Don’t like camera phones? it seems you won’t have much choice, as an article from the BBC suggests that the majority of mobile phones will have a built-in camera sooner rather than later:

“Four times more mobiles with cameras in them will be sold in Europe by the end of 2004 than last year, says a report from analysts Gartner.

Globally, the number sold will reach 159 million, an increase of 104%.

The report predicts that nearly 70% of all mobile phones sold will have a built-in camera by 2008.”

Website: BBC.co.uk - Camera phones are ‘must-haves’

Also from DPReview is news of a rather surprising development from Mitsubishi - a new camera module that features Fujifilm’s SuperCCD SR technology, which is designed to boost dynamic range in photos. This was actually announced last week, but it seems that only DPReview have picked up on the use of Fuji’s unique technology.

“Interesting to see Fujifilm’s SuperCCD SR technology in a camera phone module, although it’s not clear from the press release whether Mitsubishi is licensing the design or buying SuperCCD’s direct from Fujifilm (they do appear to have done this before).

A little further investigation and we discover that this isn’t the first SuperCCD SR camera module from Mitsubishi, there is also the CMO41 (816 x 612 x 2) and CMO11 (648 x 486 x 2). We’ll pre-suppose that Fujifilm hasn’t talked about this in great detail before because the image quality from this tiny modules won’t be up to their standards.”

Website: DPReview - Mitsubishi’s SuperCCD SR camera module

DPNow have published an interesting viewpoint on the new 5 megapixel Samsung SCH-S250 that was announced on Wednesday.

“From a gadget-freak’s perspective, the SCH-S250 sounds like a dream come true about a year earlier than expected. But there is a more important angle on this news. If the SCH-S250 is anywhere near competent as a 5MP digital camera, it could mark the beginning of the end of the mass-market dedicated still camera era. Mobile phones have proved to be the most popular electronic devices in history, massively out-pacing the adoption of the original telephone, TV and the personal computer.”

DPNow - 5MP camera phone from Samsung

Samsung have now issued the press release for their 5 megapixel cameraphone.

Samsung Press Release 20/10/04

- A true digital convergence product that combines a gamut of innovative technologies including a “true color” LCD (16 million colors), Text-To-Speech conversion capability, as well as a 5-megapixel CCD camera.
- The “stretch” design protects the lens and LCD while providing a digital camera feel

SEOUL, Korea - October 20, 2004 - Samsung Electronics unveils the world’s first mobile phone (model: SCH-S250) equipped with a 5-megapixel camera. Just one year after the introduction of its first 1-megapixel camera phone and 3 months after its first 3.2-megapixel camera phone, Samsung proves its technological prowess again with this revolutionary product.

The CCD (charge-coupled device) camera and high-sensitivity flash allow the user to take the same quality pictures one gets from a top-end digital camera. Similar to Samsung’s premium grade camera phones, the S250 can also function as a camcorder. The 92MB onboard memory can store up to 100 minutes of video (320x240), and a 32MB auxiliary memory is included as a standard feature. The shutter speed is as fast as 1/1,000 th of a second, allowing the user to film beautiful landscapes as well as subjects as close as 10 cm. The S250 can be connected to a TV to display video during shooting or to show footage that has already been recorded in the mobile phone.

Samsung have just introduced the world’s first 5 megapixel camera phone in. The SCH-S250 features 92MB onboard memory, 32MB auxiliary memory, shutter speed up to 1/1,000th second and the ability to photograph subjects as close as 10 centimeters. The phone also has an MP3 player, a TV function and mobile banking.

”“Our development of a five-megapixel camera phone will boost the competitiveness of the South Korean mobile phone industry,” Samsung president Lee Ki-Tae said in a statement.

“At the same time, I would like to see our technological advances contribute to the growth of the global mobile phone industry,” he said.”

The Yahoo story linked to below ends with the interesting statement “South Korea’s top mobile carrier, SK Telecom, said it would introduce 10-megapixel camera phones produced by Samsung by the end of this year.”!

Website: Yahoo - Samsung develops world’s first five-megapixel camera phone

Engadget have reported that Mitsubishi are set to introduce a 4 megapixel, auto-focusing camera-phone module next month.

“That means we could start seeing four-megapixel autofocus cameraphones sometime around next May to June, though as ITmedia notes (in Japanese, so you’ll have to trust us) the image quality problem is shifting to lens and optical zoom technology, or the poorness of it, rather than pixel count per se. In any case, Mitsubishi’s module means that shooting nice 2,304x1,728-pixel photos and VGA video at 30 frames per second with your phone will soon be possible, which can?t bad at all.”

Website: Engadget - Mitsubishi drops four-megapixel cameraphone modules

It doesn’t seem like too long ago that the first 5 megapixel digital camera was released. Now the first 5 megapixel camera-phone is on the way, possibly in the next month, courtesy of Samsung. I wonder when the first 8 megapixel model will arrive?!

