Look what Nokia started...not too long ago Nikon announced the first android-based camera, but now Samsung has just announced the Galaxy Camera, a modified version of their popular Galaxy SIII phone. Like the Nokia 808 Pureview that we reviewed not too long ago, the Galaxy Camera will be a true point-and-shoot camera/phone hybrid.
The specs as of now: 16MP 1/2.33" BSI (backside illumination) CMOS sensor, f/2.8-5.9, 23mm lens wit 21x optical zoom, ISO range up to 3200, edge-to-edge 4.8" HD LCD touchscreen (Super Clear LCD), pop-up xenon flash, 10 Smart Pro modes, 1.4GHz quad-core processor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Samsung's Touchwiz skin, Wi-Fi capability, as well as 3G and 4G as for optional wireless connectivity. It's basically a modern point-and-shoot with a Galaxy SIII slapped on the back of it...kind of looks like it too.
The initial response to the Galaxy Camera seems pretty favorable. People are excited about hybrid cameras because wireless connectivity is the next big thing. The average consumer needs a speedier workflow from camera to the web and with optional 3G or 4G connectivity, this means you can share photos without the restraint of WiFi. Thanks to it's 16 MP sensor image quality is going to be noticeably better than what you're going to get out of your phone. The fast processor doubled with the Jelly Bean OS means you'll have access to all the creative apps that Google Play has to offer.
Those that got to play around with the test models seem to have an issue with it's size...it's pretty clunky for a compact camera. Ergonomics-wise, the need for an awkward protruding grip is a little more convenient than trying to compose with a bulky camera phone. Rather than using the SIII's super AMOLED, the Galaxy Camera will have The Super Clear LCD touchscreen. While not as stunning, it's probably more practical in terms of glare. Strangely, it's only going to take microSD cards, but I guess they're hoping that it's users will make good use of cloud storage.
Some are asking why Samsung would opt for a 21x zoom rather than a larger sensor. It's no secret that a zoom like that on such a small sensor is almost useless before it's plagued by the least amount of shake. Another thing that isn't necessarily wowing people is the Touchwiz interface...some find it to be a little obtrusive and sluggish compared to vanilla Jellybean. This just means that the mod community will be busy creating custom roms to root their camera as soon as it's released. Lastly, battery life is most likely going to be a big issue here. They've stated that it will have a seven hour battery life, which is kind of disappointing. If the Galaxy Camera is geared towards being only device in your pocket, you better make sure you have an outlet handy. That's the price you pay for constant connectivity and a power-hungry processor!
The Galaxy Camera should be going on sale this October and despite it's initial criticism, it will probably do well if it's anything like the Galaxy S III. As far as the "camera, reborn." We'll have to see about that...
Click more to see the full press release.
Samsung presents 'Camera, Reborn.' – the GALAXY Camera
The new device combines leading-edge camera capabilities with Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean and wireless network connectivity, letting users shoot, edit and share images easily anywhere, at any time
BERLIN, Germany – August 29, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, has today announced the launch of the GALAXY Camera. Developed to fit the changing ways we communicate, the GALAXY Camera combines high performance photography with the latest Android™ 4.1 platform, so called Jelly Bean, and wireless network connectivity, creating a brand new type of device. Samsung GALAXY Camera fits perfectly for those who wish to shoot, edit and share high quality photographs and video easily and spontaneously from anywhere, at any time.
"The GALAXY Camera opens a new visual communication era and shifts a paradigm in communication. With the growth of social networks and the prevalence of smartphones and tablets, people today communicate faster than words. As we increasingly articulate our experiences through pictures and videos the GALAXY Camera has been created to lead the way in this new era of visual communication. Communication becomes more vivid and lively with high-quality images and instant sharing anywhere, anytime," said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.
Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile and Digital Content at Google, congratulated the Samsung team on their launch. "When we first started work on Android, we envisioned building a smart camera that would take digital photography to the next level. The GALAXY Camera is an innovative product that speaks to the openness and flexibility of the Android platform."
