Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad 2 camera sucks
- Thread starter cforand1293
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
hahaha this thread.
I was trolling and saw it and lol'd. I think with as high quality as Apple is with the good, I am sure it's a high quality camer ... oh wow I just read it has a lesser resolution than the display?
LOL Apple. Really. That just isn't cool. Take a pic of your wife for your background. Ohh wait its gonna be stretched.
LOL
I was trolling and saw it and lol'd. I think with as high quality as Apple is with the good, I am sure it's a high quality camer ... oh wow I just read it has a lesser resolution than the display?
LOL Apple. Really. That just isn't cool. Take a pic of your wife for your background. Ohh wait its gonna be stretched.
LOL
I think that sums it up nicely. The cameras are fine for FaceTime, and I've used it for quick photos of stuff for twitter etc, but apart from that I don't see me using them all that much anyway.
I wonder what the cost-benefit was for the iPad design team when debating the camera--no, I don't believe the conspiracy theory that they are making room for an upgrade.
It's logical that they would have put the iPhone 4 camera in just for the basis of economy of scale. Since they didn't, other design and engineering considerations come to mind. Would the better camera and sensor added considerable thickness? Weight? I doubt cost was a significant consideration.
The iPad 2 is my only iOS device and I'm enjoying it. My take is that for the next version, they should prioritize improvement in the cameras (even a 2 or 3 MP would be significant) and weight reduction. There isn't a lot of improvement needed from a user perspective for battery life or thickness--there isn't a lot of meat left on the bone to make the tradeoffs worthwhile. Retina display, even a year from now, would probably result in an unacceptable hit to battery life unless their graphics chips advance much more than I expect.
It's logical that they would have put the iPhone 4 camera in just for the basis of economy of scale. Since they didn't, other design and engineering considerations come to mind. Would the better camera and sensor added considerable thickness? Weight? I doubt cost was a significant consideration.
The iPad 2 is my only iOS device and I'm enjoying it. My take is that for the next version, they should prioritize improvement in the cameras (even a 2 or 3 MP would be significant) and weight reduction. There isn't a lot of improvement needed from a user perspective for battery life or thickness--there isn't a lot of meat left on the bone to make the tradeoffs worthwhile. Retina display, even a year from now, would probably result in an unacceptable hit to battery life unless their graphics chips advance much more than I expect.
I've just recently purchased an iPad, I knew the front facing camera would be rubbish but the back one .... It's next to useless for taking photos! Takes video pretty well, but I tried to take a few pics of my dog but they turned out pretty bad!!
I believe around $5 to $7 difference in parts to have the iPhone4 quality camera over the iPod Touch quality camera they decided to fit.
Estimated Prices from both unit's Teardowns........................
iPad2 Camera units have been priced at about $4.30 total component cost for both front and back modules.
iPhone4 Rear 5mp autofocus camera = $9.75
iPhone4 Front VGA Autofocus = $1.00
$10.75 total.
Meaning about $6.45 saving for Apple on each iPad to fit the camera units they did.
Last edited:
I do hope we can rely on you to be 100% critical, and publicly condemn Apple in the future when they eventually upgrade the camera quality in future iPad models.
Yeah... Honestly the cameras should have been a bit better. I'm not asking for the moon here, but come on... Less than 1 megapixel? 3 would have been good. It kind of bugs me that they skimped, but I totally expect better cameras on next years model, at whhich point, I agree with a previous poster, who said that when that happens ppl will go on about how much more you can do with the ipad when its got better cameras.
The 2 is the iPad Apple should have made the first time. It should have had a camera when it was introduced, just like we assumed there would be a camera on the iPod Touch. For me, if I want to record video on the go I use my Kodak Zi8. For me, the iPad 2 camera is fine for FaceTime and Skype calls.
It's my opinion that Apple wanted to price the "2" the same as the original iPad. I think the next version will have better cameras and will be priced higher.
It's my opinion that Apple wanted to price the "2" the same as the original iPad. I think the next version will have better cameras and will be priced higher.
Really, given the cost difference of the Camera unit's, there is little reason for a better camera to have any real noticeable effect on the iPad overall price.
The iPad2 price in the UK dropped from the original iPad1 price by £40 UK Pounds I believe, or before our UK sales tax increase £30 UK pounds
The cost of the much higher quality camera unit would of been £7 UK Pounds.
There is no economic sense, only political/marketing decisions.
Something for you to look at:
http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/2010-06-28_iPhone4.JPG.jpeg
Remember this is an estimate of the raw component costs. Before any R&D type profit is added, though to be honest as the camera unit, which is what we are talking about, has been out in the iPhone4 for around a year, I'd imagine R&D costs on this item have been mostly recouped by now.
Thanks, that was really interesting to look at. I had no idea some of the parts were so cheap- the battery is less than 6 bucks? The GPS chip is $1.75...
Any ideas why Apple decided to put such a cheap camera in? I mean was it just to save it for an upgrade?
lol just cos he's not bothered about the qualirty of the current camera, doesn't mean he's against there being a higher one in future models, your comment is just absurd logic....
I believe it's called a FanBoy.
Apple fit a poor camera = Of course, why would anyone want a higher quality camera.
Apple fit a good camera = of course, it's only right there should be a nice camera in such a device.
Win Win
And better margins. Larger revenue + even larger profits = world's largest mark cap tech company
I believe it's called a FanBoy.
Apple fit a poor camera = Of course, why would anyone want a higher quality camera.
