Mobile Technology

Samsung's Galaxy S4 zoom packs 10x zoom lens, tells you what to snap

Samsung's Galaxy S4 zoom packs 10x zoom lens, tells you what to snap
Samsung's Galaxy S4 zoom cameraphone
Samsung's Galaxy S4 zoom cameraphone
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Samsung's Galaxy S4 zoom cameraphone
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Samsung's Galaxy S4 zoom cameraphone
The device includes a 4.3 inch 960 x 540 AMOLED display
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The device includes a 4.3 inch 960 x 540 AMOLED display
The camera functions are activated by a twist of the Zoom Ring
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The camera functions are activated by a twist of the Zoom Ring
The Galaxy S4 zoom packs a 10x optical zoom
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The Galaxy S4 zoom packs a 10x optical zoom
The device is also an out and out smartphone running Android Jelly Bean 4.2
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The device is also an out and out smartphone running Android Jelly Bean 4.2
The device includes a 4.3 inch 960 x 540 AMOLED display
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The device includes a 4.3 inch 960 x 540 AMOLED display
The Galaxy S4 zoom has a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
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The Galaxy S4 zoom has a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
A feature called Photo Suggest taps into a library of images by other photographers in order to recommend photo opportunities based on your location
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A feature called Photo Suggest taps into a library of images by other photographers in order to recommend photo opportunities based on your location
Samsung reckons it's easy to take a photo and send a MMS picture message to the person you're talking to
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Samsung reckons it's easy to take a photo and send a MMS picture message to the person you're talking to
Photo Suggest gives desert traveler the hump (Image: Samsung)
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Photo Suggest gives desert traveler the hump (Image: Samsung)
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With the announcement of its Galaxy S4 zoom, Samsung has gone the extra yard beyond its Galaxy Camera to release a capable snapper – with a 10x optical zoom no less – that is also an out and out smartphone running Android Jelly Bean 4.2. Samsung claims that the 16-MP device combines uncompromised performance as both a smartphone and compact camera.

The device includes a 4.3 inch 960 x 540 AMOLED display and a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. There's a secondary 1.9-MP front-facing camera. The Galaxy S4 zoom can talk to LTE and 3G networks and includes integrated Wi-Fi (stop me if this is taken as read, these days).

The camera functions of the Galaxy S4 zoom appear to be activated with what Samsung is calling a Zoom Ring: a dial surrounding the lens which, with a twist, sparks the camera to life. The Zoom Ring works during a phone call, and Samsung reckons it's easy to take a photo and send a MMS picture message to the person you're talking to.

We're not sure if the feature is as "revolutionary" as Samsung claims (after all, my compact camera is activated in much the same way), but it's certainly a good thing if Samsung has made the Galaxy S4 zoom's camera functions nice and accessible without having to poke the touchscreen and risk accidental hang-up.

It sounds as if the Zoom Ring will also let users choose between different camera modes and, unsurprisingly given the name, control the 10x optical zoom itself (which beats button control any day).

The camera itself packs a 16-MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor which Samsung claims is capable of close-ups and landscapes in any light conditions. It includes Samsung's Smart Mode to automatically adjust settings once told the desired preset mode, though it can suggest that too if you like.

Photo Suggest gives desert traveler the hump (Image: Samsung)
Photo Suggest gives desert traveler the hump (Image: Samsung)

A feature called Photo Suggest taps into a library of images by other photographers in order to recommend photo opportunities based on your location. Apparently the cultural homogenization won't be complete until we're all taking photos of exactly the same things from exactly the same viewpoints – creativity and individualism be damned. Let's hope one can turn this off.

Photos can be edit and prints ordered directly from the device. Or photographs can be wirelessly synced with a computer or the HomeSync cloud service.

The devices can also shoot full HD video at 30 frames per second.

Expect to see the Galaxy S4 zoom on the market before the end of the year. Price is yet to be announced.

Source: Samsung

View gallery - 10 images
4 comments
4 comments
Photon
OK photo class, how many things can you find wrong w. Samsung's desert & camel image? One of the worst cases of "photoshoping" I have ever seen, and from a multinational corporation. If this is indicative of well "Photo Suggest works, then I agree with James -- hopefully it can be turned off. Sad.
Loard Singh
Just want to know does anyone experiencing minor bugs after the latest firmware update that includes app transfer to sd card? Coz i'm experiencing some.
1. A delay when locking screen 2. A delay when unlocking screen 3. A delay screen rotation 4. A delay when controlling the volume buttons
So far here they are. I updated my s4 thru wifi using it and not Kies. So overall the update made some of my feautures or transitions to become slower.
So anyone? Hope samsung can fix and see this. I live in the Philippines btw.
DonGateley
Photon, I'm pretty sure what you are seeing is the effect of HDR which is one of the camera's features. I don't particularly like it either but it seems to be the rage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging
William H Lanteigne
This may be the signal of the end of the dedicated (or "dumb") digital camera. I really like my Fujifilm HS25exr, but to upload photos I must either remove the memory card and insert it into the card reader on my PC, or connect the camera to my PC via usb cable, or, if I want to connect wirelessly, I must buy one of those expensive Eye-Fi cards, and I still have to be within range of my PC. I have not yet bought the Eye-Fi SD card, though that's probably only a matter of when I can afford it.
Now, this is not a huge tearjerker tragedy- after all, I still use my 35mm Canon A1 SLR (and have even been known to shoot a roll of film through my 60-year-old Argus C3) and processing exposed film can take (literally) days. But film is dying fast because digital is so much faster and so much more convenient; I'm just concerned that the smartphone/camera is going to do to "dumb" digital cameras what digital cameras have done to film.