Camera phones for casual snapshots

Round-up by: Mary Lojkine

Last updated: 09 May 2005

Built-in cameras are fast becoming a standard feature of mobile phones. If the phone you're looking at doesn't have a camera, either it's a business phone for use in offices where cameras are verboten or you're shopping in the bargain basement. Once you've ruled out phones from those groupings, the big question is: how much camera do you want?

A basic VGA (640x480-pixel) model is all you need for capturing quick snaps to share by MMS. If you want to print your photographs, look for a camera resolution of at least 1 megapixel. That'll capture enough detail for a standard 100x150mm print, although you won't match the quality of an image from a standalone camera. Other features to look for include a lens cover (or a slider design that protects the lens), a self-portrait mirror, a flash or light for taking photos at night and a dedicated shutter button, ideally on the side of the phone where it's easy to find and press. Make sure the phone has plenty of memory, ideally in the form of an upgradeable memory card.