[Hands on] with the Samsung S4 Zoom, it is a Camera or a Phone?

[ortega]

I used it as a camera in Japan and it lasts the whole day, only need to charge at night. But isn't that common with all smartphones.
Been using it as my phone and camera in Singapore also no problem.

Anyway to cut the long story short. This is a very capable camera but a so so phone. Not top of the line is phone specs.
Camera wise, you have more control over it, like ISO, aperture, shutter speed and focal length. And the addition of the tripod mount is very useful.
I put the phone into airplane mode, so that i don't get phone calls while it is on the tripod.

 

[Rashkae]

I used it as a camera in Japan and it lasts the whole day, only need to charge at night. But isn't that common with all smartphones.
Been using it as my phone and camera in Singapore also no problem.

Anyway to cut the long story short. This is a very capable camera but a so so phone. Not top of the line is phone specs.
Camera wise, you have more control over it, like ISO, aperture, shutter speed and focal length. And the addition of the tripod mount is very useful.
I put the phone into airplane mode, so that i don't get phone calls while it is on the tripod.

Do you have spot metering?

 

[tomcat]

Do you have spot metering?

Yes it does

 

[kelccm]

I played with the S4 Zoom briefly at the Vivo Samsung store. While it does have full manual control, too bad it doesn't have the aperture or shutter priority mode, which will make it more useable for most photographers. Zooming via the control ring seems a bit awkward and appears to have some delay in the actual lens zooming.

 

[daredevil123]

WARNING to EVERYONE reading this thread.

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Any person who loves/represent/work for any camera manufacturer who come in to bash another camera brand in any non-objective manner will be considered to be trying to start a brand war, which ClubSNAP strongly do not agree with nor will condone.

Any person who falsely accuses any other member/moderator/admin/ClubSNAP will face the consequences of his/her actions, irregardless of which camera brand he loves/represent/work for.

 

[fatbike]

let's carry on the meaning of "forum" which mainly means sharing,
Been waiting for review, but seems like this threAd is at risk, so I'll just ask now,
1.if there's any bulb mode or longer exposure time
2.long exposure timing between black & white sets, as I tried black had only 1/30 while white had 16s???
Tried at Amk hub yesturday, hope to have some feedback
Many thanks for reading

 

[ortega]

let's carry on the meaning of "forum" which mainly means sharing,
Been waiting for review, but seems like this threAd is at risk, so I'll just ask now,
1.if there's any bulb mode or longer exposure time
2.long exposure timing between black & white sets, as I tried black had only 1/30 while white had 16s???
Tried at Amk hub yesturday, hope to have some feedback
Many thanks for reading

let me check and i will get back to you

Q is what is the longest exposure time as in shutter speed? No bulb mode s there is no shutter release cable

As this is a mobile device I shoot it as such, which means mostly Auto mode, unless i come across a difficult situation or a specific look that i want.

 

[ortega]

in manual mode, the longest exposure is 16s

 

[tomcat]

let's carry on the meaning of "forum" which mainly means sharing,
Been waiting for review, but seems like this threAd is at risk, so I'll just ask now,
1.if there's any bulb mode or longer exposure time
2.long exposure timing between black & white sets, as I tried black had only 1/30 while white had 16s???
Tried at Amk hub yesturday, hope to have some feedback
Many thanks for reading

To get Bulb mode in a Galaxy camera, you would have to get the Galaxy NX.
The camera in the S4 Zoom is essentially a very basic and simple compact digital camera similar to those of the first or second generation digital cameras like the Sony P-series, but with lots of easy to use Smart filters. Most of its intended users would be using the Auto or Smart mode on-the-go like Ortega said. As a phone-camera, it is easily the most advanced of any in the market as no other has an actual 10x optical zoom lens. It really shows its real colours when zoomed to the max optically while other phone-cameras have to make do with resolution reducing digital zoom.

In the right hands like those of Ortega, it can produce images that punch above the belt and comparable in image quality if not exceed those of more advanced dedicated compact cameras as you could see from those posted by the OP in this thread.

 

[fatbike]

in manual mode, the longest exposure is 16s

Many thanks bro, cleared my questions

 

[fatbike]

To get Bulb mode in a Galaxy camera, you would have to get the Galaxy NX.
The camera in the S4 Zoom is essentially a very basic and simple compact digital camera similar to those of the first or second generation digital cameras like the Sony P-series, but with lots of easy to use Smart filters. Most of its intended users would be using the Auto or Smart mode on-the-go like Ortega said. As a phone-camera, it is easily the most advanced of any in the market as no other has an actual 10x optical zoom lens. It really shows its real colours when zoomed to the max optically while other phone-cameras have to make do with resolution reducing digital zoom.

In the right hands like those of Ortega, it can produce images that punch above the belt and comparable in image quality if not exceed those of more advanced dedicated compact cameras as you could see from those posted by the OP in this thread.

Many thanks for sharing bro, ya actually I do have a NX as a spare but looking a phone with M control, lol
Eyeing on this as it's got many things that I expect from a phone

 

[zekai]

Great review, did not know samsung camera can perform so well

 

[learningtoshoot]

quality of the photos look quite good

 

[Hinata76]

will it be good for taking macro shots of flowers?


also...hmm.if i need a flashlight(should i drop my keys etc) it uses the flash as flashlight?

 

[ortega]

quality of the photos look quite good

Thank you, I'm glad you liked them

 

[ortega]

will it be good for taking macro shots of flowers? also...hmm.if i need a flashlight(should i drop my keys etc) it uses the flash as flashlight?

As with all point and shoot cameras the macro mode only works at the widest angle focal length

 

[wallyworld]

I am very impressed. I was initially very skeptical about this phone as I felt it was a gimmick by Samsung. Any idea how does the S4 zoom sensor compare to other top of the line camera phones?

 

[ortega]

I am very impressed. I was initially very skeptical about this phone as I felt it was a gimmick by Samsung. Any idea how does the S4 zoom sensor compare to other top of the line camera phones?

Not too sure about the other smartphone sensors as I do not have enough experience with them. But what this phone has is the 10x optical zoom lens, xenon flash and tripod mount