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Apple Ordering 3.2 and 5-Megapixel Camera Sensors for iPhone and Future Product?

Why can't the 3.2 be for the Macs (iSight) and the 5 for the iPhone/Touch?

Hmm… Come to think of it… What if the iPhone comes with the 3.2 sensor, then they release a hardware add-on with a 5MP sensor that higher resolution video? It could even be the new iSight, using an iPod->USB cable for connecting to the machines.
 
Do computer companies ever tell its vendors what the components they're ordering are for? It might be obvious if it's like a server-grade processor or something custom like the unibody, but camera lenses can go in... just about anything.

Anything beyond the "Apple is order 3.2 and 5 megapixel camera sensors" is probably just speculation. I dunno, maybe Apple has job numbers like "NEWIPHONE31"... but I doubt it.
 
heynsmd2 said:
The quality of most camera phones I've used recently (Nokia N73 and iPhone 3G) remains poor at best.

The photos are so grainy they're practically useless, except for 'emergency' use.

If camera phones start achieving the quality of entry level P&S cameras, I'll care to listen... IF it EVER happens due to size and energy constraints.

Until then, a cell camera remains to me at least, a pretty useless feature.
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I couldn't agree more. The camera is the last thing on my list of things I want in a phone. If the phone I liked a lot didn't have one; I would still get it, it's not a selling point at all for me.
 
iPhone! not iCamera!

SpinThis! said:
Exactly. Most people realize don't realize this is purely a physics problem. Unless you have a lot of light or a bigger lens, a larger MP count sensor isn't going to help—you'll just get bigger, grainy photographs. That pinhole iPhone "lens" is simply crap. Most people would hate to have the iPhone get bigger to accommodate a bigger lens either... so your problem compounds...
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Agreed.

If I want to take casual pictures, iPhone is ok. If I want to take good pictures, I'll use a Point and Shoot camera. If I want to take really good, professional pictures, I'll either hire a photographer who knows about lenses, or invest in something other than an iPhone to take them. Now I wouldn't mind if the lens was re-positioned in a new generation iPhone to the front of the phone as long as this feature didn't compromise the iPhone's other features.

Basically, I don't want Apple significantly compromising size, weight, or battery life of the iPhone in favor of better photography. Let's just keep the iPhone classified as a smart PHONE that just happens to take pictures, mmkay?
 
bingo

cstromme said:
Why can't the 3.2 be for the Macs (iSight) and the 5 for the iPhone/Touch?
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I think you're right on this one. The iSight cameras built into Macs right now are only 1.3MP, and people STILL have a problem streaming the full resolution over iChat Video. Sure, a 5MP might be nice for sxephil and his YouTube videos, but 3.2 is a fine upgrade for laptops.

Seems to me that whatever camera they put in THIS iPhone will be the same camera they use in the 2010 version. Therefore, I almost think the 5MP is NEEDED!

Thoughts?
 
looking forward to downgrading from my 8MP phone...:D

haha, I live in Japan :p Actually, the phone itself sucks, but the camera is awesome as a spy-camera. If I take a photo of something at 8MP, when I get home, I can zoom in to read tiny numbers and such!

the iPhone carrier here wanted $800 upfront for a high-risk non-citizen like me here, then dropped it to free recently to try and clear old iPhone stock before the new one superseeds it... Think I'll save up and wait for the new iPhone... or a Dell Mini 9 with 3G
 
Why does everyone want a front facing camera so bad. Seems like an odd idea to put it in to me, the number of people that ACTUALLY use it, would probably be < 5%, even then I bet the novelty would wear off and it would drop even further (of course just my speculation)... Plus it would take up a bunch more room in the camera... I'd rather save that space for:

A) More memory
B) Make it slimmer
C) Bigger Battery
D) Some other crazy idea... ideally i'd like to see a photobackup from your digital camera to the iphone (doubt this would require extra hardware)

I just think outside of the hardcores, this feature would be RARELY used, and not worth apple's time to put in.
 
3.2Mp for iPhone 5Mp for new iPod-esque device

It would have been great to see 5MP on iPhone but it seems like Apple wants to use this as distinguishing feature between phone platform and the media-player platform(Eg. iPod).

With Apple being sort of new player in the digital imaging market, I am unsure why they would need such a high res camera but I guess time will tell.

As for the 3.2MP camera, this one better be autofocus...
seems like even 3.2MP is becoming fixed focus camera range these days...
 
