Sony QX1 vs. Sony QX100: In-Depth Lens-Style Camera Showdown

In my fifteen years of diving deep into digital cameras, I’ve encountered everything from hulking DSLRs to pocketable compacts. But today, I’m curious to thoroughly dissect two unique lens-style cameras from Sony’s innovative QX lineup - the Sony QX1 and the Sony QX100. Announced just a year apart, these two devices aim to blend high-quality imaging with smartphone convenience, yet their philosophies and technical approaches diverge quite a bit.

I tested both extensively in different conditions, spanning landscapes to street photography, video to macro, and more. This hands-on experience, coupled with an in-depth technical breakdown of their specs and practical usability, is the backbone of this comparison. I want to give fellow enthusiasts and pros a transparent, detailed guide to decide which, if either, fits their photographic ambitions.

First Impressions: Physical Size and Handling

When you handle any camera, the ergonomics and physical design are crucial for whether you enjoy or struggle with it during shoots. Both the QX1 and QX100 adopt Sony’s “lens-style” concept, which means they primarily function as wireless lenses controlled via your smartphone. This makes their physical size and weight very relevant.

The Sony QX1 (74x70x53mm, 216g) clearly commands a chunkier profile compared to the petite QX100 (63x63x56mm, 179g). Despite both being light and pocketable relative to traditional cameras, the QX1’s considerable girth comes from housing a large APS-C sensor and a Sony E-mount lens mount, whereas the QX100 uses a fixed lens with a 1-inch sensor.

In practice, I found the QX100 feels more discreet and pocket-friendly - ideal for street and travel shooters valuing lightweight gear. The QX1, though still manageable, leans towards enthusiasts who want to leverage their existing E-mount lenses or care more about image quality over portability.

Top-Down Controls and Interface

Neither camera sports physical viewfinders or traditional EVFs; you connect and control them mostly via your smartphone’s touchscreen. Still, the physical design influences ease of use and mounting.

The QX1 features a more distinct lens barrel with manual focus rings and physical control buttons accessible even outside the app environment, which offers more tactile feedback. Its lack of a built-in viewfinder means relying heavily on live view transmitted wirelessly, but the control layout here more closely mimics traditional mirrorless systems.

On the flip side, the QX100’s simpler fixed lens and streamlined body mean fewer direct control options. Its live view quality and responsiveness often depend on the smartphone’s screen and app performance, which I found to fluctuate more than with the QX1 - whose faster processor (Bionz X) handles image preview and settings adjustments with noticeably lower latency.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

A camera’s sensor is the foundational element for image quality, and here the differences are stark.

The Sony QX1 boasts a large APS-C CMOS sensor (23.2x15.4mm) with a robust 20MP resolution. This sensor size is common in many mirrorless and DSLR cameras, providing broader dynamic range, better low-light performance, and shallower depth of field control - a critical advantage for portraits and creative photography. The inclusion of an antialias filter also helps mitigate Moiré artifacts.

By contrast, the Sony QX100 uses a smaller 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor (13.2x8.8mm), though still relatively large for compact cameras. It shares the same 20MP count but naturally cannot compete with the QX1’s sensor area (357mm² vs. 116mm²). While the QX100 shines in bright conditions, its maximum native ISO caps at 6400 versus the QX1’s more versatile 16,000 ISO ceiling, which grants the latter an edge in low-light and night scenarios.

The QX1’s sensor translates to noticeably sharper images with finer details in my landscape shoots, and skin tones appeared more lifelike and nuanced in portraits compared to the QX100. The larger sensor also enables creamier bokeh, providing subject isolation that the QX100’s lens struggles to match.

LCD and Viewing Experience

Since both cameras rely on smartphones for framing and settings, the built-in display specs aren’t directly comparable. Yet, the touchscreen capabilities integrated into each device impact user experience.

Neither camera has a built-in screen; instead, both operate as “lens modules” controlled wirelessly. The QX1’s touch autofocus is smooth and responsive, allowing quick selection of AF points on the live view feed. The QX100 has touch autofocus too, but I noticed slight lag and occasional dropped touches, likely owing to less powerful processing hardware.

In my experience, smartphones with higher refresh rates paired better with the QX1, granting a smoother live view - a non-negligible aspect when composing fast-moving subjects, like in wildlife or sports photography.

Real World Shooting: Strengths and Shortcomings

Evaluating these cameras across diverse disciplines highlights their distinct personalities.

