In summary
Panasonic is to be congratulated for developing the CM1 as it’s a step in a long-sought-after direction; producing truly ‘connected’ cameras. It also raises the performance bar for future smartphones. For both reasons, we think it merits an Editor’s Choice nomination, despite not being quite perfect as a camera.
The lack of a viewfinder and the short, single focal length lens are significant downsides, as is the absence of a tripod mount. Serious photographers might also wish for a few more external controls, although once you’re accustomed to them, the touch-screen controls are mostly quick to access and responsive.
We think photographers and bloggers who place a high priority on travelling ultra-light could well consider the CM1 as a serious option. While it’s bulkier and more expensive than a typical smartphone, its imaging capabilities and video performance are noticeably superior. Travellers who blog but want high-quality image files to print when they return home will get much more out of the CM1 than a regular smartphone, despite its limitations.
Full review
We’ve been waiting for a time when smartphones have imaging capabilities that could appeal to serious photographers. It appears to have arrived in Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-CM1, the first model that could qualify as a candidate for our Imatest testing. Announced at Photokina 2014, it has a larger-than-average, 1-inch type (12.8 x 9.6 mm) sensor with 20-megapixel resolution and also includes raw file support. We felt it has potential to appeal to our target readership.
Front view of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1. (Source: Panasonic.)
We’ve never reviewed a smartphone before and have minimal expertise in the related technologies, so this review will concentrate upon using the CM1 as a camera for recording still pictures and movie clips. The fact that it can record 4K movies and supports the same 4K Pre-Burst and 4K Photo applications as we reported on in our review of the Lumix DMC-G7 camera will add to its overall appeal.
The CM1 shares many features with conventional digital cameras. Its default aspect ratio for still pictures is 3:2, with other aspect ratios obtained by cropping. Options include the usual 16:9 HD video format as well as 4:3 and 1:1. Movie aspect ratios are 16:9, 4:3 and 1:1.
Who’s it For?
At a time when compact digicam sales have plummeted because most users are shooting with their smartphones, the CM1 offers better imaging performance than most smartphones and tablets. Some reviewers have remarked that a barrier to its general acceptance is its relatively high price tag, although at AU$1399 it’s similar to the prices of the high-end Apple iPhone 6 or the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge smartphones with 128GB capacities.
We feel a greater deterrent could be the lack of any kind of viewfinder or a built-in tripod socket. The CM1 is also a bit heavier than its main rivals and also quite a lot thicker. But its footprint isn’t quite as large, so it remains very pocketable. The table below shows the main photographic differences between the three devices.
|
|
Panasonic CM1 |
Apple iPhone 6 |
Samsung Galaxy 6 Edge |
|
Dimensions |
135.4 x 68 x 21.1 mm |
158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1 mm |
142.1 x 70.1 x 7.0 mm |
|
Weight |
204 grams |
172 grams |
132 grams |
|
Sensor size |
12.8 x 9.6 mm |
4.8 x 3.6 mm |
5.95 x 3.35 mm |
|
Lens |
~28mm f/2.8-f/11 |
~30mm f/2.2 |
~28mm f/1.9 |
|
Crop factor |
2.7x |
7.21x |
6.34x |
|
Main camera resolution |
20.1 megapixels |
8 megapixels |
15.9 megapixels |
|
Max. movie resolution |
4K (3840 x 2160 px) |
1920 x 1080 px |
4K (3840 x 2160 |
|
Max. internal storage |
16GB |
16GB, 64GB,128GB |
32GB, 64GB, 128GB |
|
Storage expansion |
microSDXC |
No |
No |
|
Battery capacity |
2600 mAh |
1810 mAh |
2600 mAh |
The 1-inch image sensor on gives the CM1 a significant advantage in image quality, particularly at higher ISO settings. With its 20-megapixel resolution, its photosites are about 2.5 microns; similar to those on Panasonic’s FZ1000 digicam, which appears to use the same sensor chip.
By contrast, the photosites on the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are roughly 1.5 microns and 1.12 microns, respectively, giving both smartphones less than one third of the light-capturing ability and between a third and a quarter of the resolution of the CM1. The CM1’s larger, Leica-branded 28mm (equivalent) f/2.8 lens would further improve image quality over its smartphone rivals.
