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Nov. 30 (NBD) – China's drone maker Dà-Jiāng Innovations Science and Technology Co. Ltd (DJI) announced Thursday the release of a 3-axis stabilized handheld camera Osmo Pocket, attracting much attention from the consumer drones market.

According to Xie Tian, public-relation director at DJI, the Shenzhen-based drone company decided to promote the pocket-sized camera given the growing demand for short videos, technological breakthroughs, as well as development trends in the drone industry.

It means DJI's launch of the new product is an effort leveraging the opportunities in the short video sector since the consumer drones market is not developing as fast as it was two years ago.

In 2016, the consumer drones market enjoyed booming development. Its promising prospects attracted tech giants such as Tencent, Zerotech, Rapoo Technology and Yihang.AI to compete in the consumer drones industry.

However, at the end of 2016, low market demand, constantly decreasing prices, shrinking capital inflow and intensified supervisions over unlicensed drone operations put the consumer drones market in a difficult situation.

Therefore, drone makers like DJI have slowed down their pace in expanding in consumer drones market. Tech giants started to compete in other industries while doing research on drone technologies, an insider from the drone industry said to NBD.

As for the future of the consumer drones industry, Shi Shengqing, Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Zerotech, once predicted small-sized portable drones boast a huge room for development and pocket drones for taking selfies will usher in a new era of consumer drones.

A drone zealot told NBD the success of pocket-sized cameras like DJI's Osmo Pocket will be determined by the demand of both common amateur photographers and drone zealots.

The above-mentioned insider also observed the biggest challenge for drone companies is to improve their public recognition. 

Whether consumer drones will reach a larger number of people will depend on the convenient designs, easy operations and their recognition and acceptability among the potential consumers, the insider added.

Email: wenqiao@nbd.com.cn