Can you legitimately use your smartphone as a camera? You can when the phone in question boasts a market-leading 41-Megapixel sensor and kicks out images to rival any standalone compact camera. The Nokia PureView 808 is such a handset, and it’s just had a pre-order price slapped upon its curvy frame by UK retailer Clove. You keen? Read on to find out the details.

As we mentioned just after the launch of the PureView 808, the pictures that Nokia’s flagship Symbian handset is capable of producing is stunning. While your feelings on the Symbian OS may me akin to Marmite, there’s no denying the camera tech that’s been stuffed into its Carl Zeiss lens.

Example images from an 808 PureView’s camera

So what’s the damage? Clove has just posted the phone on its website for pre-order, with a VAT-inclusive price of £538.80. That’s not cheap, and it’ll be interesting to compare with the rest of the market when those prices come in. MobileFun’s price is a slightly more expensive £539.95, for instance.

That £500 price point puts the PureView in line with Micro-Four-Thirds cameras from the likes of Panasonic. The latter will outstrip the former for picture quality, but given you’ll have the PureView with you at all times, and that it’s also a sturdy smartphone, that cost makes sense. The Nokia PureView 808 is due to land early next month. Are you holding out for the ultimate camera phone? Let us know below.

Link: Clove

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  • http://twitter.com/Krustylicious Taras Dhedhi

    Symbian may be marmite to you. But the fact it that pureview can’t be done on any other mobile os says something.

    Shame that the price is atm £500+ 

    Further i see the 808 as smart phone with a very very good camera.

  • http://twitter.com/Krustylicious Taras Dhedhi

    Symbian may be marmite to you. But the fact it that pureview can’t be done on any other mobile os says something.

    Shame that the price is atm £500+ 

    Further i see the 808 as smart phone with a very very good camera.

  • James

    No, I think I will pass to be honest…… 

    Generally, those who buy a compact camera intend on keeping it for several years, whereas mobile phones are almost disposable.

    If you bought one of these Nokias to fulfill both those roles, what is to say that in 18-24 months time (when the phone will be pretty out-dated) you aren’t itching for that new samsung galaxy/apple iphone handset and then have to carry both about?
    Also, the long-term durability of this handset as a camera is still in question for me.

    I will stick with my Panny Lumix TZ20 and (just arrived!) HTC One X, which will cover most situations for me.  I don’t think I will be itching to replace the Lumix in 18 months time (it seems to produce great pictures and I doubt I’ll need anything that captures anything ‘better’), but I’m fairly sure I will want a new phone by then!

    It seems quite expensive for a fairly duff phone to me and I can’t see it working that well as a camera.  How well does the zoom work?  It would be interesting to see it properly compared to a dedicated camera.

  • James

    No, I think I will pass to be honest…… 

    Generally, those who buy a compact camera intend on keeping it for several years, whereas mobile phones are almost disposable.

    If you bought one of these Nokias to fulfill both those roles, what is to say that in 18-24 months time (when the phone will be pretty out-dated) you aren’t itching for that new samsung galaxy/apple iphone handset and then have to carry both about?
    Also, the long-term durability of this handset as a camera is still in question for me.

    I will stick with my Panny Lumix TZ20 and (just arrived!) HTC One X, which will cover most situations for me.  I don’t think I will be itching to replace the Lumix in 18 months time (it seems to produce great pictures and I doubt I’ll need anything that captures anything ‘better’), but I’m fairly sure I will want a new phone by then!

    It seems quite expensive for a fairly duff phone to me and I can’t see it working that well as a camera.  How well does the zoom work?  It would be interesting to see it properly compared to a dedicated camera.

    • Anonymous

      It’s an excellent point – you’re right that phones are a bit more “throwaway” than a dedicated camera.

    • http://aznrap1st.pip.verisignlabs.com/ domald trunk

      This is a good point, I’ve only had my N8 for a year now, and I already want to upgrade to this 808.
      However, something to keep in mind is that you are going to have your phone with you most of the time, and your camera probably only for special planned events.
      As photographers say, “the best camera is the one you have with you”

    • http://aznrap1st.pip.verisignlabs.com/ domald trunk

      This is a good point, I’ve only had my N8 for a year now, and I already want to upgrade to this 808.
      However, something to keep in mind is that you are going to have your phone with you most of the time, and your camera probably only for special planned events.
      As photographers say, “the best camera is the one you have with you”

  • chris

    On clove its £505 now so i doubt they no the proper price

  • chris

    On clove its £505 now so i doubt they no the proper price

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