I was thrilled by the possibilities of adding a professional-quality camera sensor and lens to my iPhone, so I immediately pre-ordered Sony's DSC-QX100 "lens camera". It held so much promise, not just as a real innovation but also as a major productivity tool. That's why I'm angry to write this, a scathing review of the horrid software that ruins the QX10 and QX100 experience. … [Read more...] about Sony QX100 Lens Camera: Ruined by a Flaky iOS App
NEX-7
Turn Your Smartphone Into A Serious Camera (For Real!)
The new Sony "Lens-Style Camera" is a bold move, bringing high-end optics and sensors to smartphones everywhere. The new QX10 and QX100 strip away the camera body, consisting of just a lens, sensor, and rudimentary controls, and rely on an Android or iOS smartphone as a screen and sharing device. Update: Do not buy this! Read my hands-on review: Sony QX100 Lens Camera: Ruined … [Read more...] about Turn Your Smartphone Into A Serious Camera (For Real!)
Canon Vixia HF M50: Hands-On Review
Although I love my Sony NEX-7, it's not ideal for the sort of videos I've been recording for Foskett Services. So I recently picked up a pair of decent HD camcorders to add to my road video kit. The Canon Vixia HF M50 was ideal for my needs: A good sensor and optics in a compact and affordable package. But the extras, especially the built-in WiFi, offer little value. My … [Read more...] about Canon Vixia HF M50: Hands-On Review
Sony SEL50F18 Review: A Brilliant 50 mm F/1.8 Prime Lens for NEX Cameras
Shortly before I received the brand new Sony NEX-7 camera (on my birthday, natch!), B&H Photo dropped another eagerly-anticipated item at my door: The new Sony SEL50F18 prime lens for E-mount cameras like the NEX-5 and -7. It's brilliant technically, easily the best affordable E-mount lens. But it wouldn't be my first purchase for a NEX owner. Different Lenses for … [Read more...] about Sony SEL50F18 Review: A Brilliant 50 mm F/1.8 Prime Lens for NEX Cameras
Sony NEX-7 Hands-On Review Part 2: 24.3 Million Surprising Shortcomings
The Sony NEX-7 is far from perfect. As noted in part 1, most of the new features are compromised in one way or another, but there's an even bigger elephant in the room: The excessively dense 24.3 megapixel sensor overwhelms most of the NEX system lenses. Too Many Pixels? I was wary of that pixel-dense sensor from the start, since I never felt that the 14.2 megapixel sensor of … [Read more...] about Sony NEX-7 Hands-On Review Part 2: 24.3 Million Surprising Shortcomings