Megapixels & Camera Phones 323
CEmongler writes "Consumer Electronics publication CoolTechZone.com tackles the integrated camera attachments in today's cell phones. According to the author, "The camera integration has in fact reached such a stage that any self-respecting phone would incorporate at least a megapixel camera. The cutting-edge feature to have though is the 2-megapixel variety. The question is: is it really worth the extra money you pay for it? Without getting into model-by-model comparisons, I am questioning the entire range of 2-megapixel camera phones. Are they really worth it?
For the most part, no."
Article has a point, but... (Score:3, Interesting)
Why My Phone has a Camera (Score:3, Interesting)
Since I prefer film vs digital, I thought it would be nice to consolidate tools into one device that I have on me all the time. It has proved to be a good investment, despite the $400 investment. The premium price I paid has a lot to do with markets and such, but those aside, the phone fits its niche in my life and it's always convenient to have a camera on you at all times.
Most phones available in the US have really crappy cameras, but the w800i is an exception.
Problematic (Score:5, Interesting)
It's gotten to the point where I'm thinking of switching from Sprint to Nextel, just because Nextel's phones actually seem more reasonable for my (and my wife's) usage. Interestingly, the Sprint rep I spoke with said I could do this, and they even had a group for going from Sprint -> Nextel!
-Erwos
Just a regional issue? (Score:2, Interesting)
The camera comes with me to 'occasions' - places where I know I'm going to take photos (outings, birthdays, family stuff, etc) - it has a real optical zoom, 1Gb Sd card and flash.
My phone is with me all the time and so I can take photos of things that catch my eye - landscapes, unexpected events, something fun that happens in the pub - it has only a digital zoom,
And, you know, for outdoor, non-zoomed stuff, the results a re about the same. I'm not a camera buff, nor a pro and I think that is the point - to those of us that just want a memory recording device that will adequately capture an event most phones are up to the task.
And so back to the point of my title - that is certainly my experience IN THE UK and EUROPE - having spent sopme time in the US they are WAY behind when it comes to phone tech - seems to be the result of a bad market and provder model. Anyway - phones in the UK and Europe are certainly up to being useful, usually free with a contract and do the job. I wish more article writers would remember or explicitly state US != World
They mean it at the fitness club, too (Score:3, Interesting)
One of the black-clad trainers arrived to investigate my suspicious phone answering shortly thereafter. Had to scroll him through my few snaps to show him nothing was amiss. Still, he kept my phone safely behind the counter until I was ready to go. Reclaiming the phone later was plenty embarrassing.
(Personally I would prefer a ban on hanging out naked to shave out of some exhibitionistic impulse, but that's harder to define than "cell phone camera.")
Re:Article has a point, but... (Score:5, Interesting)
I do.. I go farther. I carry a Fuji S3 and a couple of lenses EVERYWHERE.
Why? because you never know when something will happen and you can bethe only guy with a photo of it. I sold 4 photos to a local news outlet of the Immigration Demonstrations from 2 days ago I made enough to pay for more camera gear.
My hobby pays for it's self because I have the camera with me at all times. Some people with pocket point ans shoots were the ONLY people to get a photo of the Plane crashing into the WTC and other historic events that can only be captured by having a camera on hand.
Take photos all the time and you will end up with some that are easily saleable to news outlets.
Re:Interface, interface, interface..... (Score:4, Interesting)
In the end, you will not be able to ever get the same quality out from a tiny unit like on a camera phone as you get from an APS-sized fixed-lens or SLR-type one.
That said, I have both a DSLR and a 1.2Mp cameraphone and they both have their uses. The DSLR is more important of course, but I would not want to be without the cameraphone either. Even though I drag the big camera around most of the time, I still now and then find myself in situations where I didn't have it, or taking it out would have taken too long and drawn too much attention, or I just wanted to send a picture of something to my SO, and going via DSLR, computer and email was at least two steps too many and half a day too slow.
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
For everyone who wants a cameraless cellphone (Score:2, Interesting)
Almost every cellular phone company that is not based in Japan competes with the ones who are.
I have seen 2 models of cellular phone here in Japan without a camera built in. Both of those models are meant for "old people". It's simply a keypad with an lcd display so you can double czech the number you are calling. Keys are big for people who have a hard time pushing these tiny buttons. Even the latest phones designed for elementary school children have cameras and gps built into them.
On the other hand, some of the latest models here in Japan come with 4 megapixel cameras built in.
I am of the mind, however, that a phone should be exactly that. Something to call others with. A way to take calls when I am not in the office. Don't get me wrong. I like my current phone (W21S) but I never use any of the features of it. I call people. People call me. What use have I for the GPS, TV tuner, Radio, Java, QR Code reader, and camera that are built in? The camera does come in handy sometimes, for those spontaneous shots or situations, but other than that, I don't need the other features. Hell, I'm thinking of re-activating my "old" lcd only phone mostly because of it's "lack" of features.
Here in Japan, we simply cannot buy phones without most of these features. They don't exist.
I DO like the GPS features though. For example. I go to the cell phone shop and pick myself up a phone with a GPS. Then, I pick up some phones for the kids (and wife). Those phones will transmit their GPS coordinates to my phone when I request to know the other phone's locations. If the "child" phones are not within GPS range (due to the kids being in school or on the bus or whatnot), then I will get approximations on where they are based on triangulation of the standby signal they generate when in contact with 3 or more cellular towers. All in all, a good way to keep track of those teenagers' whereabouts
Get used to the idea that cell phones will have cameras built into them. If you don't like that, use land lines.
Sorry.
