Subscriptionless cameraphone recommendations plz

May 12, 2007 12:47 PM

CellphoneFilter: Can you recommend a good cellphone + camera that lets you upload the photos (usb, pref) without requiring cell service? Or is this the case with all of them?

I am frequently in places (garage sales, the mall, etc) where carrying around a digital camera is just not feasible and in some cases against store policy. I'd like a cellphone that has a camera with which I can take 2+MP pics and upload them to my PC later. Can I do this without having to subscribe to services? Or, any chance these camera cells have an SD card slot, and whatnot?

posted by vanoakenfold to Technology (8 answers total)

The Nokia N73 has a 3MP camera, miniSD card support up to 2GB and includes USB cable.
posted by Memo at 12:55 PM on May 12, 2007

Here's a list of Nokia data cables from their website. The phone compatibility isn't really listed in a way that's convenient for these purposes - instead, you have to find a phone that you like, then check if it can use a data cable.

Nonbrand versions of these are cheaper on eBay, but tend to not work after one or two times of use. But these eBay seller listings do list the phone compatibility by cable.
posted by Xere at 2:33 PM on May 12, 2007

Any phone that takes a memory card will work for this. You take your pictures, then remove the card and put it in your card reader. Nokias preferable, since they have good cameras and the pc suite software works really well, but any phone that uses memory cards will do.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 9:55 PM on May 12, 2007

Be careful though -- some cellular providers (I'm looking at you, Verizon) have in the past specifically blocked this ability, in order to force customers to use their overpriced "picture messaging" services. (They definitely blocked Bluetooth Object Push Profile on some phones, not sure about USB transfer.)

However it's almost universally not an issue on GSM equipment. If I were you, I'd get a Bluetooth one so you can transfer to your computer without plugging it in, but that's just me.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:18 PM on May 12, 2007

I think the absolute best phone for this sorta thing is the k790, it'll cost you a bit but the quality is pretty close to what you'd get with a snapshot digital camera. 3.2MP, flash, autofocus, and a USB cable to transfer to your computer. I'd search ebay to find the best deal.
posted by timelord at 3:11 AM on May 13, 2007

If you do intend to use it as an actual phone, the k790a is the version specifically designed for North American use (Cingular AT&T, T-Mobile, or any other GSM provider).
posted by timelord at 3:14 AM on May 13, 2007

If you have a Mac and the phone does Bluetooth, you're set. I even have my Cingular Motorola RAZR working fine.

As others mentioned, beware of Verizon. They cripple hardware, which I find to be annoying.
posted by drstein at 9:56 PM on May 13, 2007

I routinely do this with my Motorola Razr V3m. It has a 1.7 or 1.3 (don't remember) megapixel camera which sends the files to my desktop via a USB cable. I bought software (Motorola Phone Tools) off ebay for $6 to get this to work.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:39 PM on May 14, 2007