The Eastman Kodak Company, better known as Kodak, introduced to American audiences the Ektra smartphone at CES 2017. The device had previously debuted in Europe last December.
Kodak’s new handset rides on the company’s iconic legacy in the world of photography, sporting a 21 MP rear camera with enhanced features for photography fans.
Kodak had much more to showcase at CES 2017, including a new film series for both still photography and motion picture capture, apps, printers, and its Super 8 camera unveiled at last year’s show.
Following its bankruptcy filing back in 2012, Kodak has focused on rising from the ashes by stepping further into the digital imaging realm without renouncing entirely to its renowned photographic film business.
Kodak Ektra: Specs and Design
The Kodak Ektra wants to integrate features from professional cameras into a smartphone. For example, it has a ring lens on the rear that can shoot photos with top-notch precision.
Kodak’s smartphone has a 5-inch full HD display (1080 x 1920) and runs on a MediaTek Helio X-20, 3.2 GHz, deca-core chipset. It has 3 GB of RAM and 32 of storage, expandable with a microSD card.
The device packs a 3,000 mAh battery and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It is nearly 15 mm thick counting the protruding rim of the lens on the back.
Kodak Ektra: Features
The most notable feature of the Kodak Ektra is, of course, its camera. The rear camera consists of a 21 MP IMX230 sensor and a 26.5 mm wide-angle lens with an f/ 2.0 aperture.
The system behind the camera on the Ektra supports optical image stabilization (OIS), HDR imaging, and Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF), a function that allows the app to replicate the picture modes found on professional cameras.
The #KodakEktra Smartphone is making its U.S. debut at #CES2017 #KodakCES2017 https://t.co/kN6iemSQ1s pic.twitter.com/yLoyHA8KR1
— Kodak (@Kodak) January 5, 2017
Kodak’s Ektra can also record 4K video, and it has a dedicated camera button on the side for easy access to the app at any time.
Initial reports from European users and tech reporters at CES seem to agree that Kodak’s latest attempt at a premium camera on a mid-range smartphone does not quite make it.
The resulting picture quality is good, but not great, and other Android flagships can capture equally if not greater quality images. On top of that, the camera app is a little complicated to use, and it presents some performance issues at the moment.
Kodak Ektra: Price and Availability
Available across Europe since last December, the Kodak Ektra goes for €499.99 from the company itself and select retailers. In the United States, however, the phone will cost $549.99 when it launches in late April.
Source: Kodak
