Versatile Mobile/Cell Phone Cameras

August 17, 2007 4:34 AM

Whats the best cell/mobile phone camera for streetphotography/interior snapshots ?

I'm looking for a cell/mobile phone camera - but i'm not too clued up on the things - i'd like to find something that as well as a decent megapixel ( yes i know about the n95) would also have a minimum of shutter lag, take a few shots in a short space of time, good in low light etc.
I had a shot of the n95 but i found that it's focusing system got in the way of taking a shot - perhaps it's switchoffable - and it took a wee bit too long to come back between shots. So any kind of moddable camera phone would be wonderful - so i could tell it just to shoot a f2.8/30 or whatever - i'm not looking to do richly detailed shots of landscapes more nightime/daytime streetphotgraphy snapshot type things.

posted by sgt.serenity to technology (8 comments total)

Sony Ericsson k750. 5 mp, xenon flash. Fabulous pics!!
posted by pearlybob at 6:53 AM on August 17, 2007

pearlybob - I think you mean the K850i. The K750 has got a 2 mega pixel camera and a bright LED light instead of a flash.

I've got the Sony Ericsson K800i, which takes great pictures *for a mobile phone*. It's not great in low light (although it does have a flash) and the shutter lag is pretty huge. You certainly can't set the focal length/aperture manually.

It does have some pretty nice pictures, like BestPic which will take 9 shots when you press the shutter button - 4 of them before you press it. It's good for action shots, and makes up slightly for the shutter lag.
posted by roomaroo at 7:29 AM on August 17, 2007

Do not trust cellphone advice from strangers on the internets. I don't think there there is a more infested area out there and the wars between these people make xbox/playstation fanbois intelligent in comparison.

You can browse mobile-review for some pretty good cameraphone reviews but the site is currently down. Rumor is that iPhone fans didn't like a review and are now DDoSing the site :)

My only advice is that if the N95 is not good enough for you it is unlikely that you'll find a phone with a camera that satisfies you.
posted by uandt at 7:45 AM on August 17, 2007

The iPhone takes surprisingly good shots, as long as there's enough light.
posted by mark7570 at 7:46 AM on August 17, 2007

I went from a Sony K800i to an iPhone and was like going back five years. I find the iPhone to take shitty pictures. Especially in low light. If not in pristine light, you get nothing. And although I'm OK with the touch screen keyboard for texting and dialing. One place where it falls down is in the photo app. Pushing the shutter button is not easy.

The K800i has settings like a real camera to be able take better pix in lower light -- or use the flash. The burst mode allows you to get the best pic. Being able to resize for MMS or send the full resolution via email is great. And it is 3G in Europe so it doesn't take six days to send the pic to flickr.
posted by birdherder at 10:32 AM on August 17, 2007

a) Yes, don't trust cellphone recommendations from internet people.

b) My Sony Ericsson k790a is awesome. The camera's pretty good -- maybe the same as the one on the k800i? They're very similar models. 3 MP, with shutter lag, of course, but a very impressive xenon flash, and the aforementioned burst mode ("BestPic"). See this page for some sample pictures:

http://www.cabel.name/2006/11/review-sony-ericsson-k790a.html
posted by coined at 11:11 AM on August 17, 2007

I'm looking for a cell/mobile phone camera - but i'm not too clued up on the things - i'd like to find something that as well as a decent megapixel ( yes i know about the n95) would also have a minimum of shutter lag, take a few shots in a short space of time, good in low light etc.

You will not find these qualities in any existing cameraphone.

The camera-focused Sony Ericsson models and the Nokia N-series are pretty much your best options. I've used the N73 recently and was fairly pleased with the results, but it is no replacement for a good point and shoot. It uses a fairly powerful LED (I think its a 1W Luxeon, but I never figured that out) as the flash, and I wouldn't dismiss LED flashes.

My advice is to check out the N95, N73, K800i/K790a, and W810i/?. They are pretty much the top end of camera phones for N. America and Europe. If you find them lacking, you are going to need to buy a small point and shoot camera. Or if you really need good speed and low light performance and quality, a DSLR/DSLR-like camera.

FYI, the easiest source I've found for sample camera photos (and cameraphone phones) is to browse flickr by camera.
posted by jacobbarssbailey at 12:09 PM on August 17, 2007

given your logic mate, i'll end up hauling a 5x4 in ! thanks for the tips on mobile phones though : )
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:56 AM on August 18, 2007