Sony launches waterproof Xperia Z1 with 20.7 megapixel camera

Sony today launched its new smartphone Xperia Z1 with a 20.7 megapixel camera and like most other Xperia smartphones, this one is waterproof and dustproof as well.

Sony launched the phone at IFA in Berlin and Sony has chosen to concentrate on the camera features where the Xperia Z1 is concerned. The 5-inch full HD screen phone has 2GB RAM and 16 GB memory space. It runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and also has support for a MicroSD slot up to 64 GB.

It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core 2.2 Ghz processor, 3000 mAh battery and supports 4G LTE. The front camera is 2 megapixel. The phone has an aluminum frame.

Sony Xperia Z1 is seen int this product photo.[/caption]

As far as the main rear camera is concerned Sony says it has three times "clear image zoom" with zero loss of image quality. It has Sony's G Lens with F2.0 and wide angle 27mm. It also has 1/2.3-type Exmor RS for mobile CMOS image sensor which is a high sensitivity sensor capturing details and crisp images, even in low-light conditions.

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Some software features of the camera are:

• Social live which will let users broadcast recording live from Xperia Z1 to Facebook.

•Info-eye which will give users information on landmarks or items which are captured by them using the smartphone.

•Timeshift burst ensures that the Xperia Z1 takes 61 images in 2 seconds. Users can then scroll around and choose the best image.

•AR effect which lets users create customisable animations.

Sony says it has also opened up its camera software and is encouraging developers to add even more functionality to it.Xperia Z1 will launch globally from September 2013 and will come inblack, white and purple colours.

Sony also showed off new smart lens called QX100 and RX100 which can be strapped onto the Xperia Z1 and other Xperia phones via a lens module. Once you do that, it converts your phone into a regular compact camera. The lens connects with the phone via WiFi.

Overall, the smartphone doesn't look too different from other Sony Xperia phones, except for the 20.7 megapixel camera and the new camera features.