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November 12, 2009
[HOLY PIXELS, BATMAN! A CAMERA IN A PHONE!]
Picture this. You're packing for the Holiday of a Lifetime and intent on saving weight. Here's the point where you ask yourself: Do I need two cameras? One, the real thing, and the other the one built into the mobile phone?
Right off we can say that there is no contest between a phone camera and a serious bit of gear like a DSLR or even one of the new Micro Four Thirds. But what if the choice is between the phone and a simple compact?
The Nokia N86 sports an 8 megapixel sensor and a Zeiss branded wide-angle lens (28mm equivalent) which claims to be true auto-focus rather than simply fixed focus.
The trick to using a camera like this, which is best thought of as the box camera for the 21st century, is to understand its limitations and to work within them. So we put the Nokia through some typical tourist tests and decided that Venice is the one place where it might do quite well.
The basic limitation of this camera is its lens. Forget the so-called zoom – it is a miserable digital device that produces dreadful images even at modest magnification. But at its default and true focal length the lens is ideal for the cramped and notoriously badly drained streets of Venice.
Auto exposure is very good, so in or around buildings and lofty mountains results are surprisingly effective. Pictures are sharp, well exposed and with generally near-enough to accurate colour.
As a camera the Nokia N86 is unpleasant to use. The shutter release needs such a hefty shove to get it to move that camera shake is a constant problem, except in the very brightest sunlight. The camera reverts to default settings whenever it is turned off which means that when it is switched back on the flash is ready to fire – not what a serious photographer wants at all.
Compared with even the most basic compact camera with a true optical zoom, image stabilisation and better operator controls, the N86 doesn't cut the mustard. And the shutter lag is curious. Perhaps “lag” is not the right word, because what happens is that the camera captures the image before you hear the artificial shutter click. Very odd!
Of course with the Nokia you can take a picture of yourself up the Eiffel Tower and send it forthwith to envious pals back home, if you can afford the cost of making calls on roam.
The verdict: A camera in a phone is a handy gadget, like the doodad for getting stones from horses' hooves in your Swiss Army Pocket knife. You won't meet that many crippled horses in the average day, but when you do it will come in really handy. Just don't leave home without a real camera in the bag.
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Posted by terry at November 12, 2009 09:21 AM
Worth Checking Out
Digital Cameras SydneyComments
I was looking at the n86 but your review has helped me to decide against it because it doesn't seem to be an improvement to the n82.
Can you recommend a couple of compact cameras that are both easy to carry in a pocket and take good pictures and video in low light.
thanks
Posted by: james at January 2, 2010 11:05 PM
James: If you're looking for a camera in a phone then I'm not able to advise. Some time back I tested a Sony Ericsson with a 2mp camera and I thought that quite competent, but I don't believe that you will get consistently good photos/video from a phone. The limiting factors are the lens and the very small sensor.
The very best pocketable cameras are the Canon S90 and the Panasonic LX3. Being the best they are also the most expensive. Sadly that's the rule of the game -- the best costs more.
TL
Posted by: Anonymous at January 3, 2010 07:04 AM