Increasingly smartphones are being compared on more than just the speed and looks. Users expect so much more from their phones, including how well it takes pictures. The norm in 2011 has been for an 8 megapixel camera. The Motorola RAZR benefits from this but how well does it stack up?
First of all the screen. A great camera might be well and good but users want a great display to view their pictures. Here the RAZR benefits from a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED screen which makes images look sharp and clear. An improved qHD resolution with 540 x 960 and 256 ppi means even when zoomed in detail is easy to see. There is great colour rendering thanks to the Super AMOLED technology and contrast ratios, making it ideal for video as well as stills. Viewing images comes courtesy of a camera roll that comes in a cover flow style.
The camera can be accessed from the front page of the device. There is no physical camera button but there is a raised camera sensor at the back of the phone.
The 8 megapixel camera comes with various add on features. Geo-tagging makes it ideal for those who share their pictures on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter or Foursquare. There is also an image stabilisation feature, which extends to video. This is possibly vital when the device itself weighs as little as 127g. There is a digital zoom when taking both stills and video. There is also the offer of taking single or multi-shots and a Panorama feature, recently unlocked on the iPhone 4S and a Timer feature. Users can make the camera as automated as they like, adjusting the exposure, scene set. The multi shot takes six snaps in the same time it takes to take one. There’s no drop in picture quality. For those snapping a moving scene this is ideal, as it provides you with a better chance of capturing the image that you are looking for. Pictures come out well. The quality is sharp and it responds well in low level light.
The front facing camera is 1.3 megapixels and is designed for video calling but is a good camera in its own right with a 720 x 1280 resolution.
The video is 1080p at a 29.5 fps rate. With a micro SD and USB slot there is an ability to download these large file sizes and store in a PC or laptop. The video also benefits from an audio feature allowing you to adjust the noise settings.
There is a photo editing tools which allows users to apply different filter effects, crop or rotate pictures, adjust the colour balance and resize shots.
Cameras are an increasingly important feature on smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy SII set the bar with its impressive 8 megapixel camera earlier this year and while the RAZR doesn’t quite meet that it more than holds its own with an impressive range of features making snapping away easy to do and to download. Nifty picture editing software makes it easier to make your snaps your own and then share on social media sites or on online albums like Flickr.
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