Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Photography
  3. News

Kodak, Vivitar introduce lens cameras that are near dead ringers of Sony’s QX-series

Les Shu
By
kodak vivitar introduce lens cameras pixpro sl10
Kodak Pixpro SL10

As unique as Sony’s Cyber-shot QX-series of lens cameras is, we’re still not sure how viable it is in the long run. But two companies that think Sony is onto something are Kodak and Vivitar, and they have not only introduced lens cameras of their own (all camera components housed within the lens barrel, minus a display), but have copied Sony’s design down to a T – flattery or rip-off, we’ll let Sony’s lawyers have fun with that one. (As reported by our buddies at the Phoblographer, via Photo Rumors.) 

First up, the Smart Lens is one of the new Pixpro products from Kodak. But it isn’t the Kodak of yore you remember: As Kodak was shedding most of its consumer business during bankruptcy, the company signed a licensing agreement with JK Imaging, which will sell Kodak-branded cameras. Back to the cameras: Like Sony’s QX, there are two versions, the SL10 (shown above) and SL25, and both will go on sale in the spring (unless Sony has something to say about it). The SL10 ($199) has a 10x optical zoom, microSD card slot, 1080p video capture, and Wi-Fi; the SL25 ($299) has a 25x optical zoom. If the camera didn’t say Kodak on it, we would have easily mistaken it for one of Sony’s at first glance.

Related Videos

Vivitar, which is one brand licensed by Sakar (another being Polaroid), also has a new lens camera, the Vivicam IU680. While there are some similarities, the IU680 tries to one-up Sony’s concept by using interchangeable lens and sensor modules. According to Photo Rumors, unlike the Kodak products, the IU680 is just a prototype and no real specs or details have been announced. (Sakar recently was banned from selling the Polaroid-branded iM1836 because it infringed on Nikon’s design patent; it will be interesting to see how Sakar plans to proceed with this one.)

Vivitar Vivicam IU680
Vivitar Vivicam IU680

Of course, we can’t make any assumptions about performance and quality, but judging from our experience with these types of budget cams (and what we’ve seen from Sakar’s Polaroid-branded gear), we wouldn’t say they match Sony’s QX in those areas. It’s also clear that Kodak’s return to digital cameras is purely in name, not so much about introducing new technologies or concepts. There’s no indication that these products will expand the category Sony created, but, if they actually hit store shelves, you have some alternatives.

For comparison, here are (from left to right) the Sony Cyber-shot QX100, Kodak Pixpro SL10, and Vivitar IU680.
For comparison, here are (from left to right) the Sony Cyber-shot QX100, Kodak Pixpro SL10, and Vivitar IU680.

(Vivitar image via Photo Rumors)

Editors' Recommendations

GoPro takes to the skies with the Hero10 Black Bones
The GoPro Hero 10 Black Bones mounted on an FPV drone.

GoPro’s cameras have always enjoyed a close association with drones, though that relationship has had its ups and downs. However, after the sagas of the Phantom and the Karma have faded into history, the use of GoPros to capture aerial footage has only accelerated. The hobby of building and flying first-person view (FPV) drones is a passionate pastime and profession for a growing number of people, and GoPros are by far the most popular camera for capturing FPV footage. Now, GoPro has created a camera specifically designed to take to the skies.

The GoPro Hero10 Black Bones is a stripped-down, heavily modified version of the Hero10 Black, GoPro’s flagship action camera, which I praised highly in my review of it last fall. FPV drones are stripped to the bare minimum, as every milligram of weight can mean the difference between a maneuverable and acrobatic racing machine, and one that wallows through the skies.

Read more
Nikon’s new 800mm lens for Z-mount cameras lightens the load
nikons new 800mm lens for z mount cameras nikon 800m

Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens aimed primarily at sports and wildlife photographers,

At 5.3 pounds and 15.2 inches, the lens is notable for being half the weight and 16% shorter than the equivalent 800mm f/5.6 lens for Nikon's long-established F-mount SLR cameras, making it much easier to lug around, and also to shoot with if you’re working sans tripod.

Read more
Check out the tech behind the Samsung Galaxy S22 cameras
The Galaxy S22 Ultra's camera module.

Samsung’s latest generation, the S22 series, may appear on the surface to merely copy its admittedly excellent camera array from the last generation, but this is a good lesson in why it's vital to never judge a new phone by its spec sheet.
Camera array
The first thing to note is that the S22 and S22+ share the same camera system, so going forward, I’ll be referring to them collectively as the S22. Design-wise, the S22 and S22 Ultra retain the same layout as the S21 series. However, while the S22 retains the singular camera block of the S21 into which the cameras themselves are embedded, the S22 Ultra takes a drastic new direction and ditches the larger bump for individual protruding camera lenses.

Personally, I’m not sure how I feel about this design choice, as I actually found the camera bump on the S21 Ultra to be visually attractive. On a more practical note, I can’t help but wonder if removing the larger bump might make the cameras more vulnerable to damage. Also, now when you place the S22 Ultra down on a table, it will now be balancing on the telephoto camera, rather than on the rim of the larger camera bump as it did with the S21 Ultra. All that said, it is an exciting aesthetic change that sets it apart from its predecessors.
Rear camera
The rear camera is practically identical to that of the S21 series. The S22 gets a 10MP hole-punch camera with an F2.2 aperture and 1/3.24-inch sensor size. The S22 Ultra similarly shares a hole-punch selfie camera with its predecessor, featuring a 40MP lens with an 80-degree field of view, F2.2 aperture, and 1/2.82-inch sensor. If selfies are a big deal to you, then upgrading to the S22 Ultra offers a huge advantage over the less expensive models.

Read more