The GALAXY Camera makes outstanding photography on the go. Users never again have to sacrifice picture quality if they want to edit and share their photos instantly. It easily outperforms any smartphone camera. The GALAXY Camera, boasting a 21x super long zoom lens and a super-bright 16M BSI CMOS sensor, delivers pictures in brilliant quality. The device also features 'Smart Pro' technology, a series of modes that make professional-looking photography easy for anyone to achieve. What truly revolutionizes this photography experience is Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean and wireless connectivity, which opens up the device to applications for photo-editing, sharing, and much more. Users will experience all of GALAXY Camera's great features on a market-leading HD Super Clear LCD. With stunning clarity, incredible ease-of-use and unparalleled connectivity, the GALAXY Camera is the next step in imaging innovation.
Shoot stunning quality images The GALAXY Camera's 'Smart Pro' feature makes it easy to recreate advanced photographic setups in just a few simple steps for stunning artistic results. Using the easy-to-navigate menu system, users can choose from a series of preset scenario options which will automatically adjust the camera's settings in order to capture the perfect photo. For example, the 'Rich Tone' setting delivers images with greater intensity – particularly effective for reducing overexposure in bright surroundings, while the 'Light Trace' setting automatically controls shutter speed for atmospheric night scenes full of light trails.
The GALAXY Camera's 21x optical zoom can be controlled by either button or touchscreen, rendering long-distance pictures in a quality that users will be proud to share, while OIS ensures that images stay clear and crisp. The camera's 16 Megapixel 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor captures images in brilliant color and resolution, while the 23mm aperture lens delivers impressive wide-angle shots incomparable to smartphone pictures.
Enjoy your photos and video on a world-leading display The GALAXY Camera boasts large and vivid enough camera display - a 4.8"(121.2mm) HD Super Clear LCD screen, which makes it a pleasure to shoot, share and edit images from the palm of the hand. Another advantage of smartphone technology is the Voice Control option which allows the user to control a number of functions such as 'Zoom in' and 'Shoot' through voice. All these features are housed in a beautifully designed, ergonomic body with the GALAXY Camera's minimal, organic design complementing its easy-to-use professional features.
Edit and perfect images on your device The GALAXY Camera includes a comprehensive set of 35 powerful photo editing features through the 'Photo Wizard', allowing users to make professional quality edits on the go. The new features take advantage of the ultrafast quad-core processor and HD Super Clear LCD, giving access to a feature like Auto Face Calibration so edits can be made in precise detail and with ease. The 'Movie Wizard' also allows users to create and edit expert-quality videos easily from the touch screen.
The GALAXY Camera also features 'Smart Content Manager', an innovative on-device organization tool which intelligently creates folders, tags faces, and even suggests which pictures to delete when they don't come out as desired. Thanks to the combination of wireless connectivity and Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, the internet capabilities of the GALAXY Camera are equal to those of the latest smartphone so that users can get even more enjoyment out of their device. In addition to the pre-installed applications from Samsung, users can browse the web and enjoy any applications from Google Play or Samsung Apps stores. If users are not sure which app to download, 'S Suggest' will help them recommend a new photo editing app or fun game to download.
Share your images anywhere, anytime The camera's convenient 'Auto Cloud Backup' feature will automatically save precious photos into the cloud via Samsung's AllShare the instant they are taken. The GALAXY Camera also allows users to share photos at the same time as they shoot them with 'Share Shot.' As well as sharing to social networks and cloud services, users can also connect to a range of GALAXY devices including the GALAXY SIII and GALAXY Note II for effortless and automatic sharing of pictures across the GALAXY family. The new device enables connection to 3G or 4G, allowing photo sharing and browsing anywhere. The GALAXY Camera also functions on Wi-Fi with Dual Band and Channel Bonding for extra speed. Connectivity is supported by a quad-core processor that enables fast web-browsing and multi-tasking, as well as high-speed image processing without a significant impact on battery life.
The GALAXY Camera comes in two connectivity options: a 3G and Wi-Fi version or a 4G and Wi-Fi version.