COMPARISION: These miniature gadgets are almost the same size as 2 AA-batteries.
DANGEROUS: SpyPen, which is now easily available online, can be used as a video and audio recording device.
MIRI: Forget about DSLR or digital compact cameras, technology inventors have now gone as far as creatively inventing a coin-sized camera that looks like a toy, but functions like the real McCoy.
Out of curiosity, The Borneo Post took a closer look at the latest gadget that is much sought after by many camera enthusiasts and collectors – the miniature camera appears to be more useful beyond our imagination.
Complete with capability of capturing both video and photos in AVI and JPEG format which can be saved to a microSD card, and even flash and voice recording, it is surely something for collectors to ‘toy around’ out of boredom.
A search on Google found that the miniature camera was first introduced by Thanko, a Japanese company, in mid-May this year. The tiny camera is already available on the market for 5,980 yen or approximately RM193.
Meanwhile, other similar miniature gadgets that The Borneo Post could get their hands on were the SpyPen and Mini Video Camcorder, also complete with multiple functions like video and audio recording, a strobe flash when darkness is detected and USB port to transfer folders to the computer.
A quick search on the internet also showed that these gadgets could easily be purchased from online shopping portals like Amazon.com, eBay and China’s most popular shopping website, TaoBao.
Brian Ng, a photographer by profession, told The Borneo Post that these gadgets could be hazardous rather than beneficial.
“I would not agree that such gadget is compatible in taking good quality photo. DSLR camera, for instance, requires specific lens and sensor in order to produce such a perfect shot. I can safely say that not even a smart phone with high megapixel can achieve this.
“If these gadgets can do the job, I believe many camera manufacturing companies will face new competitors,” he said.
“Moreover, society should worry about criminals misusing gadgets like a surveillance camera, to spy on someone for certain benefit,” he stressed.
Nicholas Sia, a freelance photographer, agreed with Ng, saying with these spy cameras people, especially women, should be more worried when on the street.
“Even if these gadgets were invented with good intention, they would certainly be misused by people with bad intention and by the time it happens, it would create a bigger social problem,” he said
Undeniably, technology advances had brought development to human race, but perhaps the government should put a control so that we can live in peace,” he said.