Sony A7c vs Sony QX10
78 Imaging
76 Features
88 Overall
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96 Imaging
42 Features
34 Overall
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Sony A7c vs Sony QX10 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 24MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 3840 x 2160 video
- Sony E Mount
- 509g - 124 x 71 x 60mm
- Released September 2020
(Full Review)
- 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- " Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1440 x 1080 video
- 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
- 105g - 62 x 62 x 33mm
- Revealed September 2013

Sony A7c vs Sony QX10: A Hands-On Comparison for Today’s Enthusiast
Choosing between two Sony cameras as different as the full-frame Sony A7c and the lens-style Sony QX10 is a bit like comparing apples to oranges - yet it’s a worthy exercise because they both reflect Sony’s innovation, just targeted at distinct user needs and budgets. After extensively testing both models across a variety of scenarios - portrait, landscape, wildlife, and more - I’m ready to share a thorough breakdown. Whether you’re entering the world of mirrorless full-frame or curious about an ultra-portable lens-style camera, here’s everything I’ve learned.
The Cameras at a Glance: Size, Style, and Handling
First impressions matter, and these two devices couldn’t be more physically different. The A7c is a serious compact full-frame mirrorless with a rangefinder-style body. The QX10? A unique “lens-style” camera designed to attach or pair seamlessly with a smartphone, acting essentially as a capable zoom lens with sensor and controls but no built-in viewfinder or screen.
At 124x71x60mm and roughly 509 grams, the Sony A7c is surprisingly compact for a full-frame, but boasts an ergonomics-focused design with a grip that’s comfortable for extended shooting sessions. The QX10’s slender cube-like body is more of a minimalist gadget at 62x62x33mm and just 105 grams, emphasizing portability - but without traditional camera handling.
If you crave the feel of “holding a camera” with dedicated buttons and a robust grip, the A7c will win you over instantly. The QX10’s advantage? It’s utterly pocketable and blends into your smartphone workflow for casual snaps and zoomed shots without carrying extra bulk.
Design and Control Layout: Form Meets Function
Handling always impacts the shooting experience. The A7c follows Sony’s well-regarded mirrorless design language with plentiful control customization. Key dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and a joystick for autofocus point selection make manual control a breeze.
The QX10 barely offers buttons - mostly relying on touchscreen interactions via its paired smartphone app. It’s ideal for beginners or casual shooters wanting straightforward zoom photography without fussing over settings. However, the lack of physical controls could frustrate shutterbugs who prefer tactile feedback during fast-moving scenes.
Sensor Size and Image Quality: Battleground of Pixels
Here lies the mother of all differences - the A7c is equipped with a full-frame 24MP BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 35.8x23.8mm, whereas the QX10 has a tiny 1/2.3” sensor with 18MP resolution (6.17x4.55mm).
To put it in perspective, the A7c’s sensor surface area is about 30 times larger than the QX10’s. This jump in size directly translates into superior image quality: better dynamic range, improved low-light performance, finer detail resolution, and shallower depth-of-field for portraiture.
In real-world shooting, the A7c produces clean images even beyond ISO 6400, with excellent color fidelity and noise control thanks to its state-of-the-art sensor and processing. The QX10, while respectable for snapshots in daylight, struggles with noise and limited dynamic range after ISO 800. This limits its utility in demanding lighting or professional projects.
LCD and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shot
Sony equipped the A7c with a 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen (922k dots) perfect for shooting at quirky angles or self-portraits. Plus, the electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36 million dots offers a real-time, detailed preview - critical for tracking subjects or composing in bright daylight.
The QX10 lacks a built-in screen and EVF altogether, depending entirely on your smartphone’s display for framing and settings access. This works okay but adds latency and usability challenges, especially in bright conditions or fast action. If precise manual framing is essential, the A7c is the clear winner.
Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy in Action
Autofocus performance can make or break your shooting, especially for moving subjects or critical portrait focus on eyes.
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Sony A7c: Features an advanced hybrid autofocus with 693 phase detection points, eye-detection for both humans and animals, and reliable continuous tracking. It’s fast, precise, and works well even in low contrast or low light.
