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Sony QX1 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Sony QX1

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    Main Features

    • 20MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 100 - 16000
    • Fixed Type Screen
    • 4 fps continuous shooting
    • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video
    • Built-in Wireless
    • 216g. 74 x 70 x 53 mm
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    Sony QX1 Overview

    First introduced in September 2014 , Sony Alpha QX1 is a 20.0MP Lens-style camera with a APS-C (23.2 x 15.4 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and Sony E (NEX) lens mount.

    Sony QX1 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Lens Mount and Lenses
    4. Sensor and Photography Features
    5. Physical Specs
    6. LCD and Viewfinder
    7. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    8. Video
    9. Other Features
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    This camera is not rated yet!
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    Sony QX1 Physical Specs
    Sony QX1 weighs 216 g (0.48 lb / 7.62 oz) and has external dimensions of 74 x 70 x 53 mm (2.91 x 2.76 x 2.09″). Considering that the average weight of Lens-style type cameras is 173g, Sony QX1 is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 53mm, it has an average thickness.
    Weight Comparison

    Lens-style Cameras

    Sony QX1
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    Thickness Comparison

    Lens-style Cameras

    Sony QX1
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    Here is the front and top view image of Sony QX1 with the dimensions:

    Sony QX1 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Sony QX1 Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Sony QX1, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Sony QX1 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Sony QX1 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery


    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Sony QX1 with its main competitors:

    Sony QX1 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs QX1 Thickness vs QX1
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony QX100
    Compare
    179g 37g lighter 56mm 3mm thicker
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony QX10
    Compare
    105g 111g lighter 33mm 20mm thinner
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony QX30
    Compare
    193g 23g lighter 58mm 5mm thicker
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony A6000
    Compare
    344g 128g heavier 45mm 8mm thinner
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony a5100
    Compare
    283g 67g heavier 36mm 17mm thinner
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony a5000
    Compare
    269g 53g heavier 36mm 17mm thinner
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony A6500
    Compare
    453g 237g heavier 53mm equal thickness
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Canon 70D
    Compare
    755g 539g heavier 79mm 26mm thicker

    Weather Sealing

    Sony QX1 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Sony QX1 Sensor and Photography Features

    Sony QX1 has a 20.0MP APS-C (23.2 x 15.4 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 5456 x 3632 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 3:2. QX1 has a native ISO range of 100 - 16000 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Sony QX1 is not the highest resolution APS-C camera. Canon M6 MII with its 33.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Sony QX1 vs Canon M6 MII or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Sony QX1's APS-C sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Sony QX1 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Sony QX1 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Sony QX1 Lens Mount and Lenses

    Sony QX1 has a Sony E (NEX) lens mount and currently there are 142 native lenses available for this mount. Sony keeps on adding new lenses to its E and FE mount selection and third party lens manufacturers also offer lot of good options. Thanks to its very short flange focal distance, choices of adapting lenses from other mounts are almost limitless. Sony also sells an adapter (Sony LA-EA4) which lets A mount lenses to be used with functionality including AF with E mount cameras.Metabones and Fotodiox also offers adapters which makes use of full range of Canon EF lenses with Auto Focus on E mount cameras.

    Sony QX1 doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 32 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization. There are also 72 lenses with weather sealing for QX1 but bear in mind that QX1 body doesn't have weather sealings.

    Here are some of the most popular Sony QX1 Lenses on Camera Decision:

    Popular Sony E (NEX) Mount Lenses for Sony QX1
    Model Focal Length on QX1 Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
    Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS Lens Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS
    36-360mm 35mm FF 780gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T Lens Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T
    36-105mm 35mm FF 426gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS Lens Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
    82.5-315mm APS-C / DX 345gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS Lens Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
    105-300mm 35mm FF 840gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T Lens Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T
    52.5mm 35mm FF 120gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS Lens Sony FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
    105-450mm 35mm FF 854gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony FE 50mm F1.8 Lens Sony FE 50mm F1.8
    75mm 35mm FF 186gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS Lens Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS
    24-75mm APS-C / DX 116gr AF Amazon B&H Photo

    Check our Sony QX1 Lenses page for more detailed lens search.



    Sony QX1 LCD

    Sony QX1 has a Fixed Type LCD screen with a resolution of 0k dots. At only , the screen is on the smaller side and 0kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.

    LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

    Sony QX1 back view and LCD

    QX1 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Lens-style camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider (Compare) or (Compare).
    If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

    Sony QX1 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Sony QX1 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11b/g/n with NFC) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. With its NFC feature, QX1 can communicate with devices such as smartphones which are also equipped with this technology by simply touching each other.One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our QX1. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

    Sony QX1 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

    Battery

    Sony QX1 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 440 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Lens-style type cameras is 265 shots, Sony QX1 has a good battery life for its class.

    Battery Life Comparison in Lens-style Cameras

    Sony QX1
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Sony QX1 is the longest battery life Lens-style camera in our database. The closest competitor in this class is Sony QX10 with its 220 shots battery life. Check the comparison of Sony QX1 vs Sony QX10 or take a look at Longest battery life Compact cameras list.

    Sony QX1 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony QX100
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 200shots Yes No Yes
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony QX10
    Compare
    1440 x 1080 220shots Yes No Yes
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony QX30
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 200shots Yes No Yes
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony A6000
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 360shots Yes No Yes
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony a5100
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 400shots Yes No Yes
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony a5000
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 420shots Yes No Yes
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Sony A6500
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 350shots Yes Yes Yes
    Sony Alpha QX1 Camera Canon 70D
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 920shots Yes No No

    Sony QX1 Video Features

    With Sony QX1, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30p fps and save in and MPEG-4 formats. Full HD resolution of Sony QX1 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

    QX1 has a built-in Stereo microphone but no speaker.
    Sony QX1 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Lens-style camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

    Sony QX1 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Sony QX1 can shoot continuously at max speed of 4 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately QX1 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing

    Sony QX1 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 25 points to choose from.

    Sony QX1 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Sony QX1 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Sony QX1 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)
    NFC Connectivity
    Full HD Video
    Touch Screen
    Face Detection Focusing
    20.0MP - High Resolution Sensor
    16.000 Max ISO
    25 Focus Points
    216g Light Body
    Flash Sync Port
    Remote control with a smartphone
    Report a correction

    Buy Sony QX1 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Image Stabilization
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No External Viewfinder Option
    x magnification - Small Viewfinder
    Small LCD Screen ( )
    Low Screen Resolution ( 0kdots )
    Low Battery Life: 440 shots
    No Environmental Sealing
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Sony QX1 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Sony QX1 in 5 different photography areas.
    This camera is not rated yet!
    Sony QX1 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Sony QX1 compares with other Lens-style cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Sony QX1 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Sony QX1

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Sony QX1 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Sony QX100
    Sony QX100
    Compare
    Sony QX10
    Sony QX10
    Compare
    Sony QX30
    Sony QX30
    Compare
    Sony A6000
    Sony A6000
    Compare
    Sony a5100
    Sony a5100
    Compare
    Sony a5000
    Sony a5000
    Compare
    Sony A6500
    Sony A6500
    Compare
    Canon 70D
    Canon 70D
    Compare

    Sony QX1 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Sony QX1 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Sony QX1's price range.

    Sony A7 III
    Sony A7 III
    Compare
    Nikon Z6 II
    Nikon Z6 II
    Compare
    Nikon Z6
    Nikon Z6
    Compare
    Panasonic S5
    Panasonic S5
    Compare
    Sony A7R II
    Sony A7R II
    Compare
    Nikon Z5
    Nikon Z5
    Compare
    Sony A7c
    Sony A7c
    Compare
    Fujifilm X-T4
    Fujifilm X-T4
    Compare
    Frequently Asked Questions about Sony QX1
    Does the Sony QX1 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Sony QX1 have RAW support?
    Does the Sony QX1 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Sony QX1 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Sony QX1?
    What is the Sensor Size of Sony QX1?
    is the Sony QX1 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Sony QX1 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Sony QX1 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Sony QX1?
    What is the Weight of Sony QX1?
    What are the Dimensions of Sony QX1?
    Sony Alpha QX1 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Sony
    Model Sony Alpha QX1
    Announced 2014-09-03
    Body Type Lens-style
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount Sony E (NEX)
    Focal Length Multiplier 1.5×
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Size
    Screen Resolution 0k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 30s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 4.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation n/a
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
    Flash Modes Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size APS-C
    Sensor Dimensions 23.2 x 15.4 mm
    Sensor Area 357.28mm2
    Sensor Resolution 20 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 5456 x 3632
    Max Native ISO 16,000
    Min Native ISO 100
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 25
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p)
    Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
    Video Formats MPEG-4
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Built-In
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 216g
    Physical Dimensions 74 x 70 x 53mm
    Battery Life 440 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model NP-FW50
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2, 10 secs)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
    Storage Slots 1


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