8-megapixel camera-phones
It wasn't too long ago when 5-megapixel camera-phones were the mainstay of camera-phones. Now, these are slowly being replaced by higher-resolution 8-megapixel handsets. It's a little bit of a dj vu as we witness what's evolving in camera-phones following the path of what has happened for point-and-shoot digital cameras.
Besides taking pictures, these shooters double as social media platforms, allowing users to geo-tag their snaps, locate friends on maps and upload images instantly onto the Web. The list of features goes on to include image stabilization, high ISO settings, smile/blink/face detection capabilities, panoramic shooting modes and onboard editing programs. Here are five 8-megapixel camera-phones that can do more than just take pictures.
Click here for a feature comparison table.
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Samsung INNOV8 (i8510)
CNET Asia rating: 8.9 out of 10
The good: GPS; HSDPA; Wi-Fi; 16GB on-board memory; 8-megapixel camera with cool panorama mode.
The bad: Touch-sensitive navigation pad is fiddly to use at times; lack of xenon flash on the camera; screen could be sharper.
The bottom line: Samsung has taken us by surprise by creating an excellent handset that feels like it could have been made by Nokia. If you're looking for a high-end handset with almost every feature currently available--and then some--the i8510 is the phone for you.
Imaging features: Dual-power LED flash; smile shot; blink shot; panorama shot; macro shot; face-detection; anti-shake; wide dynamic range; geo-tagging.
Review | See full specs | Rate this |
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LG KC780
First take
When LG announced the 8-megapixel Renoir KC910 camera-phone, it said it had another similar resolution handset in the pipeline. Well, here it is--the KC780.
Imaging features: Face detection; smile detection; smile shot; ISO 1,600; image stabilizer; Bluetooth Webcam.
First take | See full specs | Rate this |
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Samsung Pixon (M8800)
Hands-on
As we break away from the 5-megapixel ceiling on camera-phones, the attention is now on the 8-megapixel models. Sony Ericsson first took the wraps off the C905 Cyber-shot during CommunicAsia in June, while Samsung later gave us the INNOV8 (i8510) in July. In August, LG's KC910 picked up where the Viewty left off with support for Dolby sound and DivX format for videos.
Imaging features: Dual-power LED flash; smile shot; panorama shot; face-detection; face link mode (allows users to tag faces in pictures and hotlink to a phonebook entry); scrapbooking tool; wide dynamic range; geo-tagging.
First take | See full specs | Rate this |
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Sony Ericsson C905 Cyber-shot
Hands-on
Sony Ericsson has once again upped the ante in the camera-phone business with the latest announcement of its highest-resolution and most feature-packed camera-phone to date, the C905 Cyber-shot. From an industry-leading 8.1-megapixel camera and loads of imaging functions to connectivity options that include Wi-Fi, HSDPA and GPS, the Cyber-shot phone certainly has it all. Suffice to say, it looks really good on paper in terms of specifications, but can it deliver on its promised features? Well, here's what we have to say after a short hands-on session with a prototype C905 model at the recent Sony Ericsson press event held in conjunction with CommunicAsia.
Imaging features: Xenon flash; face detection autofocus; smart contrast; image stabilizer; geo-tagging.
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LG Renoir KC910
First take
Successor to the Viewty KU990, the Renoir KC910 features a 3-inch touchscreen display with an 8-megapixel camera module. According to LG, the KC910 is the first handset in the market to include Dolby Mobile--an integrated suite of audio processing technologies that is supposed to enhance music playback. Like the Viewty, the handset is also capable of recording up to 120fps videos with support for DivX and Xvid formats.
Imaging features: Xenon flash; ISO 1,600; image stabilization; manual focus; face tracking; touch shot (allows users to focus on any object by touching the screen); smile shot; blink detection; geo-tagging.
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