I've always wondered why they couldn't get a better camera in there. Its not like they have to add the thickness of a point & shoot camera to the iphone. Think about how many redundant parts there are between the iPhone (or any other phone) and a digital point & shoot... the battery, the memory, the LCD screen, the case itself, etc. From a non-engineers perspective, it seems like they have everything they need right there other than a slightly bigger lens/sensor and a flash. I wouldn't even think this would be a drain on the battery other than the few seconds when you are actually taking pictures?

I know there would probably be a split decision on this, but I would gladly welcome some sort of a bump, or perhaps a slightly more rounded back side of the phone, for a TRUE p&s camera replacement. Seeing as this is a consumer device, i would imagine a few millimeters more in thickness would be fine with most if the camera was up to snuff.

I will always have my SLR as I don't think a phone will ever get to those standards, but I see no reason why a phone cant get close to P&S standards. The point of the iphone (or any smart phone) is to get device convergence. Cameras are probably the last mainstream thing that really hasn't been replaced by the iPhone, as far as portable electronics.

Just my .02
 
Who cares.

The image sensor and lens is still going to be WAAAAY too small, so increasing the megapixels is going to give a worse image.
 
My guess is the 3.2 in the new iPhone, 5 in the new 9" tablet thingie.

And I don't even care about the camera in either device - you want a picture, get a real camera :D I just like that this might be more evidence of a Mac Tablet!!! Please please please!
 
newConvert said:
Why does everyone want a front facing camera so bad. Seems like an odd idea to put it in to me, the number of people that ACTUALLY use it, would probably be < 5%, even then I bet the novelty would wear off and it would drop even further (of course just my speculation)... Plus it would take up a bunch more room in the camera... I'd rather save that space for:

A) More memory
B) Make it slimmer
C) Bigger Battery
D) Some other crazy idea... ideally i'd like to see a photobackup from your digital camera to the iphone (doubt this would require extra hardware)

I just think outside of the hardcores, this feature would be RARELY used, and not worth apple's time to put in.
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Video chat is absolutely, positively worthless. To say that 5% of users would use it regularly is giving it too much credit. On the plus side I don't think we have to worry about it because THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE a front mounted camera. Sorry its just a fantasy propogated by uneducated geek children.

If video chat becomes possible on the iPhone, it will be thru a wired camera accessory that mounts on the phone and uses a downloaded software app. Theory term here is THIRD PARTY.

As for the built in camera, 3.5 or 5 mgpx makes zero difference. Auto focus lense on the current camera would suffice.
 
I would LOVE to see this in the new iphone and it is a 3.2MP camera from the same lens maufacturer for the next-gen lens.

http://www.ovt.com/products/truefocus.php

truefocus_diagram.gif





much thanks to kerryn over at appleinsider for this!
 
sad apple wouldn't jump directly to 5 megapixels and a decent LED flash.

if they did add this ... i would also like to get swapable batteries for the iphone. and .... ability to swap a memory card like SD or micro SD.
 
duncanapple said:
I've always wondered why they couldn't get a better camera in there. Its not like they have to add the thickness of a point & shoot camera to the iphone. Think about how many redundant parts there are between the iPhone (or any other phone) and a digital point & shoot... the battery, the memory, the LCD screen, the case itself, etc. From a non-engineers perspective, it seems like they have everything they need right there other than a slightly bigger lens/sensor and a flash. I wouldn't even think this would be a drain on the battery other than the few seconds when you are actually taking pictures?
Click to expand...

The pixel size on the sensor usually is the biggest determinate of the signal to noise ratio (think clear signal vs. static on a TV with bunny ears) of the sensor. The lower the SNR, the harder it is to get a good looking photo from it. This is why pictures taken in low light usually look worse than those in bright daylight (or taken with a flash). More pixels on a tiny sensor must be compensated for with better image processing algorithms or other lens/microlens adjustments.

duncanapple said:
I know there would probably be a split decision on this, but I would gladly welcome some sort of a bump, or perhaps a slightly more rounded back side of the phone, for a TRUE p&s camera replacement. Seeing as this is a consumer device, i would imagine a few millimeters more in thickness would be fine with most if the camera was up to snuff.
Click to expand...

Yes, some people will tolerate a bump. I did not mind a bump on my Sony Ericsson T650 in order to have an 12.5mm phone with a 3.2MP camera. However, when you only make one phone you have to pick the best design decision, and "thin is still in."
 
yongxiaofeng said:
and truth to be told,
even with my current 2m iphone3g camera, it has much much better low light performance than those so called high pixel cell phone cameras. such as blackberry, nokia(compared the photos taken by them side by side).
Click to expand...

I agree. My iPhone has better low light performance than my 3 year-old 6.1MP digital camera
 
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