Portrait Photography

The QX1, with its APS-C sensor combined with the flexibility of interchangeable Sony E-mount lenses, is outstanding for portraits. I used a 50mm f/1.8 prime on the QX1, which effortlessly created beautiful bokeh backgrounds and precise eye detection. Contrast-detection AF with face detection was reliable under various lighting.

The QX100 performs reasonably in portraits with its fixed 28-100mm lens at f/1.8-4.9 aperture. It can produce decent subject separation at the wide end, but the smaller sensor and limited aperture range reduce creative control. Eye detection is present, but less consistent during movement.

Landscape Photography

Here the QX1’s sensor and RAW file output give it the upper hand with dynamic range and fine detail preservation. I tested both on wide vistas at sunrise, and the QX1’s files preserved highlights and shadows better - offering more breathing room in post-processing. The QX1 supports RAW, crucial for landscape editing, while the QX100 lacks RAW support, limiting post-shoot flexibility.

That said, the QX100’s compact size makes it a more practical grab-and-go for casual landscape snaps, although its smaller sensor means less resolution “wiggle room” when cropping.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

For action and wildlife, autofocus speed, burst rate, and lens reach play big roles. The QX1 supports 4 fps continuous shooting with 25 AF points, which performed adequately in tracking moving birds and runners during tests. However, it misses advanced subject tracking and animal eye AF features.

The QX100 lacks continuous burst shooting, limiting its usefulness for action. Additionally, the fixed lens zoom tops out at 100mm (effective 270mm due to 2.7x crop), which is relatively modest for wildlife.

Street Photography

Street shooters prize discretion, speed, and low-light capability. The QX100’s form factor, coupled with its fast f/1.8 aperture at 28mm wide, makes it an excellent street cam. It's quieter and less obtrusive, and the built-in optical image stabilization helps hold steady shots without a tripod.

The QX1 is larger and more conspicuous but offers superior image quality and flexibility with prime lenses. If you don’t mind carrying extra gear or aim for ultra-clean image quality, the QX1 remains a viable choice.

Macro Photography

The QX100 shines here, with a claimed macro focusing distance of just 5cm. Its built-in lens lets you approach subjects closely, enabling creative close-up shots of flowers and textures without external accessories.

The QX1 depends on the mounted lens for macro capability since it has no macro-specific lens bundled. Using a dedicated macro lens on the QX1 adds size and cost but delivers superior sharpness and magnification.

Night and Astro Photography

In low light and astrophotography, sensor size and ISO performance dominate. The QX1’s larger APS-C sensor and higher native ISO (up to 16,000) let it capture star fields and dimly lit urban scenes with reduced noise and better dynamic range.

The QX100’s max ISO of 6400 is less forgiving, and its smaller sensor imposes more noise at night. It’s better suited for casual low-light usage but not serious astro shooters.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras record Full HD 1080p video at 30fps in MPEG-4 format, but neither supports 4K or advanced video features like log color profiles.

Neither has microphone or headphone jacks, limiting external audio options. The QX1 offers optical image stabilization only if the lens supports it, while the QX100 has integrated optical stabilization beneficial for handheld videos.

For casual video blogging or social sharing, either will suffice, but pros seeking robust video tools should look elsewhere.

Travel Photography

Travel photographers prioritize lightweight versatility and battery life. The QX100’s smaller size and weight offer a clear advantage in packing convenience, complemented by a faster lens for scenic snapshots.

Battery life favors the QX1, rated at 440 shots per charge versus the QX100’s roughly 200 shots. If you spend long days shooting remote locations without frequent charging, this could be a critical factor.

Both cameras use proprietary battery packs, not phone power, so carry spares.

Professional Workflow Integration

The QX1 supports RAW capture, an essential for professionals wanting granular post-processing control. The QX100’s lack of RAW limits workflow flexibility, especially for print or high-end editorial work.

Both provide wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi and NFC, streamlining image transfer to smartphones and social media. USB 2.0 is available but relatively slow for tethered shooting.

Neither camera has environmental sealing - protection against dust, moisture, or shock is limited, so caution is advised in rough fieldwork.

Autofocus Systems and Lens Compatibility

Autofocus tech defines usability under pressure. The QX1's contrast detection AF with 25 focus points offers decent accuracy but lacks phase-detection, limiting autofocus tracking for fast subjects.

Face detection is reliable, but without eye tracking or animal eye detection, portraits demand patience versus modern flagship mirrorless cameras I’ve tested.

The QX100 relies on contrast-detection AF but is hampered by a smaller number of AF points (not officially specified) and no continuous autofocus during video.

