Sony QX-series camera update inbound with ISO improvements and 1080p video

Sony's QX-series 'lens cameras' – one of which features in my own 2013 favorite tech guide – are set to get a little better in the near future, with the announcement of a firmware update for the QX10 and QX100. In January, both cameras will get 1080p video recording capabilities, as well as expanded ISO range up to 3200 for the QX10 and 12800 on the QX100. In addition, the PlayMemories Mobile app used to pair the cameras to your iPhone is also seeing an update.

On top of all that, the higher spec QX100 will also get a shutter priority mode, for those folks who are into that sort of thing. No word on exactly when the firmware updates will hit other than January, but owners of the little hockey puck shaped cameras are sure to be happy with it. Whenever it lands.

The Sony PlayMemories app update meanwhile is live today with a bump on iOS to version 4.0.1. Here's what's new:

• Embedded Photo Browser – A “Quick Viewer” photo browser has been added to the PlayMemories Mobile application, which will allow for seamless navigation between shooting images and viewing images in playback mode.
• Improved Speed and Functionality – The newest version of the application will have improved connectivity speed when linking to devices running the Apple iOS™ platform. More specifically, connection start up time will be approximately twice as fast compared to previous versions of the PlayMemories Mobile application.

I've not had chance to fire it up on my own QX10 yet, but connection speed was one of the biggest downers when the camera first launched. There's only so much you can do with a wireless connection, so we'll take what we can get, but hopefully it makes it much more pleasant to use. Grab the app from the App Store at the link below, and jump a little further for the full press release.

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SONY ANNOUNCES SOFTWARE AND FIRMWARE UPDATES IMPROVING SPEED, FUNCTIONALITY OF  CYBER-SHOT QX “LENS-STYLE” CAMERAS

New PlayMemories Mobile™ App Version 4.0 Adds Photo Browsing, Faster Connection Speeds; New Firmware Adds Full HD video shooting, Expanded ISO Range and more

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 18, 2013 – Sony Electronics has announced plans for a software and firmware update designed to improve the overall usability, speed and functionality of the Cyber-shot QX100 and QX10 “Lens-style” Cameras.

SOFTWARE UPDATE

The software update for the PlayMemories Mobile™ application – Version 4.0 – will work with all Sony Wi-Fi enabled cameras in addition to the Cyber-shot QX series, and will be available immediately in both Google Play™ and App Store™.  The updated application will feature:

• Embedded Photo Browser – A “Quick Viewer” photo browser has been added to the PlayMemories Mobile application, which will allow for seamless navigation between shooting images and viewing images in playback mode.
• Improved Speed and Functionality – The newest version of the application will have improved connectivity speed when linking to devices running the Apple iOS™ platform.  More specifically, connection start up time will be approximately twice as fast compared to previous versions of the PlayMemories Mobile application.

Sony will be releasing another software update in Spring 2014 to improve connectivity speed with Android devices.  

CAMERA FIRMWARE UPDATE

Additionally, there will be a firmware update for QX cameras in January which will add a variety of exciting capabilities including:

• Full HD Movie Recording (QX100 and QX10): Both of the Cyber-shot QX Series cameras will have the ability to shoot Full HD 1080p video (1920x1080@30p in MP4) after the firmware update.
• Shutter Priority (“S”) Mode (QX100 only):  The Shutter Priority (“S”) mode will be added to the QX100 camera to allow direct access control to shutter speed.
• Expanded ISO Shooting Range (QX100 and QX10):  Each of the cameras will be able to shoot at higher ISO settings for greater versatility in low-light conditions.  The QX10 camera will be expanded from max ISO 1600 to max ISO 3200.  The QX100 camera will be expanded from max ISO 3200 to max ISO 12800.