Choosing a cameraphone is tricky. Should you chase the megapixel dragon, plump for the best optics possible, or let the choice between Xenon or LED flash sway you?
There are a staggering array of conflicting specs on the market, and not a single phone has managed to completely replace our compact camera yet. But they’re getting close. Get our tips for picking the perfect cameraphone after the jump.
1. Don’t worry about megapixels
Prepare for a shock: Packing in more megapixels doesn’t necessarily make your cameraphone any better. It might mean you get improved optics, autofocus and even a proper flash thrown into the bargain, but the resolution on its own won’t make much difference above 3.2 megapixels. That’s because the sensor itself is still tiny. More pixels crammed into the same space often means more heat, and more interference is generated. Of course, some of that will be canceled out by the fact the supersized image it produces can be scaled down to wipe out some of its grainy qualities, but unless you’re printing enlarged photos onto A3 or above, you’re unlikely to see the benefit. Don’t worry too much about the megapixel count, instead slap more significance on the quality of the pictures produced.
2. Opt for better optics
If you take a picture through a dodgy lens, you’re going to get a dodgy picture. It’s as simple as that. Lots of cameraphones still use plastic lenses, which immediately undermines their quality. Instead, opt for a cameraphone that uses proper glass. They’re easy to spot, since they all boast “lenses by…” on the side. Nokia’s new N86 8MP has optics by Carl Ziess, while phones like the LG Renoir uses Schneider-Kreuznach lenses.
3. Flash thinking
If you want to take pictures with your cameraphone, chances are they’re going to be at times when you have no control over the environment. In other words pubs, bars, dimly lit restaurants and living rooms with mood lighting. To get a crisp, blur-free image in those settings you’re going to need a decent flash: without it all your other fancy features are as useless a Gordon Brown in an economic crisis. Trouble is, very few cameraphones come with a proper flash. What you want is a full on Xenon bulb, delivering crisp white light in a high-power burst. LEDs that act as a glorified torch just aren’t the same. Check out the likes of the Sony Ericsson C905 and LG Renoir pack Xenon flashbulbs though, and when shooting in the dark they consistently come out on top.
4. Keep your focus, and aperture, and shutter speed
If you’re really serious about using a phone as a replacement for a compact camera chances are you’ll be wanting to take more than the odd snapshot. If you’re serious about getting creative with your cameraphone you’ll need to take charge of its focus, aperture and shutter controls. They’ll let you create some truly stunning shots, but it’s quite rare to get those controls on the average mobile. Nokia’s new N86 8MP and the LG Viewty and LG Renoir will let you tweak aperture, and the latter two even let you focus manually, so you’ll easily snap a sharp photo even if the subject is off centre.
5. Beware of the lag
No matter how advanced they are, cameraphones are not cameras. They don’t behave the same way, and aren’t nearly as responsive. When you press the shutter button you’ll have to wait for the phone to take a photo, and by the time it has you’ll likely have missed any fast-moving subjects. You can counter the effect of ‘shutter lag’ by panning with the phone and keeping the subject in frame, but by doing that you increase the risk of blurring. Instead, choose a phone that’s made its own efforts to reduce shutter lag. Sony Ericsson’s newest Cyber-shot phones, such as the Sony Ericsson C903, have a BestPic feature that snaps nine shots in a second, and then lets you choose the best one. It’s not perfect, but it beats missing the action entirely.