Handling Raw Files
The ability to record RW2.RAW files could attract some serious photographers to the CM1 and our Imatest testing certainly found imaging performance was better with raw files than with JPEGs recorded simultaneously. Raw files and RAW+JPEG pairs appeared to be saved almost as quickly as JPEGs. However, before committing to recording raw files or RAW+JPEG pairs there are a few issues to take into account.
1. Raw files contain more data; typically between 22MB and 23MB, compared with around 10.5MB for JPEGs. If you plan to shoot raw files you will need a microSD card to expand the 16GB of built-in storage.
2. When raw files are played back on the CM1’s monitor, only the simplified JPEG-format thumbnail is shown, making assessment of the image difficult.
3. The large size of raw files prevents them from being uploaded directly to image sharing sites like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. The camera can’t email them, either.
4. Few Android apps can handle raw files and editing apps like Snapseed or Photoshop Express, which provide some support for viewing raw files, can’t edit them.
5. Although Android version 5.0 (Lollipop) provides support for Adobe’s DNG.RAW file format, the CM1 uses Android 4.4 (KitKat) and Panasonic’s proprietary RW2.RAW format. So even when an update to Android 5 becomes available, you would still need to view and edit raw files from the CM1 on your computer.
Although Panasonic’s camera app doesn’t let you view or edit raw files, Google’s Play Store offers an app called Raw Droid Pro (http://rawdroid.anthonymandra.com/) that lets you open raw stills on the monitor. It costs US$6.57 and provides a fairly basic way to edit them using the Panasonic app.
But the screen on the CM1 is really too small for any serious editing. So, if you plan to shoot raw files with the CM1 you should also be prepared to edit them on a laptop or desktop computer.
Fortunately, since the CM1 was launched in Europe in late 2014, the major third-party raw file conversion software developers have released compatible converters, making it unnecessary to use the clunky and ineffective Silkypix Developer Studio software Panasonic provides.
Build and Ergonomics
The CM1 is solidly built and its finish is of the same quality as Panasonic’s high-end digicams, like the LX100 we reviewed in January 2015. Like the LX100, its front panel is dominated by the lens, which is fixed in place and doesn’t extend.
The lens is Leica-branded, although made by Panasonic under a licensing agreement. Its focal length is roughly equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm camera and it supports aperture adjustments between f/2.8 and f/11 in a similar fashion to a normal camera, using a ring that surrounds the lens.
While the lens assembly is just over five centimetres in diameter, the front element of the lens is less than 1.5 cm in diameter. The control ring completely encircles the assembly and has a knurled shoulder to provide a secure grip plus click settings to minimise accidental re-adjustment.
Aside from the lens, the only other item on the front panel is a small LED flash which doubles as an AF-assist lamp. It has a claimed range of 0.6 to 5.3 metres with ISO set at auto and the camera seems to adjust both aperture and shutter speed to ensure correct exposures with different lighting conditions and ISO settings.
The rest of the camera’s front is covered with a textured black leather-like plastic that extends around the edges of the body. No grip moulding is provided and it’s not really necessary since you hold smartphones differently from cameras.
The rear panel of the DMC-CM1 when first powered-up.
The rear panel is almost completely covered by the monitor, a 4.7-inch LCD touchscreen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (equivalent to 6,220,000 dots). This screen lies flush with the body.
At its left hand end is a microphone earpiece and an inward-facing camera for video conferencing. This camera has a resolution of 1.07 megapixels, which is adequate for its purpose. It can record JPEGs and MP4 movie clips.
The top panel of the DMC-CM1.
Lined up along the top panel, from left, are a rocker switch that is used to adjust sound levels and camera functions that are assigned to it. Next comes the power on/off button, followed by the camera selector switch and the shutter button.
The camera selector switch is used when you want to switch quickly from the phone mode to the camera. It’s much quicker than using the icon on the touchscreen. Flicking this switch a second time will return you to the last screen you were using. (You can also trigger the shutter with the shutter release button or an on-screen button, depending on your preferences at the time.)
A speaker is embedded into the right hand end panel, while the left hand end panel houses the microUSB interface port for charging the battery (which can’t be removed). Below it is a jack for earphones or a headset (optional). A lift-up cover in the base plate protects the two card slots; one for a microSIM card and the other for the microSD expansion card.
