Unusually for a cameraphone, the G800 has an anti-shake image stabilisation option, though it's hidden away in the settings sub-menu. Even more unusually, Samsung has added a face-detection autofocus option. As well as being able to use standard autofocus, with the camera button acting as a two-step shutter control, if you turn face detection on, the camera will automatically adjust other settings to optimise people shots. This works remarkably well, even in so-so lighting conditions.
While bright lighting conditions naturally help most cameras, the G800 features Samsung’s Wide Dynamic Range technology that’s designed to improve results when backlighting or varying light sources would otherwise adversely affect the exposure of subjects.
The back looks like a standalone digital camera
There are a range of settings to tweak the default auto mode: four additional white balance settings; exposure control; and options to regulate contrast, saturation and sharpness. You can change ISO settings for tweaking light sensitivity and even adjust exposure metering.
Other, more commonplace cameraphone settings, such as multi-shot and panoramic shooting; adding frames and effects; and mosaic shooting, are offered. Then there’s the timer and macro mode to choose from, plus a red-eye reduction option in the flash menu. That’s no bad set of options for a phone.
The results from the camera are exceptional - you can achieve superbly-detailed shots, with accurate colour rendition, and it copes impressively with tricky lighting. Shots look good printed as well as on a computer screen, and there's no great delay in processing images to frustrate you.
Photos and videos can also be uploaded to a wide variety of blogs and community websites – including Flickr, Facebook and YouTube – thanks to pre-loaded link to the ShoZu service. A ShoZu account can be created on the phone, while you can configure your account online to upload content to your preferred sites.
The video capabilities of the G800 aren’t on a par with its stills quality, however. It shoots at maximum QVGA resolution (320 x 240), so while they look decent on the phone they’re not particularly impressive on a computer or TV.
COMMENTS
but
can the MP3 player handle more than 20 tracks? the e900 couldn't and that was pretty recent. Also, have they started supporting phones after sale yet? firmware update anyone? warranty voided, you lose!!
The camera is crap
Just sent one of these back today, as the camera is useless in the situations you are most likely to use a camera phone, i.e. indoors with poor lighting with the camera settings on auto (the flash just does not help either) - and it had a tendency to switch off auto at will.
OK to be fair if you've never used a Sony Ericsson K750, K800, etc you might like the Samsung G800 camera, but in comparison they beat it easily.
If this had been a Sony I'd have waited for a firmware upgrade, but I could see little evidence on the Samsung support site that such updates were common. So back it's gone - remarkable how all the media reviews of this phone are singing it's praises, enough to make one wonder uncharitable thoughts.
Thank goodness, a proper (non video) review
Some sample pics would have been nice though (to see how good the optical zoom is). I wouldn't mind seeing a video of the phone in operation (but in addition, not instead of) - just to see how responsive it is.
"Unusually for a cameraphone, the G800 has an anti-shake image stabilisation option" - I have this on my K800i which is an obsolete phone
"Then there’s the timer and macro mode to choose from, plus a red-eye reduction option in the flash menu. That’s no bad set of options for a phone." - again I have this on my K800i which is an obsolete phone
Still, I don't want to complain too much in case we end up with style over substance and head down the "video only review" route again...
