Kodak has released its official entry into the smartphone market with the Kodak Ektra.

Given its brand, it is no surprise that it delivers on the camera features with a whopping 21 megapixels for the rear and a 13 megapixels in front. The rear camera comes with PDAF, OIS, f/2.0 aperture and dual LED flash.

Kodak itself boasts of the Ektra's "unique hybrid of photography innovation and DSLR functionality" saying it "looks and feels like a camera with character." The blurb adds that it gives a "tactile camera experience" with features like the intuitive touchscreen DSLR dial (with haptic touch), customizable manual mode (with adjustable shutter speed and ISO rating), horizontal two-step shutter release, and extensive scene mode selection.

Gadget.com lists the phone features-- Helio X-20 Decacore Processor, an internal 3000 mAh battery, 3GB of RAM, 32GB Memory which is expandable with MicroSD cards and a 5-inch full HD IPS display (441 ppi) at 1920 x 1080 resolution. The single-simm phone itself is 147.80 x 73.35 x 9.69 mm in height, width and thickness. It operates on Android Marshmallow. It can connect via Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth and has a proximity sensor, an accelerometer and an ambient light sensor. It also comes with a retro-style leather case. It is said to be made for photo enthusiasts.

Given all these features, Android Authority has reservations on the Kodak Ektra, citing that there are many quality smartphones in the market already, with some already equipped with good cameras too.  With the stiff competition plus the phone's $600 price tag, Kodak may not fare as well as the more established brands. Also, it has a downside--the phone data can connect only via wifi in the US and Canada. On the plus side, each purchase is accompanied by a voucher for 150 photo prints and a promise of future discounts for prints and photo books.