41 MP Nokia Lumia 1020 Promises ‘Next Chapter’ In Mobile Photography

Nokia has revealed its latest Windows Phone 8-powered smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 1020, which boasts a 41 megapixel camera and a range of other imaging-focused features.

Speaking at a launch event in New York, CEO Stephen Elop promised the Lumia 1020 would be the “next chapter in smartphone photography,” combining many of its recent imaging innovations.

“With the Nokia Lumia 1020, pictures will mean more to you,” he declared. “You will see things with this device you’ve never seen before.”

41 megapixel camera

The 41 megapixel sensor was first included in the Symbian-based Nokia 808 PureView, and works using an ‘oversampling’ technique.

The Lumia 1020 camera simultaneously takes a 38 megapixel image for editing and compresses 7 pixels into one pixel to create a five megapixel image that can be shared on social networks. The oversampling technique is also used for video, which takes in one billion pixels every second.

Also included is Nokia’s Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) first included in the Nokia Lumia 920, which uses magnetic motors to compensate for hand movement to reduce blur. Xenon flash and Zeiss wide angle optics are also on board and the camera promises great pictures in low light.

A camera grip with an additional battery will also be available for those who want to use the Lumia 1020 as a standalone camera.

“We want to take people on a journey from capturing pictures to recording and sharing their lives,” said Elop. “The Nokia Lumia 1020 will bring new meaning to pictures and continues to strengthen Nokia’s leadership in imaging.”

Nokia’s hope

Internally, the Lumia 1020 is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal memory supplemented by 7 GB of SkyDrive cloud storage. It has a 4.5-inch AMOLED screen protected by Gorilla Glass and will be available in black, white and yellow varieties.

Unlike the Nokia Lumia 920, native wireless charging is not supported and users will have to purchase an additional case. However, Elop reiterated that Nokia was “totally committed to wireless charging.”

The Lumia 1020 will be available in the US on AT&T from 16 July for $299 (£198) on a two-year contract, but no specific UK release details have been revealed except that it will launch “this quarter”.

Nokia will hope the smartphone increases its share of the smartphone market and seize share from the likes of Apple and Samsung, while Microsoft will be hoping it consolidates Windows Phone’s position as the third largest mobile platform.

“The Lumia 1020 truly takes mobile photography to the next level. With a staggering 41 megapixels, the 1020’s imaging capabilities put the competition to shame,” commented Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.

“Whether the mother of all cameras will entice phone fans away from Apple and Android devices is questionable, though. The popularity of ‘kitchen sink’ devices that deliver a rounded experience in terms of hardware, apps and services, casts doubt on the 1020’s wider appeal.”

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