making use of a QX100

I'm sure there are numerous possibilities. The main question, I think, is if you like using a phone as the interface ... or if you like the other option: shooting blind.

Tried out the QX100 as a bicycle camera today.

Some initial impressions

Cons:
- the Autofocus struggled with the constantly changing scenes. I think I'll try manually focusing at a fixed distance.
- the microphones pick up a lot of wind noise. There's no way to muffle that physically. I might pop a field recorder in my bag with a windshield instead.
- Our roads are low quality so even with the antishake, the camera was vibrating a lot. This sometimes shook the door over the MicroSD card and micro USB socket. Which led to the camera turning itself once. A rubber band around the camera and this door might be prudent.
- You don't really get any video controls.

Pros:
- I have a top bar bag with a pouch for a cellphone. This is clear plastic so you can view what the camera sees, as well as operate the Play Memories App control easily. This is easier than the backscreen of the cameras I've tried.
- the image quality is superb. Easily beats a phone or action camera.
- it's a more suitable size than my a7R or a77ii for the handlebars.
(Tripod mount should give good idea of scale)

Hi

There are two reasons. First, I'm in the used market in NZ and the QX100 came up for sale (a month old) at about $NZ250 (rather than c$NZ800). So it was much cheaper than a used RX100II or III.

Second, I also want to use the QX100 as a video-monitor for my A77ii. With a cold-shoe adapter, I can mount the QX100 atop the a77ii and feed the images through to my iPad. If the subjects (birds on a branch by feeders) look good, I'll use my radio remote to operate the a77ii. At least that's the theory. I've tested the setup and can view the branches by the feeders from a safe distance inside house. (Just need to put a new battery into the radio receiver). It seemed less straightforward mounting an RX100 or similar on top of the a77ii.

sybersitizen wrote: wetapunga wrote: First, I'm in the used market in NZ and the QX100 came up for sale (a month old) at about $NZ250 (rather than c$NZ800). So it was much cheaper than a used RX100II or III. I think that can vary depending on region and circumstances. Right now I see working RX100IIs selling in exactly the same ballpark as working QX100s on US eBay. (RX100IIIs are indeed more expensive.)

I expect so. In this case it was originally offered at $NZ300 and got no takers. That was still a bit much for me for a camera that didn't shoot Raw.
The RX100 series cameras I've seen here go for much more. And aren't a month old.

Most reviews I read of the QX100 said the same thing. Great sensor and images. But overpriced and lacking some desirable functions (raw, an M mode etc). I'd agree with this to be honest. For what it does, the new price is over the top.

wetapunga wrote: So basically, as a bike handle-bar video camera it has a number of problems (i.e. sucks).

Are there better cameras out there intended for such a purpose? I'm not suggesting it, but I know of the super-rugged and extremely small Sony RX0.

I'm guessing the vibration thing can probably only be effectively addressed with a gimbal-type mount or a helmet mount.

Having discovered an unforeseen use.

Mount the QX100 atop the camera (a basic cold-shoe adapter) and you can video scenes at the same time you’re photographing them. You get the same perspective as the camera. So you can get video and still shots simultaneously rather than switching modes on the camera.

windhorse wrote: To do this you would either have to trigger the QX100 as well as the camera and shoot the QX100 blind, assuming it will be pretty close to the composition of the camera it is mounted on, or seperately compose and trigger it with a phone, right? I tried shooting moving time lapse on a motorbike trip with a Nex6 and it turned out ok

Yes, basically the QX100 sat in the hotshoe of the a77ii, and my iPhone SE was latched to its back. This phone is small enough not to get in the way of operating the a77ii. So it's easy to turn video on and off with the phone, and check compositions, at the same time you're using the a77ii. It helps the a77ii has an excellent articulating backscreen too.