Smartphones & Built-in Cameras

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/1086882442.html' target='_blank'>http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/1086882442.html</a><br /><br /></div>Does your Smartphone have a built-in camera? If not, chances are that it will soon as more and more Smartphones are appearing with a camera built-in. Ars Techica have put up a story abut the increasing resolution and functionality of cameras in mobile phones. Toward the end of the article they pose an interesting question:<br /><br /><i>".do people really want or need three megapixel camera phones, or is this a case of cell phone makers hoping to create a new market? In the US and other countries where camera phones are banned in some places for privacy and security reasons, marketing a cell phone as a camera replacement may prove to be a tough sell. Sprint has already begun shipping a camera-less Treo 600 to satisfy the demands of consumers who want all the functionality of the phone without worrying about where they can and cannot take it."</i><br /><br />So does your Smartphone come with an embedded camera? What do you think of it and have you had any problems with taking it with you? Do you actually look for phones with embedded cameras?

[pilotz69]

I have a MPx200, so no camera.

I think a lot of people will agree with the fact that products with combined features tend to be considered junk.

Example being the Panasonic "e-wear" (http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/ewear/sd_av.asp) series. (MPEG4 Video/MP3/Still Camera)

There are plenty of examples out there.

Personally I like my trusty Pentax Optio S (http://www.pentaxusa.com/products/cameras/camera_overview.cfm?productid=18263)(3.2 MP, and fits inside an Altoids tin) as a camera on the go, and my MPx200 as my phone.

2 devices that perform at the top of their game

[Jason Dunn]

The pictures from my E200 are utter crap - really, really bad. We're several years away from hardware that is actually decent IMO.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Agreed, specialised devices are usually the best way to go, though embedded cameras will probably improve in the future.

I can understand the desire for a camera on a phone, but many folks can't take one with them to work etc. :?

[refnulf]

To be honest, it doesn't really matter if I have a camera on the phone or not. I don't take pictures using my phone, I prefer the higher resolutions you can get on digital cameras. So if the mpx series started shipping without embedded cameras, I'd probably go for that, but I doubt they will.

Phones with cameras are not a problem yet in Asia, just 1-2 companies banning em from work but more will follow and then we'll have problems. I can see phones being banned from cinemas, concerts, workplace, etc. The list goes on and on.

I remember watching those spy movies where the spy would break into some office, break open a filing cabinet and start taking pictures of the documents with his ultra small camera which is supposed to be his harmonica or something.

These days, all he needs is his phone. Even the samsung e700 camera does fine there.