Kodak’s Extra smartphone is hitting Europe and is available for consumers to buy for €499. Since this is a smartphone coming from Kodak, you might expect it to come with a pretty decent rear-facing camera, and according to the specs it should be able to offer up a decent image. With a rear-facing 21-megapixel camera that features a fast-focus sensor and an f/2.0 aperture, as well as a 13-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies and video chat, the Kodak Ektra is likely to make quite a few users happy. Kodak initially announced the Ektra back in October and at the time there was less known about the device, such as the cost, although it was already hailed as a Europe-only phone for the beginning of the launch.
Kodak designed the phone with one particular consumer market in mind, and that’s those who have a passion for photography. While it’s not likely to compete evenly with the best of the best DSLRs, it has a decent enough quality sensor and some compelling features that will probably draw in users who want a great camera to have in their pocket. The Ektra was already said to be launching today back on December 5th, and Kodak made good on that promise by launching the phone right on time.
Those wondering about what sorts of features or options you’ll have with the camera, Kodak highlights that it has multiple modes and effects, such as HDR, Landscape, Portrait, Macro, Sport, Night-Time, Panorama, and Bokeh effects. You’ll also be able to adjust other settings such as the ISO and the exposure so you can modify the amount of light that comes in through the sensor, a nice little trick that not all smartphone cameras have. As far as actual specifications, beyond the camera sensors, the Kodak Ektra also features a pretty cool Super 8 video recorder, and it comes packing a 5-inch Full HD IPS display and a Helio X-20 Decacore processor under the hood. That CPU is paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage space, and there’s a 3,000mAh battery on the inside to keep everything powered up. Kodak is definitely trying to cater to the picture hound here, as they even boast that it’s been ergonomically weighted for an optimal fit in the hand when holding it for taking photos, and the lip on the backside will surely help with this as it’ll provide some grip. For now, there is no word on a launch of the Ektra in the US or other major markets.
