There’s no doubt smartphones are steadily eating into conventional camera’s market share and there are many reasons for that. Smartphone cameras are convenient to use, one can snap anything and everything with them as well as fiddle with the images on the
device itself using photo editing apps. People can also upload the images they shoot with their phone directly to photo sharing sites such as Instagram, as well as share them with their friends.
Faced with tough competition, camera makers are innovating and incorporating new technology in their devices to attract consumers. Take for instance, STK India which has debuted its first action camera, called Explorer Camera, designed not only to endure the extreme outdoor conditions of any adventure but to also capture all the fun and thrills.
The STK Explorer, priced at R12,499, is a go-anywhere, rugged, compact, waterproof camera complete with 19 accessories. It is high on specs and is best suited for an active lifestyle. From everyday life to those hair raising memories, this STK imaging device will record your favourite memories.
Out of the box, the Explorer will somewhat surprise you with its design and appearance. One, it doesn’t resemble a conventional camera; if I may take the liberty to describe it, the STK device has the appearance of a matchbox. Two, the 19 accessories that come along with it will deter you to some extent and make you wonder that this unit is a complicated piece of hardware and difficult to use.
Take my word, setting up the STK Explorer as well as using it is a breeze. It comes packed ready for action and adventure with a waterproof case, bike mount, helmet mount and more. The Explorer doesn’t have any built-in memory, thus a Micro SD memory card of up to 32 GB (not included) should be used to record videos and photographs. SD cards are great as they can be removed and plugged straight into a memory card reader, which many laptops and smart devices now come with. They can also be replaced with a spare on the go if they run out of memory.
Weighing just 58gm including the battery, the compact STK Explorer records detail packed Full HD video whether you are hiking, biking, surfing, or skydiving. Its rugged body fits into pockets for easy carrying. Body wise, the Explorer is as tough and durable as it gets. It comes with a tough waterproof case for use underwater. The case is water resistant up to 30m so you can record your adventures and then relive all your action packed moments again and again. On its image capturing abilities, the Explorer is a 12 MP camera, which will capture the minutest detail. With a 170 degree wide angle lens, you can capture even more detail while maintaining picture perfect focus.
In addition, the STK camera allows you to capture great photo opportunities before they are gone. A 6G lens will give you the perfect shot every time. With the Burst mode capturing 3 photos in 1.5 seconds you will never miss a moment and Time Lapse will capture a series of photos at set intervals.
Moreover, the camera will capture your memories in crystal clear, high definition. From muddy bike tracks to tropical lagoons, STK Explorer captures those once-in-a-lifetime experiences with fantastic Full HD video and detail packed photos. In short, everything you see is more vivid with 1080P which makes colours brighter.
After shooting, you can connect the Explorer to your smartphone via Wi-Fi and transfer and share your pictures and videos instantly with the mobile app. I downloaded this free app on my phone and surprisingly, this app will turn your smartphone into viewfinder to watch recorded action or live streams from the camera as well as making it a fully-functional remote control enabling you to start and stop video recording and take photos via your device. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?
Moving on to the contraption, there are a variety of mounting options available, and getting started is easy. The handle bar mount easily secures the Explorer to handlebars, poles and more, while the helmet mount will fix the camera to any helmet. The Explorer camera has a 900mAh battery with 90 minutes standby. With a full range of features including mounts, clips, waterproof case, and a storage case to keep everything in the explorer camera will add fun to all of your recording allowing you to capture the incredible.
My takeaways: if you are an avid photographer who likes to click at the spur of the moment, then you’ll love the STK Explorer. It is easy to use, captures sharp images and videos, and above all, will keep up with your adventurous life.
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 59.3 x 29.3 x 41.1 mm
(L x W x H)
Display: 1.5-inch LCD screen
Lens: 170 degree wide angle lens
Camera: 12 MP (4000 x 3000), 1080p HD video
Shooting modes: Single, Burst, Timelapse
MicroSD slot: Upto 32 GB
Battery: 900mAh
Estimated street price: R12,499
