Oh great and wise forum, I need your opinions/experiences!

[Kernel Sanders]

Hello knowledgeable people! I am in the market for a new mobile phone.

Specifically, I am looking for a camera that's also a phone (rather than a phone that's also a camera - camera first, phone second). I would prefer not to have to carry a camera AND a phone around with me, when I can combine the two really.

I hate samsungs, love nokia's, and are indifferent to the rest. However, it's important that whatever phone I choose be able to replace carrying around a separate camera, so low quality camera's are a definate no no.

Also, I send text messages rather than call mostly, so the phone I choose much be easy to text with, and fully featured in that area too!

I have narrowed it down to the following two, although I might have missed a better phone along the way, so please feel free to suggest other makes and models that you feel will better suit, as long as they're not samsungs ;)

Nokia N96

http://www.ubergizmo.com/photos/2008/2/nokia-n96-468.jpg

Tech specs: http://www.nseries.com/nseries/v3/media/sections/products/tech_specs/en-R1/tech_specs_n96_en_R1.html

Sony Ericsson C905

http://www.unwiredview.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/sony-ericssson-c905-shiho.png

More info: http://www.sonyericsson.com/bigpictures/Flash/Default.aspx?cc=gb&lc=en

Tech Specs: http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/0,39030105,49299760,00.htm



I'm really undecided :(

The Nokia has the menu system I love, a 5MP Tessar Lens to give photo's comparable in quality to the Sony, but it's a full smartphone, with a mountain of features i'll never use, and it's supposed to be a bit laggy with the menu and camera, with pathetic battery life.

The Sony looks more of a camera, but the picture quality isn't rated as highly as the 8.1MP label would suggest, with the background of photo's being somewhat noisy, hence why it's comparable (and some might say worse than) the N96 despite the Sony Ericsson having a 3MP advantage. It also has the sony ericsson menu, which I am unsure of...

Any help will lead me to distribute cookies! :KS

[fiddledd]

This may not be much help but my son recently got the Sony C905. His main reason for choosing it, above others he considered, was the battery life.

He's not complained so far, and he also texts often.

Personally I always go for Nokia. I've not found any other brand as good as far as reception is concerned, and it is a phone after all.:)

EDIT: Forgot to mention that his was a free upgrade from Orange (well free as in new contract) and came with a 2 gb memory card.

[notwen]

Lol, I thought my 3MP Samsung Flipshot was a decent camera phone. Too bad you're not a fan of Samsung. We always get left behind as far as mobiles phones go here in the states compared to just about everywhere else. =x If i were to choose I would go w/ the Nokia just due to my personal bad luck w/ the durability of Sony Ericsson phones. Good luck w/ whatever you decide. =]

samsung flipshot here:
http://www.mobilemag.com/content/images/15172_super.jpg

[igknighted]

Isn't the N96 Linux based and open source?

Also, what's wrong with Samsung? They typically make the most reliable phones (at least here in the states), and they bought Pentax a little ways back, so their digital cameras are pretty good too.

[mirhciulica]

I personally recommend Nokia N96:KS because it's also a great smartphone, and the camera is great (other features I think you might know). And Sony Ericsson are good only at camera, IMHO.

It's all about your needs! Have fun with it, no mater what is going to be!:guitar:

[S0VERE1GN]

I like my blackberry curve. Has a great camera and a nice keyad I'm writing this mesdage with now. My choice of those two would be the nokia though.

[karellen]

nokia all the way. better to excel in features than to lack them

[Kernel Sanders]

Thanks for the advice guys, keep it coming! :KS

If i'm honest, i'm tending towards the N95. I love Nokia's. The only thing worrying me is the reported lag, as in there is a second or two discrepency between pressing a key, and the action actually happening.

That would be especially awful for taking photo's. "Presses key".....................wait..................*photo taken*

Also, the Sony C905 is more designed to be a camera, which is what I want mainly, with a million features to ensure that I get as great and as instant a photo as possible.

So I can go with the N95 and get a menu and phone I love, but a laggy phone with a laggy camera. Or I can go with the C905 and get a camera i'll love, but a menu i'll likely hate, with likely irritation every time I send a text message.

Bummer eh? :lolflag:

[monkeychick]

What did you end up getting? I have a c905 and love it love it love it.

[Mason Whitaker]

With Google Android, you can write your own apps and stuff. ( Dev kit has windows, linux, and osx ports )

It also has a really nice camera function, always good quality in my experience.

[RichardLinx]

With Google Android, you can write your own apps and stuff. ( Dev kit has windows, linux, and osx ports )

It also has a really nice camera function, always good quality in my experience.

It only comes with a 3.2MP camera though, I doubt that would fit the OP's whole "Camera before Phone" requirement.
They do seem to be nice Phones though.

[Kernel Sanders]

What did you end up getting? I have a c905 and love it love it love it.

Me too! :lol:

[RichardLinx]

Me too! :lol:

How long does It take to save an image? Is there much delay between taking images?

[monkeychick]

It takes about a second for my c905 to take one image save and be ready to take another.

[diwas]

I use K770i cybershot (3.2 Mega pixel). And its good.

Basically if u want a good camera in ur fone...use Sony Ericsson cybershot.