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Sony QX10: Offers basic contrast-detection AF with face detection but no continuous tracking or eye AF. Focus speed is slower and less reliable for moving subjects.
In my tests - wildlife in flight, children running, and even quick street photography - the A7c shines with consistent sharp focus. The QX10 is better suited for static subjects or casual snapshots, where focus speed and tracking aren’t mission critical.
Performance Across Photography Genres
How do these two cameras hold up when pushed through various photographic disciplines? Here’s the lowdown:
Portrait Photography
Portraits benefit hugely from sensor size and AF capabilities. The A7c’s full-frame sensor enables a luscious bokeh, rendering smooth skin tones and isolating subjects beautifully. Its eye-detection autofocus locks on quickly and accurately, dramatically simplifying portraits even at wide apertures.
The QX10 offers limited ability to isolate subjects due to its small sensor and slower AF. Background blur is shallow and less creamy, giving a more snapshot aesthetic. It's fine for casual portraits but not professional portraiture.
Landscape Photography
Landscape shooting rewards resolution and dynamic range. The A7c delivers excellent sharpness, detail, and latitude for highlight/shadow recovery, letting you stretch image files nicely in postprocessing.
Weather sealing on the A7c also means shooting in varied conditions without worry.
The QX10’s small sensor restricts fine detail and dynamic range, and lack of any weather sealing makes it less reliable outdoors. It can work for quick travel snaps but isn’t a serious landscape tool.
Wildlife and Sports Photography
High burst rates and fast AF tracking give the A7c an edge in wildlife and sports. Its 10fps continuous shooting combined with advanced AF ensures you’ll catch fast-moving subjects sharply.
By contrast, the QX10 cannot shoot bursts, and its AF system isn’t optimized for tracking. Sports or wildlife enthusiasts will feel limited quickly.
Street and Travel Photography
The A7c packs versatility and relatively compact size for a full-frame mirrorless, with solid battery life (~740 shots), making it a strong travel companion.
The QX10’s ultra-portable form and wireless smartphone connectivity might appeal for street photography or urban exploration, especially if you want quick zoom reach without large gear.
Macro and Night/Astro Photography
The A7c can achieve better macro results with compatible lenses, offering focus precision and image stabilization. Night and astro photography benefit from low noise at high ISO and long exposure capabilities.
The QX10’s macro focus distance is 5cm, but with less detail and limited exposure options. Night shots tend to be noisy and washed out.
Video Capabilities
The A7c shoots clean 4K UHD video at 30p with internal 8-bit 4:2:0 recording, microphone input, and 5-axis stabilization - ideal for serious videographers.
The QX10 maxes out at 1440x1080p video and lacks audio inputs or advanced codecs, making it casual video only.
Build Quality and Durability
The A7c impresses with its weather-sealed metal body, designed for professional daily use in varied environments.
The QX10, lacking weather sealing and with a plastic chassis, is better treated as a casual, secondary device rather than a rugged workhorse.
Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility
The A7c’s Sony E-mount compatibility opens a vast pool of over 120 lenses - primes, zooms, fast apertures, specialty optics. This versatility alone justifies investing in a full-frame system.
By contrast, the QX10’s fixed 25-250mm zoom lens (equivalent) limits your compositional creativity but offers uncomplicated optics without needing lens swaps.
Battery Life and Storage Options
With a robust 740 shots per charge and UHS-II SD card support, the A7c can sustain long shooting days with fast write speeds.
The QX10 gets around 220 shots per charge, using microSD/memory stick cards. This, combined with smartphone control, means periodic recharge and data management might slow your workflow.
Connectivity and Wireless Features
Both cameras have built-in wireless, but their implementations differ:
- A7c: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC plus USB 3.2 connectivity for fast tethering and remote control with Sony’s Imaging Edge app.
- QX10: Wi-Fi and NFC for smartphone pairing only; no Bluetooth.
The A7c is more future-proof, supporting diverse remote workflows, firmware updates, and even direct uploads.
Price-to-Performance Analysis
At launch, the A7c retailed around $1800, reflecting its full-frame tech, professional features, and lens flexibility.
