Hammacher Schlemmer - Sony DSC-QX10 Digital Camera Module for Smartphones {HolidayGiftGuide}
December 05, 2014
The black DSC-QX10 Digital Camera Module for Smartphones from Sony is an innovative camera that combines the image quality of a 10x zoom lens and 1/2.3" Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor with the ever-present convenience and sharing capability of the smartphone.
What is original about the QX10 is its form factor. It looks less like a camera and more like just a lens. However, despite the fact that it has no viewfinder or LCD, it is indeed a camera. Its innovation is that it can be clipped directly to almost any smartphone and via its built-in Wi-Fi connection, utilize the phone's large display screen for composition, playback and touch menu control including touch autofocus. It can also be used uncoupled from the smartphone, either handheld or mounted using its integrated tripod thread.
With the 18.2MP CMOS sensor and BIONZ image processor, the QX10 creates high-resolution images and ISO sensitivities that expand to 12800 and SteadyShot optical image stabilization provide effective low light capture. The lens on the QX10 is a Sony G 10x optical zoom lens with the 35mm focal length equivalent of 25-250mm. This provides a very versatile focal length range that incorporates true wide angle to long telephoto capability.
The built-in Wi-Fi of the QX10 connects to your iOS or Android smartphone and once the Wi-Fi connection is established and the free PlayMemories Mobile App is installed, your phone will act as viewer and menu control for the camera. With Android smartphones, NFC (Near Field Communication) enables a Wi-Fi connection with just a simple tap between the phone and camera. Furthermore, with the Wi-Fi connection enabled, you can use your smartphone as a remote control and shoot with the camera detached from the smartphone.
In addition, a zoom lever and shutter button on the camera enable you to shoot without a smartphone at all and view your images later. Images will be saved to both the camera's memory and the smartphone's memory. The camera can utilize Memory Stick Micro, Memory Stick Micro Mark II and microSD and microSDHC memory cards for image storage.
HD 1080p at 30 fps in the MP4 format is supported by the QX10 for quality video capture and a built-in stereo microphone records audio. Also, the camera offers numerous assistive features such as Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto and Face Detection. There are 44 scene modes in Superior Auto and 33 in Intelligent Auto to enable the camera to match your shot with one of the numerous stored scenes and automatically adjust the settings to create a well-balanced and color-accurate photo.
Your smartphone gives you access to countless apps for editing and sharing your photos so, thanks to the QX10, you will have high quality photos stored directly to your smartphone, sharing to social media sites is easy.
- Attach to your Smartphone
- Use the included adjustable, spring-loaded bracket to attach the QX10 to your smartphone and turn your smartphone into a 10x optical zoom camera with 18.2MP CMOS sensor.
- Sensor
- The DSC-QX10 features a back side-illuminated 18.2MP 1/2.3" Exmor R CMOS sensor producing low noise images even in low light, far surpassing the quality of images shot by smartphones.
- Wi-Fi with NFC
- The DSC-QX10 allows easy connection with smartphones via Wi-Fi. Shoot from your iOS or Android smartphones and record images with the quality of a dedicated camera. Furthermore, all of the camera's features can be accessed via your smartphone's display screen thanks to the free PlayMemories Mobile App. And thanks to NFC (Near Field Communication), Android enabled devices can establish a Wi-Fi connection with a simple tap of the camera to phone.
- Memory
- Images are conveniently saved to both the camera and smartphone's memory automatically. With the PlayMemories Mobile App you'll then be able to hit "share" on the App to organize, edit and share. The QX10 utilizes microSD, microSDHC memory cards as well as the Memory Stick Micro and Memory Stick Micro Mark 2.
- Shoot Uncoupled
- The DSC-QX10 can also be used uncoupled from your smartphone. Hold the camera in one hand and your phone in the other, or use the universal tripod screw thread to mount your camera to any number of mounts to experience versatile, stable shooting. A zoom lever and shutter release button are located on the camera and can be utilized to adjust focal lengths and shoot the camera whether it is linked to the smartphone or shooting uncoupled.
- 10x Optical Zoom Lens
- With a Sony G 10x optical zoom lens with f/3.3-5.9 maximum aperture and the 35mm focal length equivalence of 25-250mm, the QX10 creates sharp, high-resolution images. The versatile zoom lens enables a range of focal lengths from wide-angle to telephoto and will incorporate most any shooting situation. Zoom function is operated either from the smartphone's display or with an on-camera lever.
- HD 1080p Video Capture
- Record high quality 1080/30p HD video even in low light situations. The MP4 format is ideal for enjoying and sharing your HD movies on your smartphone, computer or over the internet.
- Image Stabilization
- Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization helps to control blur caused by camera shake which will give you clearer images especially when shooting in low light or at the telephoto end of the zoom. Active Mode SteadyShot stabilization controls the effects of camera shake when shooting video.
- Camera Control
- From the large LCD, OLED or AMOLED display of your smartphone you can intuitively control zoom, aperture, exposure, white balance, focusing and more with the free PlayMemories Mobile App.
- Intelligent Auto
- The DSC-QX10 can recognize scenes like low-light, back-lit, macro and more to automatically adjust the camera making sure you will always get balanced, properly exposed photos. Numerous scene modes will best adjust the camera's settings to match the pre-selected scene to the image you are shooting.
- Apps
- Numerous smartphone apps are available for editing and sharing via text, email and various social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.
Hammacher Schlemmer began as a hardware store specializing in hard-to-find tools in the Bowery district of New York City in 1848. Owned by sole proprietor William Tollner, it became one of the first national hardware stores. In 1853, Tollner’s nephew and part of the company’s namesake, William Schlemmer, arrived from Germany and began working at the store. It was also around this time that a German investor and friend of the family, Alfred Hammacher, decided to invest $5,000 into the company.
