Canon is now leaning towards artificial intelligence as they infuse their devices with the said technology. A new robotic camera called the Canon PowerShot PICK can swivel on its own to keep its subjects in view. The smart device also takes commands and it can snap shots on its own.
Canon PowerShot PICK review
The Canon PowerShot PICK is similar to a smart security camera or Facebook's Portal, but the device is meant to be taken anywhere.
The portable smart device is attached to a selfie stick. The body of the PICK camera is the same as the size of a juice box, so it is easy to carry around but it can't be placed in a pocket, however it can be placed inside a bag, according to DPReview.
Canon is hedging its bets by advertising the PICK camera not as a retail product, but through Makuake, the Japanese crowdfunding site, where the camera has already reached its $10,000 goal.
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A promo video for the camera shows the PICK being used in numerous circumstances. The camera recognizes faces and it shoots during a party, it is also shown tracking a person riding a bike around their yard and activating itself on demand in a kitchen and following the person's position.
The idea of the smart camera is fun, it is a device that you can just set down and it automatically snaps candid pictures while you do your thing, it also keeps you in view while you do other activities or while you vlog.
The sensor of PICK is small, it has an old point-and-shoot 1/2.3-inch 12MP, it has an F/2.8 zoom lens and image stabilization that helps out in uneven light.
Canon's AI transition
Back in 2018, Canon released one of their first AI device Canon 470EX-AI. This device is the company's pivot towards the AI technology as they slowly move away from traditional photography.
The camera market has been affected since Android phones and iPhones thrived in mobile photography. According to Flickr, iPhone left Canon miles behind in the market. Smartphone camera accounted for 50% of all the pictures uploaded to Flickr in 2017 alone.
So why are they embracing AI? AI in newer versions for smartphones recognize images and process the images like data. When taking a picture, the smartphone identifies the subject being photographed and focuses on them.
A correction filter is added, thus showing high-quality images. AI can also compensate for low-resolution images. If the picture that is being viewed on the camera is of a lower resolution, AI also identifies the pixels which are missing. This adjustment allows a better quality full-display image.
Canon has now joined the current trend of AI-powered smartphones. The company has emphasized that they would now focus on making cameras that would create amazing shots for their younger consumers.
Canon started with AI devices in 2015, introduced more AI-infused cameras in 2018 and now are focusing on AI devices.
The camera market has caught on to numerous trends like WiFi support, smarter chips, fast speed, smart functions and high-quality performance.
According to Canon, smartphones nowadays are giving them a push to create new and fresh ideas for cameras.
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Written by Sieeka Khan