The SIM and microSD card slots in the base of the DMC-CM1.
Like almost all camera-phones, the CM1 has no tripod socket. You can get around this problem by purchasing a tripod adapter, such as the Joby Grip Tight mount, which comes in various sizes (up to tablet size). It sells for around AU$13 or just under AU$30 with a GorillaPod stand included.
As a Camera
When used as a camera, the CM1 provides plenty of familiar controls and functions. It has a hybrid mechanical and electronic shutter in which the mechanical component supports shutter speeds between 60 and 1/2000 second, after which the electronic shutter takes over to extend the range to 1/16,000 second.
Focusing is contrast-based, which is somewhat slower than the phase-detection systems in the iPhone 6 and Samsung’s Galaxy cameras. However, face-detection AF is included and appears to work quite well, given optimal conditions. The normal focus range is from10 cm to infinity, with the macro setting focusing down to three centimetres.
The mode dial allows users to select the mode by touch.
In addition to the default Auto shooting mode, photographers can access P, A, S and M settings as well as two Custom memory banks, Panasonic’s standard array of Scene pre-sets, six Picture Styles, 18 Creative Control filters and in-camera adjustments for contrast, sharpness, noise reduction and saturation, along with colour tone tweaking for monochrome images.
The Scene preset menu provides sample illustrations and a brief summary of what each setting achieves.
Plenty of special effects are available in the Creative Control filters sub-menu.
There’s also a panorama mode that records a burst of JPEGs as the camera is panned across a scene. These are combined in the camera to produce a single image with a maximum horizontal resolution of around 3800 pixels and a vertical resolution of around 640 pixels. All controls are set to auto in this mode.
An inbuilt tilt sensor lets users display a level gauge on the monitor screen to help them keep horizons level. A histogram can be displayed on the monitor screen, along with a jitter alert warning. Focus peaking is also supported. No stabilisation, either optical or digital, appears to be available.
Creative Control options include background defocusing, which is adjusted with an on-screen slider. The High Dynamic (HDR) mode is also located in this sub-menu, along with other effects.
Zooming is adjusted by dragging the slider on the monitor screen.
Most shooting modes support in-camera zooming, with Extra Optical Zoom, Intelligent Zoom and Digital Zoom functions available. All crop the image to some degree, the Extra Optical Zoom involving simple cropping while the Intelligent Zoom and Digital Zoom involve both cropping and up-sampling to the selected resolution, probably using different algorithms. The touchscreen also supports pinch-in/spread-out zooming, except when the touch shutter is engaged.
Continuous shooting capabilities are much as you would expect from a digicam, with a maximum capture rate of 50 frames/second (fps) for 23 frames at 5-megapixel resolution (2736 x 1824 pixels) and up to 10 fps at full resolution. Raw files can’t be recorded in continuous bursts.
Focusing and exposure are fixed on the first frame of a burst and only the middle and low speed settings support Live View shooting. Continuous shooting performance can be affected by the speed of the recording media as well as the ISO setting and selected focusing mode.
Movie capabilities are interesting but rather limited. Although the CM1 supports 4K video, it’s limited to a frame resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and a recording rate of 15 fps. Full HD 1080p and HD 720p resolutions are supported, as well as VGA video and a square 1:1 format video, all at 30 fps. The table below provides details.
|
Movie mode |
Frame size |
Frame rate |
Bit rate |
|
4K 15p |
3840 x 2160 |
15 fps |
50 Mbps |
|
FHD 30p |
1920 x 1080 |
30 fps |
20 Mbps |
|
HD 30p |
1280 x 720 |
10 Mbps |
|
|
VGA 30p |
640 x 480 |
4 Mbps |
|
|
1:1 30p |
640 x 640 |
After selecting the recording format and resolution, you can select a metering pattern (multi, centre-weighted or spot), select the i.Dynamic and i.Resolution adjustments to minimise blown-out highlights and optimise resolution and also choose a suitable Photo Style. Options available include the default Standard setting as well as Vivid, Natural, Mono, Scenery and Portrait. Recordings are started and ended by pressing the red button on the screen.
Most shooting modes can be used with recording movies, including the P, A, S and M modes. Some Scene pre-sets and effects aren’t usable and the Clear Nightscape, Artistic Nightscape, Handheld Night Shot and Clear Night Portrait settings default to the Low Light mode.
