camera

HTC officially announced the HTC re Camera, a handheld camera unveiled in New York this October alongside the HTC Desire Eye, in Taiwan today (December 2nd). The suggested retail price is confirmed at NT$5990, with the Lover's White color option launching first on December 3rd, followed by Midnight Blue and Sparkling Orange. HTC will also offer early bird discounts and exclusive pricing for HTC VIP members. HTC announced that the HTC re Camera will be available for purchase at HTC stores and the PChome online shopping platform throughout Taiwan starting December 3rd. The suggested retail price for the camera alone is NT$5990, with the Lover's White color option launching first on December 3rd, followed by Midnight Blue and Sparkling Orange. Meanwhile, from December 3rd to December 5th, 3000 units will be available at an early bird price of NT$4990 (one unit per person). From December 6th to December 14th, VIP members at HTC stores nationwide will also be able to purchase a limited number at the same discounted price of NT$4990. Furthermore, a special on-site price of NT$4990 will also be available during this Information Month. In addition to these announced pricing plans, HTC has also confirmed that it will partner with major telecom operators' mobile phone sales plans, allowing users to purchase the HTC re Camera at a discounted price of NT$4990, thereby attracting more people to use this handheld camera product. The HTC re Camera primarily extends the shooting experience, allowing users to intuitively shoot using the 16-megapixel lens, or to shoot from different angles with the phone, and even for applications such as live streaming. HTC emphasizes that this type of product aims to provide users with a more intuitive experience, allowing them to personally experience the moment events unfold. It also serves as an extension of the mobile phone shooting experience, and HTC will continue to launch different products with features that extend the mobile phone user experience as part of its new market development. However, some drawbacks are unfortunate. While the overall design of the HTC re Camera is quite interesting, previous testing revealed some shortcomings, including potentially short usage time due to continuous shooting, a high chance of image shake when shooting with one hand, and images that are easily skewed or outside the expected shooting range. Nevertheless, it offers a very fun user experience overall. ※Related Links》 ‧Handheld Shooting, Waterproof HTC re Camera: First-hand Experience ‧Simple Play / Desire EYE, re Camera Real-world Shooting Experience ‧Opinion / HTC re Camera's Interesting Design...

Following the announcement of the updated Hero 4 series of extreme sports cameras, GoPro is also rumored to be launching a small helicopter with camera shooting capabilities in 2015. According to the Wall Street Journal, citing sources, GoPro plans to release a small helicopter with camera shooting (or the option to add an extra camera) in 2015, with a suggested retail price between $500 and $1000, and actual shipping expected around the end of the year. However, this claim has not been confirmed by GoPro, which only stated that they have observed many photography enthusiasts using small helicopters to mount their cameras. Since GoPro is often associated with extreme sports photography, and its high image quality and stability have led many filmmakers to choose GoPro equipment, its products are a popular choice. The recent adoption of small helicopters in event filming, allowing for aerial shooting from different perspectives and enhancing visual and image quality, may have prompted GoPro to consider developing its own small helicopter application specifically designed for extreme sports and similar scenarios. In recent developments, GoPro has launched its new Hero 4 series of action cameras, divided into three tiers: Black, Silver, and an entry-level model. The top-of-the-line Black version primarily enhances 4K video recording, while the Silver version adds touchscreen functionality. The entry-level model only supports 1080p video recording and features a built-in battery. ※Related Link》‧GoPro Developing Line of Consumer Drones (Wall Street Journal website)

