How to Buy a Camera Phone

Tips for buying a camera phone

1. It is good to start your camera phone shopping with the realization that a camera phone is not a real substitute for a camera. While the technology develops rapidly, you are buying a basic point-and-shoot digital camera when you buy a camera phone. Given the current state of the technology, the best use of the resulting photos is to post them on a Web site or to send them to friends, family or colleagues via email.
2. As with digital cameras, the issue of image quality is an important one and is determined by the number of megapixels the camera phone contains. Megapixels determine the quality of the image resolution. A 2 megapixel camera phone will do the job you need as long as you are simply sharing photos electronically. If, however, you actually plan to print out and enlarge photographs that you take with your camera phone, find one with at least 3 megapixels, although these models are few and far between at this point in time. The more megapixels the camera reproduces, the better it will capture details.
3. Consider ease of use. A camera phone, given the shape of the device, should be designed to take photos as easily as possible. Good camera phones allow you to see, on the phone screen, the image you are about to shoot. You should also have no trouble reviewing previously shot photos, deleting the ones you do not want and sending the ones you do like to email addresses and other phones.
4. Look at the screen. Every camera phone has one, as this serves as your viewfinder and your photo album. Is the screen big enough for you to see the subjects of your photographs properly before you shoot and when you review the photos you have taken? Also consider the color. You want to make sure the colors of the images on the screen match the colors of your subject.
5. Finally, be aware that in order to send images to other people via your camera phone, you will need to pay your cell phone service provider an extra fee. It's true-most service providers charge more money for sending photographs over the cell phone. Check out service plans before you buy a camera phone to ensure that the monthly cost fits your budget. Some plans charge per photo sent, and others simply charge a flat monthly fee for unlimited photo exchange.

Caution

As with most portable and wireless devices, you need to be aware of how long the battery of a camera phone is expected to last before it needs to be recharged. Technical specifications that come with the phone should tell you both the standby time of the battery and the talk time, which includes use of the camera features.

Where to buy a camera phone

You can purchase your next camera phone from one of these online retailers-

Amazon displays several pages of camera phones, many of which are discounted.

Shop by brand, price, phone size and service provider at Let'sTalk.com. Comparison feature allows you to put the phones you are considering side by side.

Cell Phone Finder will connect you with a camera phone and a service plan.