Sony Alpha Rumors reported that Sony will be revealing a new high-end smartphone featuring a "lens camera." Based from the information, it seems like Sony will be including a DLSR in a camera - it is an excellent feature that can put the company ahead of the race.

Sony will be taking out the an f/1.8 Carl Zeiss glass and a 1-inch 20.2-megapixel Exmor R sensor from the Cyber-shot RX100 II and will be placing that one their latest mobile handset, according to Sony Alpha Rumor. The device will also include a built-in memory and battery. Users can share images through Near-Field Communication (NFC) and Wi-Fi.

Because Sony will be focusing on the camera, the smartphone will become more of an attachment to help display images and serve as a viewfinder. Likewise, analysts suspect Sony included the mobile handset for cellular connectivity - so that people will find it easier to upload and share photos.

The rumor website claimed the new device can be used as a camera separately. Users can either choose to use it with the smartphone or just a camera. The "lens camera" will be the first of the series. Sony plans on putting out a similar model featuring larger zoom and smaller sensor.

External lens for mobile phones or smartphones are not new. Devices like Olloclip and Photojojo feature this. However, the mentioned gadgets require an existing feature. Sony's "lens camera," on the other hand, functions as a completely standalone device.

The reported device shows the shifting trend in the mobile and camera industry. This reveals how eager camera makers are to try anything just to become part of the mobile industry. Nikon is one of the companies keeping a close watch on the industry.

"Rapid expansion of mobile devices is a change in business environment given to us. Our task going forward is to find an answer to that change," Bloomberg quoted Nikon president Makoto Kimura.