Back in October of last year, camera manufacturer Kodak officially announced a new smartphone called the Ektra. True to the brand’s background in photography, the Ektra is a camera-centric mobile device, and at times, even looks more like a camera than a cell phone. Well, the Kodak Ektra is now made available for purchase from third party retail companies such as Amazon and Best Buy for a price of $400. Because the device is sold as a GSM unlocked handset, it should be able to connect to the networks of AT&T and T-Mobile, but not on Verizon Wireless, which has a CDMA network.
For more than a hundred years, the Kodak brand name has been considered synonymous with photography. But in recent decades, the company has since seen its popularity fade away, due to the surging popularity of digital cameras, and now smartphones and tablets. In an effort to be more relevant in this day and age, it is now also entering into the smartphone business, but of course, never forgetting its photography roots.
The Kodak Ektra is named after the popular Ektra rangefinder camera from the 1940s. Of course, because we are now in the 2010s, the Ektra of this generation comes in the form of a smartphone loaded with camera features as well as specially designed software to help deliver an optimum mobile photography experience for users. Those who have heard of the Ektra’s unveiling last year may be delighted to know that Kodak has since made some improvements on the device, especially in terms of software and a reduction in pricing.
The Kokad Ektra smartphone is powered by Google’s Android 6.0 Marshmallow, aided by 32 gigabytes of built in memory. Another notable software features and functionalities include:
- Support for RAW + JPEG file formats
- Enhanced performance in low light conditions
- Better noise reduction
- Enhanced auto focus
- Improved white balance and color saturation
- Better shutter speed performance
- Enhanced face detection capabilities
- Ability to toggle Auto Scene Detection on and off
- Easier one handed use -- Android touch buttons are not activated when in camera app
- Visual shutter actuation
- "How To" camera tutorial
In designing its Ektra smartphone, Kodak had actually acquired the services of none other than Bullitt, a sort of mobile device maker for hire. The result is that the Ektra comes with a camera mobile app that offers a digital Scene Selection Dial feature that provides users access to various photography modes such as Manual, Landscape, Sports, Macro, and more.
from
https://www.wirefly.com/blog/news/you-can-now-buy-kodak-ektra-smartphone