Mobile photography is now more popular than ever before, even as the quality of photographs taken with mobile devices continues to impress. At the same time, there are disparities between photographs taken with smartphones and images captured by dedicated compact system cameras. Very few devices such as the Galaxy S5 and others in Samsung’s premium Galaxy range have proven to possess very high quality imaging capability. The increasing sophistry of social networks and other information sharing platforms has made the low-quality fixed lenses and tiny sensors associated with the average smartphone insufficient. For photography and selfie enthusiasts, perfect picture quality is expected with every take, no matter what device is being used. And while users can always upload images taken with compact system cameras to their smartphone, it is often impractical and sometimes downright cumbersome to haul along a dedicated camera everywhere they go.
The Galaxy K Zoom is Samsung’s answer to this dilemma, offering the best of both worlds by marrying a 10x optical zoom lens with a powerful Android smartphone. Samsung pioneered this new device category last year when it launched the first handset equipped with a 10x optical zoom, aptly named the Galaxy S4 Zoom. The Galaxy K Zoom is the company’s second outing in this arena and is based on the widely popular Galaxy S5. Regardless of the name of the device, the experience it provides is very similar to the one enjoyed on Samsung’s flagship smartphone. The key difference, of course, is the camera.
Offering users the quality and experience that they would expect from a powerful compact camera and high-end smartphone, the Galaxy K Zoom integrates advanced camera usability features and functions, with each feature having a simple user interface that allows consumers to easily capture photographs and videos with superb image quality at all times. The device features a 20.7 megapixel sensor, which is capable of capturing images with sharp, life-like colours that are clear in all lighting conditions. It also comes equipped with an Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS), which reduces blurring caused by movement during photography. A new retracting lens technology helps it maintain a slim, ergonomic design. Its professional quality optics and precise zoom ring adjustments lets users create perfect visual content with every shot while its powerful in-built Xenon Flash gives brighter illumination and more natural colour to images.
The Galaxy K Zoom comes packed with features and adjustable settings that more advanced users will love alongside several easy-to-use camera value adds that casual mobile photographers will enjoy. Besides the 20.7-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch sensor, which is on par with many high-end point-and-shoots, the device’s 10x optical zoom lens sets it apart from other similar smartphones. The lens is brighter, travels further than the LEDs featured on most smartphones and lets users zoom in very close to their subject, making for much more interesting Facebook and Instagram posts.
The device also features a variety of shooting modes, including ‘Pro Suggest’, which recommends a selection of filters depending on the scene; Program, Beauty Face, Shot and More, for burst shooting. It also features a Selfie Alarm that automatically takes a snapshot when it detects the user’s face in the frame. To elaborate on the Selfie Alarm, this feature lets the user mark the area on the device’s display where his face should be positioned in a selfie. The device, when turned around, will beep more rapidly as the position of the user’s face gets closer to the area designated in the first step. Once the user’s face is positioned perfectly, the device will automatically capture three selfie shots, providing users with options to choose from. There is also an option to add more shooting modes through the “Manage Modes” panel. Here users can choose from Kids Shot, Macro, Light Trace and Sunset, just to name a few.
Another first from Samsung featured on the Galaxy K Zoom is the device’s ‘Virtual Tour’ function. This feature creates a walking photo-tour of the user’s surroundings and will come in handy for real estate practitioners who can use this to give their clients facility tours without being at the location of the facility. A main camera settings page enables users to set basic camera options including photo resolution, aspect ratio, compression quality, white balance, focus, drive mode, timer, flash mode and image effects. Beyond the camera features, the Galaxy K zoom is a powerful, full-featured smartphone. It boasts a slim and stylish casing and somehow manages to keep its weight down to 200 grams despite the added bulk of a built-in compact system camera, which isn’t even noticeable until you flip it around to reveal the lens. The very latest Android operating system, alongside a large and vivid 4.8” high-definition super AMOLED screen is also featured on the device. Users also get 2GB of RAM, 8 gigs of internal storage and support for up to 64GB microSD cards, which is an added benefit for consumers who plan on taking advantage of the device’s advanced camera functionality.
The Galaxy K zoom is compatible with the latest devices in Samsung’s line of wearable technology, including the Gear Fit and Gear 2. Other key features of the compact and highly portable Galaxy K Zoom include the latest Galaxy smartphone’s ultra-power saving mode that shuts down key functions of the device to allow users make the most of their last bit of battery power; an S Health Lite application that provides users with personalized fitness and lifestyle coaching as well as a ‘Kids Mode’ feature which allows users to share their devices with kids when the device’s parental control access is turned on. Samsung’s 24-month standard factory warranty is also available to users of the Galaxy K Zoom.
