Samsung GT-M8910 Pixon 12 cameraphone
The world's first 12Mp phonecam, apparently
Review As digital camera manufacturers start to concentrate on quality rather than megapixels – reducing the count of the latter while enhancing the former – mobile phone makers still appear caught in the vortex of more-means-better. A case in point is the Samsung GT-M8910 Pixon 12, the first handset with a 12Mp camera – should we be impressed?
Photo call: Samsung's GT-M8910 Pixon 12
Well, actually, it isn’t just about the megapixels for Samsung either. Yes 12Mp breaks new ground, but the feature set here is actually quite rounded in terms of what a mobile phone can offer, and you might be tempted even without taking the numbers game into account.
For example, the Pixon 12 has a Xenon flash. Hardly groundbreaking in itself but it does mean you get a better chance of producing good shots indoors in low light conditions. Furthermore, it has a separate light for video shooting.
The lens is covered, and when you press a right side mounted button it shoots off and the camera software launches. Both processes happen quickly enough for you to stand a chance of a quick point and shoot. A separate button handles focus and shooting, and it has a very positive action.
A Smart Auto mode adjusts camera settings according to conditions, giving you the best chance of getting a good shot. It worked quite well during testing. The bowl of fruit, for example, is a brighter, more vibrant image when shot using Smart Auto than it is on settings we chose as best for this scene.
Like most compact cameras, the lens is protected when not in use
The camera boosts a lens equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm camera. It’s a decent wide-angle choice and means you can get more in a shot. In use, we certainly noticed how much more was in the frame than we’d normally expect from a phone.
COMMENTS
@Youvegottobe Joking
My beef is with the credulous reviewer failing to have any perspective - yes, I am well aware that people who don't know better will buy the thing because of the megapixel number. But reviews are supposed to reflect reality, not parrot marketing material, and thus HELP people NOT make those mistakes. The sample photos posted here are not in any way shape or form "clear and of good quality", by any objective measure.
The best you could possibly say is that they're marginally better than the 5mp camera on a $100 phone. But the reviewer just lets the hype skate. That's the problem. The reviewer explicitly said that the phone existed to be a camera - so your argument is that we shouldn't complain about the camera quality because it's obviously not going to be good? Huh?
If the thing is meant mainly to be a camera, then the only reason to choose it over a DSLR is size - and there's no reason at all to choose it over a pocket point-and-shoot of similar size and far better glass quality - and then put the difference toward buying a really nice phone. The job of a review is to point this stuff out, and that wasn't done.
3.2mp
My K800i produced some awsome photos, 3.2mp is all the normal person needs PERIOD
if the dam thing had not kept breaking down I would still be using it.
whats with the numpties comparing a phone camera with digital cameras and DSLR's?
This phone camera is not meant to replace your digital camera. Of course the pictures from even a decent 5Mp camera can be better, they have bigger sensors and lenses etc. But this is on a phone that you carry everywhere with you and will take a picture when you otherwise would have had nothing. No-one is expecting to get DSLR or even good 5Mp camera quality pictures, but this phone camera will do when there is nothing better.
Obviously most people/consumers/sheep think that 12Mp phone cameras are going to be better than the ones on the last phone model so that reason along with ITS THE LATEST PHONE LOOK AT ME I AM COOL will be the main reason people buy this model and ones like it.
I dont expect wedding photographers are going to be pulling this out and taking snaps when the groom puts the ring on the brides finger. So can the camera snobs please gtfo and get a life.
@Pointless !! #
Why don't u think before u start typing ? The camera has a nice wide angle lens. Divx at 320x240 on a 3 inch screen is fine, in fact the pixels will be much smaller than the ones on a 1080P TV with a 32 inch screen. And as for the phone only being aimed at the people who are going to buy it.......well who else would they aim it at ?????
@Dick Emery Yes so many mugs are spouting bull about pixel density that a few companies are using a reduction in mega pixels as a marketing gimmick and your falling for it.
"Clear and of good quality"?
What are you smoking? Or have people stopped looking at actual photos, so now they think that noise-reduced, interpolated, smudged crap looks good?
How about this: Here's what a mid-level DSLR setup will do, from a friend of mine in the Czech republic. It doesn't cost a whole lot more than this phone, I suspect:
http://don.vn.cz/photos/springdogwalk/01.jpg
http://don.vn.cz/photos/mazda3night/03.jpg
THAT is "clear and of good quality" - not the tripe sample shots you posted. And they're barely 1 megapixel as displayed. Huhh...
If the main reason for that phone to exist is the camera, then the lot of them would do well to pop out of existence immediately.
