Camera
As not-so-subtly hinted at in its name, the emphasis of the FlipShot
is on the camera. Fortunately, the phone presents a solid photographic experience
that lives up to the hype. At 3.0-megapixels the camera is not up to the
standards of a stand-alone digital camera, but it remains on the cutting-edge
for camera phones. Of course, the most exciting aspect of the FlipShot is
its design - a flip-around top screen that allows what looks like a cell-phone
object to transform into what looks like a digital-camera object. Offering
video and static photography, a variety of functions, and a sleek design,
the FlipShot's camera should introduce aficionados of cell phone photography
to a whole new level of mobile imaging.
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The phone's spotlighted "flip-and-twist" design is incredibly intuitive
and ergonomic. The user simply flips open the phone as if making a call,
gently twists the screen, and flips the lid shut again. In a fraction of
a second, the user appears to be holding a completely different device -
the cell phone has transformed into a cell phone almost instantaneously.
This feature is the FlipShot's big sell point, and it's wonderfully executed.
Not only is the transformation simple and fast, but the resulting "camera"
looks great. As mentioned earlier, the entire front panel comes off as a
unit for access to the battery case, removing the need for a separate battery
panel and the resulting unsightly seams.
Innovative design is all well and good, but only if it is equally matched
by quality function. Fortunately, the FlipShot is up to the challenge on
the functional level as well. The 3.0-megapixel lens is state-of-the-art
for camera phone technology. Furthermore, the camera's features cover all
the bases - a variety of settings, automatic modes, and handy functions,
ranging from Multi-Shot to Auto-Focus, and everything in between.
Under the Settings menu, users may set Color Effects (Normal, Black &
White, Sketch, Antique (Sepia), Negative, Emboss), White Balance (Auto,
Sunny, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent), Brightness (+/-4), ISO (Auto, 100,
200, 400), and Metering (Average, Center, Spot). The combination of these
features allow users to capture clear, well-lit images with optional special
effects. For further convenience, the user may set the Memory function to
save to either the phone or a separate (non-included) memory card.
A handful of other options allow the user to add some personal touches
to their photography experience. Icon Display offers a variety of display
options, including the Guidelines often found on stand-alone digital cameras.
The Ready Sound option caters to users too busy, forgetful or self-conscious
to personally warn their subjects of an impending photo. Once the shutter
is pressed, a perky young female voice will say either "1... 2... 3!", "Look
here," or the classic "Say Cheese!" (Those who like to issue their own or
no warnings can turn off the option completely). The Shutter Sound can be
turned off, or set to a standard "Shutter" sound effect, in addition to
the options "OK" and "Ding-Dong," the former of which sounds like it's being
spoken by a disinterested party in someone else's conversation, and the
former of which sounds exactly how one would expect it to. The Auto-Shot
feature allows photographers to take pictures with one light tap of the
shutter instead of two.
Other handy features available to enhance photographic quality include
Picture Mode (Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Night, Daylight, Backlight),
Flash (Off, On, Only This Shot, Auto), and Auto-Focus. Photo quality can
be further regulated by the Quality options (Fine, Normal, Economy), and
by a veritable host of resolutions, beginning at 2048 x 1536 px and working
all the way down to 160 x 120 px, with six stages in between. The Self-timer
lets everyone participate in a group shot, or lets the lone photographer
capture pensive self-portraits. Photographers out to have some fun or make
some art (or do both) should also enjoy Multi-Shot, which allows a Series
Shot (3, 5, or 10 rapid-fire photos), Divided Shot (2x2, 3x3, or 4x4 grids
of rapid-fire photos), and Panorama Shot.
The settings for the video camera are largely the same as those for the
regular camera, with the exception of some differing sound and color effects.
The camcorder also gives the user the convenient option to allow or disallow
calls from interrupting filming. Another convenient function optionally
limits the size of a video to that which can fit in a video message. Like
the camera, the camcorder also offers a self-timer for amateur filmmakers
without an extra pair of hands to hold the camera. Camcorder resolutions
are 320 x 240 px or 176 x 144 px (for video messaging). In addition to its
innovative design, the FlipShot camera offers a full range of photographic
options to support users in the quest for the perfect cell phone photo.
A potentially aggravating feature for new users is the camera's shutter
button. Someone at Samsung decided that it would be a good idea if completely
pressing down the shutter button switched the camera between regular and
camcorder mode. Unwitting (or simply hard-pressing) users may accidentally
shift between modes when simply trying to take a picture. In order to take
a picture with the regular camera, the user must press the shutter button
lightly once until the focus guidelines appear on the screen, and then lightly
again to secure the shot (the Auto-Shot feature allows one light press to
take a shot). Depending on how quickly a user gets used to this feature,
it could be either irrelevant or maddening. Any folks out there who love
to switch rapidly between video and static imaging will perhaps rejoice.
Other than the shutter button problem, the camera's functionality is
smooth and coherent. One button triggers the Options Menu, one button both
zooms and toggles through options on the menu, and the third (shutter) takes
pictures and selects options. Upon taking a picture, the user merely has
to flip the screen back into standard "phone" position in order to send
the picture in a message.
The FlipShot's very name spotlights its intuitive new camera design,
which certainly lives up to expectations. In addition to great design, the
camera offers a large range of settings, options, and features that enhance
the user's phone photography experience. Aside from the potential shutter
button issue, the camera functions as smoothly as any stand-alone digital
camera. While stand-alone cameras are of course years ahead in terms of
photo quality, the FlipShot offers an excellent, cutting-edge entry to the
world of mobile phone photography.
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