Etisalat Unveils the Samsung Galaxy Camera (Rs. 70,000 - 80,000)

Smartphones are Swiss Army Knives of our digital lives, and that suits most of us just fine. However, when it comes to the camera, high quality requires specialization and smartphones still fall short. Cameras have a world unto themselves where size still matters, which is also why it is currently difficult to integrate an above-average camera into a standard smartphone.

To get around the problem of smartphone Vs. (above average) camera, Samsung has devoted its energy into creating an amazing “smart camera”: it features the same advanced interface and features (Android 4.1 OS) found in the latest generation of smartphones. The only difference is that the interface is built around a camera and not a phone. Hence, the Galaxy Camera promises to set the standard for digital cameras in the industry.

Design and hardware

The Samsung Galaxy Camera boasts a 4.8” Super Clear LCD capacitive touchscreen (~306 PPI) on the back. While this isn’t the most compact camera in the world, it certainly feels like a premium device. The attention-grabbing feature here is the 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor.  This is complimented with a  4.1-86.1mm f/2.8-5.9 lens, which provides a 21x optical zoom with a focal length that is roughly the same as a 23-483mm lens in the context of 35mm.

Underneath the hood, the Galaxy Camera features a Quad core 1.4 GHz processor and 1GB RAM. Powering this monster is a 1650 mAh battery, which is quite reasonable especially when you consider the fact that the device doesn’t have to deal with power hungry network communication hardware found in smartphones. It also features 4GB internal storage and an external storage option that allows users to upgrade to 64GB via a micro-SD card.

Users can use both Wi-Fi or 3G to stay connected. Additionally, the Galaxy Camera also features all the standard sensors you would expect of a standard smartphone including GPS but also features a micro HDMI port and a micro USB port to connect directly to other systems. A 3.5mm headjack is a welcome addition to the system, which allows users to access more apps and expand functionality.

The Camera

Apart from pictures, users can also record 90 minutes of HD(1080p) videos. The Galaxy Camera also allows for up to 34 hours of audio playback. Pictures are stored in JPEG but it does support multiple audio and video formats.

Despite the photographic jargon, Samsung has gone to great lengths to accomodate amatuer photographers such as myself. The Galaxy Camera features three primary options : Auto, Smart, and Expert. Auto, is primarily designed for the most basic type of user. Smart features 15 scene modes for more advanced users while Expert allows users to tinker with virtually every element of the camera -aperture priority, shutter priority,etc.

Interface and Apps

Loaded with Android 4.1, the Galaxy Camera allows users to access virtually every app on the Android Market. While it does include standard photo editing apps, users can also download their favourite apps including Instagram, Paper Camera, etc. Another important feature of the Android experience is the sharing ability.

Users can directly upload pictures to their favourite social networking sites, cloud storage systems or send to friends and family. Sharing a side, users can also make good use of communication apps such as FB messenger, WhatsApp and Skype to enhance connectivity. While apps like Skype won’t provide an alternative to a phone-experience, they are good enough for basic communication.

Apart from capturing photos, you can also record 90 minutes HD (1080p) videos. The android device supports popular video and audio formats and offers up to 34 hours of audio playback

Verdict

Ultimately the Samsung Galaxy Camera represents a fine combination of stand alone camera with a smartphone interface. This combination makes the device extremely attractive to users who want a photographic experience that is between a smartphone and a high-end DSLR or CSC. However, at around Rs.70,000 this doesn’t come cheap either and rivals expensive smartphones. Nevertheless, this is supposed to function as a primary camera (for most amateurs) and in that sense it might seem like a worthy investment.

Etisalat

The Samsung Galaxy Camera will soon be available with Etisalat. Users will be able to choose from a wide range of Etisalat’s existing data plans.

By Navam Niles