willieb

Lately I've been wanting to carry a digital camera with me while riding. I have come up on a few things I'd like to take a picture of to show friends or post on the net (i.e. 10' gator). Or to take pictures of friends while riding, etc. Of course with riding road bikes, you have limited carrying capacity. Since I carry a phone on me pretty much 24/7 (Currently LG AX4750), I am considering buying a camera phone.

Does anyone use a camera phone for this purpose? If so what phone do you use and can you attach a file or include a link to an image taken with it? If not, just an opinion of the phone will be fine.

merlinextraligh

In my experience, the quality and file size of most camera phones is not worth bothering with (other than to email back to the office and say I'm here and you're not)
Although some newer ones have 1mb files. Personally, I'd get a cheap phone, and a small digicam.

Mojo GoGo

I'd second that opinion. While some phones are now up to 8 megapixel sensors (I believe this is a Samsung unit), you'll pay through the nose for these models as they are feature laden (daytimer, etc) and the lens are still marginal or limited to fixed focus (no optical zoom).

When I know I'll want pictures I'll carry a small digital camera in a zip lock bag in my back jersey pocket (prevents water damage from sweat or rain - problem for cellphone or digital camera as water damage will void product warranties and battery compartments are not water proof). The main thing I've found in doing this is that you want a small and light camera otherwise it feels like a brick beating on your lower back.

Depending on price range, you have a lot of options from most manufacturers although the small and stylish cameras do tend to run more than the larger "brick" models.

jimbud

I agree, Unless your just taking a photo to document something you see I don't think they have much use beyond a toy for teenagers to play with. You can get a 3.4 magapix dig. camara for a great price right now. Look at some of the Nikon Coolpix camaras. I have one I keep in my saddle bag when I ride in the Fall. (Minnesota Fall Colors)

USAZorro

I haven't made the leap yet, but there are modestly priced phones with 1.3 megapixel cameras. I think LG and Samsung both make these. These won't take pictures you'd hang on the wall, but it should do ok for snapshots and web posting. I plan on snagging one of these the next time I see a good deal.

kahn

Audiovox that I have - awful pictures! In addition, there is no ability to just download them to a computer - they have to be emailed.

oboeguy

Most camera phones have lousy cameras. If I really want to take pictures on a ride (e.g. during a century) I stuff my little Pentax Optio s4i (whatever) in a jersey pocket.

willieb

Yeah these are the ones I am considering. Specifically either the Motorola V710 ($99), or the Motorola Razr ($199). I'm opting for the higher priced phones because I kinda wanted one with bluetooth for wireless headset talking when I need it sometimes (probably not on my bike, of course I guess that could work... hmmm?). Anyway, these phones are suppose to be 1.3 megapixel phones, although that really doesn't mean it will take better pics. Again I'm just looking for web posting, emailing, or maybe for a web site. Both of these phones are bluetooth for getting the images to the PC. Any experience with either of these Motorola phones or other 1.3 megapixel phones? Thanks for all the replies so far.

shokhead

Dont own a cell.

willieb

Well unfortunately some of us are forced to carry one because of our jobs (or wife/girlfriend, lol).

caligurl

my phone is a camera phone.. but i carry a small camera with me and use that.. i have a bento bag that holds my phone, camera, ID, and chapstick!

tivo willieb: i have a black razr and love it! nice little phone!

EURO

I've been using camera phones for a few years now. They are pretty good for snaps, and getting better. At least as good as a polaroid camera. My current phone is a Nokia 6230. It was free with my phone contract. Some images from it are attached.

Here are some images from one of the latest camera phones - Samsung d800.

jimbud

Euro, Can I get a take out order for some of those ribs? BTW I like seeing the photos you post from the cycling world in your neck of the woods.

willieb

Thanks for posting the images. That's what I wanted to see.

Yeah that quality is fine, especially when I converted them to 640x480 via windows XP power toys image resizer. I wouldn't want the quality less than that though. The crane is a little blurry but I guess the phone may not have been perfectly still. The others look decent enough for posting. Thanks again for the images...

demoncyclist

Here is why I don't like camera phones:

Image quality is s**t (I take pictures for a living, so I can't stand the bad stuff)

Most don't allow you to simply download images like a regular digi camera

I can't bring a camera phone or anything with Bluetooth into the office (security restrictions), and I don't want to leave my phone in the car all day (heat and cold can mess it up over time).

There are many really small cameras available now, so get something with a good lens and bigger MP and file handling capability. Euro's images are blurry enough to prove my point.

dragonflybikes

I have a Sharp phone with my TMobile service (just think I am helping to pay for Jan Ulrich's salary) It has a 1 megapixel camera in it. It is nowhere near as good as a regular digital camera but it works in a pinch. The reasons I liked and got it is that it has the 1 mega pixel (anything smaller is useless) and it comes with an SD card that I can put the photos on, pull out of the camera and slip into my computer like you would any camera's media card.

roadfix

I always carry my phone which does not have a camera. But on some rides I'll also bring my Canon digital camera.

trailwarrior

I have owned the SprintPCS Vision PPC-6700 since it first became available through business accounts a few months back. I am not much of a camera buff and rarely take pictures, but now that I have a cell phone with camera I find myself taking pictures that I later attach to emails for added effect. The pictures aren't the greatest at 1.3 megapixel, but they serve a purpose where you wouldn't norally have had a camera available. I chose this phone mainly for it's wi-fi capabilities and so that I would have Internet access wherever I am.

Took these shots yesterday when I was out riding one of the local bike trails...

jimbud

Trailwarrior, Does the county plow the trails on the west side of the cities or is the trail all clear due to our warm weather.

trailwarrior

The city usually keeps at least one lane of trail open through the winter.

Here's some pics posted by HereNT of another trail in town...

Minneapolis Snow Day Greenway Commute (pics)

willieb

Ending up getting the motorola razr. I am happy with the quality for not having to carry a camera. On big rides for updating our web site or for printing, I will carry a regular digital camera, but for just screwing around, this phone is great!

barleyrocket

I don't like the thought of paying for my pictures. To get them off your cell you have to buy the internet part of the contract. So I purchased a Pentax Optio WPi. You guessed it the WP stands for WaterProof. 3M for 1/2hr. totally submerged. That means that I can put it in jersey pocket or a jacket or where ever I want even if it's poring down rain. 6mp and loads of features. Then you don't have to settle for picture quality that you don't really want. I have a camera in my phone but have never used it as I can't do anything with the pictures once i've taken them. what a waste

willieb

Hmmm, this is my first camera phone so I'm not sure how most work. But I don't subscribe to the Internet subscription. It has a regular USB port on it to connect to a PC, and it also uses bluetooth. My choice is bluetooth to transfer images, mp3's, etc. It's pretty cool. All I do is go in my office, sit down and click on the file transfer shortcut on my desktop. All the files come up just like it's a local hard drive. And it's still in my pocket, lol...

I do like the water proof part though, that's a great feature to have cycling.

rule

Motorola Razr is a great carry camera phone. The newest versions come with 2 megapixels and can shoot video too.

Phantoj

Whipping out a camera phone is supposed to be a good way to cool down a hot-headed motorist.

I don't carry a cell phone. I recently bought a Casio Ex-Z750 digital camera; it's small and takes good pictures. I'd recommend the Casio ES500 or ES600 as a tiny, good quality, not extremely fragile jersey pocket camera.