As the Civil War spread across the country, a severe coin shortage in New York City made it nearly impossible for retailers to make change for their customers. In response to this shortage, the United States government allowed merchants to mint their own coins, known as "rebellion tokens" or "copperheads". The store, at that point called Hammacher & Tollner, began distributing their own copper coins until the shortage ended.
By 1867, William Schlemmer had purchased his uncle’s share of the business and became a partner in the company, whose name changed to Hammacher & Co. In 1878, Hammacher & Co. was among the first companies to install a telephone in their store, as well as one of the original subscribers to the Bell Telephone Company Directory. Hammacher Schlemmer was also one of the first stores in the country to have electric lighting in the showroom.
The year 1881 marked the first known printing and distribution of the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog and by 1883, the present name, Hammacher Schlemmer, came into use. By the turn of the century, the business moved uptown to larger quarters.
Merchandise was added to meet consumer demand. With pianos the favored parlor instrument, Hammacher Schlemmer began selling piano parts to piano makers throughout the country; twenty boxcar loads a year went to one customer, Kimball Brothers. The store also opened up the first auto department and the first home delivery service via automobile, at a time when there were only 600 "horseless carriages" on the streets of New York City.
In 1912, Hammacher Schlemmer printed its largest catalog to date, spanning 1,112 pages. One hardbound edition is now housed in the Smithsonian’s permanent collection. By 1926, Hammacher Schlemmer moved once again, into its present location at 147 East 57th Street. This location put the store in proximity to Manhattan’s most elegant residential neighborhoods. These new patrons wanted luxury items, so hardware was relegated to the basement, and esoteric gadgetry and gizmos were added to the shelves.
The 1930s began Hammacher Schlemmer’s long history of showcasing new inventions in the pages of their catalog. Beginning with the first pop-up toaster and portable radio in 1930, Hammacher Schlemmer went on to garner a reputation for introducing products that were the first of their kind — oddities that went on to be regarded as household necessities. In 1948, Hammacher Schlemmer celebrated its 100-year anniversary with the introduction of the first automatic steam iron and the amazing electric broom.
After more than 100 years as a family-held business, Hammacher Schlemmer was sold in 1953 to a group of investors and eventually turned over to John Gerald. In the 1960s, Hammacher Schlemmer offered products that had never been available for home purchase, including a regulation-sized bowling alley and restored London taxi cabs.
However, the 1970s brought a return to the specialized gadgetry Hammacher is known for today. In 1983, the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute was created as an independent but affiliated branch of the company, whose purpose is to comparatively test top-of-the-line products. Later, in 1988, Hammacher Schlemmer became one of the first retailers to go on the Internet withCompuServe, the first major commercial online service in the United States. In 1995, America Online built Hammacher Schlemmer a store on the Internet. By 1998 Hammacher Schlemmer launched their own website, Hammacher.com. That same year, Hammacher Schlemmer celebrated its 150th anniversary. As a tribute, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani renamed the block on 57th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenue as Hammacher Schlemmer Way.
Hammacher Schlemmer first began as a hardware store at 221 The Bowery, where it remained from 1848-1859. It later moved to 209 The Bowery, remaining from 1859 to 1904.The famous yellow fever plague of 1822, ascribed to impure water, desolated lower Manhattan and caused business and terrified inhabitants to move out of town to Greenwich Village. As there was no individual water supply, water was furnished by numerous wells with pumps — some in the middle of Broadway.
“Choice” water was carted around in large casks by hucksters. At last an extensive “reservoir” was planned, and in 1836, a well one hundred and twelve feet deep and sixteen feet in diameter distributed water through twenty-five miles of mains to two thousand homes. It was located on the exact spot where Hammacher Schlemmer resided from 1904-1926 — 13th Street & Fourth Avenue.
The “New York & Harlem Railroad” passed the 13th Street location of Hammacher on the street that at the time was called the Bowery. The railroad continued to White Plains. The fashionable school of William Forrest (later known as Forrest and Quackenbos) — where many well-known New Yorkers of past generations were educated — was located down the street.
From here, the company moved into its present location at 147 East 57th Street, in 1926. Located on the site of the famous Huntington Stables and near Park Avenue, the modern twelve-story building has housed hardware, gifts, housewares, bath, dressing room and closet furnishings, kitchen and fireplace equipment, furniture and a vast array of the gadget and gizmos that Hammacher Schlemmer is known for.
In the 1980s, two additional stores were added to Hammacher Schlemmer, one in Chicago and one in Beverly Hills. Both were later closed.
In 1999, a store was added at The Shops at Sunset Place in South Miami, Florida. It later closed.
The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee
We make an unconditional and unwavering promise: Our merchandise is guaranteed for life.
Shopping with Hammacher Schlemmer means that you have access to one of the most unique and innovative collections of products available anywhere in the world. Our Guarantee is an assurance that the item you receive is of the highest quality.
If any product purchased directly from us ever disappoints you, for any reason, you may return it for exchange, credit, or refund. Even if you received the item as a gift, Hammacher Schlemmer will exchange it for another item or gift certificate of equal value.We know you have a choice, thank you for choosing Hammacher Schlemmer.
Secure Shopping
Protecting your order information is our priority. We utilize SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to ensure safe, secure transactions. With SSL, information sent via the Internet is encrypted, and can be trusted to arrive privately and unaltered. We believe this element provides the most effective way to ensure that your order information is protected while offering a very secure shopping environment.
Please note that e-mail is not encrypted and is not considered a secure means of transmitting credit card numbers. We do not transfer credit card numbers via e-mail, and ask that in any e-mail correspondence with us you refrain from doing so as well. If you have any concerns about ordering electronically, please call 1-800-321-1484 to place your order over the phone.
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