Panasonic’s 4K Pre-Burst and 4K Photo applications are available when recording 4K movie clips and you can extract 8-megapixel JPEGs from a recorded 4K video stream; as you would with a normal digital camera.
Viewing an image in playback mode with shooting data overlaid.
Playing back shots is simple; you just tap the icon on the screen to reveal the last shot taken and swipe across the screen to move between shots. Pressing the Info button displays the shooting information, including RBG and brightness histograms.
All the apps you need to use the camera come pre-loaded and ready to access. They include Panasonic’s Camera app (which accesses the camera), the Gallery viewer/manager, 4K Pre-Burst and 4K Photo, Image App (for setting up Wi-Fi connections and geotagging), Photo Search, Google Photos, Timelapse, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter plus a link to Pashadelic.
Unlike most other digital cameras, the CM1’s battery is not user-accessible, which means you can’t carry a spare and swap over if power runs low when you’re out and about. However, the built-in 2600mAh Li-ion battery pack is relatively powerful for the imaging system it drives, giving the CM1 a CIPA rating of 300 shots per charge.
As a Smartphone
The CM1 is sold completely unlocked, which means you have to register it with your cellphone service provider. When this review was published, the main Australian telcos didn’t have the CM1 listed among the phones offered in their current plans.
Despite running the older Android 4.4 KitKat operating system, the CM1 is quite well specified for a smartphone. We understand the OS should be upgradeable to the latest version in the near future. The Qualcomm Snapdragon TM801 2.3GHz quad-core processor is backed up by 2GB of RAM, supporting all the functions you would expect of a high-end phone.
The phone interface is similar to other Android phones.
In-built sensors include an accelerometer, gyroscope and compass, as well as proximity, pressure and luminance detectors. Wireless support includes 4G LTE for the fastest data speeds, along with 3G (I, IV, V, VIII) and 2G (GSM850, GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900), plus all the popular ‘flavours’ of Wi-Fi as well as NFC and Bluetooth v.4.0. GPS support includes access to GLONASS satellite data as well as the American GPS system.
There are plenty of general use apps installed, including a clock, calculator, calendar and contacts file and apps that access news, weather and location information. You’ll also find the Chrome browser, Email and Gmail apps and links to Google, Google Drive, Google+ and Hangouts as well as a Docs app for creating documents and an e-document reader. A link to the Google Play Store makes it easy for you to download more apps if you wish.
Like all smartphones, the CM1 took a bit over a minute to power up, which is considerably slower than the slowest digital camera. However, if the phone was turned on, all the normal functions were accessible and the CM1 worked like a normal smartphone. Switching to the camera was quick and easy as all you need do is move the slider on the top panel.
Emailing pictures from the camera also proved straightforward once we had linked with our Gmail account. You simply select the image you want to transmit, tap the three square dots icon on the screen to open the tasks list and select the attachment tab. Then it’s just a matter of entering the recipient’s email address and your message and tapping the send button to dispatch it.
We were able to connect the CM1 to our home Wi-Fi network but not to the Canon PIXMA PRO-100S printer we were reviewing. Attempts to connect the camera to this printer via Bluetooth also failed, so we suspect the problems lie with the printer interface.
We don’t see this as a major problem for most potential users of the CM1. To obtain the best results from raw files, users will need to edit their shots with Photoshop (or a similar editor) and print directly from it. This is likely to be the preferred option for most serious photographers.
Imaging Performance
Subjective assessments of test shots showed them to be acceptably sharp and nicely colour accurate with well-controlled contrast and saturation. Raw files converted into 16-bit TIFF format with Adobe Camera Raw provided plenty of scope for editing and produced slightly better-looking images. A touch of post-capture unsharp masking was advantageous for both JPEGs and converted raw files.
Our Imatest tests showed JPEG files fell well short of expectations for the sensor’s resolution. Converted raw files fared better but didn’t quite meet expectations. However resolution held up well across the supported (rather large) ISO range, as shown in the graph of our Imatest results below.
These results aren’t unexpected, given the relatively small lens and the difficulties we had steadying the camera enough to make usable measurements due to the lack of a tripod socket on the camera. (A DIY solution with a couple of rubber bands plus some temporary modifications to the tripod head proved satisfactory.)
