Samsung Galaxy Camera (Wi-Fi)

The 16-megapixel Samsung Galaxy Camera is a bit of a Frankenstein product—it's very large for a camera, even one with a 21x zoom lens, and thick when compared with a phone.

This version of the camera only supports Wi-Fi communication; you'll want to look at the AT&T Galaxy Camera or the Verizon Galaxy Camera if you want always-on 4G connectivity.

The default camera app gives you full control over the 21x (23-483mm equivalent) zoom lens. Having such a powerful zoom is one of the biggest advantages that the camera holds over smartphone cameras.

The Galaxy Camera is one of the weirder Android devices we've tested recently, just in general, too. Remove the camera, and you actually have a fun, sprightly little Android tablet, on par with a top smartphone and superior to all of Samsung's Galaxy Player handhelds.

The 1.4GHz, quad-core Samsung processor in the Galaxy Camera packs some serious punch. We run three system benchmarks: Antutu, Geekbench and Basemark OS. Averaging the three, the Camera was competitive with quad-core, high-end Qualcomm-based smartphones.

The Galaxy Camera features Wi-Fi 802.11n networking on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Hooking up to a 5GHz Wi-Fi network makes a huge difference here.

I used Imatest to check the Galaxy Camera's sharpness and noise control. Its lens manages 2,041 lines per picture height at its widest setting, a bit better than the 1,800 lines required for a sharp image. Noise is kept under 1.5 percent through ISO 800, and detail is actually pretty good at that setting and at ISO 1600.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera appeals to a very specific type of photographer. If you love Instagram and other Android camera applications, but aren't happy with the quality of the lens and sensor in your smartphone, the Galaxy Camera will be a boon to your photography.

We shot our standard studio scene using the Galaxy Camera.

This crop shows you the level of detail that the camera can capture.