Definitely smaller than an SLR but still unusually large for a cell phone tower the camera is already. So one must expect that the arms are a little hard when you USER the camera for an extended period. Nor do they offer the most sticky ability, as it is now even often attached to a thin smartphone and you have to carry the entire burden of this.
In fact, is the holder of the smart shot without flaws. My concern was first, that the simple clamp does not sit tight enough on the phone (HTC One mini) and may need to be taken continuously, the camera does not come loose and falling. Wrongly, as it turns out. The attachment is secure and as I discovered by trial and error to mobile phones of friends and to a wide variety of models from Samsung on iPhone and Sony.
Let's talk about installing and using the camera. They can be connected via WiFi or NFC with the phone when the device Android or iOS operating system and to the free PlayMemories Mobile app installed. If you want to connect the camera via WiFi with the mobile phone, of course, the WLAN password to enter and use a few seconds later. If that's too much effort is who can do without when connecting via NFC on it and save some time. In the included manual and the Help page of SONY but the process is also clearly explained.
Use of the App and ultimately the camera can be done intuitively all functions and options are clearly laid out and clearly labeled.
In good lighting conditions, the Smart shot shoots in each shooting mode impressively clear and beautiful pictures. Mostly there is enough also to select the automatic function and not itself turn around in the settings. It is more difficult only in low light conditions such as twilight and darkness. From ISO 800 we see in the pictures a strong noise and the image quality decreases. The camera captures the way with minimal delay on (similar to a conventional mobile phone camera) and need to transfer the images to your phone also few seconds. If you want to make recordings in 20 megapixels, which should, incidentally, necessarily a memory card in the camera directly insert otherwise the phone memory is full after a few photos.
Interestingly should record his videos with the smart shot for many the opportunity. This is even in full HD with 30 or 60 frames per second. It should also be noted here that good lighting conditions are an important prerequisite. The sound is acceptable, but for ambitious filmmakers obviously insufficient. The video function is thus rather a nice little addition to the smart shot, but should not be a reason to buy.
Overall, these are a absolutely new and exciting addition to the phone's camera, their use is definitely worth a try. Just to find a middle ground between mobile camera and DSLR, shall be for many amateur photographers the perfect solution. Even the smart shot is not completely mature but definitely a serious alternative to compact cameras whose images under the right conditions, much clearer and more color-fast than in the mini-cameras for your pocket.