Hybrid heaven - Samsung Galaxy's K Zoom

The hybrid Galaxy K Zoom provides 20MP resoluion and comes with a 10x extendable optical lens. Image: SAM Mobile

From the front it looks just like a Galaxy phone, but click to the camera and a full-sized lens emerges from the back cover, capable of 10x optical zoom, and packing 20,7MP image quality

It's a handy combination if you want to carry one less gadget with you, but find the fixed lens, digital zoom functions of an average phone camera limiting.

Having said that, this hybrid requires certain trade-offs. First, to accommodate the lens, the body has bulked up considerably. This also makes it heftier and particularly top heavy.

Unlike the light and slim Galaxy 4 or 5 models, the phone grip takes some getting used to, especially since the lens is placed at just the point your fingers tends to land on when holding it upright for typing. You'll adapt, but it might take a while.

Bulky but a great camera phone

Because of this, it's a good choice for a phone-camera option for someone who is less into Twitter and e-mail, and more into Instagram and visual social media. Also, I'd be terrified to drop it from even a middling height. Maybe it's sturdier than it seems, but that's a whole lot of technology held in one hand.

Frankly, though the camera won't replace a professional DSLR, my happy snaps and Instagrams have never looked better, especially with the option to zoom optically, and to change ISO and other settings.

It has 8GB of internal storage - extendable with a microSD card. It also has screen resolution of 720 x 1280 - not top of range, but very capable - and the screen holds up decently in bright light. As a phone alone, this wouldn't hold its ground against top-end competitors, but as a combined phone and camera it makes a whole other sales pitch.

Source: Financial Mail via I-Net Bridge