Product Listing

Samsung Galaxy Camera - Android Powered

By Hafeez Sim - 3 Feb 2013
Launch SRP: S$699

Conclusion

Conclusion

The Galaxy Camera brings about an interesting concept made possible by Samsung, which ultimately, falls short of what it could have truly achieved due to certain issues.

While the Galaxy Camera performs well with sufficient ambient light, its low-light performance is unsatisfactory. And with the amount of real estate taken by the rear display, you might find yourself setting a new autofocus point or snapping a shot by accident as your fingers make contact with the display. We felt that it would have been better if Samsung had shrunk the screen a little bit to include more handling space along the edges of the camera body. Adding to this issue is the overall size of the camera which makes handling the camera unwieldly for some users.

If you’re shooting in Auto or Smart mode most of the time, then the Galaxy Camera is in fact easy to shoot with, but the trouble starts when you enter expert mode. The lack of physical controls make the task of adjusting shutter speed, aperture and ISO a chore when it shouldn’t be, as it required constant swiping and tapping in order to change settings. It doesn’t help that you can’t change white balance unless you’re in expert mode, which is something other compacts definitely do not limit you to.

Even with all the flaws we mentioned, we found ourselves liking the Galaxy Camera’s easy editing and sharing of image and video files. While the Galaxy Camera does provide users with the flexibility to download and use any photo-editing app they want, it also presents those less tech-savvy too many options. We felt it would have been better if Samsung had provided a customized version of Android that limited the apps available to camera-focused ones.

With all that being said, the dials and controls on a DSLR will never be replaced by touch controls, but for the casual shooter, the Galaxy Camera’s method of interacting with and using the camera is definitely user-friendly. Entry-level mirrorless system cameras and all point-and-shoots will benefit from taking a page out of the Galaxy Camera’s book when it comes to UI and file sharing.

So do we think the Galaxy Camera is worth its S$699 price tag? Consider the fact that $699 will get you the prosumer class Samsung EX2F while $799 gets you the Panasonic LX7. Both feature far superior image quality though you won’t get the Android experience as well as the suite of photo-editing apps and social services. The Galaxy Camera is a smart camera; however, it’s also an average-performing point-and-shoot that costs a premium.

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7.5
  • Performance 7.5
  • Design 7.5
  • Features 8.5
  • User-Friendliness 8.5
  • Value 6.5
The Good
Versatile camera
Unlimited photo-editing and camera apps option from Google Play
Auto and Smart modes are both very intuitive
Easy to share photos/videos online
The Bad
Average camera performance, but has an above-average asking price
Size and handling make it unwieldy for some
Accidentally setting a new AF point or snapping a shot due to large display
Expert mode is cumbersome
White balance adjustable in expert mode only
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