Samsung Galaxy S4 Smartphone Features Stop Motion Camera Family Fun for Every Season

Technology

This is a compensated post

1st in a Series of 3 Posts on the New Samsung Galaxy S4 Smartphone

Regular readers know that I frequently test and share how I'm using the newest smartphones provided to me as a Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Blogger #VZWBuzz brand ambassador. During 2013 so far, these cool mobile devices have included the Nokia Lumia 822 Windows Smartphone, the HTC Droid DNA, and most recently the BlackBerry Z10. Now I'm going to tell you about the fabulous new Samsung Galaxy S4 that I received at the recent Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Blogger Conference hosted by the company on their Irvine, California campus.

Samsung Galaxy S4 in white that I received, MommyBlogExpert.com

Smartphones should be practical, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 definitely is a workhorse for working professionals like me. 

But this mobile device also offers some of the funnest family-friendly camera features I've experienced yet. Not only can you shoot video and still images using the front and rear-facing lenses at the same time so you can capture your reaction when your child scores on the field. There's something more: a stop motion function that you access via this phone's Drama Mode.

Screenshot of Samsung Galaxy S4 Screen Mode

In the stop motion image shot at BlogHer 2013 below, you can see how this works. While focusing on a still background this camera function tracked my continuous movement, running through the streets of Chicago earlier this summer, capturing a single image with five fluid consecutive action shots of me racing through the Windy City.

Truth be told: this photo was taken indoors over about 5 seconds by the Samsung team at BlogHer against a giant city landscape background at McCormick Center where the conference was held but that really is me running to demonstrate the stop motion action. In fact, I ran and walked an average of 10 miles per day at this conference -- more than any of the other 6,000 women bloggers at this conference -- and won the Coca-Cola Steps to Wellness Challenge!

As soon as I got home from Chicago, my oldest son couldn't stop talking about how he's looking forward to test driving this piece on mobile wizardry on our annual family ski week vacation this winter. I don't want to wait till January, though, so I'm planning on capturing some Drama Mode images this fall at my kids' sports competitions. Come to think of it, this will be great to use on our next family zip lining adventure, too.

This device comes in white and black carries a list price of $599.99 but right now you can snap up a Samsung Galaxy S4 for only $199.99 with a two year Verizon contract commitment. This advanced smartphone is also available for $0 down and $24.99/month on the recently unveiled Verizon Edge plan.

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I disclose that I am a Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Blogger brand ambassador and that I received the product featured to facilitate this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.