IFA 2012: Samsung introduces the ultimate smart camera

IFA, Berlin ( Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) - Phablets, which merge the size and features of smartphones and tablets are so last year! Samsung's gone and Frankensteined a smartphone and a point and shoot camera. The result is far from monstrous but something rather intriguing. The aptly named Samsung Galaxy Camera is a 16-megapixel shooter with a 4.8-inch LCD that also serves as the giant viewfinder and will be where most of the controls can be accessed. It has 21x zoom plus for those who were wondering, it does feature WiFi, 3G and even 4G which means it can be used as a phone. 

Powered by Android Jelly Bean, the Galaxy Camera is a game changer in the sense that it melds all the apps offered by an Android smartphone with a decent 1/2.33-inch BSI CMOS sensor-powered camera. Yes, Nokia's 41 Megapixel Pureview 808 is a better camera-phone in concept but the poor software offerings in Symbian make the Galaxy Camera the Mac Daddy of this sub-genre of smartphone.

If you're laughing out loud because, who would be caught making a phone call on a camera...well just think about all the users whose smartphone is their primary and only camera. Besides, since when did holding up something large and unwieldy to ones ear ever stop Samsung from pushing the boundaries of technology?

"The Galaxy Camera opens a new visual communication era and shifts a paradigm in communication. With the growth of social networks and the prevalence of smartphones and tablets, people today communicate faster than words. As we increasingly articulate our experiences through pictures and videos the Galaxy Camera has been created to lead the way in this new era of visual communication. Communication becomes more vivid and lively with high-quality images and instant sharing anywhere, anytime," said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

--Video above from TechnoBuffalo's YouTube page

Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile and Digital Content at Google, congratulated the Samsung team on their launch. “When we first started work on Android, we envisioned building a smart camera that would take digital photography to the next level. The Galaxy Camera is an innovative product that speaks to the openness and flexibility of the Android platform.”

Of course, Google is tickled pink because here's a litigation-free solution that's somewhat innovative and exciting. For Google, Android is like Frank's RedHot Sauce, they want to put it on everything!

Too early to tell but this and Nikon's Coolpix S800C (which is similar but runs an ancient variant of the Android OS) could start a new market niche where photography and video-focused smartphone apps get access to better hardware and result in even more photo sharing than we have now. 

Just shoot me: The Samsung Galaxy Camera brings Jelly Bean and a 4.8" screen to a point and shoot body

Isn't it just mind-boggling that we haven't seen this crossover of products on professional DSLRs and cameras. A 3G or 4G enabled DSLR would make tons of sense for photo journalists on field covering live events as they unfold. Very cool stuff from Samsung, and I can't wait to test it out once it makes its way to Canada.