CAMERA

Samsung Galaxy Camera - The Future Of Digital Photography (Part 2)

4/20/2013 9:17:00 AM

The sheer size of the touchscreen on the rear of the Galaxy Camera strikes you the second you pick it up. At 4.8in, it’s the very same as that found on Samsung’s acclaimed Galaxy S3 smartphone and on the whole it offers much the same high-level performance. The capacitive touchscreen technology offers quick operation of the device, as well as the camera functionality; as you’d expect for a device driven by a touchscreen, the Galaxy Camera offers touch focus control as well as a touch shutter alternative to the physical button.

One slight drawback with the screen is its aspect ratio. While the 16:9 format is perfect for capturing HD video and watching video content, it doesn’t match the sensor size. As a result, if you wish to shoot full 16MP stills you’re presented with black tramlines down the sides of the image.

While the 16:9 format is perfect for capturing HD video and watching video content, it doesn’t match the sensor size.

While the 16:9 format is perfect for capturing HD video and watching video content, it doesn’t match the sensor size.

It’s worth noting that this wide array of advanced technology does present certain issues. The large LCD screen, GPS and 3G technology are all notorious culprits when it comes to draining battery life and this is once again the case with the Samsung Galaxy Camera. If you are using any of the elements independently the battery life isn’t too bad - however as soon as you start to use the Galaxy Camera to the full extent of its capabilities then the battery life quickly depletes.

When you consider the number of varying technologies the Galaxy Camera combines - essentially the splicing together of smartphone and smart camera - you have to say that operational speeds are reasonably prompt. The camera functionality can be accessed through either the physical shutter button on the top of the camera or by pressing on the camera app button and either of those two processes will have the camera up and running in a matter of seconds.

This full-blooded Android interface and 3G technology are a real benefit to have on the camera. While it does allow for the dalliances associated with smartphone usage, such as playing Angry Birds or Cut the Rope, it really does add another dimension to digital photography.

Image quality

Tone And Exposure

Images display a good balance between shadow and highlight detail on the whole, and as a result images display an even tone. There is a fairly regular tendency to underexpose, although owing to the fact that detail is sometimes lost in highlights this isn't the end of the world.

White Balance And Color

While color is generally accurate, erring towards the more vivid end of the spectrum, the same cannot be said of the Galaxy Camera's white balance performance. Results can vary greatly in a host of different lighting conditions - images captured in artificial light swing from warm to cold, and even in good natural light there is a lack of consistency. Thanks to the advanced shooting features it is possible to set the manual white balance manually, and this is the preferred option.

Sharpness And Detail

Whenever a large optical zoom is placed into a body as slim as that found on the Samsung Galaxy Camera, worries are going to arise over the sharpness of images. When viewed on the ample LCD screen, images appear sharp enough for the casual user, although softening is apparent on closer inspection.

Whenever a large optical zoom is placed into a body as slim as that found on the Samsung Galaxy Camera, worries are going to arise over the sharpness of images.

Whenever a large optical zoom is placed into a body as slim as that found on the Samsung Galaxy Camera, worries are going to arise over the sharpness of images.

ISO Quality

On the whole the Galaxy Camera controls noise reasonably well and certainly better than the majority of smartphones. Images do suffer from fairly aggressive noise reduction, and above ISO 400 this creates some real issues with sharpness. At ISO 800 and above fine detail is smudged and difficult to decipher, although if you're not looking to make large enlargements with your prints these settings remain usable.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Camera is an impressive combination of technology. As far as features go it's as well specified as any on the market, with the only real missing feature being Raw capture for advanced shooters. It's also well designed, with the main focus of operation rightly devoted to the stunning touchscreen on the model’s rear. However, it's not a camera without its faults - the burden that the ample touchscreen places on the battery means that you’ll need to be packing one or two spares for a full day's shooting and usage. There’s also the fact that image quality, though much better and more versatile than your average smartphone, stumbles in a host of areas. Putting these faults aside, Samsung must be applauded for leading the way in the digital camera market and launching a device that generally impresses. If the Galaxy Camera is anything to go by, it certainly won’t be the last 3G-enabled digital camera.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera is an impressive combination of technology.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera is an impressive combination of technology.

Specifications

§  SENSOR: BSI CMOS 1/2.3in, Addrox. 16.3MP

§  OUTPUT SIZE: 4608 x 3456dx

§  FILE FORMATS: JPEG. AVI. MP4

§  COMPRESSION: Normal. Fine. Super fine

§  SHUTTER SPEEDS: 16 - 1/2000 sec

§  IMAGE STABILISATION: Optical Image Stabilisation

§  ISO: 100 - 3200

§  EXPOSURE MODES : Auto. Smart. PASM

§  METERING SYSTEM: Multi, Spot, Centre-weighted, Face Detection AE

§  DRIVE MODE : Sinale, Continuos (10fps)

§  MOVIE MODE: 1920 x 1080d, 30fDS

§  DISPLAY: 4.8in HD Super Clear touchscreen LCD

§  VIEWFINDE: No

§  FOCUSING MODES: TTL Auto - Centre AF. Multi AF, Face Detection AF

§  MEMORY CARD: Micro SD, 3.87GB internal

§  CONNECTIVIT: YGSM 3G, HSPA+, Wi-Fi Bluetooth, HDMI, Micro USB

§  WEIGHT: 300g

§  DIMENSIONS: 128.7 x 70.8 x 19.1mm

PROS

§  Superb touchscreen

§  Seamless connectivity

§  Large focal range

§  Intuitive operation

CONS

§  Poor battery life

§  White balance issues

§  Concerns over lens fringing

§  Would benefit from i-Fn tec

 

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