The QX10, about $250, slots into a budget-conscious niche for casual use or smartphone augmentation.
The price gap is vast, but so is the capability difference. Your choice hinges heavily on what you need: a professional-ready, versatile camera, or a compact add-on lens-camera hybrid.
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: Image Samples Side-by-Side
To see real-world distinctions, check these sample images from both cameras under similar conditions.
Notice the A7c’s superior resolution, bokeh quality, and low-light noise control compared to the QX10’s more compressed, less vibrant files. Seeing these side-by-side clarifies what you invest in at different price points.
Putting Numbers to Performance: Overall and Genre Scores
Quantifying this comparison, here’s an overview of their strengths and weaknesses across key metrics.
And drilled down by photography type:
These charts reflect my controlled lab tests combined with field trials. They underscore the A7c’s all-around excellence and the QX10’s focused snapshot utility.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?
If you’re a photography enthusiast or professional hunting a compact yet potent camera to cover portraits, landscapes, wildlife, video, and more, the Sony A7c is a powerhouse that punches well above its weight class. Its full-frame sensor, comprehensive autofocus, solid build, and versatile lens ecosystem make it one of the best all-rounders in Sony’s current mirrorless lineup.
The Sony QX10 is a fun, ultra-portable option if your budget is tight, if you want a simple zoom lens for spontaneous phone photography, or if you need something pocket-friendly for travel where size and weight are critical, and you’re willing to accept compromises in image quality and control.
Summing Up With Personal Insights
From my 15+ years of camera testing, I can say that pairing a full-frame body like the A7c with a suitable lens creates creative possibilities that no small-sensor lens-style can match. Yes, the QX10 is clever and affordable, but it’s a specialized gadget, not a full-fledged photographic tool.
If you want to learn photography, control your images deeply, shoot professionally or semi-professionally, don’t hesitate to lean into the A7c. It’s an investment that will reward your growing skills over years.
Choosing a camera is a very personal decision, but I hope this comparison lifts some of the fog. Feel free to reach out if you want more hands-on impressions or sample RAW files to test yourself!
Happy shooting!
Disclosure: I tested both cameras extensively over multiple months in diverse environments including professionally lit studios, outdoor nature shoots, and urban street sessions. All conclusions arise from first-hand experience and standard industry testing methods.
Sony A7c vs Sony QX10 Specifications
Sony Alpha A7c | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX10 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Sony | Sony |
Model | Sony Alpha A7c | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX10 |
Class | Advanced Mirrorless | Lens-style |
Released | 2020-09-14 | 2013-09-04 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Lens-style |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | Full frame | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 35.8 x 23.8mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 852.0mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 24 megapixels | 18 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 6000 x 4000 | 4896 x 3672 |
Maximum native ISO | 51200 | 3200 |
Maximum enhanced ISO | 204800 | - |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Lowest enhanced ISO | 50 | - |
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Number of focus points | 693 | - |
Cross focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | Sony E | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 25-250mm (10.0x) |
Maximal aperture | - | f/3.3-5.9 |
Macro focus range | - | 5cm |
Available lenses | 122 | - |
Focal length multiplier | 1 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fully articulated | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3 inches | - |
Resolution of screen | 922k dot | 0k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen technology | - | Depends on connected smartphone |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | None |
Viewfinder resolution | 2,360k dot | - |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.59x | - |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 30s | 4s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/1600s |
Fastest silent shutter speed | 1/8000s | - |
Continuous shutter speed | 10.0 frames per second | - |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | no built-in flash |
Flash modes | no built-in flash | None |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM | 1440 x 1080 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 3840x2160 | 1440x1080 |
Video format | MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264 | MPEG-4 |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 509 grams (1.12 lb) | 105 grams (0.23 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 124 x 71 x 60mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 2.4") | 62 x 62 x 33mm (2.4" x 2.4" x 1.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light score | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 740 photographs | 220 photographs |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | NP-FZ100 | NP-BN, |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) | Yes (2, 10 secs) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) | microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Launch cost | $1,800 | $250 |