Why HTC’s first ever camera looks nothing like a camera

Take one look at HTC’s new “Re” device and the first thing that probably pops into your mind is “mini periscope.”

While the Re might look like it’s intended for use in really, really small submarines, it is, in fact, a camera specially designed to get the smartphone “out of the way” when taking photos and videos.

Specific to the design, the company made the decision to do away with a preview screen in its first ever camera to encourage users to stop experiencing life’s photo-worthy moments through the screen of a smartphone. 

In terms of specs, the superbly-light Re gets by with a relatively small battery due to the fact that there’s no display screen — just 810 milliamp-hours are needed to record 1.5 hours of video or shooting 1,000 still photos at full, 16-megapixel resolution.

There are only two buttons on the Re. The silver button on the back is the capture button — press once to capture a photo, and hold down to record video. Whenever this button is pressed, an audible cue sounds off so the user knows when it’s in use. 

The other button is located on the front of the Re and lets the user switch in and out of slow-motion mode. Below it is a status LED that gives warning about battery life and mode selection. 

All images and video are saved to the device’s microSD card, and the camera comes with an 8-GB card as well. The lens is scratch-proof, and the entire device is encased in a shell that is waterproof up to 1 meter underwater.

That covers all of the basic specs. The obvious question with Re is how can the device possibly be useful for capturing photos and videos if the user cannot preview it? Well, the answer is that it has an extremely wide-angle lens — one that is able to capture images within a 146-degree field of view. 

In terms of sharpness, the camera automatically focuses by zeroing in on the closest object.

But if the user really wants to see the images as they’re captured, there’s a companion app that the Re works with that lets the user see the video and pictures as they’re taken and adjust the device’s settings. Re pairs with Bluetooth, but relays all media via Wi-Fi Direct. 

Also worth noting is that Re does not come with an “on” switch. Instead, HTC built a capacitive layer in to the handle of the camera so that when the user touches it, it immediately comes out of standby mode. It’ll also come alive when the user presses the capture button. 

If you’re without a smartphone, don’t fret — you can still capture your photos and videos with the Re, and simply offload them later on. 

The Re will retail for $199 and come in four colors from various retailers, including Best Buy, T-Mobile, and AT&T. 

Via Mashable