On Monday, Nov. 5, Samsung announced that its highly anticipated Galaxy Camera would hit the UK shelves on Nov. 8. The Galaxy Camera first made its appearance at the IFA 2012 in Berlin, and will be available for purchase to Samsung brand store customers a day earlier on Nov. 7.

"Samsung Electronics has today announced the Galaxy Camera will be available across the UK from November 8th. Samsung brand store customers will get the opportunity to buy it earlier, from 5pm on November 7th," stated the Samsung press release.

The Galaxy Camera "combines high performance photography" with the "cutting-edge design" that is synonymous with Samsung's Galaxy line-up of smartphones.

"The initial response to the Galaxy Camera has been amazing and we are really looking forward to offering our customers a completely new type of digital photography device," said Simon Stanford, VP Telecommunications & Networks Division, Samsung UK and Ireland. He further noted that "The Galaxy Camera is a fantastic example of our continued passion for innovation and we are excited to be evolving our Galaxy range even further."

The Samsung Galaxy Camera features a 4.77-inch HD Super Clear Touch display. A 1.4GHz quad-core processor powers the device. The device has a 21x optical zoom and a 16-megapixel 1/2.3 BSI CMOS sensor, which lets users click high quality images up close and even in low light conditions and "and its 'Smart Pro' technology guarantees the end result is a professional-looking, stunning shot every time."

The Galaxy Camera offers a wide variety of shooting modes and packs in various apps. It also has nearly 65 editing features on board and users can edit the images even when on the go. Additionally, the Galaxy Camera's Share Shot and Wi-Fi Direct features lets users share the images immediately post shooting. Users also have the option to share the clicked images with up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices that are within range. The camera runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and even has a Voice Control feature.

"The GALAXY Camera does more than take great pictures. It also listens very, very well. By tuning in closely to what you are saying, the Galaxy Camera is able to execute your command. So don't be shy- tell it to zoom in or out, set the timer, and snap the photo when you're ready. And when you're in the gallery, tell it to rotate, delete, and even share your photos. Yes, it really is that smart," notes Samsung's Web site.

The Galaxy Camera will be "available exclusively at the Samsung Brand Store" from 5pm on Nov. 7 and will hit high street stores and online retailers like Carphone Warehouse, Phones 4u and Jessops on Nov. 8. Jessops has listed that the Galaxy Camera will be available in two color variants - black and white - and is priced at £399.99 on its Web site.