How often do you use the camera in your cell phone?

[n5jrn]

My phone has replaced my watch, it is the most accurate timepiece I have ever owned.

There's a good reason for that. As long as you're in-network, your phone synchronizes its clock from signals on the network, which ultimately derives its time from the National Bureau of Standards.

 

[dave lackey]

The only reason I have a cell phone with a camera is because it was the least expensive model my carrier offered (i.e. it was not possible to get one without a camera). I tried using it once, only to discover in disgust that the camera firmware had been crippled by design and the only way to download the photo was to pay the cell carrier what amounted to an exorbitant sum for transmitting such a paltry amount of data. I deleted the shot, and that was the last time I activated the camera feature on the phone.

I suppose if I saw something really newsworthy, and I had no other camera with me, and there were no other photographers around, I would use the phone camera and pay their ridiculous fee. Otherwise, forget it.

The only problem with not having a watch is the fact that certain watches are not only jewelry to be worn but also those mechanical watches are complementary to the mechanical cameras and are just plain fun to have and wear. Other'n that, I don't need the tan line either.

 

[mrbrown]

OK, this is purely for fun and to waste time. It is really not meant to start flame wars, rants, arguments, or any of that. Obviously a camera phone is not a serious tool. tha being said, just about everybody has one, so let's hear it!

I use my iPhone 4 camera every day with Instagram. Fun stuff.

The camera is good enough for what I want to do.

(Shameless plug: my Instagram ID is @mr_brown)

 

[photogdave]

Update: I now have a rotary telephone from the 1940s wall mounted in my living room. No more stupid cordless phone running out of battery in the middle of a call!
I still don't have a cell phone but I do have an iPod Touch.

 

[dave lackey]

I have some pocket watches, one my grandfather's, one I bought rather than actually carry, daily, his watch and a mickey mouse pocket watch (just plain weird so naturally it appeals to me). These stay at the back of my desk to be seen and contemplated. My cell phone occupies the watch pocket of my Levis. No tan line on my arms in more than a quarter-century.

Love pocket watches... got a pic of them, including the Mickey Mouse pocket watch? Eh...they don't have cameras built into them do they?

 

[dct]

Nice old thread

Nice old thread

...when I go to restaurant's and see families with members who pay no attention to the rest of the people at the table because they are constantly texting or gamesturbating...
yes, I consider cellphones and their close elecrtonic cousins to be addictive, and the excesses of their users to be idiotic.

100 % agree. It is a collective desease. And such situations are definitly missing any respect to each other as PERSON in real world, not as NICK in a net world...

Don't get me wrong: I am in strong IT project business the whole day and use all today's gadgets and networks too. But for business only!

After closing time, I switch off the cell phone, same for the office mail acount on my notebook and use in private only forums (like here), private email and another phone number for traditional calls. At a restaurant I like to discuss, laugh, drink fine wine, look at nice girls and don't like any disturbing gadgets around me.

Back to topic: every now and then I use my Nokia for flip chart copies, occasional P&S images or a close up of an interesting offer in a shop. Nothing more.

 

[craygc]

Not often but sometimes phone cams amaze me. This was a Nokia E52 about 10am just hangin' out at the pool while waiting for people to finish cleaning the apartment I just moved out of.

 

[Paolo Bonello]

I use mine practically everyday. Short videos, photos, email, MMS text messages, record keeping, notes, tapatalk, ebay and the camera you use when you you dont have a camera. I wouldn't deny it's convenience in my life yet I was brought up with manners so I know when it's should be switched off or ignored. And I don't talk at the top of my voice within earshot of others cause I detest that.

One really useful photo that I always take with my phone is the parking bay number and/or level when I park my car in a multiple level car parking lot. Thought I'd share that incase you've ever lost your car in a parking lot. I know I have.

I really hope the quality gets better and good luck to the first company to make a serious hybrid camera+smartphone. Currently they are still too much of a compromise IMO. Maybe if they made a modular upgradeable system so that people who want the quality lens or larger sensor plus flash can buy it as an optional upgrade. I'd go for that.

