Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Full Review and Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 is a unique device that combines the functionality of a point-and-shoot camera with the versatility of a smartphone. It features a 16.3 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor.

With a 21x optical zoom, you can capture stunning images from far away. The camera also has a 4.8-inch touchscreen display.

The Galaxy Camera 2 runs on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, giving you access to a wide range of apps and features. This includes support for Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth connectivity.

In terms of storage, the device has 8GB of internal memory, which can be expanded up to 64GB with a microSD card.

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The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has a design that's both classic and contemporary, with a tough plastic body and a brushed-metal-effect base and top-plate.

Its rear comprises the entire screen, which makes it easy to use the touchscreen controls for focus and shooting. I found the touchscreen to be very responsive and accurate, and it's much faster to set different points for exposure and focus using the screen.

The textured faux-leather look on the body adds a premium touch, reminiscent of the Samsung NX300.

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The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has a unique design that's both classic and contemporary. It's made from tough plastic with a brushed-metal-effect base and top-plate that gives it a premium feel.

The camera's body borrows the textured faux-leather look from the Samsung NX300, which adds to its premium look and feel. I personally like the black version, but the white one I received for testing is also quite sleek.

The entire rear of the camera is the screen, which makes it easy to take advantage of the device's touch controls. This design lends itself well to touchscreen functionality, making it fast and intuitive to use.

The touchscreen controls are more responsive and accurate than traditional camera controls, allowing for precise control over focus and exposure. You can even set different points for exposure and focus using the touchscreen.

The lack of 3G/LTE on the latest model makes it impractical to use as a standalone shoot-and-share device. You'll need to use a second device or connect to Wi-Fi to share images on the go.

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The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2's 21x zoom lens is a game-changer for photography enthusiasts.

This versatile focal range of 21x is equivalent to 23-483mm in 35mm terms, providing an incredibly wide range of possibilities for capturing the perfect shot.

The camera's lens offers a 23mm wide-angle view, perfect for landscapes and group shots, while the 483mm telephoto end is ideal for zooming in on distant subjects.

Here's a breakdown of the camera's focal range in a table for easy reference:

With this level of zoom, you'll be able to capture stunning images from any distance, whether you're shooting a wedding, a wildlife documentary, or just a casual snapshot with friends.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, which is a significant upgrade from its predecessor. This boost in processing power results in improved operating speed.

The device features a stunning 4.8in HD Super Clear Touch LCD display with a 1280×720-pixel resolution, making it perfect for viewing content on bright days. Its display is significantly more impressive than any LCD on other cameras.

The Galaxy Camera 2 has a built-in 8GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 64GB using the provided MicroSD slot. This means you can store plenty of images, videos, and other files.

The device also comes with 50GB of cloud storage via the pre-loaded Dropbox app, allowing you to store and access your files from anywhere.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has a significant upgrade in CPU processing speed, jumping from 1.4GHz to 1.6GHz, along with 2GB of RAM, making it run smoothly with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean software.

This improved processing speed makes a big difference in the camera's operating speed, allowing users to take full advantage of the stunning 4.8in HD Super Clear Touch LCD.

The device's 1280×720-pixel resolution display is incredibly impressive, making it perfect for viewing content, even on bright days.

You'll have plenty of storage space with 8GB of internal storage, expandable up to 64GB using the provided MicroSD slot, and an additional 50GB of cloud storage via the pre-loaded Dropbox app.

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The battery life has been improved from 1,650mAh to 2,000mAh, and the camera also boasts optimized energy consumption, allowing you to take more pictures and use your device for longer without needing to recharge.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 has a unique on-screen interface that looks like a lens barrel, giving you full manual control, plus aperture and shutter-priority modes.

Here are some key features of the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2:

Optical Image Stabilization is a feature that allows you to take sharp photos at slower shutter speeds than other digital cameras. This is particularly useful when shooting handheld or in low-light conditions.

One way to test the effectiveness of Optical Image Stabilization is to take two identical shots with the same settings, one with the feature turned off and one with it turned on. The results are striking, with the image taken with Optical Image Stabilization enabled being noticeably sharper than the one taken without it.

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Here's a comparison of the two shots:

In the table, you can see that the image taken with Optical Image Stabilization enabled (Anti Shake On) is significantly sharper than the one taken without it (Anti Shake Off), even at slower shutter speeds like 1/30 sec and 1/13 sec.

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The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2's performance is a notable improvement over its predecessor. It boasts a quad-core 1.6GHz Samsung Exynos 4412 processor and 2GB RAM, which is a capable setup for handling demanding tasks.

Web browsing, Netflix streaming, and resource-intensive games like Asphalt 8 run smoothly on the device. Apps launch quickly, and switching between multiple running apps is a breeze.

The Galaxy Camera 2 has double the RAM of the Galaxy NX and sees a 200MHz speed bump over the original. However, its performance is more in line with today's lesser-performing tablets.

The device runs Android 4.3 with Samsung's TouchWiz skin, but it's already running dated software. This means it's soon to be two generations of Android behind, with no update path in sight.

