-inch-type BSI-CMOS image sensor and a Bionz X image processor. This module does not support RAW shooting, such as the QX1, but it is capable of capturing about 10fps in continuous shooting mode, up from QX1’s 3.5fps in burst mode.

The QX30 does not have the ability to swap lenses. However, its built-in lens offers a 35mm focal length equivalent of 24-720mm, which means that users will be able to fill up the frame with a portrait of a person located about 40 meters away.

It is worth noting that the maximum aperture will range between f/3.5-6.3, depending on the selected focal length.

Sony QX30 employs a built-in 30x optical zoom lens with a 35mm equivalent of 24-720mm.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 specifications

One of the best things about the Sony QX30 is that it features built-in optical image stabilization. It will be very helpful when using the lens-style camera at its telephoto end.

The ISO sensitivity range is not as extended as the one of the QX1, but it is still notable. The minimum value stands at 80, while the maximum can be set at 3200. On the other hand, the shutter speed will range between 1/1600th of a second and 4 seconds.

Another drawback of the QX30 when compared to the QX1 is the lack of a built-in flash. Photographers will have to rely on the available light or try to use a smartphone’s flash in darker environments.

Sony’s new lens has the ability to record videos at 1920 x 1080 resolution and a maximum frame rate of 60fps. Audio quality will be really good, as the QX30 comes packed with a stereo microphone.

Sony QX30 release date and price are October 2014 and $350, respectively.

Sony QX30 release date and price details

In the connectivity department, we can find the usual USB 2.0 port, as well as WiFi and NFC. The latter two can be used for connecting the camera to a smartphone or tablet. A mobile device is necessary in order to properly compose the shots in Live View mode because a viewfinder is not included in the package.

Users can store the photos and videos directly on the device paired to the lens-style camera. However, the QX30 comes packed with a microSD/SDHC/SDXC card slot, where photographers can store the content.

The new shooter measures 68 x 65 x 58mm / 2.68 x 2.56 x 2.28-inches, while weighing 192 grams / 6.81 ounces. Sony says that the module will be released this October for a price of $349.99.

If you want to turn your smartphone into a camera with a 30x optical zoom lens, then you can pre-order the QX30 at Amazon for about $350.