The HTC reCam, a handheld camera unveiled alongside the HTC Desire Eye in New York this October, has been confirmed by HTC for a December 2nd launch in Taiwan. This may reveal the previously mentioned possibility of a bundled sales strategy to boost sales. HTC has sent out invitations to an event confirming the Taiwan launch of the HTC reCam on December 2nd, potentially revealing that the product will be sold bundled with specific smartphone models. Previous reports indicated a suggested retail price of US$199.99, equivalent to approximately NT$6000. The HTC re Camera primarily extends the shooting experience, allowing users to intuitively shoot with the 16-megapixel lens, or to shoot from different angles with the phone, and even for applications such as live video streaming. HTC emphasizes that this type of product aims to provide users with a more intuitive experience, allowing them to personally experience the moment events unfold. It also serves as an extension of the mobile phone shooting experience, and HTC will continue to launch different products with features that extend the mobile phone user experience as part of its new market development. However, some drawbacks are unfortunate. While the overall design of the HTC re Camera is quite interesting, previous testing revealed some shortcomings, including potentially short usage time due to continuous shooting, a high chance of image shake when shooting with one hand, and images that are easily skewed or outside the expected shooting range. Nevertheless, it offers a very fun user experience overall. ※Related Links》 ‧HTC re Camera: Easy to Use, Waterproof, and Immediately Impressive‧Simple Play / Desire EYE, re Camera Real-World Shooting Experience‧Opinion / HTC re Camera: Fun Design but Still Shortcomings‧HTC: Let More Consumers Experience Imaging Innovation

Sony sponsored the SUPER GIRLS EXPO held in Taiwan on November 22nd and 23rd, and invited Japanese supermodel Lena Fujii and entertainer Yang Yi-chan to participate in the runway show and share their experiences using the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-KW11 selfie camera. Thanks to arrangements made by Sony Taiwan, we also had the opportunity to meet Lena Fujii up close. With one-quarter European ancestry due to her great-grandmother being Swedish-American, Lena Fujii is a model, singer, and spokesperson for the cosmetics brand CANMAKE. She is currently affiliated with Stardust Promotion, one of the most influential talent agencies in the Japanese entertainment industry. Besides her sweet appearance, her distinctive two symmetrical "catfish moles" near her mouth are also her trademark. Lena Fujii is also an exclusive model for Japanese fashion magazines such as *ViVi* and *Sweet*, and is active in lingerie magazine *PEACH JOHN*, as well as other magazines such as *Spring* and *CUTIE*. At the SUPER GIRLS EXPO, thanks to arrangements made by Sony Taiwan, we had the opportunity to meet Lena Fujii up close. During a joint media interview with Yang Yi-chan, Lena Fujii expressed her surprise at the design and selfie capabilities of the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-KW11 selfie camera, as it is not yet available in Japan (note). She emphasized that the actual photo quality is quite appealing to female users. Note: Currently, the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-KW11 selfie camera is only available in Asian markets such as Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong. The Cyber-Shot DSC-KW11 is primarily designed for young women, emphasizing one-handed operation. Its exterior features pastel colors and Swarovski crystal embellishments, with a design inspired by a feminine perfume bottle. An additional crystal ring stand accessory is included, allowing for use as a desktop stand or for one-handed hanging, making selfies easier. To minimize image distortion and light impact during selfies, Sony has incorporated a 19.2-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch curved Exmor RS sensor for the first time in this new model. It features a 21mm f/2.0 aperture lens that can rotate 180 degrees and includes an LED flash for fill light. The camera also features NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity for easy connection to smartphones and sharing to the internet. Regarding its built-in camera functions, the Cyber-Shot DSC-KW11 emphasizes a variety of selfie modes, allowing users to take selfies intuitively and simply by swiping their fingers. It also features five beauty effects: skin tone adjustment, skin smoothing, shine removal, eye enlargement, and face slimming, all combined with a built-in soft light to create the best selfie results. ※Related Link》‧Sony's "Selfie Wonder" Perfume Bottle-Shaped Selfie Camera Debuts in Taiwan

Metz, a German brand renowned for its flash units and supported by many photography enthusiasts, recently announced its bankruptcy protection filing. This is expected to affect the jobs of approximately 600 employees, but the company will continue production of its products and equipment and provide customer service. According to a Reuters report, Metz has already filed for bankruptcy protection. While it will continue production of its television and photographic flash equipment and provide after-sales service, the jobs of approximately 600 employees may still be affected. Although Metz is known for its high-precision color-temperature flash units, it also manufactures television products and claims that all its products are made in Germany. However, the increasing demand for high ISO resolution in digital cameras in recent years has led to a slowdown in consumer demand for flash units. Furthermore, its television business has been impacted by the low-price strategies of South Korean and Japanese manufacturers, potentially causing losses to continue to widen and leading to the bankruptcy protection filing. Now, after filing for bankruptcy protection, Metz may be able to restore profitability through business restructuring and patent sales, similar to Kodak, and is expected to return to market competition. ※Related Link》‧German TV maker Metz files for insolvency (Reuters News website)

