Android Gamer: New details on the Samsung Galaxy S5 camera reveal “Side Touch” camera button

As we get closer to Samsung’s next Unpacked event and the long-awaited debut of the Galaxy S5, more and more information about the device has leaked. The latest information relates to the camera and its hardware and software features. Probably one of the coolest features is the new “Side Touch” button, which is a replacement for the physical camera button that people have been demanding for ages.

This Side Touch button isn’t physical button, but is actually a capacitive button that’s reportedly completely hidden on the device. It’s located in the bottom right corner, which is where a camera button would typically go, and you simply tap it to take photos. It won’t work in portrait mode, Easy Mode or during video capture, but it’s cool to have nonetheless. Could this be a good selling point for Samsung? I do know a lot of people that want dedicated camera buttons to make a comeback.

The rest of the Galaxy S5′s camera hardware is exactly what we expect. The device is rumored to feature a 16-megapixel sensor capable of shooting 4K video at 30 FPS and 1080p video at 60 FPS. We’ll have to wait and see what kind of sensor Samsung is using, but I dearly hope that the company will surprise us with optical image stabilization.

Then there’s the software. As always, Samsung has stuffed as many software features into the device as possible. Adding onto the Galaxy S4′s plethora of camera modes, which are hard to find because there are so many of them, Samsung is reportedly introducing a few new ones. 3D Tour Shot lets you “create interactive virtual tours of your surroundings,” which sounds a lot like Photo Sphere. There’s also Focus Select, which allows you to adjust the depth of field.

Samsung is also expected to add some new visual effects and could also allow for the download of extra effects. The app itself will be changed slightly, mostly when it comes to its color scheme. Overall it sounds like the Galaxy camera experience is getting more robust, and maybe just a little cluttered.

None of this info is official, so take it with a grain of salt until the Galaxy S5 is officially announced on February 24th. What do you guys think of this info? Do these additions sound like big improvements to the camera experience or are they just more bloat? Tell us in the comments!