Last Updated on 07/11/2013 by Chris Gampat
Nokia is aiming at the professional photographer with their brand new Lumia 1020 smartphone. With a 4.5 inch AMOLED display and a Zeiss lens in front of the 41MP imaging sensor, even a complete amateur can create compelling photos with a device like this. But there is also one killer feature for the advanced user: manual shutter speed. Though the aperture is fixed at f2.2, the ISO is also variable. Plus there is manual white balance, and loads more including a grip that makes the phone feel like a Samsung NX series camera.
We were able to spend some quality time with the phone today in NYC; as well as get a full demo video.
Demo Video
We were able to shoot a brief demo video of the phone in action. Check it out above.
Tech Specs
Nokia Lumia 1020
- Operating system – Windows Phone 8
Networks
- GSM: 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz
- WCDMA: 2100 MHz, 1900 MHz, 850 MHz, 900 MHz
- LTE network bands 1, 3, 7, 20, 8
- HSPA+ DL Cat 24, Dual Carrier 42.1 Mbps/UL Cat5.76 Mbps
- Here Location and Mapping Service: Free global HERE Maps and HERE Drive+, free HERE transit available in the store
Memory
- 2GB RAM, 32GB internal user memory, 7GB Skydrive cloud storage
Display
- 4.5 inch AMOLED WXGA (1280 x 768) 2.5D sculpted glass Gorilla Glass 3, PureMotion HD+ ClearBlack, High Brightness Mode, Sunlight readability, Super sensitive touch for nail and glove usage
Processor
- 1.5 Ghz dual-core Snapdragon (no word on which snapdragon processor though)
Camera
- PureView 41 MP sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), Backside-illuminated image sensor, 6 lens optics, High resolution zoom 3x, Autofocus, Xenon Flash, LED for video, 1080p video at 30 fps, Includes Nokia Pro Camera mode and Nokia Smart Camera Mode.
Secondary Camera
- HD 1.2 Megapixel wide angle
Size
- 130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4 mm
Weight
- 158 grams
Connectivity
- USB 2.0, BT 3.0, NFC with SIM based security, WLAN a/b/g/n, A-GPS and Glonass, 3.5 mm audio connector
Battery
- 2000 mAh battery, Wireless Charging supported via accessory cover
Audio
- IHF speakers, 2 microphones, HD voice compliant, 3.5mm AV connector
Key Features
- 41 Megapixel sensor captures the sharpest images with details never though possible from a smartphone
- Nokia Pro Camera boosts creativity through simple and easy to user controls usually reserved for the expert photographer
- Nokia Rich Recording delivers distortion free stereo audio in the loudest environments
- Comes with the only fully integrated and true offline Global maps experience from the HERE location suite
Nokia original accessories
Nokia Camera Grip PD-95G:
- Confidence to take the perfect shot
- Built-in extra battery for longer usage
- Ergonomic grip with a two-stage camera key
- Universal tripod-mount
Nokia Wireless Charging Cover CC-3066:
- Effortless Wireless charging is just a snap away
- Enable wireless charging with form fitting Qi compliant snap-on cover
Colors
- Yellow, White, Black
Operating times
- Maximum talk time (3G): 13.3 h
- Standby time: 16 Days
- Video Playback time: 6.8 hours
- Music Playback time: 63 hours
Ergonomics
The new Nokia Lumia 1020 has one of the best ergonomic designs I’ve felt for a cameraphone. Though competitors such as those from Apple, Samsung and HTC all have excellent products, this one seems like it was designed from the ground up to support and lure in photographers. It starts with the gorgeous 4.5 inch LCD screen on the front. Despite the fact that it is a Windows phone system only, that shouldn’t totally deter you away.
Here is also where the front camera is housed: but it is only a 1.2MP sensor device.
The phone is extremely thin and felt comfortable being slipped into the pockets of the skinny jeans I was wearing. But as you’ll see, there is something protruding about a bit on the side. That is the camera. But on the side shown here, here is an on/off/sleep button, camera shutter button, and volume controls.
On the top of the phone is a headphone jack that is dead center. Personally, this is a bit of an odd placement as I’ve traditionally see it on one of the sides on the top of a phone.
The business side of the phone though is definitely the camera. A 41MP sensor is behind that Zeiss lens, and there is also an autofocusing assist lamp and a Xenon flash. The outer element of the lens is made of Gorilla glass for extra protection.
Since this phone is targeted at pros, I asked if the flash can act as an infrared slave commander. However, it can’t.
The phone can also be used with an attachment that goes around it to give it a physical grip with working shutter button. Though it adds some more bulk to it, it feels quite nice. We were reminded of a Samsung NX camera.
Autofocusing
In our demo of the product, we saw extremely fast focusing abilities in both photo and video mode. In fact, there is functional manual focusing as well. If you’re in video mode, you can zoom into a subject, get perfect focus and then zoom back out the way that they used to do in the video world. There is no peaking function as far as I saw.
Ease of Use
When using the Nokia Pro Camera app, you can see loads of cool new settings. The user can control the flash, white balance, focusing, ISO, shutter speed, and see the EV rating as well as control it. Those controls are along the top. When adjusting the shutter speed, you’ll be able to see the EV rating change as well, though it is subtle. The awesome thing about this cameraphone is the ability to shoot at 1/16,000. Plus it goes up to ISO 4000.
Not too shabby at all.
If you slide the camera on the right to the left, you’ll get a display like this. And by sliding it again to the left, everything goes back into Auto mode.
Image Quality
We asked the Nokia reps if we could shoot our own photos with the camera and email them to ourselves. However, they stated no. While the bodies are fully function production units, the firmware wasn’t final in the phones that we played with today.
First Impressions
This phone has to be one of the most impressive handset devices that have specifically made an aim at photographers. And despite how awesome the handset is as an actual camera, we have to think about the other functions of a phone. With that said, we didn’t test the call quality, multi-tasking abilities, or anything else. It was really just about checking out the images.
We’ll try to get our hands on a review unit soon. And the point and shoot market? Well, it should be scared of this cameraphone for sure.
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