In the last few years, digital cameras have become common in public places in Saudi Arabia. Once cameras were incorporated in smartphones, people became used to the idea of taking photos outside the home. Now at shopping malls in Al Khobar, we see youngsters with bulky digital SLRs hung on straps around their necks. Attitudes to photography are changing and so are the devices used to take the shots. Video footage of the Kingdom is common online, but much of it is poor quality. Two new camcorders could offer better views. Canon's LEGRIA mini X is a new creative camcorder that merges Canon's signature video quality with advanced sound and a highly flexible design, making it ideal for almost any kind of video capture – from on-the-scene reporting, documentaries and self-recording, to sharing public events. The LEGRIA mini X delivers great audio thanks to a large built-in stereo microphone that is designed to reduce background noise and static. With its Linear PCM recording functionality, the LEGRIA mini X delivers uncompressed, high-density audio and ensures sound sources are captured in realistic, CD-quality. Compact enough to take anywhere for spontaneous shooting, the device's unique combination of an f/2.8 170° ultra-wide angle lens, built-in stand and vari-angle 6.8cm (2.7”) touchscreen LCD screen makes it easy to capture footage from a range of angles. With the flexibility to record completely hands-free, it enables users to easily participate in their own work. Supporting AVCHD (1080/50i) and MP4 (1080/25p) recording, the LEGRIA mini X harnesses the power of Canon's own advanced DIGIC DV 4 processing platform and a 1/2.3” CMOS sensor to deliver video and stills in vivid quality, with minimal noise, even in low-light conditions. Image stabilization in Close-Up mode also gives users steady handheld shooting and impressive results, whether capturing full HD movies or 12MP ultra-wide stills. Best of all, it's priced at a reasonable £349/€449. The mini X is great for many situations but sometimes ultra-discretion is needed or perhaps it's essential to be totally hands free while on the move. That's when the Panasonic HX-A500 (A500) is really nice. This is the first 4K/30p wearable camera. It features Wi-Fi and NFC to connect to a smartphone and share video instantly. The main unit is separate from the lens unit, which means the lightweight lens can be mounted in one place and the main unit can be somewhere else - like a pocket. That makes it discreet for capturing daily adventures. The A500 is waterproof and dustproof, too, and remember that 4K video is four times the resolution of Full HD for very high quality video capture. It will retail for £380. Finally today, take a look at a camera that offers the ability to change the appearance of an image after the shot is taken. From Lytro comes the Illum light field camera which captures information about the angle from which light has arrived, allowing it to calculate images with different perspective and focus. These images are called, “living pictures.” They bring 3D computer graphics to photography, letting users create pictures that can be endlessly focused and refocused. There's no need to struggle to get the perfect single shot. The Lytro Illum comes with a 4-inch touch screen and playback controls that allow the dimensions of photos to be viewed right on the camera. There's also an 8x zoom. It's priced though at a hefty $1599 and doesn't go on sale until July.