The lens exhibited slight edge softening at wider aperture settings but steadied towards the middle of the aperture range. Diffraction took effect around f/8, where resolution dropped sharply, as shown in the graph of our Imatest results below.
Lateral chromatic aberration was negligible, with our test results hovering just below the border between negligible and low CA, as shown by the red line in the graph of our Imatest results below.
Despite the slightly below-par Imatest results, shots taken in low light levels with high ISO settings were quite impressive. Interestingly, when set to auto ISO mode with no restrictions to its range, the camera opted for slower shutter speeds rather than increasing ISO above 1600.
Flash exposures revealed a distinct softening and loss of contrast in shots taken at the highest ISO settings, with ISO 3200 being the cut-off point at which quality loss became visually detectable. Shots taken at ISO 6400 were printable at modest sizes but noise could be seen when viewed on-screen with 100% magnification.
Auto exposure performance was impressive. Regardless of which metering pattern we used and the subject’s lighting conditions, the review camera produced well-exposed shots. It also made a decent fist of subjects with mixed lighting although, in our standard tests, the auto white balance control was unable to remove the warm cast of incandescent lighting.
Panasonic doesn’t provide pre-sets for fluorescent or flash lighting but the camera delivered neutral colours with both. In-camera colour adjustments are available for tweaking colour balance and you can select Kelvin temperature adjustments if desired. Custom measurements provided good correction for incandescent lighting.
Autofocusing was a bit of a mixed bag. In bright conditions, focusing was satisfactorily fast and accurate but performance slipped a bit with low light levels and low contrast subjects. This is common in most cameras. The touch AF function provided an easy work-around for this problem.
Video quality was quite impressive, particularly with respect to frame sharpness when the 4K setting was used. However, the 15 fps frame rate with this setting could make fast-moving subjects appear a little jittery, whereas the lower-resolution modes recorded very smooth motion.
While you can use the digital zoom function while recording movie clips, we wouldn’t recommend it for the 720p and VGA modes as it results in a visible loss of image quality. It can be OK with the 4K and 1080p settings, however, where it can produce some useful zoomed frame grabs for online use.
In general, we can say that the phone operations proceeded at what would be considered a normal speed for a smartphone and the camera operations were acceptably fast once the device was running. But during our timing tests we found it impossible to time the processing of individual image files because the camera provides no indication of when processing is complete. This suggests it’s very brief.
Shot-to-shot times could be as fast as you could tap the shutter button. We averaged a consistent 0.9 seconds over 10 frames for JPEGs. When shooting raw files (or RAW+JPEG pairs), the average was just over one second, caused by slightly longer processing times between shots.
Continuous shooting was in line with specifications but the camera’s buffer memory limits the number of frames it can record. With the Super High Speed mode we were able to record 23 frames at 2736 x1824 pixel resolution in 6.5 seconds. Processing appeared to be completed within 1.5 seconds of the last frame.
The High Speed mode recorded at full 5472 x 3648 pixel resolution but only captured nine frames in 1.7 seconds. Processing this burst took just over four seconds. In the Medium Speed mode the camera appeared to have unlimited capacity for the 5472 x 3648 pixel files.
Twenty-two files were recorded in 6.9 seconds without any sign of the camera slowing. Processing was completed within 6.5 seconds of the last frame recorded. ‘Unlimited’ capacity was also the order for the Low Speed mode, which recorded 23 frames in 10.1 seconds. Processing appeared to be on-the-fly as it was completed within half a second of the last frame captured.
Conclusion
Panasonic is to be congratulated for developing the CM1 as it’s a step in a long-sought-after direction; producing truly ‘connected’ cameras. It also raises the performance bar for future smartphones. For both reasons, we think it merits an Editor’s Choice nomination, despite not being quite perfect as a camera.
As mentioned, the lack of a viewfinder and the short, single focal length lens are significant downsides, as is the absence of a tripod mount. Serious photographers might also wish for a few more external controls, although once you’re accustomed to them, the touch-screen controls are mostly quick to access and responsive.
