Samsung Galaxy Camera Review | 108 Data compared

The Samsung Galaxy Camera EK-GC100 successfully merges a dedicated point-and-shoot camera with the Android operating system, though its experimental design leaves noticeable room for growth. On the positive side, reviewers praised its large, gorgeous 4.8-inch widescreen touch display and its extensive 21x optical zoom range (23-483mm equivalent), which vastly outperforms standard smartphone cameras. It provides excellent, always-on network connectivity via 3G and Wi-Fi, allowing users to run popular apps like Instagram and instantly share media to social networks. Additionally, it features strong high ISO performance up to 3200 and intuitive "smart scene" modes like Best Face to capture the ideal group shot. However, the hybrid device falls short in several key areas when compared to traditional superzoom cameras. It is notably expensive, physically bulky, and heavy at 11 ounces, making it larger than standard compact superzooms. The device lacks physical dials, relying entirely on an unusual touch-based menu system that can feel unwieldy for quick adjustments. Battery life is disappointingly short, network speeds are bottlenecked by slow 3G data without 4G support, and third-party Android apps like Instagram fail to...

This review of the Samsung Galaxy Camera highlights its unique blend of traditional compact photography and smartphone connectivity. Driven by the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, the device allows users to download apps, browse the web, and share images directly via Wi-Fi and 3G. It is equipped with a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, paired with a powerful f/2.8-5.9 lens featuring a 21x optical zoom (23-483mm equivalent) and built-in optical image stabilization. Designed to appeal to both beginners and experienced photographers, it includes a variety of automated scene modes—such as Best Face and Light trace—alongside full aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual exposure controls. However, serious enthusiasts may be disappointed by its lack of raw file support, as it only saves images in JPEG format. The camera's performance earns praise for its responsive touchscreen controls, seamless social media integration, and overall impressive image quality. On the downside, the physical design is noted as being a little too large for some users, and it lacks a dedicated macro shortcut. Furthermore, despite its heavy reliance on a smartphone interface, 3G data, and...

The T3 Samsung Galaxy Camera review highlights the innovative attempt to merge a traditional point-and-shoot camera with the advanced features of a smartphone. The device features a vibrant 4.8-inch touch-sensitive screen, a 16-megapixel resolution 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor, a powerful 21x optical zoom lens, and operates on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The major pros of the Samsung Galaxy Camera are its seamless Wi-Fi connectivity, its responsiveness to downloading external apps like Instagram, and its extensive customisation and shooting options (such as Expert mode for exposure adjustments). Additionally, it offers a superior battery life capable of delivering up to 290 shots per charge compared to direct competitors, alongside sharp and colorful Full HD video recording with active zoom tracking. However, the reviewer points out several notable cons that limit the device's practicality. The physical design is described as large and bulky compared to standard compact travel snappers. Because the camera lacks standalone physical controls for adjustments on the body, navigating through an operating system originally built for mobile phones can feel unwieldy for pure camera enthusiasts. Furthermore, retrieving media from the...

The Samsung Galaxy Camera combines a 21x optical zoom lens and Android 4.1, offering excellent connectivity, instant image sharing, and a responsive 4.8-inch touchscreen. However, DPReview notes that image quality is subpar due to aggressive noise reduction, soft lens performance, and a high $600 price point. Furthermore, the device is hindered by short battery life and a slow, clumsy manual "Expert Mode" interface.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera (EK-GC100) is an innovative hybrid device that embeds Android Jelly Bean into a dedicated point-and-shoot camera. It is equipped with a quad-core processor, a bright 4.8-inch HD Super Clear LCD touchscreen, and a 21x optically stabilised zoom lens with a 16-megapixel sensor borrowed from the Samsung WB850F. This hardware arrangement vastly outperforms standard smartphone cameras, allowing for a shallow depth of field, better dynamic range, and smooth video recording. The camera's defining advantage is its full-featured software ecosystem; users can download Android applications to edit, add low-fi filters, and directly share high-quality images via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or an onboard HSPA+ micro-SIM card slot without needing a computer or tedious file transfers. However, the camera suffers from several distinct drawbacks that hold it back from mainstream appeal, primarily its steep $500 launch price and bulky, smooth 305g design that necessitates a wrist strap. The overall image quality does not justify the cost; its auto-mode frequently misjudges white balance, and noise is heavily present at ISO 800 and above due to overpacking 16 million pixels onto a tiny...

The Samsung Galaxy Camera combines a 10x optical zoom lens with the Android operating system, offering unparalleled connectivity for instant photo editing and sharing via a 4.8-inch HD touchscreen. It provides full manual controls alongside a responsive auto mode, making it a versatile,albeit expensive, option for users seeking a smart-device experience in a camera. However, the review notes significant drawbacks, including a restrictive 10cm minimum focusing distance that hinders macro photography and poor, inconsistent stitching in wide-angle panoramas. Despite these issues, its unique feature set and superior screen quality earn it a recommendation for those prioritizing connectivity over pure, high-end optical performance.