Apple fit a good camera = of course, it's only right there should be a nice camera in such a device.
Win Win
not at all, it was always expected a camera would be fitted for facetime, so they gave it a VGA camera, like the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4th gen. the still photos and video stuff was just added extras. as stated, who really would carry around an iPad to takes photos professionally? anyone would just use a proper camera or phone camera.
could it have had a better camera? yes. would it nice to have a better camera? yes. does it REALLY need one? no.
No, Piggie is right. When Apple is ahead of the curve then their loudest fans brag about how futuristic Apple is. But when Apple doesn't deliver on a certain spec then the same people go on defense or yell at the consumer for wanting too much as if it's the consumers fault.
If the iPad came with the 5MP AF iPhone camera then would these same people be complaining "the iPad is too awkward for photography" or act as if a camera on a tablet is useless. Or would they be more prone to USE the camera before deeming it "unnecessary"and Pre-judging it based on THEIR view of what traditional cameras should look like?
I am sure there are many if us who bought iMovie but rarely/never use it because of the lackluster native camera and it's a shame because media creation was half of the selling point during Apples release presentation.
actually i use iMovie on the iPad with imported videos from the iPhone 4, as it's much better to use on ipad than iPhone. i would assume that alot of people do the same and would think that's what apple may have intended. did they advertise it as 'film stuff on the iPad then edit it'? nope. just about editing movies.
people have already complained the iPad is too awkward for taking pics without even commenting on the quality, there is discussion on this in other threads, so yea, people would complain about the iPad being too awkward to take photos on.... so that renders your point a bit moot. It's common sense that to take quick photos on the go, you need a smaller device.
you're just like piggie, quick to moan about people that you think are hardcore fans when you just want to tarnish a valid point.
Note:
I don't mind what people's personal opinions are.
Everyone is indeed entitled to have their own personal view on something.
We live in a free country (well we don't actually, but that's another argument!) and everyone is free to think and like the things they do.
The part that grates on me, and others, are people who have no capacity to hold onto any independent thought or opinion and just mimic what others say or do, or just assume that someone with more money than them must be right in everything, and hence must be defended.
If you don't think the iPad should have a reasonably half decent camera (say similar to an iPhone) then, by all means state your views loud and clear. But at least stick to your views when it does have a nice camera unit fitted.
If you think 1mp is correct and is all that's needed, and wish to shout loud to others, that this is indeed correct and you feel this is the right thing.
Then at least have the balls to stick to your opinion next year when a 3mp unit it fitted, and then the year after when a 5mp unit is fitted.
I will respect you for that.
I will not respect you, if every year you change your views to match whatever Apple have done.
As said, everyone is fully entitled to their opinion, but please let this be YOUR Opinion and not just a copy of someone else.
That said, if someone wishes to say "Yes, I admit it, Now I have something better, I can see I was wrong in what I said before, now I can see the benefit in this new thing" Then fair play, you are man enough to admit you were wrong.
I don't mind what people's personal opinions are.
Everyone is indeed entitled to have their own personal view on something.
We live in a free country (well we don't actually, but that's another argument!) and everyone is free to think and like the things they do.
The part that grates on me, and others, are people who have no capacity to hold onto any independent thought or opinion and just mimic what others say or do, or just assume that someone with more money than them must be right in everything, and hence must be defended.
If you don't think the iPad should have a reasonably half decent camera (say similar to an iPhone) then, by all means state your views loud and clear. But at least stick to your views when it does have a nice camera unit fitted.
If you think 1mp is correct and is all that's needed, and wish to shout loud to others, that this is indeed correct and you feel this is the right thing.
Then at least have the balls to stick to your opinion next year when a 3mp unit it fitted, and then the year after when a 5mp unit is fitted.
I will respect you for that.
I will not respect you, if every year you change your views to match whatever Apple have done.
As said, everyone is fully entitled to their opinion, but please let this be YOUR Opinion and not just a copy of someone else.
That said, if someone wishes to say "Yes, I admit it, Now I have something better, I can see I was wrong in what I said before, now I can see the benefit in this new thing" Then fair play, you are man enough to admit you were wrong.
Yeah, I don't get taking pics with a notebook sized camera. I have a good camera to take pictures.
I would think the cameras they added were for facetime more than anything else.
There is no such thing as "the right thing" in business. Doing the right thing is being honest, decent, and honorable human being. Not a company selling you a product with good cameras.
I do not consider Apple or their products that personal to me on an emotional level to think they are doing the right or wrong thing, because I will never be attached to any company on that level, They should work hard to get me as a customer, and not the other way around, I am fan of technology (specially the ones integrated in medicine), and not a "fanboy" or a "hater" of another company. (I am NOT calling you either of those names)
I understand you are mad about how bad the iPad 2's cameras, But this purchase is your choice, Apple hasn't screwed you, its not like they promised you a DSLR quality, if you notice (on their website for example) They praise the iPhone 4's camera, but they don't say one good thing about the iPad's, they only say the iPad has two cameras for Facetime, Photobooth... etc. I am not justifying the bad cameras, but I am saying that Apple didn't promise good ones.
Besides, from a business standpoint (And thats what you need to remember, that Apple is a corporation that conducts business) if their product is selling, then obviously there was no need to put a better one. That simple.
So you have your money and they have their product, if you like it you buy it, if you don't then you don't buy it, wait for the next version or buy another tablet. Because well, you live in a free country.