Home » Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom announced, our thoughts

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom announced, our thoughts

GALAXY S4 zoom(Key Visual)

 

There were rumours, and a Russian website had gone as far as publishing a full review of the device even before it had been made official. Anyway, Samsung have now announced the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, another addition to the Galaxy range, which also carries the S4 mark!

So, what is it? It is a smartphone packed into a phone, much like the Galaxy Camera we saw last year. Here are some of the features that stand out, and we like:

  • Favourite feature? A dedicated shutter button! There aren’t enough devices out there that have this. 
  • 10x Optical zoom
  • 16 MP CMOS sensor
  • Optical Image stabilization
  • Xenon Flash
  • Zoom ring to control zoom
  • Zoom ring can be used to activate Quick Launch and Shortcut features, for example, taking a photo during a phone call.
  • The zoom control also allows you to adjust other features.
  • Running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, with TouchWiz on top
  • Available in the UK this summer

GALAXY S4 zoom (6)

Specs: 

  • 4G compatible
  • 1.5GHz Dual Core processor
  • 4.3″ screen with 960 x 540 pixels
  • 8GB memory with microSD expansion
  • Battery: 2330 mAH
  • 125.5 x 63.5 x 15.4 mm
  • 208 gm

Camera:

The main camera features the following specs:

  • 16 MP
  • 10x Optical Zoom
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 24-240mm, F3.1-F6.3
  • ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
  • Continuous shot: 4fps
  • Xenon Flash
  • Smart Mode, with Expert Modes available (P/S/M/C)

GALAXY S4 zoom (8)Our thoughts:

  • We definitely like the idea of having a great camera in our pockets, combined with a smart phone. In fact, we’d even take a dumb phone with a camera packed into it!
  • Particularly like the fact that the camera allows a Manual mode
  • A wide range of zoom and aperture available
  • Fairly decent camera speed
  • The weight itself is quite decent too
  • The main concern is, how will it fit in my jeans pockets. That is a question that can only be answered once I have had a play with, which I am quite keen to do
  • Wondering if Samsung have missed a trick there by not including a better HD screen on the phone. Having a good screen always helps make a camera look better to people, regardless of what the pictures look like on a different screen or paper.

 

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3 thoughts on “Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom announced, our thoughts

  1. This just looks like some terrible photoshopped joke to me. In my experience, people want quick and easy cameras on their phones for simple snaps. If they want anything fancier, then they will tend to buy a higher grade separate camera. Having a complex camera on a smartphone will defeat the point of being able to quickly whip your phone out to take that spur of the moment picture.

    This phone/camera (which is it?!) misses the point, and I personally don’t think it will prove to be very successful with consumers.

  2. I agree on some levels, but on other levels the geek in me wants to see what this can achieve. Sony, under the Sony Ericsson partnership tried this in the past, and while it worked for a short period, the smart phones left it behind. Samsung themselves tried last year with the Galaxy Camera, which, while it sold a few units, didn’t quite revolutionize the world of cameras.
    On the other hand, most cameras are also adding features such as WiFi and sharing in them as well, so it is all merging. What stops someone like Nikon or Canon to add a SIM to their DSLRs,with say a Bluetooth headset?
    Guess we’ll see what happens when it hits the market. Moreover, a lot depends on the price point.

  3. It’s AWFUL! I’m with Jonny, a good phone with a half decent camera for general shots and a mid-range camera for more important photos. Most people Instagram (or similar) their phone shots anyway – I can just see idiots taking a photo on this and then adding filters… Sigh

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