Zeiss ZX1 Android camera shows up online with $6,000 price tag
- The ZX1 Android camera from Zeiss can now be pre-ordered.
- It was first announced in 2018.
- The digital camera is running a custom version of Android.
We’ve seen Android phones spit out multiple camera systems for years. What we haven’t seen in a while is a camera running Android. It’s not a new concept. Light’s 16-lens L16 camera was possibly the last major Android-based camera to hit the market in 2017. We also saw other companies experimenting with the concept, resulting in cameras like the Samsung Galaxy camera, the Galaxy NX, the Yongnuo YN450, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1. Now Zeiss is launching one that costs a whopping $ 6,000.
The Zeiss ZX1 full frame camera was first announced in 2018, but is only now being pre-ordered. It was discovered on B&H Photo by people at DP review.
The compact camera is Zeiss’ first entry into the field of digital cameras and has a custom version of Android. We’re not sure how Zeiss used Android in the camera and what typical Android features you can access. We won’t know until it gets into the hands of reviewers or customers.
One cool feature of the Zeiss ZX1 is that it gives users access to Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC. This means that you can touch up or edit the photos you click right on the camera instead of transferring them to a PC on a laptop. The Wi-Fi capabilities ensure that you can share these edited images right away.
In terms of camera specifications, the Zeiss ZX1 has a 37.4 megapixel full-frame sensor that is significantly larger than any smartphone camera sensor. So in terms of imaging capabilities, you can expect the ZX1 to click on much better images than even the best camera phones like the Pixel 4, Galaxy S20, or Huawei P40.
Elsewhere, the Zeiss ZX1 has a fixed 35mm Distagon 1: 2.0 lens and a 4.3-inch touchscreen that helps with shooting, editing and sharing. It also has physical dials and rings for setting things like exposure.
While flagship Android phones now offer 8K video recording capabilities, the Zeiss camera can record 4K video at 30 frames per second and Full HD video at 60 frames per second. You also get 512GB of storage and USB-C connectivity on board.
All in all, the Zeiss ZX1 sounds like an exciting deal, but $ 6,000 is a massive sum to spend on a camera. Unless you’re serious about photography, you can save those precious Benjamins and get a great Android camera phone instead.
Next: The best DSLR cameras you can buy right now
