The Bullitt Group, one of the companies licensing the Kodak brand name, has launched the Kodak Ektra smartphone. Named after Kodak’s 1941 Ektra rangefinder, the phone’s design attempts to mimic the look of a vintage analog camera. The back of the device features a small camera grip and is covered in leatherette. There is also a two-stage shutter-button and optional accessories include a range of retro-style leather pouches and cases.
Despite the camera-centric exterior, underneath the hood the Ektra is smartphone business as usual. The camera comes with a 21MP sensor, F2.0 aperture and optical image stabilization. A 26.5mm equivalent lens is offered, as is PDAF, 4K video and a dual-tone flash. A 13MP camera can be found at the front. The camera app features manual control over most shooting parameters and a wide range of filter effects for both videos and still images.
Other specifications include a 5” 1080p screen, Helio X20 chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage that is expandable via a microSD slot. The 3000mAh battery should provide more than enough juice for a day of shooting. Overall the Kodak Ektra comes with a good mid-range smartphone specification but is mostly about the vintage camera looks. It will be available in the UK this December for £450 (approximately $ 550). There are also plans to make the device available in the US in early 2017.
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KODAK EKTRA Smartphone is Designed for Photographers – from Enthusiasts to Experts
Photography-led smartphone features powerful imaging and editing capabilities
Rochester, NY, Thursday, October 20, 2016 —
Eastman Kodak Company and Bullitt Group today unveiled the KODAK EKTRA Smartphone, a photography-led smartphone designed for those with a passion for photography, from enthusiasts to experts. The KODAK EKTRA Smartphone fuses the best of Kodak’s rich history in imaging with the latest innovations in smartphone photography. Launching soon across Europe, the KODAK EKTRA Smartphone lets keen photographers capture exceptional images, whatever the environment, with an incredibly fast smartphone, tuned for the best in image quality and media management.
Jeff Clarke, Kodak Chief Executive, said: “Kodak has a rich history in imaging technology and the launch of the KODAK Smartphone today demonstrates our ongoing commitment to bringing the latest advances in photography to consumers. The original KODAK EKTRA Camera was launched in 1941 and in its latest reincarnation, opens up a world of creative opportunities to all who care about photography.”
At the heart of the KODAK EKTRA Smartphone is a 21-megapixel fast focus camera sensor with f2.0 aperture, and an industry leading 13-megapixel front-facing camera with Phase Detection Auto Focus PDAF and f2.2 aperture. The custom built camera app is controlled by an intuitive haptic touch, SLR-style Scene Selection Dial, where adjustments are made in real time via a range of settings including HDR, Landscape, Portrait, Macro, Sport, Night-time, Panorama and Bokeh, alongside a Smart Auto mode which auto-selects the best conditions for your photographs. In Manual mode, more advanced users can adjust exposure, ISO, focus, white balance and shutter speed, with the results being visible on the screen as changes are made.
The KODAK EKTRA Smartphone has an ergonomically weighted and high quality industrial design, underlining its camera styling and featuring a dedicated dual press shutter button in the horizontal style of traditional cameras. The device also features a Super 8 app, providing professional effects reminiscent of Kodak’s iconic Super 8 film stocks.A lightning-fast HELIO X20 Decacore processor powers the ANDROID Marshmallow smartphone.
The KODAK EKTRA Smartphone includes editing software from SNAPSEED, providing exceptional tools to edit images on-the-go, without having to download any additional apps. This enables users to transform images with professional results similar to many popular desktop image editors. Sharing the results in real time is also easy with integrated social media apps and the Prints app is a simple way to select your best shots to be professionally printed.
“It has been a joy to work with Kodak, their clear brand direction and photography knowledge, combined with our customer and technology insight has culminated in the beautiful and powerful KODAK EKTRA Smartphone,” said Peter Stephens, CEO Bullitt Group, mobile device licensee for Kodak. “We are excited to reach out to this dynamic and engaged photography category and look forward to getting this camera phone into people’s hands.”
KODAK EKTRA Smartphone key features:
- ANDROID 6.0 (Marshmallow)
- Professional results from a 21MP fast focus camera sensor with F2.0, PDAF, OIS, Dual LED Flash
- 13MP phase detection auto focus front-facing camera with F2.2 PDAF
- Helio X20 2.3GHz Decacore processor with 3GB RAM
- 32GB memory, expandable with MicroSD cards
- Advanced Manual Mode – adjustable on Exposure, ISO, Focal Length (Manual/Auto), White Balance, Shutter Speed, Aperture (fixed f2.0 main camera)
- Familiar scene selection dial experience – includes scene modes Smart Auto, Portrait, Manual, Sports, Bokeh, Night-time, HDR, Panorama, Macro, Landscape, Film / Video
- Integrated high quality printing app
- Super 8 Video Recorder
- Integrated social media sharing
- 3000mAh, with USB 3.0 Type C fast charger
The KODAK EKTRA Smartphone will be priced at £449 and available across Europe later this year.
To find out more visit; www.kodak.com/go/ektra
Register for updates on www.kodakphones.com
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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