Camera

The LG VX8000's 1.3-megapixel CCD camera captures excellent images at up to 1280 x 960 px in resolution; large enough to make decent prints. Other resolutions include 640 x 480 px, 320 x 240 px, 176 x 144 px, and 160 x 120 px. Compared to megapixel cameras from Motorola, Samsung, and Kyocera, the VX8000's outperforms them all considerably, with accurate color representation, good exposure even in low light, and sharpness in bright environments.

The internal screen doubles as the VX8000's viewfinder, with the lower portion displaying useful information such as zoom, resolution, and available memory. The directional keypad controls the Brightness Level (Up / Down), and 4x Digital Zoom (Left / Right). And should users want to be included in the shot, closing the VX8000 activates the external monitor viewfinder.

By turning the Camera switch around the lens, Macro Mode can be activated; allowing users to take photos at extremely close range. To take regular shots, the switch is turned to Portrait Mode.

Additionally, an abundant array of camera filters and controls are incorporated including Brightness (EV -9 to +9), White Balance (Auto, Sunny, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Glow, All Pull-In), File Quality (Economy, Normal, Fine), Color Effects (Normal, Black and White, Negative, Sepia, Horror, Solari), Photometry (Average, Spot), ISO Settings (Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600), Night Mode, Self-Timer, and Flash.

Encoded in 3GPP2 codec (MPEG-4 and H.263 Video, AAC, AMR, and QCELP Audio) format, video clips up to 176 x 220 px in resolution can be recorded. Limited to 15 seconds in length and 15 frames-per-second, the VX8000 takes advantage of MPEG-4 for delivery of video and audio. Video adjustment settings include Brightness, White Balance, and ISO Settings. Computer playback for clips require QuickTime 6.5.

Basic Features

Released for Verizon Wireless, the LG VX8000 is built on a dual-band CDMA 800 / 1900 network. LG rated the VX8000's 1100 mAh Li-Polymer battery at 3.33 hours and 110 hours of talk and standby times respectively. However, those are under optimal conditions.

When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Actual talk and standby times are lower.

Screen

Built with dual TFT (Thin Film Transistor) 262K color screens, both internal and external displays use state-of-the-art LCD technology, providing crisp and brilliant images needed for video streaming. The 128 x 160 px front display is wonderfully versatile, conveniently showing date, time, battery level, signal strength, custom wallpaper, and caller ID; even doubling as a camera and video viewfinder, picture browser, text message reader, or MP3 player controller. A large 176 x 220 px internal monitor is just as bright and responsive for main functions, navigating through menus, and viewing videos.

TFT active display matrices can achieve more vibrant colors and faster refresh rates over other LCD technologies due to circuit transistors being placed directly on the glass at the pixel location; refresh rates needed for using the VX8000's screen as a television during streaming video.

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