Lens compatibility is a big win for the QX1, which uses the Sony E-mount - one of the broadest mirrorless ecosystems with numerous primes, zooms, and specialty lenses available. This flexibility unlocks many creative avenues.

The QX100’s fixed zoom lens limits its versatility but simplifies usage for those wanting a straightforward ready-to-shoot setup.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers significant environmental sealing; both are vulnerable to moisture and dust. For serious outdoor work, I recommend protective gear or backup cameras.

The QX1’s build feels slightly more robust, consistent with its professional intent, while the QX100 leans toward consumer-friendly materials.

Connectivity and Storage

Both cameras excel at connecting to smartphones via built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing quick app pairing and image transfer. USB 2.0 allows basic connectivity for charging or tethering.

Storage is handled via microSD or Memory Stick Micro cards, widely available and easy to swap.

Battery Life and Power Considerations

Battery plays an underrated role in workflow fluidity. The QX1 uses the NP-FW50 battery with around 440 shots per charge, significantly better than the QX100’s NP-BN battery, which yields approximately 200 shots.

In day-long excursions or travels without quick power access, the QX1 stands out for reliability.

Price-to-Performance Ratio

As of current market listings, the QX1 retails around $500, roughly double the QX100’s $268 price point.

The QX1’s cost reflects its larger sensor, interchangeable lens system, and superior image quality. For beginners or casual users valuing convenience and size, the QX100 offers reasonable value. For enthusiasts prioritizing quality and creative control, the QX1 is worth the investment.

Side-By-Side Sample Images

Let’s assess their real-world output:

Sony QX1 front Sony QX1 screen back Sony QX100 front Sony QX100 screen back

Notice the QX1's superior detail retention in shadow areas and natural skin tones, while the QX100 images show slight softness and highlight clipping under harsh light. Color rendition is more nuanced with the QX1’s RAW files versus the QX100 JPEGs.

Overall Performance Ratings

Here is my rating summary based on extensive testing criteria:

• Image Quality: QX1 wins decisively
• Autofocus: QX1 edges ahead, better control
• Portability: QX100 favored
• Video: Both basic, QX100 marginal advantage with stabilization
• Battery: QX1 superior
• Price Value: QX100 better for budget-conscious
• Versatility: QX1 due to lens interchangeability

Genre-Specific Scoring Highlights

Breaking down specialty use:

• Portrait: QX1 leads with smoother bokeh and sharper focus
• Landscape: QX1’s dynamic range excels
• Wildlife: QX1 better with interchangeable telephoto lenses
• Sports: Neither ideal but QX1 slightly better with burst mode
• Street: QX100 more discreet and nimble
• Macro: QX100 better out of the box
• Night/Astro: QX1 favored for high ISO
• Video: Both entry-level
• Travel: Depends on priority - compactness for QX100, image quality for QX1
• Professional: QX1 thanks to RAW and system flexibility

Final Thoughts: Which Should You Choose?

If you value ultimate image quality, flexibility, and can handle a slightly bigger form factor at a higher price, the Sony QX1 is your best bet. It’s a clever hybrid that lets you tap into the Sony E-mount ecosystem while controlling shooters remotely. Its large sensor makes it suitable for enthusiasts and professionals wanting excellent portraits, landscapes, or night shots from a small package.

On the other hand, the Sony QX100 suits users craving a compact, easy-to-carry lens module with a nice zoom range and optical stabilization. While its smaller sensor and fixed lens limit creative potential, it remains an efficient companion for casual shooters or anyone prioritizing street and travel photography on a tighter budget.

Quick Recommendations:

• Enthusiast/Pro portrait or landscape shooter: Go QX1 for raw files, creative lens choices, and better low light
• Travel and street photographer needing compactness: Choose QX100 for discreetness and OIS
• Macro fan on a budget: QX100’s close focus is handy without extra gear
• Wildlife/sports shooter: Opt for QX1 but be mindful it’s no high-end action camera
• Video casual user: Either works, but stabilize with QX100 if handheld

Having personally used these cameras in varied environments, I appreciate Sony’s ambition with the QX line. Both the QX1 and QX100 carve distinct niches, blending smartphone convenience with elevated optics. Careful consideration of your priorities - image quality, size, lens flexibility, or price - will guide you to the right choice.

Feel free to reach out with questions or if you want insights on the lens options I tested on the QX1. Happy shooting!

Disclosure: I have no current financial ties to Sony. The review is based purely on hands-on testing of retail units over multiple shooting sessions.