All iPads Back-facing camera on iPad -- why on Earth?

[danpass]

I like having the camera as an available tool. There have been several times where it has proven useful, even if only to avoid the shenanigans of taking pic with phone, emailing to myself, saving to camera roll, blah blah

And the pics come out great (oh wait, that's the subject )

 

[TyPod]

I've used mine probably three times since my purchase. Nice to know it's there in case I need it though!

 

[bufffilm]

Yes I agree its quite usless, folks just use it because its there.

we agree that your post was useless.

 

[26139]

My take

What I understand as totally reasonable use of an iPad camera:

Taking pics of anything within 2-3 feet of you, tops.
Using it for documents (maybe with an OCR program).
On-site inspection pics for construction/art/whatever.
FaceTime.

What I DON'T get:
Holding them up at events.
Taking pictures of anything that should require a zoom lens.
Basically, everything that people also use other point and shoot cameras when they shouldn't (low-light concerts, anything far away that's not supposed to be a landscape shot).
Recording audio and video from the audience (your kid's recital will sound horrific, and we all know you're never going to watch them again — yes, we have plenty of VHS tapes sitting in cabinets with this very thing on them).

For most of the stuff I don't get, you're likely blocking the view of others to get a really ****** quality pic.

For all the other stuff, it makes sense.

 

[flight]

I didn't use mine until I found out about Action Movie FX.

 

[yinz]

They should make the front camera higher resolution than the back. I use the front facing camera quite a bit for playing around with photobooth like apps and for Facetime when people are over. It's a shared activity that requires viewing what I'm taking a picture of.

The back facing camera on the iPad is only to show my relatives something briefly over Facetime. Should they take it out? I don't think so. Should they switch the qualities of the cameras? I think they should. It'll be more useful the other way around and it'll give the iPad a uniqueness different from the iPhone and iPod touch. Well, some people might like the higher megapixel camera on the back for the iPad mini too...

 

[bagelmaker]

I use my ipad mini as my main camera. It takes the best quality photos of the options I have available to me. I couldn't care less if people think I look stupid using the ipad mini as a camera.

 

[26139]

Oooohhhh...

They should make the front camera higher resolution than the back. I use the front facing camera quite a bit for playing around with photobooth like apps and for Facetime when people are over. It's a shared activity that requires viewing what I'm taking a picture of.

The back facing camera on the iPad is only to show my relatives something briefly over Facetime. Should they take it out? I don't think so. Should they switch the qualities of the cameras? I think they should. It'll be more useful the other way around and it'll give the iPad a uniqueness different from the iPhone and iPod touch. Well, some people might like the higher megapixel camera on the back for the iPad mini too...

That would be a great idea. Far more useful.

----------

I use my ipad mini as my main camera. It takes the best quality photos of the options I have available to me. I couldn't care less if people think I look stupid using the ipad mini as a camera.

Whoa there.

 

[D.T.]

And the pics come out great (oh wait, that's the subject )

I'm not big into exotics, but the 458 is glorious

 

[saporiti]

I can't see the point in this thread.

You don't use it? Great... Others may use it. I scan documents with it when I'm in a hurry and don't have my iPhone near me. Do I look stupid? I don't know... but nobody else knows either!

Also, the camera on the iPad 4 and iPad Mini improved a lot, it takes reasonable pictures actually. If you can afford to have a big fat ass crazy camera, or just the iPhone like I do, bare in mind that others don't.

So, as I was saying... I can't see the point in this thread.

 

[techkidd4400]

I agree that Apple should have considered the the rack facing camera an add/on instead they people like us subsidize those that want the camer but
Pay for it at fair market.

 

[jeremiah256]

Question: Why does Apple not offer a version without back-facing camera? I have never talked to anybody about it who has ever used this camera. It seems a complete waste of resources. I'd buy a $5 cheaper iPad without this camera without hesitation.

For some people, their iPad (especially the mini) is their main computer, tv, music player, pda, phone, and yes, camera. I think it's liberating to many people to have such a powerful, yet mobile and flexible device.

I'm still pretty amazed how far smartphones and tablets have come since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007.

 

[ScruffyS]

This is always a popular topic at work. I could never imagine using an iPad for a camera.. at least the full size one. I have a Canon Eos if i expect to take pictures I'll tote out, and then i have a Fuji point and shoot that just shy of never leaves my side. It does look a little ridiculous when you're at a bar or something where there's live music playing and someone breaks out the old shovel to grab some video or a picture.. But to each their own I suppose.

 

[wordoflife]

I certainly wouldn't use it to take photos in public, but I use it to deposit cheques via the application provided by my bank.

Why don't they simply make another version without a camera on the back? Because then they'll have so many different SKU and such. Not worth it for $5. Probably doesn't even cost them that much. Plus, it opens up a lot more opportunities with features in applications and in the OS. It's so minimal that they'll just include it anyways.

Don't need it? Then don't use it. Not a big deal.

 

[RenoG]

we agree that your post was useless.

yes we do, thanks for joining me...

 

[Badrottie]

back camera/video is important to me because I could use it to spy them while they think I am reading an iPad.

 

[Q-Dog]

Being able to deposit checks with the iPad is worth $5, yes? I still use my iPad 1 every day ... no camera on it.

 

[PalacePlayers]

I use my back camera a lot in FaceTime calls.

 

[neutrino23]

I use the iPad camera a lot just to document things. If you want to reduce the noise in the image use Cortex Cam. This app averages a large number of pictures to make one picture with better quality. Noticeable improvement in low light situations.

 

[neutrino23]

San Francisco International Airport

 

[robanga]

I've used the camera fairly often. Its just thrown in there why not.

Sure if you have an iPhone 5 you're more likely to use it, but if you are already using the iPad why switch to take a photo.

Also having that really big viewfinder can be nice for certain shots.

 

[godzill]

Its great for ebay/craigslist postings. I've taken a few videos of the kids with it, mostly just fooling around though.

 

[stickybuns]

I use the camera to take pictures of paper documents that I want to "mark up" without messing up the original. I take the picture, convert it to a PDF, and then use GoodReader to add notations. I could probably take better pictures with a dedicated camera--or better yet, a scanner--but the back-facing camera is more instantaneous.

 

[saporiti]

I ask again: what's the point of this thread?

 

[jenni122701]

I use the back iPad camera a lot. I wouldn't be happy if it were gone. I know its not the best cam in the world but like some have said, it def has its uses for many of us.