An AI-Infused camera known as the Alice Camera should be a wake-up call to Canon, Nikon, Sony, and all other camera manufacturers.
It has been a while since a new camera made me tingle. The wait for a camera to do such a thing is over now. A new campaign on Indiegogo from Alice Camera is finally infusing smartphone technology into an interchangeable lens camera (ILC). If the big boys are smart, they will pay attention to this AI-infused camera. While it may not be perfect, the geniuses behind it are certainly moving photography and videography in the right direction. Find out why this new smartphone-powered camera has us in a tizzy after the break.
I have said until I’m blue in the face that the camera industry needs to start adopting smartphone technology. There’s absolutely no reason why, in 2021, we have cameras that still do not feature wireless data connectivity. There’s also no reason why modern cameras shouldn’t have more AI-infused tech elements in them. If a smartphone has processors powerful enough to deliver great AI experiences, then dedicated cameras should have them. Fortunately, one company, Alice Camera, agrees with these statements. In fact, they say that cameras are stuck in the past and that they’re dumb. I have to agree with them. So, they went about creating their own smartphone-powered, AI-infused camera called Alice.
What Is the Alice Camera?
Alice is a M4/3 powered camera that wirelessly syncs with your Android phone or iPhone. The camera can work by itself to some degree, but the magic happens when combined with your phone. The phone you attach basically becomes the LCD and drives the software that powers the camera. Alice uses Micro Four Thirds lenses and a 10.7MP M4/3 sensor to help create pro-level images. The sensor is paired to a couple of processors that help give it some oomph. Alice uses Google’s flagship Neural Network processor. This chip uses deep learning to help improve colors, focusing, low light performance, and more. Then there’s the FGPA chip that focuses solely on providing high quality 4K video processing. The user interface is displayed on the phone. Because your phone is network-connected, you can share images and video to multiple social media platforms. There’s also intelligent object tracking and electronic stabilization too.
It’s Not a New Idea, But It’s Being Done Right
The camera is made from aluminum, and it looks very nice. It reminds me slightly of the Zeiss ZX1. Okay, so the camera needs to be paired with a smartphone to get the most out of it, but still, the Alice camera is a step in the right direction. Camera manufacturers need to look at what Alice Camera is doing. Yes, this is similar to what Olympus had a few years ago, the Olympus AIR A01. However, it failed to take off because Olympus doesn’t know how to market things. As you can see, the video above from Alice Camera does a fine job of showing why we need innovation like this. Personally, I think it’s a brilliant idea. Why the big boys fail to see the importance of having connected cameras is a mystery. My freaking fridge can get online, so why can’t our $4,000+ pro-grade cameras?
You Can Pre-Order Now
The Alice is up for pre-order right now over on Indiegogo. At the time of writing, the campaign has raised $17,061 toward a goal of $27,562. There are still 31 days left to invest in the campaign too. So, it looks like they will easily reach their goal. The Alice can be yours for $758 (£550) if you get in and order early. The estimated shipping date is October 2021.
What do you think about the Alice camera? Do you think Alice Camera is helping push cameras in the right direction? Do you think Sony, Canon, Fujifilm, and others need to be doing more to bring cameras into this century? Let us know in the comment section below. If you’d like more information on the camera, check out the main Alice Camera Indiegogo page.
