Camera Phones Go Megapixel

Early camera phones were more toy than tool, capturing low-resolution images better suited for throwaway shots than photo-album memories. Kyocera, Nokia, and Sprint PCS hope to change that with new megapixel-plus camera phones capable of taking pictures good enough for 4-by-6-inch prints. However, my tests show that while their photos are larger, they still lack the sharpness, detail, and color accuracy stand-alone digital camera users demand.

I tested preproduction versions of the Kyocera Koi ($199 to $299) and the $450 Nokia 7610, plus a shipping version of the $300 Sprint PCS Vision Picture Phone PM-8920. I photographed our test mannequin, Gloria, indoors using each camera's highest resolution setting. Afterward I moved images off the Kyocera and Nokia to a PC using a USB cable; Sprint PCS does not offer a cable, so I transferred the photos by e-mailing them as file attachments.

I viewed the resulting test images on my PC screen and as 4-by-6 prints. Though all were satisfactory, none were exceptional. For example, the 1280-by-960-resolution snapshots from the Kyocera Koi appeared a little washed out, and the flesh tones looked a bit too gray. The Nokia 7610's 1152-by-864-resolution pictures offered slightly better skin tones, but overall they were too dark--in part due to the device's lack of a built-in flash. The Sprint PCS PM-8920's 1280-by-960-resolution images looked brighter, but they were grainy, with very noticeable color speckling.

Overall, I consider the photo and video quality of these phones comparable to that of low-end Webcams--and far below that of digital cameras selling for as little as $200.

Kyocera Koi

Kyocera's new phone has the most original design of the bunch: Its handset features a 2-inch LCD screen that doubles as the phone's cover. To open the Koi, you swivel the screen 180 degrees to reveal the dial pad. Open or closed, the screen is always in view.

If you hold the phone in your right palm, your index finger conveniently touches the scroll button on the side. With it you can easily adjust the volume as you talk, or you can navigate the on-screen, pinwheel-style user interface. Open, the phone measures an above-average length of 7 inches, yet it's comfortable to use and to hold against your ear.

The phone's camera is hidden behind a lens cover. Sliding it up automatically activates the 1.2-megapixel camera, which includes a flash. You can take photos with the phone open (vertically) or closed (horizontally).

The phone's biggest drawback: In my informal battery tests, the Koi conked out sooner than the other two phones.

As we went to press, Kyocera still hadn't announced which carrier would offer the Koi, but the unit should be available from a major provider by the time you read this.

Nokia 7610

Many of Nokia's phones have a distinctive appearance, but they often include ambiguous icons on the buttons, and the 7610 is no exception. While it looks stylish--complete with black, shiny buttons that curve slightly to the left like the letter J--the phone was a bit hard to use. Numbers on the dial pad are too close together, making you liable to inadvertently press the wrong one, and some button icons are indecipherable.

Once you do get to the menu, navigating between entries such as Movie, Web, and instant messaging is simple. Back on the home screen, activating the 1-megapixel camera is easy, so you're always ready to start shooting.

The 7610 omits a flash, but its 2.25-inch screen--the largest and brightest in this group--is a pleasure to use when shooting photos and short video clips.

Unfortunately, the 7610's flat design made it uncomfortable for phone calls. It also lacks a standard volume-control button; to adjust the volume during a call, you must use the scroll button on the dial pad, which means holding the phone away from your ear. The 7610 is available now through Cingular.

Sprint PCS PM-8920

The Sprint PCS PM-8920 is the smallest phone here, but it's also the plainest. It comes with a built-in flash and a few extra camera tools, including Color Tone effects such as Sepia, Negative, and Sketch. Another nice touch: The 1.3-megapixel camera has a switch that toggles between portrait and close-up modes. It sports a clamshell design and a silver body; a camera button is on the side below the volume controls. However, after you press the button, the camera takes about 4 seconds to activate. (The Kyocera and Nokia cameras each take less than 2 seconds to start up.)

The phone includes a small screen on the outside, which can display caller ID during an incoming call, and a larger, 1.8-inch screen inside. Navigating the on-screen menus was manageable, thanks to an intuitive interface. Overall, the unit is comfortable to use, and it features a speakerphone.

While I would not recommend replacing your current stand-alone digital camera with any of these units, the Kyocera Koi was my favorite phone of the bunch. Despite its shorter battery life, I liked the Koi's ease of use, and it produced decent images. Add to that a reasonable price, and you have a camera phone that will please most casual users.