Camera or Camera-phone selection query.

fastfreddy2 · 22nd June 2008, 13:52

I get many opportunities to take photo's of women wearing heels, but my phone <a> doesn't have a great camera in it. [Slow and not very good lens.] And <b> I won't carry a camera with me, as phone, house keys, blue tooth ear-piece, car keys, money ..... Already fill both hands, and I'm not really a man-bag kinda guy.

The obvious solution is a good camera-phone:

It has to be quick; if I select 'camera' mode I want to be able to take a picture 200 nano-seconds later.

Image quality has to be good.

Possibly it might come with some sort of illuminator for night time use, though this isn't mandatory....

Any suggestions based on experience would be VERY welcome. I'm sure many here fully understand how frustrationg this might be, and I'd certainly be happy to hear about solutions.

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Elegant · 22nd June 2008, 14:16

I see that you're mainly interested in 'covert' photos, so you need something small and easy to hide. Generally, the best option would be a digital SLR - especially if you're serious about photographing: it's fast [especially at high ISO settings] and the picture quality is virtually as high as the photographer can manage, but it's big and can't be concealed. You can take a pic very quickly, if you only expect someone to appear - but you must grip the [big and heavy] camera and aim it, and it takes some time. Focusing with SLRs is not a problem, as their auto-focus is faster than compact cameras' one.

fastfreddy2 · 22nd June 2008, 14:28

I have a digital camera, and you are right, image quality is good but it's a little bulky.

It's not so much I want 'covert' though they wouldn't be excluded. I often see an image, and want to save it for a better look later on. Or for that matter, to include here. With hands already full, I don't have room for additional equipment, hence changing my phone to include a more suitable camera. As it is, I've lost one blue-tooth ear-piece, and my phone gets dropped about one a month..... Dunno about 'hands-free', I'm certainly 'hands-full'.

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shyguy · 22nd June 2008, 15:53

You've already stated the problems with camera phones, you'll be hard pressed to find one which reacts quickly as they're always overloaded with menus to get through, or slowed by all the other add-ons people "need" in a phone.
My own Nokia has ok resolution, and goes to camera with one button press, once you unlock the keypad. Then you have a menu to get through before taking a picture. Your victim will more than likely be gone by then.

fastfreddy2 · 22nd June 2008, 16:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by shyguy

You've already stated the problems with camera phones, you'll be hard pressed to find one which reacts quickly as they're always overloaded with menus to get through, or slowed by all the other add-ons people "need" in a phone.
My own Nokia has ok resolution, and goes to camera with one button press, once you unlock the keypad. Then you have a menu to get through before taking a picture. Your victim will more than likely be gone by then.

I know of a swivel type phone that instantly unlocks the keypad, and like yours, my Motorola phone has a "one button camera". But the camera is slow (producing blurred images), and resolution is handicapped by a poor lens.

Mobiles are getting as good as many basic digital camera's these days. They aren't just used for taking 'candids' of shoes, but a whole multitude of subjects.

I guess I'm trying to address the wrong age group.

Any 15 year old would know the answer, but I don't have access to one.

I've added some typical samples of "candid's" I've taken.

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shyguy · 22nd June 2008, 18:15

I will ask my 14 year old, not quite 15 but may have an answer lol.

Ninanoora · 22nd June 2008, 19:06

You should try get hands iPhone for test.

I like iPhone, it has very userfriendly user interface, fast and quickly to access all features of phone.

Photo quality is decent.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

iPhone has own photosharing website, http://www.natuba.com/
you can see there the quality of images produced with the phone.

fastfreddy2 · 22nd June 2008, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninanoora

iPhone has own photosharing website,

http://www.natuba.com/

you can see there the quality of images produced with the phone.

Thanks Ninanoora.

Immediate 'interesting' image.

I may be wrong, buy I think we can only use iPhone here on one network, and that isn't the one I have a contract with.

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shyguy · 22nd June 2008, 23:08

You're right it is only available on one network in the UK.

Just been told about a Sony Ericson which is very good picture quality
(5mp) and quick to take a pic. Will find out more from the person who has it.

fastfreddy2 · 23rd June 2008, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by shyguy

You're right it is only available on one network in the UK.

Just been told about a Sony Ericson which is very good picture quality
(5mp) and quick to take a pic. Will find out more from the person who has it.

When you pick the 14 year old up from school?

Doubt it helps much, but I'm with T-Mobile, and as with iPhone, not all phones are available for all networks (usually). I think most phones can be unlocked to run on all networks, but Carphone Warehouse has 'advised me' in the past [read warned], that unlocking invalidates the phones warranty.

Sounds like you have a good lead anyway.

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