Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 at a glance:
- 16.3 million effective pixels
- 1/2.33in (6.16×4.62mm) sensor
- 21x optical zoom (23-483mm equivalent)
- ISO 100-3200
- 50GB free Dropbox cloud storage
- Large 1280×720 HD resolution touchscreen
- NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity
- Street price around £399
- See sample images taken with the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2
Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 review – Introduction
After stealing the march on the competition by successfully marrying a digital camera with a smartphone significantly better than anything else on the market, Samsung is at it again with its latest Galaxy Camera.
The first Samsung Galaxy Camera, while innovative, wasn’t without its shortcomings. Its size was one point of contention. Although slim, the 4.8in screen meant that its body is naturally much larger than many other rival compact digital cameras. The lack of any physical controls was another issue for some users who have become accustomed to a mode dial and at least one selection dial. Also, I found the operation of the original Galaxy Camera to be a little too sluggish and images towards the extremes of its sizeable f/2.8-5.9 21x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 23-483mm) weren’t as sharp or as detailed as I would have liked.
Samsung has made some changes with the Galaxy Camera 2, but they are not necessarily what I expected. The new device is lighter at 283g (compared with the original’s 300g), but it is actually slightly larger, with dimensions of 71.2×132.5×19.3mm (the original model measures 70.8×128.7×19.1mm). However, when compared side by side, the differences between the two cameras are barely noticeable.
The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has the same 16.3-million-pixel, 1/2.3in BSI CMOS sensor as that featured in the original Galaxy Camera, and there are still no physical controls. The option of 3G/LTE connectivity (basically, turning the camera into a phone) that made the original Galaxy Camera a unique prospect has now been scrapped in the new model. So what does this new device offer?
Image: A high-contrast scene showing rich blue skies and even exposure
Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 review- Features
Samsung hasn’t completely ignored the Galaxy Camera’s critics, though. The new device has received a jump in CPU processing speed, up from 1.4GHz to a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, supported by 2GB of RAM, and it runs a relatively recent version of the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean software. These tweaks have improved the new model’s operating speed, so users can take full advantage of the stunning 4.8in HD Super Clear Touch LCD.
The device’s 1280×720-pixel resolution display is significantly more impressive than any LCD featured on any other camera, which makes it superb for viewing content, even on bright days, whether that be images and video captured on the device or imported. Internal storage of 8GB is built into the device, with the option to expand that up to 64GB using the provided MicroSD slot. An additional 50GB of cloud storage via the pre-loaded Dropbox app is also available, so there’s plenty of room to store your favourite films and TV shows to watch on the go, as well as save your images when you’re connected to Wi-Fi.
The pop-up flash now springs up on an arm that can be tilted back for bouncing from the ceiling, which also raises the unit high enough so it doesn’t cast a shadow from the camera’s long lens.
Battery life is another area of improvement, up from 1,650mAh to 2,000mAh. The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 is also bolstered by optimised energy consumption, so you can take more pictures and get more use out of your device before having to find a charging point.
Full manual control, plus aperture and shutter-priority modes are available on the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 through a unique on-screen interface that looks like a lens barrel. All the settings can be adjusted, including metering, white balance, exposure compensation and ISO sensitivity with its humble range of ISO 100-3200. The Galaxy Camera 2 is intuitive, but it’s not particularly fast if you need to adjust settings for changeable shooting scenarios. I missed a number of shots trying to respond to passing clouds and moving subjects.
Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 review – Build and handling
Despite its large size, I like the look of the Galaxy Camera 2, particularly the black version, although I received the white one for test. Made from tough plastic, its brushed-metal-effect base and top-plate lend a classic touch to a contemporary device. The body of the camera also borrows the textured faux-leather look from the slightly more premium Samsung NX300.
The entire rear of the camera comprises the screen, so that’s where your thumb rests when shooting as you would with any other camera. Given the lack of other traditional camera ergonomics – aside from the grip – the design of the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 lends itself towards its touchscreen controls.
It’s much faster and more intuitive to take advantage of the device’s touch focus and shooting functionality, which I found to be more responsive and accurate. I also liked the fact that you could set different points for exposure and focus using the touchscreen.
When it comes to portability, the omission of 3G/LTE on the latest model unfortunately compounds the impracticality of this device. It can’t be used as a standalone shoot-and-share device. Instead, to share images on the go, you have to use a second device if you’re not connected to Wi-Fi.
Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 review – Performance
Image: A close-up crop of these leaves shows some impressive detail captured by the camera in macro mode
I am pleased to see the improvements made to the Galaxy Camera 2’s operation speed. Pinch zoom and touch focus are responsive in good light, while AF assist beam provides some assistance when photographing poorly lit subjects.
The device also comes with 28 smart modes that make it easy to find the right settings to match your scene, or even help you create a range of artistic effects. I was impressed with how well the device read each scene and came up with appropriate suggestions. These modes will be a great help for anyone who needs a bit of guidance or inspiration.
Image: Action Freeze Smart mode is great for capturing fast-moving subjects
When shooting in ideal conditions, the images captured by the Galaxy Camera 2 look beautiful on its 4.8in HD screen, being vibrant, bright and crisp. Both the metering and the dynamic range are satisfactory enough for a camera with a 1/2.3in sensor, while colours and tone captured by the device are largely faithful to those appearing in the scene before you.
Unfortunately, on close inspection, the Galaxy Camera 2’s images suffer from artefacts and smudging created by overly aggressive noise reduction, even at lower ISO settings. Images beyond ISO 800 are almost painterly, and lack detail and texture. That said, for sharing via social media or printing at modest sizes, there’s absolutely no issue, so it depends on what you’re planning to use this device for.
These images show 72ppi (100% on a computer screen) sections of images of a resolution chart, captured with the lens set to its 100mm point. We show the section of the resolution chart where the camera starts to fail to reproduce the lines separately. The higher the number visible in these images, the better the camera’s detail resolution is at the specified sensitivity setting.
Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 review – Our verdict
The job Samsung has done by integrating the Android system into the Galaxy Camera 2 is seamless and adds some great sharing and functionality – it’s what makes the Galaxy Camera special. However, it’s a shame there’s no the 3G/LTE option. The firm already has photographically capable smart devices in the form of the latest Wi-Fi-enabled NX-series cameras, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom and the new Galaxy S5 smartphone that is capable of a blistering 0.3sec autofocus time.
I really want to love the Galaxy Camera 2, because there’s nothing in its class that can match its screen and Android functionality. However, it just falls short of the heights that its innovation deserves. Undoubtedly, the Galaxy Camera 2 will prove a popular device among some who will be drawn to its stunning looks and impressive Android functionality, but we will have to wait until Samsung delivers a standalone shoot-and-share camera as supreme in performance as it is in design and concept for it to be a must-have device.
