All the action in a snap

Dubai - Depending on what you do, there's always a camera that won't let you down

The race for HD and 4K videos is heating up, with videographers across the UAE weighing in on their options when it comes to the latest that the industry has to offer.
Camcorders, long seen as a dominant force in the market, have been losing ground as users shift their focus to action cameras and drones. Umesh Sharma, a sales manager at AEE Technologies, noted that the camcorder market isn't going to die anytime soon, but that action cameras such as GoPros are slowly taking a bigger chunk of the market share.
"The market for action cameras is growing every day," he told Khaleej Times at the Gitex Shopper 2017 exhibition.
"The main issue that videographers have with camcorders today is that they are bulky, and that you can't take them everywhere with you. Compare that to action cameras, whose main selling point is that they can be used in all types of environments, and you begin to understand the shift in consumer preferences." Alfie Tigulo De Leon, a merchandiser at Aal Jaafar Trading, noted that when it came to action cameras, the highest demand was for GoPros.
"Ever since they entered the market, they have caught the fancy of consumers," he said. "They are waterproof, offer 4K and HD video recording, and they have a strong brand presence."
Jumbo's bundle deal for Gitex Shopper for a GoPro Hero 5 included a carry case, several attachments, a wrist mount, and a hand-held mount stand for Dh1,599. However, Sharma also noted that consumers with smaller budgets had plenty of choice in the market.
"Sure, GoPro has about 65 per cent of the market share in action cameras, but AEE Cams is also an amazing brand which offers high-quality products at slightly cheaper prices. Many of their products also offer live streaming options directly to social media sites," he said.
Looking to the future, Sharma noted that camcorders would continue to be popular with videographers, but only in very controlled environments that involved users keeping them in a fixed location for long periods of filming.
"When it comes to battery life, there is really no competition between an action camera and a camcorder," he said. "Camcorders can continue to record for up to six hours, while most action cameras are severely limited to around one hour of battery life."
Another company that has established itself as a trailblazer in 4K and HD quality filming is DJI. Headquartered in Shenzhen - China's Silicon Valley - DJI's portable drones and handheld steady cams have proven to be a popular fixture at corporate and leisure events. Among the company's most well-known products are its Mavic, and Spark drone series, and the Osmo line of cams and gimbals. Manav Chotrani, sales officer for exports at Jacky's, also spoke to Khaleej Times at the Gitex Shopper exhibition about the popularity of photography drones.
"The main issues with purchasing a drone today in the UAE is licensing," he said.
"There is always a reluctance among consumers to buy one because of how confusing it is getting the licence. However, beyond that there has definitely been an interest towards the Mavic Pro and Spark drones."
"Right now, this is one of the best video drones in the market," Chotrani said. "It is small, compact, convenient, and has a flight time of around 30 minutes. And, the quality of the aerial shots that you are going to get is unparalleled."
"It is extremely easy to use," said Joshua Canlas, a merchandiser at Advanced Media, the retailers of DJI in the region.
"If you are looking for professional quality videos, then this is a product to consider. It has a built-in steady cam, offers two-and-a-half hours of battery life and includes livestreaming options."
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com