Size does matter (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Article has a point, but... (Score:1, Interesting)
About 20 years ago I was down on the Mall in D.C. for the 4th of July fireworks. We were sitting in an area where some of the fireworks fallout would fall (the organizers fence off large areas where they expect the debris to fall, but if the wind shifts by the evening they might not have cleared the entire area). I struck up a conversation with a guy next to me who had his camera bag; I figured he liked to get photos of the fireworks. Turns out that he goes into the fallout area every year with his camera hoping to have a situation where not just the fireworks debris makes it to the ground, but some of the still burning tendrils. Every year he hopes that someone on the ground gets burned so that he could get some pictures, walk a few blocks up the street to the Washington Post office, and sell the picutures to make it in the next day paper. That is creepy. And uncomfortable. What do you say after that? "Good luck guy, I hope it works out for you and someone gets horribly maimed."
Re:It's not about quality, duh! (Score:3, Interesting)
Using crappy equipment is loads of fun.
I'm sorry to make another Japan reference... (Score:2, Interesting)
But, I haven't lived in North America for a while, so I honestly don't know. Is 2-megapixel "cutting edge"? Is that how pathetic cameras are in the West? My current 3G Japanese cell phone is by no means top of the line (it cost less than one American cent, and came with no commitment--I was already a subscriber when I bought it) and it still has a 2-megapixel camera (including video, digital zoom, barcode reader), flashlight (that doubles as the camera's flash), schedule, calculator, currency converter, alarm clock, MP3 player, Bluetooth interface, I can surf the web, use it as a television remote control, check train schedules, play video games, interface with my television, sing karaoke on it, and on and on and on. I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot of stuff. And NO, the battery life for modern Japanese phones isn't as crappy as people say it is.
I've actually moved away from Japan, so I'm not sure, but I imagine that all self-respecting Japanese phone companies have moved away from 1-megapixel phones completely, and are just selling their existing stocks to bargain hunters and the elderly. After all, a cell phone is an absolute necessity in Japan. Even octogenarians have them. I've heard that in Japan there are 3 cell phones for every 2 people.
The only phones that DON'T have a camera are made for niche markets. For example, one of my friends works at a Japanese bank, and she's not allowed to bring a camera of any kind to work, even if it's just a cell phone camera. So she had to buy one without a camera in it. I imagine she had a hard time finding it; that's the only phone I've ever seen in Japan without a decent camera in it.
Re:Article has a point, but... (Score:4, Interesting)
First go to events where staff photographers for the paper are at and talk to them. Staff photogs are not threatened by the freelancers and gladly will give up some information after getting to know you. Also you can do the formal approach by talking to the editor and asking about freelance photo submissions (Think spiderman's day job) and even article submission. There are many events for the "metro" page that just do not get covered and they usually are stuck putting filler in there. if you can take photos and write a 300-500 word article about an event that happens locally that was not covered you dramatically increase your chances. Althouggh writing is not easy, I have not tried it but I know of a couple that is sucessful with it.
Your first few photos will get you peanuts or will be free to the paper. You are unknown and unless you have a photo of Bin-Laden serving burgers at Wendys or a major news event that you have the only existing photos of they can simply say "no thanks".
I get near top dollar because I have worked with them for a couple of years and have had regular publication... I.E. I am one of their freelance pros in their eyes. I know what they would like and deliver it.
Finally, take a crapload of pictures at an event. If you can fill 2 gigs of photos from an event then you are sure to have at least 1 or 2 sellable photos.
A good event photographer needs to be a good social engineer as well.
I seriously disagree... (Score:2, Interesting)
The phone cam is good for the spontaneous shot. Mine is pretty fast to load the camera program (and has a dedicated cam button) and I can whip out the phone and shoot a pic within 3 secs. The resolution is low when compared to a computer monitor, but when viewed on a standard TV the resolution is great. There's definitely noise but no more so than a DV pause on S-Video. Also, the quality of the 'print' is not the point, it's the quality of the moment captured.
The cam is no substitute for a real cam of course, but for camblogging, spontaneity, and even real-life stuff like car accidents or 'citizen reporting' it's fine.
Oh, and real-life camphone save.. my old 2mp Elph died after I landed in Belgium for a 2-week vacation, I ended up using my camphone to document my trip to Normandy, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Waterloo. As long as I had adequate daylight it worked pretty darned well IMHO. A side benefit was that I could get away with taking snaps in the Van Gogh museum without attracting unwanted attention (they prohibit cameras there) as well as at other museums on that trip (Louvre, Pompidou Ctr, Rijksmuseum, etc). And with the 128MB memory stick duo I get at least 250 snaps...
Swimming is the best form exercise (Score:4, Interesting)
* I just want a PHONE that is a PHONE goddammit
* blah blah blah
For those who believe humans have free will, slashdot provides plenty of evidence to the contrary. I think I've seen these same posts modded up in a dozen different stories about camera phones. It reminds of the dilbert cartoon where the most overused phrase is how "swimming is the best form of exercise".
LS
Besides just taking pictures with a phonecam... (Score:2, Interesting)
"We started Colorzip because we believe that ColorCodeTM technology is the most exciting mobile content delivery and management system ever imagined. It is the only technology in the world that allows any device with a CCD/CMOS camera and an Internet connection to read color-coded images and instantly download music, video and data from a server."
See http://www.colorzip.co.jp/ [colorzip.co.jp]
They apparently already have a beta working on many mobile phone's Java App.
Re:It's not about quality, duh! (Score:3, Interesting)
wouldn't be so sure about that. what if crappy cams like the one on your phone are the lomo of the future? [flickr.com]