 

[viv]

I never use it. Neither do I make phone calls on my Nikon. For some reason, this is not a voting option.

 

[dee]

What's a cell phone ? LOL .

 

[ZeissFan]

I use mine (Nokia N900) off and on. I think it has a very good camera, if used within its limits.

 

[btgc]

After using camera phone for a week I start to get idea that camera phones are killing off digicam segment. For visual notes camera phone is OK and if one wants something wider or longer, with shutter speeds and apertures - then there are real cameras. Why carry digital compact?

 

[Bill Kapinski]

Earlier someone mentioned camera phones as not a serious camera. I would disagree, it is just another tool in the toolbox. Not any different than a Diana or Holga. They are not a serious camera, but a cheap plastic one that takes awful photos but there is a magical quality about it. I love my iphone 4. I use Hipstamitic almost exclusively. Square photos and cool effects, and it is with me everywhere I go, what's not to like. I am going to print about a dozen of the photos small and put them in my office at work as a mini gallery and maybe have a show (anything to bring in booze)

 

[Alpacaman]

I mainly use my android phone for RSS feeds and ebooks that are out of copyright (project gutenberg is an amazing project - worth a look) - the camera on it is certainly very capable, it doesn't see very much use, however.

 

[DougFord]

almost never.
their 'image sophistication rating' is lousy.
i haven't yet, but perhaps there will come a time when i choose a cell phone as much for its camera capabilities as for its communications capabilities.

 

[loquax ludens]

I only use my cellphone camera when I don't have another camera handy and I'm totally bored. Then I review the pictures, observe the very low quality, and delete them. Lots of fun.

Cellphone camera images are horrible, generally, and they lack all of the charming and redeeming qualities of a holga or diana or pinhole camera.

 

[acheyj]

Never it wont take photographs, it is not a camera.
I put it in my pocket, go to town or round the cattle. If I need help I turn it on, make my call, turn it off, back in pocket.
It is a truly wonderfull device. If some body needs to talk to me they wait till I am home on the copper wire or write me a letter.
I have truly entered the modern age.

ron

 

[ebolton]

I now have a Droid X, with an 8mp camera built in. I never used the 1mp camera on my old phone, but this one does pretty good (though not as good a decent 8mp point and shoot). I think I'll be using it more.

 

[nakedcellist]

Ahhh. The new ettiquette and manners of the twenty-first century.
Spending endless time gamesturbating, texturbating, appsturbating, and answering every text message instantly regardless of the circumstances (while driving, in Church/Synagogue/theatres, restaurants, work meetings etc) or how trivial the incoming message, is considered normal and acceptable behaviour, while not giving someone a pre-message message is considered rude.
It is to laugh.
And you are correct that I'm in the minority. Young people today have become addicted to this idiocy and seem unable to function without some sort of an electronic device in their hand or stuck in one ear at all times.

Well, I have to admit, I fondle my camera regardless of circumstances, in church, in synagogue, theatres, restaurants, work meetings...

I have become addicted to this idiocy and seem to be unable to function without some sort of photo equipment in my hand..

 

[Clancycoop]

I often use Hipstamatic for iPhone to shoot pictures that look like unique film photographs.

After doing so, I usually go to the store and buy imitation crab meat salad, which looks like crab meat and is edible, and therefore no different, correct?

I then hop into my car which features a modified exhaust system so that my car makes a great sound as I drive down the street. The sound lets others know that my car sounds fast.

I drive to the theatre to watch a movie based on a book. It features actors portraying the characters, and allows me to get the gist of the story (more or less) in 90 minutes.

After the show is over I put on my vinyl leather jacket (so as to appear to wear animal skin while not actually doing so) and go home. I am greeted by my wife whom has had her mammary gland tissue enhanced, so that others will know that she appears to have large breasts. This works together with her botox face treatment that allows to look younger than she is.

In all seriousness, I do use my camera phone. However I feel that utilizing apps which edit photos for you in a faux-artistic style are a *******ization of photography. While they may be useful as a diversion, they should not be given any merit as a legitimate tool for creative output.