Lay Techs: Tech for Laypeople

Last week we talked (more like I talked and you all just read without the opportunity of presenting your opinion) about what may become of cameras as a result of our consumption demands. In that article I predicted that all forms of cameras besides the professional ranges and cameras mounted on our phones will likely go extinct.

Camera makers know this and they have already been adapting and innovating to stay alive. New ideas are thrown against the wall every other day to see if they plaster or fall off. As legacy companies close down hardware and software makers previously unrelated to photography are now starting to jump into the industry to hopefully score some quick buck. It's not really that difficult since cameras mounted on phones basically come out of the same manufacturing line and the only thing that separates one brand from another is the firmware that gathers the information from the cameras and processes them, and brand. 

Camera makers know connectivity is the key selling point consumers are now craving for, particularly instant portability to social apps like Instagram and Tumblr. So what exactly have they been doing, and what will probably be the actual replacement for consumer-grade cameras in the near future? 

Instantly Portable Standards

Canon recently released a camera (which can just as easily be translated to an entire range soon) that allows instant photo and video syncing to an Android or iOS device via Bluetooth. If other makers also already have this same feature, I blame their marketing team for my ignorance. It is a quick fix to eliminate the above-mentioned barriers, except we would still need to bring two devices, sync them up, shoot from one device, and edit and upload using another. Less hassle, but still a hassle. 

Camera Phones

Camera Phones are phone first, camera second. Although many may not see this as a difference, I assure you the entire approach to the design and construction is miles apart from the phone cameras. They are in essence phones that can take pictures. Being phone first then camera, the design focuses primarily on sleekness and portability before performance. 

Generally they will produce the most generic photographs compared to any other forms of cameras, but who would notice after those Instagram filters anyway. Because of this consumers also treat the devices like phones rather than cameras. The most important item here is that consumers almost never turn their phones off, ever. But we do turn out cameras off; in fact we expect our cameras to turn itself off automatically if left idle for a while, to conserve power. I will elaborate on why this criterion is important when we discuss the phone cameras. 

And the most important thing with Camera Phones is that one in their right minds will never ever leave home without their phones. So it automatically becomes the best camera we can own because it becomes the camera we will always have with us. 

Phone Cameras

As opposed to Camera Phones, Phone Cameras are camera first then phone. It is a camera that can also make and receive calls because, well, the machine can fit almost similar parts so why not include them in. They are big because cameras primarily focus on sensor size and ergonomics. It will also have many physical buttons for those -20 degree Celsius moments. Samsung S4 Zoom is this here camera we're discussing, although they've reduced the number of buttons from it's predecessor (to my dismay). 

Phone Cameras are good because they let us produce halfway decent photos thanks to the sensors and processors. Because most of them also come with Android OS, apps can be installed for in-phone photo editing and publishing. What can go wrong with this package right? 

Firstly Phone Cameras are built as cameras first. This means they will always turn itself off when left idle for a period of time. It makes sense when cameras used to run basic dot matrix OSes, but an OS as complicated as Android takes up to a minute to boot up. This one minute is all it will take for a Pulitzer to slip out of our hands.

And imagine slipping a phone with the lens that huge into your skinny jeans pocket. I'd be more inclined to use the camera on my phone instead. 

Detachable-Lens-Mounted-Phone Thingies

Yup I'm just referring to Sony's new lenses that magnetically attach to smart phones while communicating via NFC. Although it's only Sony at the moment, we can almost certainly see more companies following suit. Why not? It's the perfect match for people who would like a little more control over how the cameras in their phones work while dreading the idea of lugging their DSLRs around.

And because people love accessorizing their gadgets, this becomes the perfect plan for profits.

Massive Megapixel Mobiles

The Nokia Lumia 1020. The only thing preventing it from completely annihilating the entire smart phone industry now is the fact that they're unable to succumb to the Android dominance. I do not disagree with them for many reasons, but we are here to discuss cameras and not OSes. 

41 Megapixels in such a sleek machine. Who on Earth wouldn't want it (Reminder: disregard OS)? It's a  Camera Phone, it's beautiful and it takes the most gorgeous photos. It even comes with a physical 'Capture' button for those -20 degree Celsius moments. 

Android-Powered Point-And-Shoots

Many camera makers tried this approach, none has ever made it to af. Because Android OS simply isn't built for cameras, despite it's initial purpose before Google's acquisition. It's too clunky and slow, and it's hardly as reliable and efficient as we would hope. What's worse is this camera cannot even make calls or make use of mobile broadband. They cannot charge without removing batteries because their traditional infrastructure will risk burning if the battery heats up while charging. In short, not the way to go. 

The Future?

I say Nokia Lumias are heading the right direction. All they need now is to fix the problem with their OS either by hopping to Android or praying Microsoft bucks up. Or they can build for Ubuntu. Either way they've got one foot on the right spot. Competing companies better pick up on this hint or miss the crest of the wave.