Categories: Technology

Are compact cameras turning into smartphones?

You would usually find us here talking about how smartphones are replacing compact cameras but now, with the announcement of Nikon’s first Android-powered camera, the Coolpix S800c, are cameras turning into smartphones?

That statement may be a slight exaggeration but compact cameras are even beginning to look more like smartphones. With the addition of the accustomed Android home screen on a camera’s display, and their increasingly thinning profile, at first glance both devices are hard to distinguish.

It seems that a convergence is occurring on both sides that will eventually lead to a single communications / superior media capturing device.

Nikon S800c Android home screen

So what exactly did Nikon announce? It’s an addition to their Coolpix line of consumer-focussed digital cameras, the S800c, and it’s powered by Android 2.3, Gingerbread. The Android OS allows full access to Google Play – the Android app store – so in between snapping images at a friend’s wedding you can download Instagram and apply some needless filters or play Angry Birds until the ceremony is over.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the release of an Android-powered compact camera. Polaroid announced its SC1630 smart camera at the start of the year. Nikon, however, is a far bigger player and its decision to release an Android compact camera will have far greater implications on the industry. Nikon is currently third in terms of compact camera market share behind Sony and Canon.

What’s actually great about an Android-powered compact camera is its ability to share high-quality images instantly on whatever social network you desire, and its ability to upload shots immediately to Dropbox or Google Drive. The S800c only supports Wi-Fi but you can always tether to your smartphone when out of range (it’s not completely defunct after all).

Nikon S800c being used like a smartphone

The Coolpix S800c includes an app known as ‘Upload to Smart Device’ that can be used to transfer images and video to “smart devices” running Android or iOS. This feature is a little vague so were not entirely sure how it works.

As for the camera’s specifications, it’s a basic point-and-shoot. It has a 10x optical zoom lens with focal lengths from 25-250mm, captures 16-megapixel images and full HD video. It has built-in GPS and includes an app known as ‘my Picturetown’ to display captured media locations on Google Maps. It has a standard 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen.

It’s a fairly basic compact camera – out next month – and seems a little pricey at $349.95 (around €280) for what you get. It’s also disappointing that the version of Android installed isn’t more current – Gingerbread was released towards the end of 2010.

Still, it’s early days. Prices come down and OS versions improve. Since smartphones are replacing compact cameras, are compact cameras now becoming more like smartphones to stay relevant and survive?

Albizu Garcia

Albizu Garcia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gain -- a marketing technology company that automates the social media and content publishing workflow for agencies and social media managers, their clients and anyone working in teams.

View Comments

Recent Posts

MWC 2025 Barcelona was the ultimate experiential marketing dream

Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona is the biggest annual event in the mobile technology…

20 hours ago

GAN, Tec de Monterrey partnership highlights cross-border startup ecosystem building in Latin America amid trade dispute

Despite recent tensions between the United States government and Latin American countries over migration and…

5 days ago

This founder started out with US $5K to his name. Now, he owns a multi-million-dollar global business

Meet Nitin Seth, the Co-Founder and CEO of Screen Magic (SMS Magic), a messaging leader…

5 days ago

Building smarter: AI, the ultimate tool transforming an old-age industry

In this Brains Byte Back, we sit down with Hari Vasudevan, founder and CEO of…

6 days ago

When AI Goes Rogue: 8 Lessons from Implementing LLMs in the Healthcare Industry that Could Save the Future

By Santosh Shevade, Principal Data Consultant at Gramener – A Straive company All pharmaceutical companies…

7 days ago

Digital Public Infrastructure will enable public, private entities to control your access to essential goods, services & mobility

Digital Public Infrastructure is a top-down agenda coming from unelected globalists, bureaucrats, and their partners…

2 weeks ago