I still don't have a cameraphone, but I'm practicing for one. I've started using the family's digital camera to take pictures of whatever I think needs to be photographed. It's a lot slower than a cameraphone, and isn't really the same kind of photography I want to pursue.
Relevant anecdote: My dad and I were preparing to go to the park with Phoebe, the family dog (she's half Border Collie and needs frequent exercise). This excursion is usually the high point of her day, especially when we ride bikes and she gets to run along next to us. We had put the bikes in the van, and were all prepared to go, but the van refused to start. (It seems that there's a problem with the battery.) On top of that, it started to rain. Dad and I decided that it wasn't worth the trouble to jump-start the van just so we could ride our bicycles in heavy rain, so we decided to take the car instead. Phoebe, though, misunderstood our intent and refused to leave the back seat of the van, while giving us the most sorrowful look we'd ever seen. I should have taken a picture, but I didn't. It seems that the camera we have is just too advanced for some things -- the power button and lens cap and flash setting and zoom and focus all seem to get in the way of spontaneity. One misses out on all the images that were perfect in retrospect but seemed like too much hassle at the time. For the same reason, I usually get better pictures from a disposable camera than a fancy one. That's not to say the photographic aesthetics are better by any means; it's just that I can get the moments I want as I see them, rather than the ones that I have time for.
Anyway, my top three priorities in a cameraphone are storage space, camera quality (VGA as a minimum, I think), and efficiency of picture taking (dedicated camera button etc.). It also should work with Verizon, and compactness would be a bonus. If you have any suggestions, please email me.
Relevant anecdote: My dad and I were preparing to go to the park with Phoebe, the family dog (she's half Border Collie and needs frequent exercise). This excursion is usually the high point of her day, especially when we ride bikes and she gets to run along next to us. We had put the bikes in the van, and were all prepared to go, but the van refused to start. (It seems that there's a problem with the battery.) On top of that, it started to rain. Dad and I decided that it wasn't worth the trouble to jump-start the van just so we could ride our bicycles in heavy rain, so we decided to take the car instead. Phoebe, though, misunderstood our intent and refused to leave the back seat of the van, while giving us the most sorrowful look we'd ever seen. I should have taken a picture, but I didn't. It seems that the camera we have is just too advanced for some things -- the power button and lens cap and flash setting and zoom and focus all seem to get in the way of spontaneity. One misses out on all the images that were perfect in retrospect but seemed like too much hassle at the time. For the same reason, I usually get better pictures from a disposable camera than a fancy one. That's not to say the photographic aesthetics are better by any means; it's just that I can get the moments I want as I see them, rather than the ones that I have time for.
Anyway, my top three priorities in a cameraphone are storage space, camera quality (VGA as a minimum, I think), and efficiency of picture taking (dedicated camera button etc.). It also should work with Verizon, and compactness would be a bonus. If you have any suggestions, please email me.