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"I will say I'm slightly surprised we haven't see an external "lens and sensor only" gadget that pairs with a phone." We have. They've all failed. Olympus tri

"I will say I'm slightly surprised we haven't see an external "lens and sensor only" gadget that pairs with a phone." We have. They've all failed. Olympus tried (2016): https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/olympus-air-a01 https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/olympus-air-a01 Alice Camera is a kickstarter thing that might be about to ship now finally? https://www.alice.camera/ https://www.alice.camera/ And there's another recent one, SwitchLens: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/halohub/switchlens-power-up-your-smartphone-into-a-pro-camera https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/halohub/switchlens-powe... There's others that have been tried too I think?

vel0city 2y ago
Sony also had a product line of these kinds of devices a decade ago. You know its an old review when one of the cons listed is "No support for Windows Phone." https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-qx10 https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-qx10
dingaling 2y ago
Yongnuo offered the YN450, an Android camera with enormous Canon EF mount: https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/yongnuo-yn450-android-camera-micro-four-thirds-sensor-canon-ef-mount https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/yongnuo-yn450-androi...
- cmrdporcupine 2y ago
  Mind boggling they put an EF mount over a 4/3rds sensor! M43 lenses are smaller and cheaper and the mount spec is an open standard and license free I believe. Personally I like analog dials and like to have them configured to control ISO and shutter speed, so would have a hard time using a touch-screen only system like this. Same problem I have with the Sigma camera.
ChainOfFools 2y ago
I looked at the Alice camera, and immediately had to suppress the urge to sign up for the kickstarter while I took a step back to consider that this will end up in the tech junk drawer after a few novelty outings. It fails the same 'one extra thing to carry around and keep protected while not in use, which is most of the time' test as small mirrorless point and shoots and micro four thirds interchangeable lens cameras ( speaking as a long time OM-D user and enthusiast) And if it's possible to affix it to my phone it will also get left home sooner rather than later, because now all of my phone accessories, mag safe chargers, car mounts, cases, etc no longer fit, which makes it cumbersome to carry around and use as a phone.
- cmrdporcupine 2y ago
  Funny I forget about my phone and barely use it, while my Olympus PEN E-PL8 goes with me everywhere :-) My phone gets used for Android Auto and 2FA and that's about it. But to me the Alice thing is the worst of both worlds. Still need to use the stupid touchscreen LCD (which sucks for my aging eyes), doesn't have analog controls. But is still a bulkyish object. Hang anything other than a pancake lens on that, and the ergonomics are going to blow, too.
seltzered_ 2y ago
Sony QX series, as mentioned in my other comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40970490 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40970490

vel0city 2y ago

Sony also had a product line of these kinds of devices a decade ago. You know its an old review when one of the cons listed is "No support for Windows Phone." https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-qx10 https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-qx10

dingaling 2y ago

Yongnuo offered the YN450, an Android camera with enormous Canon EF mount: https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/yongnuo-yn450-android-camera-micro-four-thirds-sensor-canon-ef-mount https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/yongnuo-yn450-androi...

cmrdporcupine 2y ago
Mind boggling they put an EF mount over a 4/3rds sensor! M43 lenses are smaller and cheaper and the mount spec is an open standard and license free I believe. Personally I like analog dials and like to have them configured to control ISO and shutter speed, so would have a hard time using a touch-screen only system like this. Same problem I have with the Sigma camera.

ChainOfFools 2y ago

I looked at the Alice camera, and immediately had to suppress the urge to sign up for the kickstarter while I took a step back to consider that this will end up in the tech junk drawer after a few novelty outings. It fails the same 'one extra thing to carry around and keep protected while not in use, which is most of the time' test as small mirrorless point and shoots and micro four thirds interchangeable lens cameras ( speaking as a long time OM-D user and enthusiast) And if it's possible to affix it to my phone it will also get left home sooner rather than later, because now all of my phone accessories, mag safe chargers, car mounts, cases, etc no longer fit, which makes it cumbersome to carry around and use as a phone.

cmrdporcupine 2y ago
Funny I forget about my phone and barely use it, while my Olympus PEN E-PL8 goes with me everywhere :-) My phone gets used for Android Auto and 2FA and that's about it. But to me the Alice thing is the worst of both worlds. Still need to use the stupid touchscreen LCD (which sucks for my aging eyes), doesn't have analog controls. But is still a bulkyish object. Hang anything other than a pancake lens on that, and the ergonomics are going to blow, too.

seltzered_ 2y ago

Sony QX series, as mentioned in my other comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40970490 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40970490