SONY: The DSC-QX10 is a lens and image sensor attachment with WiFi and NFC connectivity

Sony has unveiled a family of photographic zoom lenses with integrated image sensors that can be connected to Android or iOS smartphones, via NFC and WiFi, to provide a high quality, DSLR-like camera experience.

Speaking at IFA 2013 in Berlin, Kazuo Hirai, president and CEO of Sony Corporation, said that the QX100 will use a Carl Zeiss lens with 1.0-inch type Exmor R CMOS sensor offering 20.2 megapixels, while the QX10 is a smaller Sony G Lens with 1/2.3-inch sensor providing 18.2 megapixels.

Both are tailored to be attached easily to either the newly announced Xperia Z1 or existing Xperia Z smartphones, and connect with one touch via NFC. A range of adapters will allow the QX family to also work with a wide range of other smartphones.

Both lenses will include a Bionz image processor for ultra clear photos and Optical SteadyShot for blur free pictures.

The lenses' WiFi functionality enables the devices to send images to the phone and can be used with Sony's PlayMemories mobile app to store content in the cloud. Memory sticks and microSD cards can also be used for storing images, and the cameras need not be attached to the phone when in use, offering the possibility of positioning the camera and then shooting remotely from the smartphone.

The QX100 will be priced at around US$500 and the QX10 at approximately US$250 when they are released at the end of September.