The Verge's 2012 review describes the Samsung Galaxy Camera as an ambitious hybrid featuring unmatched connectivity, a 4.8-inch HD display, and a versatile 21x optical zoom, all powered by Android for instant sharing. However, the device is hindered by an awkward all-plastic design, minimal physical controls, and mediocre 1/2.3-inch sensor performance, coupled with poor battery life and a high $500 price point.

The Laptop Mag review of the Samsung Galaxy Camera EK-GC100 highlights it as an innovative, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean-powered point-and-shoot camera that bridges the gap between digital photography and instant social media sharing. Equipped with a 1.4-GHz quad-core Exynos processor and a crisp 4.8-inch HD Super Clear LCD display, the device functions with the fluid performance of a top-tier smartphone, offering full access to Google Play apps and Samsung sharing features like Share Shot. Its key photographic strengths include an attractive design, a powerful 16-megapixel sensor, an impressive 21X optical zoom lens, a strong macro feature, and clean 1080p video recording at 30 fps. However, the review points out several significant design and performance drawbacks that hold the device back. Its physical build is criticized for being bulky and heavy, lacking a natural spot to rest your right thumb without accidentally touching the screen. From a connectivity standpoint, the camera disappointing lacks 4G LTE support—relying instead on slower HSPA+ data—and requires an expensive cellular data plan to use its features away from Wi-Fi. Additionally, the on-screen controls for the fully...

The Shutterbug review highlights the Samsung Galaxy Camera's strengths in connectivity, featuring the Android operating system, built-in WLAN, and a large, high-resolution LCD touchscreen. Lab tests show good skin tone rendering and a dynamic range of 10.1 f-stops at ISO 100, providing solid, connected hardware. Shutterbug.com Conversely, the camera suffers from significant image quality issues, including blurry corners, excessive artificial sharpening, and high noise reduction that creates an artificial, graphic appearance. The automatic white balance produces a cool, bluish tone with overly saturated colors, and resolution, which dips severely at higher ISO settings, is deemed disappointing. Shutterbug.com

The Samsung Galaxy Camera (EK-GC100) bridges the gap between smartphones and dedicated shooters by embedding a full Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" operating system into a point-and-shoot body. Powered by a quad-core Exynos processor and 1GB of RAM, its hardware specifications mirror the 3G Galaxy S3 smartphone, providing an incredibly smooth user interface on its large 4.8-inch 720p HD Super AMOLED touchscreen display. On the positive side, this design introduces groundbreaking connectivity features for a compact camera, supporting Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a microSIM card slot for over-the-air 3G sharing. This allows users to download regular Android apps, edit photos instantly using mobile software, and seamlessly share high-resolution images directly to social media networks, chat apps, or via email without needing a secondary device. However, the camera comes with notable physical and performance drawbacks. In terms of cons, the device is heavy and exceptionally bulky—comparable in weight to an iPad Mini—making it too large to comfortably fit inside a pocket, requiring a backpack or hand luggage instead. The camera is also front-heavy, causing it to lean forward and tip onto its...

The Samsung Galaxy Camera balances the capabilities of a 16MP point-and-shoot camera with a quad-core Android smartphone operating system. Its primary pros include a snappy 1.4GHz quad-core processor that makes image navigation and editing swift, alongside built-in apps like Paper Artist and Photo Wizard for computer-free enhancement. The camera features a large 4.8” Super Clear LCD screen offering strong visibility under direct sunlight, an impressive 21x optical zoom lens, and a highly effective optical image stabilizer that allows for stable hand-held shots at full zoom. Additionally, it provides convenient Micro USB charging, a responsive camera interface that boots up in under two seconds, and advanced "Expert" shooting modes that mimic DSLR controls. However, the hybrid device suffers from several notable cons, most prominently a disappointing 1,650mAh battery that drains quickly when utilizing Android features or 3G connectivity. Its physical profile is humongous and heavy, weighing 300g and measuring 19.1mm thick, which prevents it from fitting into standard pockets. The overall picture quality is only average—comparable to a low-to-mid-range compact camera—and struggles with excessive noise during indoor or low-light shooting when...

The BK Magazine review highlights the Samsung Galaxy Camera as an innovative hybrid pairing a full Android OS with 3G/Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing for instant social media uploads and automatic cloud syncing. Key hardware pros include a highly sensitive, large touchscreen and versatile shooting options, ranging from an easy-to-use "Rich Tone" mode to an expert manual mode for granular control.

The Amateur Photographer review highlights the Samsung Galaxy Camera as an ambitious Android-powered device featuring a 4.8-inch touchscreen, extensive 21x optical zoom, and seamless, fast sharing capabilities. While praised for its connectivity and smart functionality, the camera is limited by disappointing image quality that fails to meet expectations for a 16-million-pixel compact. Key disadvantages include a lack of fine detail at 1:1 magnification and significant, overly aggressive noise reduction that degrades image quality above ISO 400. Ultimately, the camera prioritizes its smart, connected features over the high-fidelity imaging performance required by dedicated photographers.