Asus has thrown down the gauntlet to its competitors in the photography stakes with the launch of a handset that's more camera than phone, Digital Spy reveals.

Inspired by DSLR technology, the ZenFone Zoom packs a 13-megapixel rear snapper with a Panasonic sensor and 3x optical zoom at 28-48mm focal length for shooting objects up close and personal.

Japanese company HOYA has provided a 10-element lens for the main camera, while the rear snapper captures 5-megapixel selfies.

It may put photos first, but the device is no slouch in the specs department, coming with a quad-core processor, 4GB of RAM and a 5.5-inch, 1080p display with Gorilla Glass 4.

The handset runs off a 3,000mAh battery and ships with either 64GB or 128GB storage options, expandable via microSD.

The ZenFone Zoom will debut in the U.S. next month priced at $399.