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"Smart Lens - a digital camera, designed for use in conjunction with a smartphone is a module without a screen, but containing photomatrixes and the lens (or supports interchangeable lenses) to your phone connection is via Wi-Fi. interface.." (C) wikipedia

Smart Lenses represent themselves self-contained modules, which have a zoom lens, matrix, processor, wireless module, batteries and control. In its essence it was a full camera, but without the possibility of sight, viewfinder. Yes, the cameras could use independently, producing shots blindly.

Predecessor of Smart Lens can be considered a Japanese device "Ricoh GXR" in 2010.

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In this device the lens was combined with the matrix in a single plug-in modules which can be easily connected to the main control unit, in which are located main electronics, controls and LCD screen.

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It turned out that in addition to selecting the optimal optics, this approach allows you to update the image sensor in the camera.

But progress does not stand still, and with the development of wireless technologies, have been taken to abandon the mechanical alignment device and lens, and use the wireless connection.

Most smartphones are used wide-angle lenses, so bring some object or capture it without distortion, it is practically impossible. Digital zoom, of course, capable of little help in these situations, but the image quality will be very low.
Even the simplest of "cheap cameras" offer 3-5-fold optical zoom, and more advanced - by 10-fold or more. Of course, the picture in the optical approximation by a zoom lens will be much better than digital in any smartphone. And the engineers decided to invent a compromise between a compact digital camera and smartphone.

2013 Autumn

In 2013 Sony has released their first smart lenses: Sony QX10 and Sony QX100.

Junior model QX10 has the characteristics:

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Autonomy of the lens is supported by all necessary: the battery, memory card, power button, shutter button and zoom lever. So shoot on their own in the lens condition. That's just to see the result of it is impossible, and frame your subject will not work.
Available tripod socket 1/4 "in this case significantly expands the scope of the camera: at such a scale it can be used, for example, hidden animalistic shooting video or for static plans, while the operator can sit far enough away from the camera, see the area of capture and handling zoom.

Sensor Resolution: 18.2 Megapixel
Optical Sensor Size: 1/2.3"
Light Sensitivity: ISO 100-6400
Optical Zoom: 10 x
Lens Aperture: f/3.3-5.9

Simply put, this Sony Cyber-Shot WX200 without display.

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Older model QX100 has the characteristics:

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In contrast to the younger model, this model have given a large array and high relative aperture.

Sensor Resolution: 20.2 Megapixel
Optical Sensor Size: 1.0"
Optical Zoom: 3.6 x
Lens Aperture: f/1.8-4.9

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It is based on Sony RX100m II camera.

2013 December

Altek Cubic

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The Taiwanese company Altek introduced its own camera lens Cubic for smartphones and tablets on the Android OS. A characteristic feature of his was the design in the shape of a small cube, built-in Xenon flash for taking pictures in low-light conditions.
Characteristics:

Sensor Resolution: 13 MP
Optical Sensor Size: 1 / 2.3 "CMOS-sensor
Lens Aperture: f / 3.3 autofocus
Optical Zoom: 3x

2014 January

The company Sakar International has announced a device Vivitar ViviCam IU680.

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Vivitar ViviCam IU680 feature is the ability to change the optical block. Featured sample, in particular, was equipped with a lens 10-30mm f / 3.0-5.6 with three-time optical zoom. That is, users can set the most suitable optics, depending on the situation. This will produce better pictures than is possible with a smartphone camera.
At the top of Vivitar ViviCam IU680 connector is provided for connecting any accessories - for example, a module with flash. Other technical of the new product, such as the type and resolution of the applied photosensor, unfortunately, are not specified.

2014 Spring

In the spring of 2014, Kodak released its smart lenses Kodak PixPro Smart Lens.
Kodak Pixpro SL5, SL10 and SL25 Smart Lens.

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The model name is listed multiplicity of zoom: 5x, 10x and 25x.
In addition to the zoom and viewing angles, they are no different. Features identical:

Sensor Resolution: 16 Megapixel
Optical Sensor Size: 1 / 2.3 "
Lens Aperture: f/3.2 - 5.6

2014 Autumn

In the autumn of 2014, Sony has decided to release an update line, improved the previous model QX.

The youngest Sony QX30 was a continuation of QX10 and has the characteristics:

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QX30 creates a bright and clear images thanks to the lens with 30x optical zoom and image stabilization technology, which reduces blur. During shooting, you can use a smooth zoom in the range of focal lengths from 24 mm to 720 mm.

Sensor Resolution 20.4 Megapixel
Optical Sensor Size: 1 / 2.3 "
Light Sensitivity: ISO 100-6400
Optical Zoom: 30 x
Lens Aperture: f / 3.5-6.3

It is based on the camera SonyCyber-Shot DSC-HX50.