We think photographers and bloggers who place a high priority on travelling ultra-light could well consider the CM1 as a serious option. While it’s bulkier and more expensive than a typical smartphone, its imaging capabilities and video performance are noticeably superior. Travellers who blog but want high-quality image files to print when they return home will get much more out of the CM1 than a regular smartphone, despite its limitations.
At an RRP of AU$1399, the CM1 isn’t cheap, although it’s similar to the highest-capacity high-end smartphones from Apple and Samsung. However it has the not insignificant advantage of removable memory cards, which means storage isn’t limited. But battery capacity is, and that’s another downside to take into account.
Discounting appears not to have begun yet since the CM1 has only just been released. The lowest online price we’ve found from a reputable local re-seller is AU$1271, which is about $300 more than the prices quoted by off-shore re-sellers, where the CM1 has been available a bit longer. Time in the market will probably reduce this a bit as it has with other imaging products.
SPECS
Image sensor: 12.8 x 9.6 mm High Sensitivity MOS sensor with 20.9 million photosites (20.1 megapixels effective)
Image processor: Venus Engine
Lens: Leica DC Elmarit 10.2mm f/2.8-f/11 (~28mm in 35 mm format)
Zoom ratio: 2x digital, Extra Optical Zoom max.: Picture Quality M: 1.32x; S: 2.0x; XS: Max. 4x (4:3 / 1:1)
Image formats: Stills – JPEG (DCF / Exif 2.3), RAW; Movies – MP4
Max. Image Sizes: Stills – 4:3 4864 x 3648, 3456 x 2592, 2432 x 1824, 640 x 480; 3:2 5472 x 3648, 3888 x 2592, 2736 x 1824, 1920 x 1280;16:9 5472 x 3080, 3840 x 2160, 2560 x 1440, 1920 x 1080;1:1 3648 x 3648, 2592 x 2592, 1824 x 1824, 640 x 640 Movies – 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) 15p / Full HD (1920 x 1080) 30p
Shutter type / speed range: Mechanical & electronic; 60-1/2000 seconds mechanical; Max. 1/16000 second electronic; Movies: 1/30 – 1/16,000 sec
Self-timer: 2 or 10 seconds delay
Image Stabilisation: No
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3EV in 1/3EV steps
Bracketing: AE – 3 frames in 1/3, 2/3 or 1 EV steps, Max. +/-1 EV
Focus system/range: Contrast-based AF with Face Detection / Tracking / 23-area / 1-area; range:10 cm to infinity; macro to 3 cm
Exposure metering/control: Intelligent Multiple, Centre Weighted, Spot
Shooting modes: Intelligent Auto, Intelligent Auto Plus, P, A, S, M, C1 (Custom), C2 (Custom), Scene Guide, Creative Control, Panorama Shot
Scene pre-sets: Clear Portrait, Silky Skin, Backlit Softness, Relaxing Tone, Sweet Child’s Face, Distinct Scenery, Bright Blue Sky, Romantic Sunset Glow, Vivid Sunset Glow, Glistening Water, Clear Nightscape, Cool Night Sky, Warm Glowing Nightscape, Artistic Nightscape, Glittering Illuminations, Handheld Night Shot, Clear Night Portrait, Appetizing Food, Cute Dessert, Freeze Animal Motion, Clear Sports Shot, Monochrome
Picture Styles: Standard, Vivid, Natural,Monochrome, Scenery, Portrait
Picture Adjustments: Contrast, Sharpness, Noise Reduction, Saturation, Colour Tone (Monochrome mode only)
Creative Control filters: Expressive, Retro, Old Days, High Key, Low Key, Sepia, Monochrome, Dynamic Monochrome, Impressive Art, High Dynamic, Cross Process, Toy Effect, Toy Pop, Bleach Bypass, Miniature Effect, Fantasy, Star Filter, One Point Colour (18 filters)
Colour space: sRGB, AdobeRGB
ISO range: Auto, i.ISO, ISO 100 to ISO 25600 in 1 or 1/3 EV steps
White balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent, White Set, Colour Temperature (White Balance Adjustment
