Comments on: I want a camera with a phone attached, or do I? http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/ Gadgets, music, life - and a little work Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:56:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Mukiwa http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-656 Mukiwa Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:46:35 +0000 http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-656 Camera phones are glorified pin hole cameras although I'd argue pinhole cameras have a better user interface. I use my N95 for 'visual shorthand', reminding myself of exhibitions or things I see in the paper or quite often books or things I want to look up online. It's fine for that but don't expect printable images, despite Zeiss 'optics', it's a phone and subject to the form constraints of the handset. It's all about fitness for purpose, the Canon and Ricoh are both excellent choices but I think the Ricoh edges it at higher ISOs. Camera phones are glorified pin hole cameras although I’d argue pinhole cameras have a better user interface. I use my N95 for ‘visual shorthand’, reminding myself of exhibitions or things I see in the paper or quite often books or things I want to look up online. It’s fine for that but don’t expect printable images, despite Zeiss ‘optics’, it’s a phone and subject to the form constraints of the handset.

It’s all about fitness for purpose, the Canon and Ricoh are both excellent choices but I think the Ricoh edges it at higher ISOs.

]]> By: Al Pavangkanan http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-653 Al Pavangkanan Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:35:46 +0000 http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-653 The problem is taking pictures and getting them to flickr ASAP. Sure, the UI of the N95 camera interface needs an overhaul, but its still the best solution to the problem. Open the slide to unlock phone, hold down camera button, focus and click. Its pretty simple once you get the hang of it. If you set up zonetag, its one click away to flickr. If you set up shozu, you don't even have to press a button to upload, it can do it automatically. Also, your photos can be geotagged with those apps. That's a super popular feature nowadays. Amazon and Dell Small Business have great deals on the N95 8GB NAM (fast 3G on at&t) The problem is taking pictures and getting them to flickr ASAP.

Sure, the UI of the N95 camera interface needs an overhaul, but its still the best solution to the problem.

Open the slide to unlock phone, hold down camera button, focus and click. Its pretty simple once you get the hang of it.

If you set up zonetag, its one click away to flickr.
If you set up shozu, you don’t even have to press a button to upload, it can do it automatically.

Also, your photos can be geotagged with those apps. That’s a super popular feature nowadays.

Amazon and Dell Small Business have great deals on the N95 8GB NAM (fast 3G on at&t)

]]> By: Steve Bowbrick http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-652 Steve Bowbrick Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:55:17 +0000 http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-652 The N95's big problem is battery life - especially when you switch the camera on. It makes it almost unusable. Ten or a dozen shots and your finished. I call mine the slug... The N95’s big problem is battery life - especially when you switch the camera on. It makes it almost unusable. Ten or a dozen shots and your finished. I call mine the slug…

]]> By: James MacAonghus http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-651 James MacAonghus Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:36:08 +0000 http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-651 Nikon has a WiFi camera which it touts as ideal for Flickr, Picasa etc. The S51C. Not sure that's the kind you want though. Nikon has a WiFi camera which it touts as ideal for Flickr, Picasa etc. The S51C. Not sure that’s the kind you want though.

]]> By: Simon http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-643 Simon Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:59:03 +0000 http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-643 Oh my god - that Sigma looks tempting. And, yes - thanks everyone for putting me straight on the whole cameraphone thing.. And yes, Jamie - never heard of the Eye.fi - but that could do the job.. Thanks all Oh my god - that Sigma looks tempting. And, yes - thanks everyone for putting me straight on the whole cameraphone thing..

And yes, Jamie - never heard of the Eye.fi - but that could do the job..

Thanks all

]]> By: Adam Bowie http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-642 Adam Bowie Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:25:13 +0000 http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-642 Just because there are 8mp cameraphones coming soon, that doesn't mean they'll be any good. I still think we're a fair way off a true camera built into a phone - at least if you're after a really good camera. I don't have the G9, but have its predecessor, the G7 and it's an amazing camera. There is no way any mobile is going to come close to these cameras any time soon. They are serious cameras that put even most other compacts to shame. To my mind, most current cameraphones can be matched by sub £100 compact cameras without any difficulty. That said, you might want to read the review of the new Sigma DP1 in this week's Amateur Photographer. It's significantly more expensive though... Just because there are 8mp cameraphones coming soon, that doesn’t mean they’ll be any good. I still think we’re a fair way off a true camera built into a phone - at least if you’re after a really good camera.

I don’t have the G9, but have its predecessor, the G7 and it’s an amazing camera. There is no way any mobile is going to come close to these cameras any time soon. They are serious cameras that put even most other compacts to shame.

To my mind, most current cameraphones can be matched by sub £100 compact cameras without any difficulty.

That said, you might want to read the review of the new Sigma DP1 in this week’s Amateur Photographer. It’s significantly more expensive though…

]]> By: Jamie http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-640 Jamie Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:04:37 +0000 http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-640 What about using a Wi-Fi SD card like eye.fi ? What about using a Wi-Fi SD card like eye.fi ?

]]> By: Simon http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-639 Simon Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:33:36 +0000 http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-639 OK - so no N95...it's back to the Canon, me thinks...now, when will they put a sim card in it..? OK - so no N95…it’s back to the Canon, me thinks…now, when will they put a sim card in it..?

]]> By: Seamus McCauley http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-638 Seamus McCauley Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:57:27 +0000 http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-638 I've got an N95 and the camera isn't the strong suit. It's a great PDA / iPod / web browser / games console / TV, but the camera interface is lousy in a way it's hard to pin down. Difficult to use, options poorly thought out (so things like zoom are non-intuitive to get going but messing up the colour balance is easy as pie) and the autofocus just doesn't really work that well. I’ve got an N95 and the camera isn’t the strong suit. It’s a great PDA / iPod / web browser / games console / TV, but the camera interface is lousy in a way it’s hard to pin down. Difficult to use, options poorly thought out (so things like zoom are non-intuitive to get going but messing up the colour balance is easy as pie) and the autofocus just doesn’t really work that well.

]]> By: Jackie Danicki http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-637 Jackie Danicki Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:53:47 +0000 http://www.simonwaldman.net/2008/04/29/i-want-a-camera-with-a-phone-attached-or-do-i/#comment-637 I have a Nokia N95 and do not enjoy using the camera. The spec is great but I sort of hate it. Definitely encourage you to play around with one in a shop or borrow one from a friend even for five minutes. (The best thing about the N95 is that I can use Qik for video - full disclosure: Qik gave me the N95 for free - but otherwise not a fan.) I have a Nokia N95 and do not enjoy using the camera. The spec is great but I sort of hate it. Definitely encourage you to play around with one in a shop or borrow one from a friend even for five minutes. (The best thing about the N95 is that I can use Qik for video - full disclosure: Qik gave me the N95 for free - but otherwise not a fan.)

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