As an HTC user I’m always fond of non mainstream phones and discovering the benefits of the underdogs. Nokia is one of these phones, and the fact that Microsoft and Nokia decided to merge last month is exciting news for the Finnish manufacturer.
Back in the early days of phone fashion, everyone had a Nokia phone and there was a time where you didn’t hold anything else other than a Nokia, with its variety of different phone accessories and personalised covers. After pulling off a disappearing act throughout the smartphone boom, it is now back with a new and improved camera-centric phone: the Nokia Lumia 1020.
This is clearly the selling point of the new model and adapts to social networking photo frenzy currently engulfing users.
It is quite the sophisticated phone. With the buzz that is taking place around the 41 megapixel camera, I dove right in to discover if it’s true and what options are available in this unusual looking phone.
The first thing to note is that the sharpness of the pictures taken is unprecedented as the phone simultaneously captures a full resolution picture of up to 38 megapixels, while presenting you with a 5 megapixel photo that is easy to share.
The beauty of the zoom in the Lumia 1020 is that you can shoot first and zoom later, and, as you zoom in and reframe the image, there is no drop in the default 5 megapixel resolution.
You can fire up the camera by pressing the physical button on the top right of the phone, which saves time and takes you straight into the New Pro Camera app. Or you can touch on the tile on the home screen and start shooting.
The Nokia Pro camera gives you access to controls once reserved for professionals. The simple-to-adjust sliders even let you see how your actions impact the photo in real time to help you take better shots.
Once you first open the app, tutorials are run to demonstrate how to utilise all the different creative functions.
With features like action shots, focus effects, blur, and colour pop in the Creative Studio you can now get all the advanced effects that were once time consuming and reserved for graphic designers.
One of the most intriguing features to me was the cinemagraph effect that allows you to animate certain parts of the image while the surroundings stood still. So on a windy day when the trees in the background of the image are bustling, or your hair is blowing in the wind, you can actually demonstrate that in your photo and share it online.
The phone is organised in a very clear and simple tile system. Showcasing live images on the Start screen, quick sharing to social networks and access to files is made easy.
It is made even more efficient now as it’s on the latest handset in the Windows Phone Lumia range.
Adding further to the new headset, Nokia introduced a new camera grip that remotely charges the phone while complementing the device with features that are usually reserved for standalone cameras. The grip also has a tripod mount, and is expected to be available this month for an estimated retail price of $79.
At a price of $740, the new Nokia Lumia 1020 is truly the state-of-the art camera-centric phone. It perfectly caters to the instant, always-on social media, where people take and share photographs every minute of every day.
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