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The older version of Sony ILCE QX1 is no longer a simple cheap camera, this is a serious mirrorless camera:

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In contrast to the first experiment, when the sensor was firmly aligned with the lens, in fact, introducing a modified compact camera-soap-box, QX1 consists of two parts - that is, you can now change the lens. Model gives professional photographers the ability to use lenses with a proprietary bayonet E-mount - the same as in the mirrorless Sony NEX cameras.

Sensor Resolution: 20.4 Megapixel
Optical Sensor Size: APS-C (23.2mm x 15.4mm)
Light Sensitivity: ISO 100 - 16,000
Lens Mount Sony E
Auto Focus Type: Contrast-detect AF: Multi Point (25 points)
Built-in Flash

The basis is taken Sony Alpha A5000.

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In this model added a new enhanced battery, and flash.
Actually, this model I purchased. This will be below.

2014 December

Oppo O-Lens

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Both appearance and functionality of the device resembles the Sony QX10 and QX100. The lens is synchronized with the smartphone using the NFC, so the user can make high-quality pictures on your phone, or to experiment with unusual angles, which make smartphone is almost unreal. In principle, nothing new and unusual.

Sensor Resolution: 16 Megapixel
Optical Sensor Size: 1 / 2.3 "
Optical Zoom: 10 x
Lens Aperture: f / 3.2-5.8

2015

In 2015, Olympus manufactures smart lens Olympus Air A01.

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The creators of the Olympus Air A01 is designed to work with this device, eight mobile applications, giving him the opportunity previously unknown conventional cameras

Sensor Resolution: 16 Megapixel
Optical Sensor Size: 4/3 "(17.3 x 13 mm)
Light Sensitivity: ISO 200-12800

However, instead of a WiFi network, this device uses the compound of the bluetooth! And also it has a manual mode! However, the size of the matrix, saddens.

So, its time to my review of Sony ILCE QX1

What I can tell you about it. This is quite a hefty smart lens.

What I did not like, so it's a long connection with a smartphone, and as a whole is not very convenient to use. We need to get smart lens and smartphone, turn on smart lens, turn wifi on the smartphone and start the application, attach smart lens to the smartphone. All it takes 30-40 seconds. Yes, significantly facilitates the work of case-holster that hung around the neck. You can get it from the holster smart lens, fix it on the belt and worn around the neck.
Some owners complain that the connection is often lost. For me this is not happening. However, trying to shoot at long exposure, and received disconnects. Communication broke off, but the picture is still obtained.
It should be said about the official application from Sony. Lean functionality. There are only two automatic mode, program mode, aperture and shutter priority. Manual mode is absent! And it's very, very bad! Still QX1 this mirrorless camera with a good matrix, and using the manual settings might be getting great shots! But, alas, the developers have deprived the device manual settings on the firmware level, and may simply flawed.

What is the most unpleasant in smart lens? It is the poor quality of the image displayed on the viewfinder. Sometimes it is unclear what will be the final shot, because of the terrible quality display! So it's like a lottery.

Idea is good, but poor soft-decision discourages use it.
And so, in my opinion, the drawback is very expensive lenses. If, for example, the kit lens on a Nikon camera is not expensive, the kit lens from Sony is once every 2 or 3 more!

Here are examples of my photos:

Shooted with Sony 16–50 мм F3.5–5.6 PZ OSS (SELP1650)

Why do we need these smart lenses?

Most likely geeks and fans of mobile photography, beginners in photography, although this is debatable. They can be used as a covert capturing, in the case of Sony QX10, since it is the smallest device. I saw that Sony smart lenses used to copter.

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Someone is attached to the telescope.

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And you can just use selfie.

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My conclusions:

The whole idea of ​​this stand-alone lens is interesting enough, but in practice, the result is almost useless. Already at the stage of comparing prices play many cheaper shoot cameras and mirrorless cameras with a better quality recording, and more opportunities.

From compact cameras smart lenses received only zoom, and from smartphones - limited capacity.

Of course, practically important in the smartphone camera settings, as in manual mode, there is simply no sense, and the choice of the values ​​of the sensitivity of interest except for the tests. Perhaps, from this and repelled when writing software for the camera.
For ease of use the smart lenses also loses compact cameras. It turns out that you still have to carry a smartphone and smart lens that together they gave a simple compact camera.
However, for the same money you can get and a good compact camera, which is twice as heavy and takes twice as much space, but will have a flash, 30x zoom and capture good quality. According to promptness and the speed of the camera too much loses compact cameras.

#gadget #camera #photography #craigrant