Sony has announced an updated version of its α7 series full-frame mirrorless cameras, the α7 II. This new model features 5-axis image stabilization and 4.5EV compensation, with an approximately 30% speed improvement in the hybrid autofocus system and enhanced low-light focusing performance. According to Sony's announcement, the updated α7 II adds 5-axis image stabilization and 4.5EV compensation compared to its predecessor, and improves the hybrid autofocus system by approximately 30%, while also enhancing low-light focusing performance. In terms of video recording specifications, it shares the XAVC S video format with the previously released α7s, and also supports AVCHD and MP4 file formats. For still image shooting, it supports up to 5 frames per second with locked focus and approximately 2.5 frames per second with continuous autofocus. The camera also supports NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity, and can be connected to an external 3.5mm microphone for audio recording or headphones for monitoring. The image sensor remains at 24.3 megapixels, and the ISO range remains at 100-25600 (expandable to ISO 51200). However, the body weight has increased by 100 grams due to the addition of 5-axis image stabilization, bringing the total weight including battery and memory card to 599 grams. The body thickness has also increased slightly, but it remains within an acceptable range. The body is still made of aluminum-magnesium alloy. The α7 II is expected to launch globally on December 5th, with a suggested retail price of ¥190,000 for the body only. Accessories such as the original VG-C2EM vertical grip will also be included. The actual launch date and price in Taiwan are currently uncertain. In addition, to coincide with the launch of the α7 II, Sony is also releasing the 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II telephoto lens "SAL70300G2," with a suggested retail price of ¥142000. ※Related links》 ‧The world's first optical 5-axis manual correction function, the inner 35mm フルサイズデジタルOne-eye camera "α7 II" (Sony official press release)

The PowerShot N2, which debuted alongside new cameras such as the EOS 7D Mark II and PowerShot G7 X at Photokina 2014, is now officially available in Taiwan, according to Canon. It will be offered in three colors: Mystic Black, Honey White, and Peach Pink, with a suggested retail price of NT$9990. The PowerShot N2 compact camera, unveiled alongside many other key new cameras at Photokina 2014, has finally entered the Taiwanese market. Following the design of its predecessor, the PowerShot N2 features a square shape, a 28-224mm f/3.0-5.9 zoom lens, and a tilting screen. The sensor has been upgraded to 16.1 megapixels, and the DIGIC 6 image processor has been incorporated. Furthermore, it incorporates Wi-Fi and NFC functionality, allowing users to connect to handheld devices and share captured images online. Compared to the first-generation model's 90-degree screen tilt, Canon has expanded the PowerShot N2's tilt angle to 180 degrees, making it easier for users to take selfies or frame shots from more circular angles. The camera shooting modes also include features such as natural skin smoothing, skin smoothing, background blur, and self-timer delay. Combined with a 360-degree omnidirectional shutter ring, selfies are even more convenient. Users can also create personal shooting records through creative shooting modes and filter effects. Actual photos: ※Related Link》‧Canon PowerShot G7 X and other compact cameras updated

One year after the launch of the Nikon Df, which emphasized the pursuit of the fundamental spirit of photography, known as "Pure Photography," Nikon announced a commemorative edition: the Nikon Df Gold Edition, featuring gold accents on the body and lens. The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens also incorporates gold elements, and these will be sold in limited quantities worldwide. The Nikon Df Gold Edition features gold accents on the body and lens, including the shutter button bezel, battery cover switch, strap hook, and Nikon lettering. The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens also features gold accents. The camera's functionality remains the same as the standard version, upholding the "Pure Photography" spirit. This commemorative camera will be sold in limited quantities worldwide. 600 sets of the body alone will be available, and 1000 sets will be offered with the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens, for a total of 1600 sets. Buyers can also choose to have their name engraved on the camera body for an additional fee. Nikon will also include an AR-11G gold shutter button as a bonus. The suggested retail price is ¥31.5 for the body alone and approximately ¥33.5 for the lens bundle. ※Related Link》 ‧Nikon Df Official Page