Camera

Pressing the Camera Key on the right end of the hinge activates Samsung A970's 2.0-megapixel camera. Since the location of the lens is on the left end of the hinge, users will need to hold the phone sideways.

By converting the internal LCD into the viewfinder, the function of the swivel mechanism suddenly becomes apparent. Positioned like a camcorder, the twistable LCD adds versatility not found on previous camera phones. Allowing users to take self portraits or photos over the heads of a crowd, difficult angled shots have never been simpler.

But the lengthwise camera design also adds a revolutionary improvement with advanced features not previously possible in the past are included. Contrary to digital zoom, which merely crops photos, the A970 has a 2x optical zoom (controlled by pressing Up / Down on the navigational keypad) and auto-focus.

Allowing users to get closer without loss of resolution, the unusual orientation of the A970 allows the optics required for moving lenses. With previous devices, with lenses mounted on the front or back panel, there was no room for hardware, physical constraints which limited them to digital zoom.

Able to take photos at up to 1600 x 1200 px in resolution, image quality is highly detailed and great for making prints. Other resolution sizes include 1280 x 960 px, 1024 x 768 px, 800 x 600 px, 640 x 480 px, 320 x 240 px, and Picture ID.

Since the camera is the centerpiece of the A970, Samsung added an abundant selection of camera features, filters, and effects, allowing consumers unprecedented control over the shots they take. Bundled options include Picture Mode (Auto, Portrait, Scenic, Sports, Vivid, and Macro), Flash (Auto, Off, On This Shot, Always On), Self-Timer (Off, 2 sec, 5 sec, and 10 sec), Multi-Shot (Series Shot and Divided Shot), Quality (Economy, Normal, and Fine), Brightness (-4 to +4), White Balance (Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Manual), Color Effects (Normal, Monochrome, Sepia, Warm, Cold, Fog, Antique, Negative, Emboss, and Sketch), and Metering (Average, Center, and Spot).

Even the camcorder is allowed a few filters and effects. Encoded in 3GP2 codec (MPEG-4 and H.263 Video, and AMR Audio) format, video clips can be recorded as long as there is available memory, in excess of 15 minutes. Noticeably sluggish at times, at high resolutions users may experience choppiness and delayed responsiveness; problems which could stem from the firmware or processing power. Regardless, the video is mediocre at best, and consumers shouldn't expect anything more from a phone.

It's not difficult to notice a well-designed camera. As the first to feature optical zoom, and a rarity to include such robust and well-rounded functions, the A970 begins to blur the previously distinct line of camera phone and standalone digital camera.

Possible only through its unorthodox design, the available room in the hinge provides much needed real estate for optics and imaging. Aside from some blurring issues which require users to have steady hands, the A970 has superior camera with no contenders.

Basic Features

Released as a Verizon Wireless exclusive, the A970's Samsung user interface is replaced with a preconfigured Verizon menu found on most devices on their network. Exhibiting a overly simplistic layout, the menu structure is fast responding, however leaves only the bare essentials in usability.

Samsung rated the A970's 1000 mAh Li-Ion battery at 4.58 and 336 hours (14 days) of talk and standby times respectively. However, those are under optimal conditions. Handset manufacturers and carriers often list talk-time and standby-time ratings with disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times.

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