Samsung has just taken the wraps off the new Galaxy K Zoom camera-smartphone hybrid at its “Kapture the Moment” event in Singapore.
Like the Galaxy S4 Zoom before it, the new device features a 10x optical zoom lens on the front delivering visuals to a 20.7MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor with Optical Image Stabilisation, surrounded by a stippled/perforated case that echoes the Galaxy S5 rear. There’s also a Xenon flash for proper flash photography. Flip it over, and you’ll find a decidedly more standard-looking Samsung phone face – a 4.8-inch 720p Super AMOLED display framed with Samsung’s usual speakers, home button and capacitive buttons.
The whole thing’s powered by a Samsung hexa-core Exynos chipset (although like the Galaxy S5, this might change in markets where Samsung uses Qualcomm chips for LTE connectivity), 2GB of RAM, 8GB storage (of course there’s a MicroSD slot), and Android KitKat.
No Samsung Android-powered camera/smartphone would be complete without a few camera enhancements, and Samsung’s highlighted a few of the Galaxy K Zoom’s headline features in its press release:
AF/AE Separation (Auto Focus/ Auto Exposure Separation) brings a more precise balance of light and clarity,
Pro Suggest mode offers up to 5 filter settings based on the current environment,
Selfie Alarm snaps three photos when it detects it’s pointed at your head, and
Object tracing allows the device to capture a clear, focused shot of a moving subject
Engadget seems to have been able to spend a little time with the device ahead of today’s event, and reports that image quality seems improved over the S4 Zoom, but it doesn’t seem like they’ve been able to spend a proper amount of time with it to check the results in much detail. The camera is also said to be able to shoot 1080p video at 60fps.
Full specifications below:
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Network |
LTE |
Cat4, HSPA+ 42Mbps |
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3G |
5-band HSPA+ 42Mbps |
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Display |
4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED Display (1280×720) |
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AP |
Hexa core: 1.3GHz Quad-Core + 1.7GHz Dual-Core Processor |
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OS |
Android 4.4 (Kitkat) |
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Camera |
Main(Rear): 20.7 Mega pixel 1/2.3 BSI CMOS Sensor, 10x Optical Zoom, OIS, |
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ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 |
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Video |
Recording Playback: Full HD (1920×1080 /60p) |
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Audio |
Codec : MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/AAC +/eAAC+, WMA, OGG (Vorbis), FLAC |
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Value-Added Features |
SMART Mode(28): Auto, Pro Suggest, Program, Beauty face, Shot more, Panorama, Virtual tour, Rich tone, Night, Continuous shot, Selfie alarm, Manual, Kids shot, Landscape, Dawn, Snow, Macro, Food, Party/Indoor, Action freeze, Waterfall, Animated photo, Sound shot, Surround shot, Silhouette, Sunset, Fireworks, Light race |
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AF/AE Separation, Object tracking, Studio, Smile/ Blink detection |
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Ultra Power Saving Mode |
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Kids mode |
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S Health Lite |
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Google Mobile Services |
Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie＆TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube |
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Connectivity |
Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz, HT40, |
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Sensor |
Accelerometer, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor |
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Memory |
RAM: 2GB *User memory space may be less than the total memory space due to system files. User memory may differ by region, carrier, and supporting language, and may change after software upgrade. |
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Dimension |
137.5X70.8X16.6(20.2)mm, 200g |
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Battery |
2,430mAh |
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Samsung’s history is a bit spotted when it comes to Android devices and photography. After launching the original Galaxy Camera, we saw the Galaxy S4 Zoom last year, which many assumed to be the “new” Galaxy Camera at the time. That device itself saw a rather late introduction to the local Australian market, and we’re actually yet to see the Galaxy NX “prosumer” camera here at all. There also seems to be a Galaxy NX Mini on its way, and the Galaxy Camera itself got a refresh earlier this year – it now has a form factor that seems closer to the Galaxy K Zoom.
The new Galaxy K moniker separates the phone and camera lines in the market. It appears Samsung may be trying to peg back some of the confusion it introduced last year when it attached its flagship Galaxy S4 name to the S4 Zoom. Hopefully we’ll see the product lines simplify into the K and NX lines… or perhaps even further.
Australian Release
Samsung Australia’s Craig Gillespie (Business Manager, Digital Imaging Division) is promising availability in the “coming months”:
Samsung Electronics Australia is excited to confirm that the Galaxy K zoom will be launched in Australia in the coming months.
Samsung continues to innovate to meet the wide variety of needs of today’s consumers. For many Australians, their smartphone is their primary camera. The Samsung Galaxy K zoom is our latest pioneering device, equipped with the features that a smartphone user needs to stay connected while also providing an outstanding camera.
Information regarding local pricing and retailer availability will be announced closer to the Australian on sale date for this product.
Are you interested in the Galaxy K Zoom? What features are you interested in, or what is it missing? Let us know in the comments!
