Anyone use a HTC Desire (Android) phone for photography?

[Bobfrance]

(Moved from 'off topic' because it wasn't showing up) 😕

Hi all,

I'm well overdue upgrading my old Nokia phone and have been considering an iphone. I have an ipod touch which I like and have a number of friends who love their iphones.

However last week I was out shooting with an ex work colleague and he showed me his HTC Desire smart phone which runs Google's Android operating system. He really rated the quality of the phone's 5mp camera and the Picsay editing software (above the photoshop versions) and demonstrated to me how he could shoot, edit and upload geo-tagged images 'on the fly'.

I have been aware that the iphone's camera is not its strongest point and it occured to me the Desire's technology might be a nice add-on to the shooting I do (perhaps trying my hand at bloggin for instance).

What I'd like to know, before I sign up to a contract, is if anybody has any experience of using one of an Android phone, in particular shooting with one like the Desire.

All input is appreciated, though I'd prefer not to have an "Apple is best!" diatribe. I work happily with both platforms. It's just this particular camera phone's capabilities and usability compared to others on the market that I'm really interested in.

Or should I just tape my old Nokia to my M8 and have done with it? 😉

Bob.
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[Phantomas]

I use HTC Android phone, love Android, but... oh, it does have a camera! What the hell? Who cares.

Sorry, with all these cameras around I just can't pay attention to how my phone takes pictures. I have hard enough time deciding which proper camera goes out with me each day.

 

[Phantomas]

OK, let me be a bit constructive and less negative. If you do want to shoot with a phone (which I still find surprising given all those cameras in your sig) the good thing about the Android phones is that you can download third-party applications which allow you to shoot as in Polaroid, Holga, etc. That's probably the most fun you can have with it, coz quite honestly, phonecameras simply suck and I don't know on what merit I should evaluate them. Yes, they take photos, but do they take good photos?

Oh, just took my very first shot with the phone. You can do Lartigue effects with it (google it).

 

[Bobfrance]

Ha ha, I know it sounds a little absurd, but being into photography a camera phone that can actually take pictures is of more interest to me than just a phone.

Whilst I do have a number of cameras, I don't always have them with me and there has been a few occasions when it may be useful. The camera on my old Nokia is so pitiful that it just isn't even worth bothering.

Here's an example of a shot taken and edited in-camera. http://www.flickr.com/photos/10448580@N04/4611774148/

It's worth bearing in mind that only a few years ago a 5pm camera was still state of the art and is still quite adequate today.

 

[kywong]

I have a Nexus One, which should have the same basic hardware as the HTC desire.

The image quality is pretty good for a phone, but it's still the same, oversharpened, tree leaves blending in together affair you get from camera phones. Crazy shutter lag too (but the photo taking software should be different). I have no experience with the editing software so I can't comment on that. Here's a review and a photo I took with mine.

About the phone itself, an iPhone is more refined, but I'm loving Android. In particular, I love how you can customize the homepage of your phone. You can put little post-its on there, a clock, get the news/weather, and of course, apps you often use.

Get it, it's a great phone, but keep the GR-D with you as well.