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Autofocus speed is a bit slower than the competition, requiring about 0.2-second to lock onto a stationary target. In continuous drive mode, images are captured at 3.7fps.

The Galaxy Camera 2 has 28 smart modes that make it easy to find the right settings for your scene, or even help you create artistic effects. These modes will be a great help for anyone who needs a bit of guidance or inspiration.

The device's image quality is satisfactory, with vibrant, bright, and crisp images on its 4.8in HD screen. However, images suffer from artefacts and smudging due to overly aggressive noise reduction, especially at higher ISO settings.

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The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 produces images of average quality, with noticeable noise and softening of fine detail even at relatively slow ISO settings like 200.

Noise becomes more pronounced at higher ISO settings like 400 and 800, making them less desirable for most situations.

The camera's 16 megapixel images can appear soft straight out of the camera, requiring further sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop or adjusting the in-camera sharpening level.

Chromatic aberrations are fairly well controlled, but some purple fringing effects may appear in high contrast situations.

Macro performance is decent, allowing you to focus as close as 10cms away from the subject.

The camera's built-in flash works well indoors, with no red-eye and good overall exposure.

The anti-shake system is effective in low-light conditions or when using the telephoto end of the zoom range.

The maximum shutter speed of 16 seconds allows for capturing enough light for most after-dark situations.

Here are the different image quality settings available on the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2, with their corresponding file sizes and 100% crop examples:

The camera's optical image stabilization is effective, allowing for sharper images at slower shutter speeds.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 is a capable device, but it falls short in some areas. It has a quad-core 1.6GHz Samsung Exynos 4412 processor and 2GB RAM, which is a good setup, but it's more in line with today's lesser performing tablets.

The device runs Android 4.3 with Samsung's TouchWiz skin, but it's already running dated software, and with Android L incoming, it's soon to be two generations of Android behind.

The Galaxy Camera 2 is a Wi-Fi only device, which means you'll need to carry around a mobile hotspot or wait until you're within range of Wi-Fi to upload or share photos. This is a drawback compared to the Galaxy NX, which has always-on cellular connectivity.

As we wrap up our journey through the world of smart home technology, let's take a look at the exciting plans that were showcased at CES.

We saw some amazing innovations in home automation, with companies like Samsung and LG unveiling their latest smart home systems.

These systems promise to make our lives easier by allowing us to control everything from lighting to temperature with just the touch of a button.

One of the standout features was the integration of AI-powered assistants, which can learn our habits and preferences to provide personalized recommendations.

We also saw some impressive advancements in voice control, with devices that can understand multiple languages and even recognize our voices in noisy environments.

The future of smart home technology is looking brighter than ever, and we can't wait to see what's in store.

The Galaxy Camera 2 is a capable device, but it falls short in some areas. It runs Android 4.3, which is already dated software, and with Android L incoming, it's soon to be two generations of Android behind.

The device's processor and RAM are a significant upgrade over the original, but it's more in line with today's lesser performing tablets. Web browsing, Netflix streaming, and resource-intensive games like Asphalt 8 ran without a hitch.

The Galaxy Camera 2 has a quad-core 1.6GHz Samsung Exynos 4412 processor and 2GB RAM, which eclipsed the Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 in the Antutu overall system benchmark. However, it's not as fast as some other devices, with an autofocus speed of about 0.2-second to lock onto a stationary target.

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One of the biggest drawbacks of the Galaxy Camera 2 is its lack of cellular connectivity. It's a Wi-Fi only device, which means you'll need to carry around a mobile hotspot or wait until you're within range of Wi-Fi to upload or share photos.

The device's UI is smooth and responsive, with apps launching quickly and easily switching between multiple running apps. However, the lack of cellular connectivity and dated software hold it back from being a top-notch device.

If you're looking for alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2, here are a few options worth considering.

The Sony RX100 III is a compact camera with a 1-inch sensor and a 24-70mm lens, making it a great choice for those who want a high-quality camera without the bulk of a DSLR.

The Canon PowerShot G16 is another compact camera with a 1/1.7-inch sensor and a 5x optical zoom, similar to the Galaxy Camera 2's 21x optical zoom.

The Fujifilm X100T has a 16.4 megapixel APS-C sensor and a 23mm lens, making it a great option for those who want a more traditional camera feel.

The Nikon Coolpix A is a compact camera with a 16.2 megapixel APS-C sensor and a 28mm lens, offering high image quality and a range of manual controls.

The Olympus Stylus XZ-2 iHS is a compact camera with a 1/1.7-inch sensor and a 10x optical zoom, similar to the Galaxy Camera 2's 21x optical zoom.

These cameras may not have the exact same features as the Galaxy Camera 2, but they're all high-quality options worth considering if you're in the market for a new camera.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 is a powerful camera that lets you take stunning photos and videos.

The camera features a 16.3 megapixel sensor, which captures high-quality images even in low-light conditions.

You can also record full HD videos at 30fps, making it perfect for capturing life's precious moments.

The camera has a 21x optical zoom, which lets you capture distant subjects with clarity.

This feature is especially useful when you're trying to get a shot of a far-off landmark or a wildlife scene.