When we were standing outside in the sun at Sanghol (Punjab) a colleague pointed out a bunch of parrots and asked where my camera was? When I told them I left it at home, their jaws dropped in disbelief, I am considered to be inseparable from my DSLR. However as I had the Zenfone Zoom on a returnable basis and I wanted to travel light for the academic conference I was attending at Sanghol, I actually left my DSLR behind and took just the Zenfone Zoom instead.
Priced at 37,999 it is a primarily meant for smartphone photography. As it has 3X optical zoom, they must have done a lot of R&D to fit the components and still let the phone look like a phone rather than a camera! I also liked the fact that the phone has a leather back and hence a good grip, it doesn’t feel that the phone will slip out of the hand.
Zenfone Zoom comes with 4GB RAM and 64 bit Intel CPU. Other features are:
- World thinnest 3X optical Zoom, total 12X Zoom
- 4GB RAM, Intel PC level performance
- 13MP Laser Auto focus camera
- 4 Stops Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
- 10P HOYA Lens
You can see the complete phone specs from the link above. Do watch the video too. However, I would let the pictures taken by the phone do the talking and you can decide where it stands in the competition of the best camera phone.
My trip to Sanghol in Punjab was for an academic conference but when did that stop us from having fun? I was meeting a lot of colleagues whom I used to work with, before I went the travel blogging route.
The bunch of parrots that were pointed out to me were not too happy with me trying to get close to them! So I decided to test the zoom. The light was not favoring me but I was happy with my shot. I wish I had the phone with me for a longer duration to try more shots!
The Zenfone Zoom is a delight when it comes to clicking the delightful desserts. I didn’t miss my DSLR at all while I was photographing food.
After the conference we went to the fields of the village lambardar and it was flowering sarson all around. I loved the pictures I got without carrying my DSLR. I know the focus of this phone is on zoom but a traveler often seeks the landscape too. If Zenfone is working on another model I would say it should have a winder angle lens too for landscapes.
We also visited the Buddhist remains that have been excavated near Sanghol. Though I am not good with people photography I managed to get the caretakers of the sites to pose for me. I believe a cell phone is less intimidating than a DSLR.
In the evening we went to a dhaba to have chai and pakoras. I quite liked the tree lined avenue I saw. I stopped and starting clicking. If it was the SLR I would have to first take it out of the bag, change the lens, check out the settings if it was in manual and then click the shot. Sometimes I just want to click the shot and go chai and pakoras! If you like to click close up shots, this phone would work for you!
The last pic is brilliant!
Well I guess slowly but surely the time has come to say good bye to the dslr’s.
Let us see Arun, I always go back to my SLR for one reason or the other. Leaving the weight behind surely makes me happy but I am not ready to ditch my SLR completely, yet.
Camera features sound exciting, especially the optical zoom and Hoya lens. Who wants to carry that heavy machine if things can be handled with the smaller one.
I am also considering the upgrade for my phone and primary feature would be photograph quality. I would love to see more photographs from this phone.
Thanks !
VJ there are more pictures here
https://traveltalesfromindia.in/2016/02/sanghol-rural-life-buddhist-heritage/
As I said in the review I would need more wide angle in my camera as I click the landscapes the most!
World thinnest 3X optical Zoom, total 12X Zoom
4GB RAM, Intel PC level performance
13MP Laser Auto focus camera
4 Stops Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
10P HOYA Lens
configuration are very strong but I think you were using NOKIA earlier ? am I right ?
Yogi I went to Sony from Nokia. This phone was given to me for use on a returnable basis. I had to give it back after a few days 😀
Lovely pictures. I think DSLRs are a burden to carry, especially if you are travelling to a place that requires you to walk around quite a bit. Camera phones are so portable, light and can give similar results. Great post.
I still will take my DSLR on a longer trip. But camera phones are certainly getting better day by day!
Superb features , #ZenfoneZoom
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you Rupam, I want a better wide angle though.
The khet wale pics are classic!! 🙂
The phone seems good to Mridula…
Thank you Archana. 😀
Yes, the pictures are talking quite well on your behalf 🙂
Thank you ravish for giving some credit to the photographer too!
Who will say these pics are from a mobile camera!!!
Great frames all.
Thank you Indrani!
Good pics though but I agree DSLR is not separable 🙂
Not yet at least!
Pics are great.
Proves the prowess of the camera and the photographer 🙂
DSLR is bulky and tougher to carry than a cellphone 🙂
Thank you Anita, I would still not leave behind the SLR on a major trip though.
Appears to be quite a descent camera. Felt good to visit your blog after a long hiatus. Punjab is so refreshing with the crops on the fields.
Have a fantastic year ahead
Thank you so much. Wishing you a fantastic 2016!
Awesome clicks.. And for a mobile photography, the picture clarity is so much better.
Thank you Meera.
Hi Mridula, Congratulations on becoming a full time traveler and full time blogger 🙂 Felt awesome reading your wonderful journey since I visited your blog months ago 🙂 Enjoyed reading about your Maharani suite experience, Karnataka and Goa trips, cute Chhavi and all your beloved brats, and all your adventures for almost two weeks (there were nearly 100 posts to read that I missed)…
I missed your blog so much that my family knows a lot about you, your adventures and your blog now 😀
And wow, you are celebrity reviewer for ASUS gadgets! (Luckily, I got an ASUS ZenPad too for reviewing!). Now that you have used many gadgets and experienced photography with them, you have become a gadgets expert too!
Happy to be back here…
Regards,
Sindhu
Tantu
The Arts & Me
Happy to have you back Sindhu 😀
What pretty shots!
Thank you Lady Fi.
Loved the last photo.
Thank you Atul.