By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
HTC, maker of Android and Windows smartphones and tablets, recently decided to make a camera and they called it RE.
RE is unique as a camera because it doesn’t have a viewfinder or a screen, which means you can’t really see what you’re shooting or pointing at unless you use the companion app which works on iPhones and Android devices. HTC's RE is available at Staples Canada for $199.55.
RE is also different in the sense that it is designed to be a social camera, something you carry or wear and employ whenever the opportunity arises. RE also takes widescreen HD videos as well as 16 megapixel stills although it is a fixed focus camera which means that results will vary depending on usage.
I was at first confused as to where and when to use the device. The camera in my iPhone 6 Plus is arguably much better, it takes pictures and video with quality and results that are very predictable, I can point on any part of the screen and it will automatically focus on that.
I did realize though, that there were times when the RE made a less conspicuous camera. Checking out neat items at an antique store and not wanting to look like a goofy tourist, I used the RE to snap photos in the general direction of some cool items.
I made good use of the RE at CES 2015 where tight conditions made it difficult to use a larger video camera. The RE shot decent video with OK sound inside the convetion centre space and it was easy to offload photos to my Nexus 6 for posting online.
I even considered making the RE a permanent addition to my reporter's toolkit since it is so portable but not being able to find accessories or mounts for it in Canada or even in many places I visited in the US made me reconsider and decide to buy a GoPro instead.
RE’s functionality is very straightforward. It has one shutter button which you can click quickly for a picture or press for a longer time to start a video. Another button at the front of this periscope-like device triggers the slow-motion function.
I wore the RE around my neck using a lanyard, it sleeps when it is not being used but once you pick it up, it senses your hand and is ready to be used. Aside from a few lights, there are some sound effects which are the only cues to let you know what is going on.
Everything else happens using the companion Android or iOS app. It is the app that you can use to review photos and video, select and send to your phone and you can also use the app as a remote viewfinder for the RE plus set up time-lapse recording.
The HTC RE comes with 8GB of storage, which is expandable if you want to replace the microSD card. A 820 mAh battery is rated for 1,000 photos on a full charge or around an hour of video recording. While shooting the above time-lapse video, the battery fizzled out in around an hour and a half, enough to generate a 10 second file. I have great respect for photographers and videographers who create time lapse videos, it's a lot of work.
To integrate with the app, you need to dedicate both Bluetooth and WiFi access to the RE camera. I can’t understand why it won’t work with just one of these. 
I am also worried that the camera’s lens, which is exposed at all times and which doesn’t have a cover or any protection, will be susceptible to scratches or cracks. Even a small plastic lens cap would have sufficed to ensure protection.
The RE does have a lot of notable features. It has some action cam DNA and can be wet and even dunked in water. it has a built in tripod connector which makes it all the easier to set it up as a remote camera, spy cam or to ensure the best possible vantage point for a time-lapse recording.
HTC will sell various GoPro type accessories to extend the use of the RE. This includes a variety of connectors, mounts and a charging stand. The result will be enabling hands free use of the RE in various conditions. As I mentioned earlier, these don't seem to be available in Canada yet.
Personally, I think the RE can be a valid device for recording events and providing interesting POV (Point of View) footage. It’s 146’ range can cover quite a lot of information and an almost panoramic viewing area. It would be interesting to see RE applied to live music events as well as large trade shows or keynotes.
HTC is clear in saying that RE is a companion device and not a replacement for a camera. During the New York launch of the RE, various case studies were given where one couldn’t or should’t use their smartphone cameras and where the RE would fit in nicely.
The question is, do these case studies and use cases justify the RE’s $199 price tag?
That really depends on how much someone plans to use the device and whether the limitations outweigh the positives.
The RE’s advantage is that it is extremely portable, it doesn’t look like any camera we’ve seen before (more like a pipe or a medical instrument) and it’s invariably super easy to use.
Since one end of the experience is the software, it is possible that HTC plans to improve the experience and image and video quality through updates (or enable a way to use it directly with a Mac or a PC, which would be great).
As someone who enjoys shooting pictures and video and, which has to do both as part of my job, I know the RE isn’t a replacement for my trusty Olympus, Fujifilm or Sony cameras, I’d never replace my iPhone’s camera with the RE, but I would consider whipping RE out in instances where a short video or a few photos can help tell a story better.
RE is supposed to be available via Staples Canada but I've checked their website and can't seem to find it there. No carriers or other stores seem to be carrying it either, so it's pretty confusing as to where this camera can be found (meanwhile competitor cameras are littering Best Buy and Future Shop).
I just don't know how this product will resonate with consumers who may be satisfied by what they already have with their smartphones. Let's face it, the 'Ultrapixel' cameras on the HTC One M8 and M7 aren't spectacular, how will you convince consumers that a standalone camera from the same company as those shooters is worth their time? Either way, there's really nothing quite like the HTC RE in the Canadian market.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5