Flash modes/range (ISO auto): Auto, Forced On, Always On, Forced Off; range 0.6 – 5.3m (ISO Auto); red-eye correction is available
Sequence shooting: SH 50 fps (max. 5M size, max. 23 JPEG); H 10 fps (max. 5 20MP JPEG, max. 3 RAW+JPEG); M 5 fps (with Live View, max. 6 ; JPEG, max. 3 RAW+JPEG); L 2 fps (with Live View, max. 9 JPEG, max. 3 images RAW+JPEG)
Internal memory: 16GB ROM, 2 GB RAM
Storage Media: microSDXC, up to 128GB
Viewfinder: None
LCD monitor: 4.7-inch Full HD LCD Touch Screen with 6,220,000 dots
Network OS: Android 4.4 (KitKat)
Processor: Qualcomm MSM8974AB 2.3GHz Quad-core
SIM: microSIM Class B / Class C
Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass, Pressure, Luminance
Baseband Supported Band: 4G: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20 3G: I, IV, V, VIII 2G: GSM850, GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900
Connectivity: Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4GHz (1-13ch). NFC. Bluetooth, GPS (GLONASS)
Interface connections: Microphone (Stereo) / Speaker (Mono), USB 2.0 ( High Speed ), headphone socket (φ3.5mm 3-pin / 4-pin)
Power supply: Li-ion Battery Pack (3.8V, 2600mAh, 9.9Wh)
Battery life: Still Image: 300 pictures (CIPA Standard) (*7) Motion Picture (*4): Continuous Recordable Time: 100 min (4K), 130 min (FHD) Actual Recordable Time: 70 min (4K), 90 min (FHD) Standby: 630 hours (3G), 560 hours (GSM) Talk: 12 hours (3G), 11 hours (GSM)
Battery charging: 150 minutes (100% charge)
Dimensions (wxhxd): 135.4 x 68 x 21.1 mm
Weight: 204 grams (with battery, SIM Card and memory card)
TESTS
Based on JPEG files.
Based on RW2.RAW files converted into 16-bit TIFF format with Adobe Camera Raw.
SAMPLES
Auto white balance with incandescent lighting.
Auto white balance with fluorescent lighting.
Auto white balance with flash.
Flash exposure at ISO 100;1/8 second at f/2.8, 2x digital zoom.
Flash exposure at ISO 3200; 1/40 second at f/2.8, 2x digital zoom.
Flash exposure at ISO 6400; 1/100 second at f/2.8, 2x digital zoom.
Flash exposure at ISO 12800; 1/125 second at f/3.5, 2x digital zoom.
Flash exposure at ISO 25600; 1/200 second at f/4, 2x digital zoom.
No zoom; 10.2mm focal length, ISO 125, 1/500 second at f/4.
2x digital zoom; 10.2mm focal length, ISO 125, 1/400 second at f/4.
4x digital zoom; 10.2mm focal length, ISO 125, 1/400 second at f/4.
Close-up with defocus at maximum; 10.2mm focal length (4x zoom), ISO 125, 1/800 second at f/4.
Close-up at f/2.8; 10.2mm focal length (4x zoom), ISO 100, 1/1300 second at f/2.8.
Close-up at f/11; 10.2mm focal length (4x zoom), ISO 100, 1/80 second at f/11.
10.2mm focal length (no zoom), ISO 200, 1/60 second at f/2.8.
10.2mm focal length (no zoom), ISO 125, 1/125 second at f/2.8.
10.2mm focal length (no zoom), ISO 2500, 1/60 second at f/3.2.
10.2mm focal length (no zoom), ISO 1250, 1/30 second at f/4.
10.2mm focal length (no zoom), ISO 1600, 1/30 second at f/2.8.
10.2mm focal length (no zoom), ISO 3200, 1/25 second at f/2.8.
10.2mm focal length (no zoom), ISO 1600, 1/25 second at f/2.8.
Still frame captured while recording a 1080p movie clip; minimal EXIF data available.
Still frame from 4K movie clip without zoom engaged.
Still frame from 4K movie clip with 2x digital zoom.
Still frame from Full HD 1080p movie clip without zoom engaged.
Still frame from HD 720p movie clip without zoom engaged.
Still frame from HD 720p movie clip with 2x digital zoom.
Still frame from VGA movie clip without zoom engaged.
Rating
RRP: AU$1399; US$999.99
- Build: 9.0
- Ease of use: 8.8
- Autofocusing: 8.5
- Image quality JPEG: 8.5
- Image quality RAW: 8.8
- Video quality: 8.8