How to get the best photos from your cell-phone camera

You probably carry a digital camera almost all the time. You just might not know its capabilities and limitations.

A camera is now practically standard on cell phones. Some new models offer 1- to 5-megapixel resolution--a step up from basic VGA resolution--and easier image handling, thanks to removable flash memory cards. But is your digital cell phone camera ready to replace a point-and-shoot camera? Not yet.

No camera phone we’ve seen has the photo quality, hardware, software, and controls of a digital camera of comparable resolution. Camera phones are much slower, with next-shot delays of up to several seconds and onscreen prompts required to save the photo after every shot. The flash range of most camera phones is a fraction of that on most stand-alone digital cameras.

Those gaps could narrow soon, when the International Imaging Industry Association, a group that sets photo-industry standards, releases the first digital cell phone camera standards. Those will establish guidelines for measuring image quality and mandate disclosure of the types of sensors, lenses, and other camera elements that go into camera phones. In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about the camera on your cell phone:

Consider the setting. Many camera phones with at least a megapixel of resolution can take decent snapshots when the subject is stationary and outdoors, and the background isn’t too busy. But if your magic moment finds you in, say, a dark restaurant, your best bet is to steady the camera using both hands or a tabletop for support. Keep subjects within 2 to 3 feet. Most digital cell phone cameras have very slow shutters, increasing the chance of blurry images. So you and your subject should remain still for several seconds after you press the shutter. You can tweak color and brightness later on your PC, but you can’t do much to fix a blurry shot.

Know the ways to share. With many camera phones, you can send pictures using e-mail or messaging. You can also pop out a memory card on some models and insert it into a computer or printer using an adapter (see photo inset above). You can upload your pictures to a retailer’s site for home delivery or in-store pick up.

Watch for new models. Three digital cell phone cameras we just tested expand the camera’s range: the 3.2-megapixel Samsung SCH-LC990 ($270 with a two-year Verizon contract); the 3.2-megapixel Sony Ericsson K790a shown above ($400 from SonyStyle without a contract); and the 5-megapixel Nokia N95 ($750 from Nokia without a contract). Among other features, all have better lenses, autofocus, and color-balance settings for fluorescent lighting and overcast days.

The Samsung also has selectable ISO settings. The Nokia has manual exposure compensation settings to avoid underexposure due to a very bright subject or overexposure due to a very dark one. And the Sony Ericsson has scene modes similar to those on point-and-shoot cameras.

Preliminary image-quality tests on these phones found they yield better pictures under a wide range of conditions than any other cell phones we’ve tested, but they still fall short in sharpness and other attributes when compared with a typical digital camera.

See our Cell Phone Decision Guide for more information about important cell phone features. Our cell phone Ratings (available to subscribers) also have details on which models have digital camera capabilities. And read our preview of the Nokia N95 camera cell phone.