It all began the day mobile companies thought it would be great to add a camera to phones. And now, Nikon seems to be fighting back with a camera that runs a smartphone operating system (OS).
The S800c looks like any point-and-shoot, but with enough metal in its fabrication to seem premium. But its true differentiator is that it runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
Switch it on and you are prompted to connect to Wi-Fi with its built-in receiver and set up the device with a Google account. The camera latches on to wireless connections easily, and just like that, you're ready to go. Email, browsing, social networking work smoothly, and the Play Store lets you download Android apps onto its 1.7GB internal storage.
Games like Angry Birds and Subway Surfer pose no issues. And its larger-than-average 3.5-inch touchscreen responds promptly to taps and swipes. But try 3D games like Dead Trigger and the S800c protests by crashing the app, reminding you that it's still a digital camera.
So what about the camera?
Given that it has a 16MP sensor and 10x optical zoom, the camera's output is on par with similar shooters. Videos are shot in FullHD with stereo sound, colours look realistic, and pictures are satisfactorily sharp, though you would be kidding yourself if you expect snaps like those of similarly priced entry-level DSLRs and mirror-less cameras. And when compared with superzooms in this bracket, the photo output is almost identical, so the choice is between greater optical zoom and Android.
Still, you have to remind yourself that the S800c is not about the camera alone. It's a device that needs to be judged along with the apps that it lets you run. Indeed, with Android at the helm, it becomes easy for users to 'build' their own camera by choosing from a wide array of photo apps. With Instagram and Pixlr-o-matic on the shooter, we could click a photo, apply effects, and even upload it to the internet if there was a Wi-Fi connection at hand. And seriously, images after that kind of digital processing look fantastic despite the apps processing lower-res downscaled images.
On the downside, lack of 3G capability can be frustrating because you have to wait till you're in a Wi-Fi zone before you can share your digital masterpieces with friends and family.
Also, Android can be a real juicedrainer. The S800c has a CIPA rating of 140 shots per charge, but that does not take web browsing and apps into consideration. There were times when we found ourselves charging the camera after 40-50 photos. Is it worth it or just a gimmick?
Overall, the Nikon S800c is a decent first attempt at merging a smart OS with "proper" camera hardware. Its lack of anywhere-internet, however, mars the whole purpose of running Android on it. The true capability of such a camera will be realized when developers begin creating apps that can process larger-size images and take advantage of the superior optics and image processors.
Still, when coupled with today's apps, the S800c is capable of better pictures than most point-and-shoots, so the Android experiment actually pays off. However, at its price, it falls short of getting our whole-hearted recommendation.
Pros: Runs Android, photo apps; Great build quality; 1.7GB storage; Good touchscreen; Built-in Wi-Fi
Cons: Expensive; Lack of 3G support; Poor battery life
The S800c looks like any point-and-shoot, but with enough metal in its fabrication to seem premium. But its true differentiator is that it runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
Switch it on and you are prompted to connect to Wi-Fi with its built-in receiver and set up the device with a Google account. The camera latches on to wireless connections easily, and just like that, you're ready to go. Email, browsing, social networking work smoothly, and the Play Store lets you download Android apps onto its 1.7GB internal storage.
Games like Angry Birds and Subway Surfer pose no issues. And its larger-than-average 3.5-inch touchscreen responds promptly to taps and swipes. But try 3D games like Dead Trigger and the S800c protests by crashing the app, reminding you that it's still a digital camera.
So what about the camera?
Given that it has a 16MP sensor and 10x optical zoom, the camera's output is on par with similar shooters. Videos are shot in FullHD with stereo sound, colours look realistic, and pictures are satisfactorily sharp, though you would be kidding yourself if you expect snaps like those of similarly priced entry-level DSLRs and mirror-less cameras. And when compared with superzooms in this bracket, the photo output is almost identical, so the choice is between greater optical zoom and Android.
Still, you have to remind yourself that the S800c is not about the camera alone. It's a device that needs to be judged along with the apps that it lets you run. Indeed, with Android at the helm, it becomes easy for users to 'build' their own camera by choosing from a wide array of photo apps. With Instagram and Pixlr-o-matic on the shooter, we could click a photo, apply effects, and even upload it to the internet if there was a Wi-Fi connection at hand. And seriously, images after that kind of digital processing look fantastic despite the apps processing lower-res downscaled images.
On the downside, lack of 3G capability can be frustrating because you have to wait till you're in a Wi-Fi zone before you can share your digital masterpieces with friends and family.
Also, Android can be a real juicedrainer. The S800c has a CIPA rating of 140 shots per charge, but that does not take web browsing and apps into consideration. There were times when we found ourselves charging the camera after 40-50 photos. Is it worth it or just a gimmick?
Overall, the Nikon S800c is a decent first attempt at merging a smart OS with "proper" camera hardware. Its lack of anywhere-internet, however, mars the whole purpose of running Android on it. The true capability of such a camera will be realized when developers begin creating apps that can process larger-size images and take advantage of the superior optics and image processors.
Still, when coupled with today's apps, the S800c is capable of better pictures than most point-and-shoots, so the Android experiment actually pays off. However, at its price, it falls short of getting our whole-hearted recommendation.
Pros: Runs Android, photo apps; Great build quality; 1.7GB storage; Good touchscreen; Built-in Wi-Fi
Cons: Expensive; Lack of 3G support; Poor battery life
Source:- The Times of India
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