Should a Camera Phone Replace Your Digital Camera?
With the reported decline of traditional print film cameras over the last three years and the steady rise of digital cameras and camera phones, the consumer has a tough decision to make.
Do they opt for a good digital camera phone, which they will always have with them? Or is the right choice to have a quality digital camera, specifically designed for capturing and manipulating great images, with a lower quality camera on their mobile phone, for getting those instant snaps? If your choice is to aim for a good camera phone, then current models are available with 12 megapixel resolution cameras, which is a better resolution than a lot of medium range digital cameras.
These cameras will still not replace the high end digital SLR cameras, but should give excellent image resolution, but they are not for everyone.
This is because image quality and high resolution should not be the sole consideration.
If your main use of photos is to send them to friends, either through mobile email or SMS text messages, then a 12 megapixel image is going to be a real disadvantage as it will take ages to transmit and the data costs involved will soon mount up.
If you are going to use your camera in this way, a better choice may be to get a reasonable resolution, portable camera phone, which can take images to 2 or 3 megapixels, and that is always with you.
Now if you have a high resolution device, it is usually possible to reduce the quality and therefore the size of the image when you take it.
However, the chances are, if you are taking photos in a compact resolution, then you will only rarely use the higher quality settings, in which case, you are possibly better off having a dedicated quality digital camera to supplement your portable, always available, camera phone.
Price is also a consideration, and whilst having to purchase two devices may seem unnecessary, getting a high end camera phone will mean you are likely looking at the latest releases with a high end price tag.
By opting for a cheaper all round phone, you should be able to spend the difference to get a good quality digital camera.
Do they opt for a good digital camera phone, which they will always have with them? Or is the right choice to have a quality digital camera, specifically designed for capturing and manipulating great images, with a lower quality camera on their mobile phone, for getting those instant snaps? If your choice is to aim for a good camera phone, then current models are available with 12 megapixel resolution cameras, which is a better resolution than a lot of medium range digital cameras.
These cameras will still not replace the high end digital SLR cameras, but should give excellent image resolution, but they are not for everyone.
This is because image quality and high resolution should not be the sole consideration.
If your main use of photos is to send them to friends, either through mobile email or SMS text messages, then a 12 megapixel image is going to be a real disadvantage as it will take ages to transmit and the data costs involved will soon mount up.
If you are going to use your camera in this way, a better choice may be to get a reasonable resolution, portable camera phone, which can take images to 2 or 3 megapixels, and that is always with you.
Now if you have a high resolution device, it is usually possible to reduce the quality and therefore the size of the image when you take it.
However, the chances are, if you are taking photos in a compact resolution, then you will only rarely use the higher quality settings, in which case, you are possibly better off having a dedicated quality digital camera to supplement your portable, always available, camera phone.
Price is also a consideration, and whilst having to purchase two devices may seem unnecessary, getting a high end camera phone will mean you are likely looking at the latest releases with a high end price tag.
By opting for a cheaper all round phone, you should be able to spend the difference to get a good quality digital camera.
