Cameras are shrinking and TVs are getting bigger

This article was originally published in the issue of AVPlus magazine 5/2023 (#221).

Text Jiri Koivunuemi

In the summer, many manufacturers have announced new cameras and televisions. It’s strange how cameras get smaller and TVs get bigger, and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight for either development.

The smallest action cameras are starting to be the size of a thumb, and yet they still have sufficient image quality and battery life for most uses. Additionally, the accessories available for them make these little wonders truly versatile and attachable to almost any place, allowing you to capture a more diverse range of activities almost anywhere.

However, the small size of the action camera limits the image quality, battery life, and the ability to view the footage captured. However, the modularity of the cameras often provides a solution to this problem. In many cameras, adding additional accessories allows you to get significantly more out of the basic camera. For example, the Insta360 GO 3 released in June has devised a clever battery compartment that also functions as a video display for a camera the size of a thumb.

The DJI Osmo Action 4, released in July, on the other hand, relies on a more traditional design of action cameras, but instead offers over 40 different accessories that allow you to attach the camera to practically anything and capture high-quality video from different angles.

When we look at the development of action cameras, it’s no wonder that they are the only part of the camera market that continues to grow, while the sales of other types of cameras are still shrinking.

It is somehow strange that material filmed with increasingly smaller cameras is viewed on ever larger screens. While a few years ago 55 and 65-inch televisions were considered oversized, now 75 and 85-inch televisions are available to the average consumer at a price well under two tons. At the time of writing, one prominent TV retailer’s range includes 85-inch televisions in 29 different models, with a price range that ranges from a whopping €1,299 to €1,099.

Real TVs, those over 98 inches and larger, are still rare, but not as rare as one might imagine.

Fortunately, size alone no longer has an impact. As a player, my greatest personal interest was sparked this summer when LG released a 42-inch TV that also transforms into a curved gaming display. The LG OLED Flex transforms from a regular flat screen to a 900R curvature with just the press of a button, and even in increments of 20 curved levels. Although the price tag of three grand is still steep, I believe these hybrids will quickly increase their popularity among TV dual-users.

Action cams are likely to become even more necessary when you consider what content you can watch from your big-screen TV. Subscription services are constantly increasing in price, and regular TV channels are increasingly showing repeats of reruns. In my childhood, I watched English Premier League football for free for one match a week. Now there would be much more to watch than the time available, but the price of watching is already nearly a hundred euros a year. That's a lot!