Smartphones are replacing standalone cameras, but the analysis in the article is busted. Popular camera models are constantly being replaced with newer shinier models, so of course every model trends down a little while after release. It'd probably be a lot more enlightening to do the analysis grouping usage by family (e.g. Canon G11, G10, G9, etc) once and then doing an age analysis for each family.
Agreed. Although it would be significant to note that, under that rationale, the iPhones would be grouped together again, and would likely be top dogs.
As an avid smartphone user (have had several in the past couple years), the iPhone 4 camera is simply the first smartphone camera that takes really good pictures at a decent megapixel (5mp). Other smartphones are following, and the days of point & shoot cameras are numbered.
FWIW, there are many smart phones with much better cameras than what the iPhone 4 has. Nokia and Sony already produce smartphones with very good cameras that rival point-and-shoots.
It's all about light and the lens... and no smartphone matches a point and shoot because irrespective of the megapixels if less light is going through a (much smaller) lens then there is less information to work with to make a picture.
Megapixels != good cameras, a good lens does more than extra MP.
And the iPhone3, Nexus One, Nexus S, Blackberry Torch, Samsung Omnia 7... and not one of them comes close to the 6 year old Panasonic DMC-FX01 that I've bashed up so much that I am willing to carry it in my jersey pocket when I go mountain biking.
In low light or fast action, smartphones fail. In ideal conditions they're adequate, but so much happens outside of ideal conditions that I'd rather have my bashed up point and shoot at hand.
Yeah, the iPhone 4 is ok for basic pictures. I hate how long it takes to find the Camera app and then wait for it to load before it can actually take a picture!
Why can't the iPhone allow for a "take a snap" button? Or do we have to wait for the iPhone 5 for this?
@spicyj -- it takes worse pictures than a point and shoot. Much worse. MP doesn't equals good quality.
However, I like my iPhone's built-in camera, because I always have it with me. But I doubt it will ever replace my SLR, or even my point&shoot (you just can't have good lens in such a small device).
The iPhone 4 camera takes oversaturated pictures. Nokia N8 on the other hand might be that phone that can compete head to head with p&s cameras - there are many comparisons already available online.
Not really true, for example my 3 year old Nokia N82 has a much better camera than the iPhone. It even comes with a real flash instead of the lousy LED one.