“According to inside sources on Friday, Samsung Electronics recently finished the production of its 5-million pixel camera phone, which will hit the market before the end of the month. Until now, Samsung had yielded top spot in the market to Japanese companies, like Casio.”

Website: Digital Chosunilbo - 5-Million Pixel Camera Phone Coming Soon

Sharp Press Release 20/09/04

Sharp Develops 2-Megapixel CCD Camera Module for Full-Fledged Digital Camera Functionality in Mobile Phones

New 2X Optical Inner Zoom Lens Design Provides Dramatically Improved Functionality for Camera-Equipped Mobile Phones

Sharp Corporation has developed a new 2-megapixel CCD camera module featuring a 2X optical inner zoom lens. Intended for use in high-end camera-equipped mobile phones, the new LZ0P3738 will be available in quantity beginning in October 2004.

Cameras designed to be embedded in mobile phones have been moving toward ever higher pixel counts beyond the megapixel range in response to user demands for greater functionality and higher image quality on a par with ordinary digital cameras. At the same time, there are demands for more compact and thinner camera modules to provide this greater functionality and higher image quality without altering the form factor of mobile phone handsets.

SanDisk Press Release 14/09/04

SanDisk Supplies miniSD Flash Memory Cards to Samsung Electronics for New, High-Resolution Camera Phone

SUNNYVALE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sept. 14, 2004—Samsung Combines a Mobile Phone with a Zoom Lens in One Device  

SanDisk(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:SNDK) today announced that it is supplying Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. with 32-megabyte (MB) miniSD(TM) memory cards that will be sold with a first-of-its-kind Samsung digital camera phone. The SPH-S2300, which has a resolution of 3.2 megapixels, is reportedly the world’s first such device with a 3X optical linear zoom. It has started selling in the Korean market.

According to Samsung, the camera phone combines quality imaging and phone functionality. In addition to the high megapixel lens and optical zoom, the device has both automatic and manual settings for ISO and white balance, and the flash has been upgraded from an LED to a full, brightness-adjustable camera flash. Also, said the manufacturer, the device can record more than two hours of videos and can be hooked up to a television set for immediate viewing.

Tired of blurry photos caused by poor focusing? Then you may be in interested in wavefront coding, a recent military technology which may end up in camera-phones:

“Using wavefront coding, the system encodes the image so it always looks the same without losing any information.

Wavefront coding was originally proposed by Dr Edward Dowski of the University of Colorado for microscopy.

“Our system means that an image never goes out of focus; so if I want to take a picture of my nose with a tree in the distance, I can get them focused at the same time,” explained Dr Harvey.”

Website: BBC - Lens does away with blurry snaps

It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. When you see the name Carl Zeiss in conjunction with the word camera-phone, you know that this relatively new technology is coming of age. The legendary lens-maker is working in conjunction with Dialog Semiconductor to create camera phone modules. Roland Pudelko from Dialog Semiconductor commented “The battle for the next generation of camera phones will be decided by the combination of CMOS image sensors with innovative optics.” and “ten megapixel camera phones are…well within reach.”

Website: Reiter’s Camera Phone Report - Dialog Semiconductor, Carl Zeiss to develop camera phone modules

Editor’s Note: Nokia’s Kaleidoscope picture viewer will be available in a few days on the Nokia USA site for $299, according to Reiter’s Camera Phone Report.

Kopin Press Release 07/09/04

Nokia Chooses Kopin Microdisplay for ‘Kaleidoscope I,’ A Breakthrough Accessory for Camera Phone and Digital Still Camera Users

TAUNTON, Mass.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sept. 7, 2004—Nokia selects Kopin CyberDisplay 180K, responding to strong customer demand for clear and crisp display of images to open a new dimension of cellular phone market

Nokia, the world leader in mobile communications, has selected the Kopin Corp. (NASDAQ: KOPN) CyberDisplay(TM) 180K as the color microdisplay for Nokia’s new Kaleidoscope I, an innovative picture-viewing and storage accessory for users of digital still cameras and next-generation mobile phone systems. The Kaleidoscope I, just introduced by Nokia, reveals the future of cellular phone technology and is the first major foray by a major cell phone company into high-resolution microdisplays.

The Nokia Kaleidoscope I takes the clarity and image quality of phone-based digital imaging to a new level, thanks to the Kopin CyberDisplay 180K, a color-filter microdisplay that contains 800 x 225 (180,000) pixel dots on a quarter-inch diagonal active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) surface.

Paraglyph Press - Press Release 01/09/04

Paraglyph Press Announces First Book on the Culture of Camera Phones: “Camera Phone Obsession”

Scottsdale AZ - September 1, 2004 - Paraglyph Press is pleased to announce the first book on the phenomenon of camera phones, “Camera Phone Obsession” (U.S. $19.99, 272 pages, ISBN 1-932111-96-4).  Today, virtually every new cell phone sold has a camera feature.  These wildly successful devices can only be described as a cultural phenomenon, and the way people
think about their camera phones can only be described as an obsession.

