Dubai: The camera market is undergoing a change and mirrorless cameras are taking the share of entry-segment compact cameras and mid-DSLR segment, Denzil D’Souza, business head of mobility sales group at Samsung Gulf Electronics, told Gulf News.
DSLR cameras use mirrors to reflect the image passing through the lens, which can be seen through the viewfinder. By eliminating the mirrors, the cameras become light and compact.
Mirrorless cameras sit between a compact camera and a DSLR. The DSLR is huge and bulky but a mirrorless camera is light as a compact camera and as powerful as a DSLR.
He said the mirrorless segment is booming by itself and it has grown 118 per cent in the UAE in volume terms this year as at September compared to the same period last year. According to research firm GfK, the value has grown 87 per cent, almost double compared to last year.
“People are adapting to newer technologies and we have been investing since 2010. We are seeing the results now,” he said after unveiling its high end NX1 smart camera.
Frames per second
It is powered by Samsung’s home-grown quad-core DRIMe processor with a large 28.2MP BSI APS-C CMOS Sensor capable of shooting at 15 frames per second, the world’s fastest. It runs on the Tizen operating system.
The top DSLR models — Canon EOS 1D Mark 111 and Nikon’s D4 — are capable of shooting only 10 frames per second.
The built-in Wi-FI and Bluetooth camera has a new autofocus system (NX AF System III) with 205 phase detection points that covers more than 90 per cent of the frame and 209 contrast detection points.
For use in lowlight, D’Souza said the ISO range can be expanded from 100 to 51,200.
The magnesium body is enhanced by a dust and splash-proof feature. It is priced at Dh5,499 for the body alone and can go up to Dh10,399 with the lenses.
“Professional photography has to move from a professional to a common man. With many added auto settings, it is able to capture when the bat contacts the ball when playing cricket,” he said.
He said that many professionals are discarding DSLRs due to the bulkiness, and using smartphone cameras. “We have seen a fundamental shift. We have grown almost sixfold when compared to last year and Samsung has a market share of 47 per cent market share in the UAE,” he said.
The camera can shoot videos in 4K UHD (4096 x 2160 resolution) on H.265 (HEVC) codec.
