Camera Phone Hybrids

Have you ever been in a moment that should be captured in a high quality photo only to have it spoiled by your phone's crummy camera?  Dark, fuzzy images that are the results of multiple, futile takes by poor strangers who were unfortunate in getting paparazzi duty for your group photo. Blurry pics from zooming in on your desired subject. Everyone looking like robots with laser beam eyes.  Wouldn't it be great to have a cell phone and a point-and-shoot quality camera combined into one device?

That's what the creators of the Nokia Lumia 1020 and Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom aimed to achieve.

Nokia Lumia 1020
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Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
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I haven't played with either devices (and the S4 Zoom won't be released in the US until Quarter 4--UK peeps, it's available for you).  For more detailed info, check out the Cnet reviews on the Nokia Lumia 1020 and Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom. 

Nokia Lumia 1020

MSRP $299.99
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One of the highlights of the Nokia Lumia 1020 is that it is a 41-megapixel beast.  At 5.51 ounces and 0.4 inches thick throughout most of the device, you can still slip it in your pocket.  Closely resembling the dimensions of the Lumia 920 and 928, the Lumia 1020 actually looks like a viable option as a day-to-day camera substitute for photo enthusiasts.  As the Cnet review puts it, "Avid mobile photographers will love the Nokia Lumia 1020's exact controls, but casual users should stick to cheaper camera phones."  

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom

Pricing has not been released in the US.  Being sold for about 400 pounds in the UK
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This 16-megapixel camera-phone with 10x optical zoom is one bulky sucker.  At 7.33 ounces and possessing a protruding lens, this device is unwieldly.  Testers mention how tired their arms get just from holding it for extended periods of time.  My favorite quote from a cNet review is, "Don't attempt using the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom as a telephone without a Bluetooth headset. Just don't."

Not cute.
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So would any of you be interested in either of these devices?

I have a Samsung Galaxy 3, and I love the photo quality I get from its camera.  For photos of special occasions or decent video footage, I would just take a separate camera.  I'm the gal who actually still listens to music on my old iPod touch instead of my cell phone, so I guess I'm just inefficient when it comes to consolidation.  : /