“Camera Phone Obsession” discusses the key aspects of why camera phones are such a phenomenon:
-Creating an image that can be instantly shared changes the way we think of our day-to-day experiences.
-Technological limitations force the camera phone user to think about the artistic aspects of the medium in new ways.
-Users are obsessed with the technology features of their phone and love to share their experiences and thoughts with other users - creating another cultural phenomenon, the moblog.

You all seem to be saying that camera phones are not the way forward in the latest PhotographyBLOG Poll, but a recent report from the LG Economic Research Institute suggests that 40% of digital cameras will actually be camera phones by 2008. The same report also says that 5 megapixel camera phones will be released in South Korea in 2004. Yes, this year.

Website: Reiter’s Camera Phone Report - Camera phones to take 40 percent of digital camera market by 2008

As well as news of the new Apple iPod (you know you want one!), Gizmodo are also reporting today that LG Electronics are launching a new 3.24 megapixel cameraphone, which will in turn be released by both SK Telecom (the LG-SD350) and KTF (the LG-KP2500). The new phone actually uses a mechanical shutter instead of a software technique to improve image quality, and it also has a clamshell design. You may be very interested if a) you live in the Far East and b) you answered “Definitely!” to the latest PhotographyBLOG Poll…

Website: Gizmodo - LG’s New 3.24-Megapixel Clamshell Cameraphones

London-based photographer Henry Reichhold has been comissioned by Nokia to use its 7600 and 7610 camera phones, according to an article over on the Reiter’s Camera Phone Report website and the BBC. Reichold has previously created huge panoramic images of events and places in London, both during the day and night. Now he will be using the Nokia phones to produce similar panoramic collages of several music festivals this summer, which will then be displayed at the Photokina exhibition to be held in Cologne in October. “I’ve always liked to be able to see pixels,” said Mr Reichhold, “I’m very interested in low resolution images because they look very different to traditional images. They have softer, rounded edges,” he said, “and a quality all their own.”

Website: Reiter’s Camera Phone Report - U.K. photographer commissioned by Nokia for camera phone collages

Website: BBC - Phonecam photos aspire to art

Samsung has introduced a new 3 megapixel cameraphone, complete with optical zoom lens and flash, into the South Korean market. The SPH-2300 will sell for 800,000 won ($687) (found via Reiter’s Camera Phone Report.

Website: The Chosen Ilbo - Samsung SPH-2300

Kodak Press Release 01/07/04

Kodak Monthly Tech Brief Explores How Camera Phone Users Go Mobile With Their Pictures

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 1—Digital photography has made computer based slideshows and photo sharing a reality for millions of consumers. Now, Kodak is giving consumers a new service that brings these features to their mobile phones.

Kodak’s Monthly Tech Brief explores how the advent of new imaging-enabled mobile phones that include web access (and, in more recent higher-end versions, also include a one-megapixel camera), coupled with online and mobile picture services, will give consumers new ways to access their pictures and share individual images, slideshows, and online photo albums, without relying on desktop or laptop computers.

The International Herald Tribune is reporting that Kodak are introducing their Picture Maker kiosks across Europe. The kiosks are equipped with Bluetooth, a short-range wireless technology, which will allow camera phone users to beam their photos to the kiosks and print them out. Perhaps more interestingly for digicam owners, Kodak is also planning to expand the service:

“Within the next 12 to 18 months, Kodak plans to expand the range of mobile devices that can communicate with the kiosks and also include other wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi. “We are not married to any particular technology,” said Lisa Gansky, Kodak’s general manager for digital imaging services.”

From the same article, HP have introduced 2 inkjet printers that are bluetooth-enabled and which will accept photos from Sony Ericsson’s P800/P900 phones. “HP said it expects to introduce more Bluetooth-enabled printers that will work with a wider range of camera phones later this year.”

Website: International Herald Tribune - Your cellphone takes pictures. Now what?

Future Image Press Release 17/06/04

CAMERA-PHONES MAKE BETTER PRINTS THAN SINGLE-USE CAMERAS

NOORDWIJK, THE NETHERLANDS, and SAN MATEO, Calif. - June 17, 2004—Prints made from camera-phone images are significantly better than those from single-use cameras - both film and digital - and comparable to those from standalone consumer digital cameras, according to a new study released today.

On the opening day of its Mobile Imaging Summit Europe executive conference, Future Image, Inc., the leading provider of information and analysis on business and technology trends in the imaging industry, announced the results of its evaluation of the quality of consumer prints made from camera-phone pictures. For its report ?4 x 6 Shoot-Out: Are Camera-Phones Ready To Make Consumer Prints??, the research firm photographed six representative test subjects with nine different consumer cameras - four camera-phones, two one-time use cameras (OTUCs), and three point & shoot digital cameras - and evaluated prints of the images made using an online service, retail kiosk, and home printing equipment.