Review Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom: Smartphone or compact camera? - ZDNet.nl

Samsung has a great advantage: the piggy bank is large enough to experiment and to let in the hope that something sticks gadgets loose on the market. The Galaxy S4 Zoom looks exactly such an experiment. The device allows a cross between a smartphone and a compact camera, and want to combine the best of both worlds. But also allows for a user-friendly device?

Is it a smartphone?

As the name suggests, the Galaxy S4 Zoom a variant of the Galaxy S4, Samsung’s flagship smartphone that we have discussed here. expanded

Both devices run on the same software – based on Android 4.2.2 – and look along the front almost the same, but any comparison stops there. Regarding specifications, the S4 Zoom clearly accountable to its bigger brother.

To make the differences clear I put the main specifications for both devices in the table below together.

Specifications tell of course but a half story. Despite the fact that the processor is slower than that of the Galaxy S4, S4, the zoom still a very good device. Multitasking is smooth and apps – the camera app in particular – open quickly. Only the Gallery app works on my test unit is not always smooth. The 2330 mAh battery lasts like most smartphones about a day on a battery charge.

The biggest problem with the Galaxy S4 Zoom and smartphone are not the specifications of the software, but the size and weight of the unit. The Galaxy S4 Zoom looks most on a phone and compact camera that were stuck to each other. Especially the zoom lens at the back, the device is much larger in size than the average smartphone. Weighing in at 208 grams it’s also noticeably heavier than most other phones.

That makes the Galaxy S4 Zoom as smartphone rather inconvenient in use. Samsung has done its best, but still feel the S4 Zoom uncomfortable in your hand. Moreover mountain you him not just in your pocket and will not fit into any phone holder or docking station. These are just a few examples of things you still need to consider when purchasing this unit.

Or is it a compact camera?

Actually you can still compare the Galaxy S4 Zoom the best with a compact camera that you can call. also note In that sense, this device is a logical successor to the Galaxy Camera, which was launched last year. Who already had a version of Android on board, but you could not call it.

So let’s take a look at where it’s all about: the camera of the Galaxy S4 Zoom. Who has a BSI CMOS image sensor with 16 megapixels and a 24-240mm zoom lens (10x optical zoom) f/3.1-6.3 and with optical image stabilization. In addition to photos, you can also record videos in Full HD (1080p at 30fps).

Samsung has made every effort to give you the camera app, or device to access as soon as possible whether locked or not. You can create a shortcut to the camera on the unlock screen locations, or you can set the camera app opens after you have unlocked the device. Immediately The phone is already unlocked, you can activate the camera with a twist of the zoom lens or keep.

The interface of the camera app is very intuitive and there is for almost every conceivable situation a separate stand. Blasted the state ‘Food’ for more saturated colors do look more appetizing dishes and can leave you ‘Children’s Recording’ play to pull when taking pictures. Attention of your toddler a sound Other modes optimize the camera for making portraits, landscapes or action shots, or photos in the snow or in the dark. Also macro photos and panoramas are possible.

course you can also choose to simply to “Automatic” to attract or even completely “Manual”. Then you things like white balance, ISO, aperture and shutter speed set at its discretion. Do you want to take pictures in low light and experiment with slower shutter speeds, then fit the Galaxy S4 Zoom easily on a tripod so you still have sharp images.

To assess the quality of the pictures images say more than words of course. In the gallery below why you see some sample photos taken with the Galaxy S4 Zoom in different situations and positions. Those who like some more technical information, click on the photos for an overview of the EXIF ??data.

Especially the quality of the pictures at full zoom and in low light is a pleasant surprise. The Galaxy S4 Zoom offers considerably more freedom of movement than the average smartphone camera and leans more in that respect to a compact camera. Only do you get the S4 Zoom lot more opportunities you already editing, thanks to the countless apps available on the Android Platform.

Speaking shape and size of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom to its disadvantage if you uses it as a smartphone, it is an advantage when you use the device as a camera. Thanks to the extra grip you have more control over the device “camera position” and the physical shutter button, draw pictures easier than a button on the touch screen (if it is there). Please note that you do not let your thumbs rest on the touch screen, because then you will begin to press that you had not intended.

Conclusion

For many people, the camera is an important part of their smartphone. It is not for nothing that compact cameras get tougher now smartphone cameras increasingly better and better. The best camera remains still after the camera you always have with you, so will a wisdom among photographers.

Several manufacturers come up with solutions on the market that the quality of smartphone camera – sometimes dramatically – to improve. After the ultra pixels of the HTC One and the 41 megapixel camera in the Nokia Lumia 1020, we see more original solutions, such as the QX10 and QX100 of Sony or Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom.

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The problem with the Galaxy S4 Zoom is that the combination of compact camera and smartphone led. to a rather unbalanced device On paper it looks a great smartphone with a pretty screen, good hardware and an advanced camera. But the size and weight will be a turnoff for many people.

you walk now already constantly around with a compact camera and do you prefer a device that you can upload not only photos instantly to your favorite social network, but that you can also call another on top and use your favorite apps, then maybe you’re the person that Samsung had in mind when creating this unit.