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Why your next travel camera might be the iPhone 4

Why your next travel camera might be the iPhone 4

It happens every year or so. You either drop it in the swimming pool, drop kick it out of your car or the dog ate it (yeah right.) Whatever the case, you think it’s time you need a new camera. That old camera just isn’t taking the pics like your friends get, and it’s time to upgrade.

Complicating or simplifying the decision this year (depending on your point of view) is the quality of the new iPhone 4’s built in camera. The new iPhone 4’s camera is now up to a respectable 5 megapixels in resolution. That is probably enough for most non-professional photographers.

According to the charts, you could print a true photo quality (300 pixels per inch) print up to 6”x9” from a 5 megapixel image. In reality, Epson inkjet printers create real quality images at 150 pixels per inch. That would grant you a 12”x18” print from the same photo.

While too many people place the emphasis on megapixel count, the real issue is pixel quality. For example, a pro camera with a full image sensor like the Nikon D3 or D700 will always outperform a point-and-shoot with the same megapixel count. That’s because the pro camera’s pixels (sensors) are bigger than the point-and-shoot’s pixels. Bigger is better – in every way that matters. They capture more of the information you need to create a digital photo.

With that in mind, how does Apple’s iPhone 4 measure up. According to Wired’s information, the sensors on the iPhone 4 are 1.75 µm (micrometers) whereas a “normal” compact camera’s sensors are 2 µm. That is within the realm of “close enough.” Hence, you should expect very good quality images from the iPhone 4.

Taking a look at Apple’s on-line ad, there are a number of supposedly unretouched images at the bottom of the page, which when enlarged, still look sharp and vibrant. Seems like the age of needing a separate point-and-shoot is quickly coming to an end.

If you add in the idea of having a HD video camera, a built-in flash, a spot focusing and spot white balance adjustment; it gets rather compelling. Oh yes, it can also make phone calls to – it’s got an app for that as well.

Clevelander’s can start preordering the iPhone 4 on-line June 15 and they should be in stock at the Cleveland area Apple stores on June 24. The phone will also be available on June 24 at local AT&T stores, Wal-Mart and Best Buy.

[Thanks: http://www.examiner.com]

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