Camera

Pressing the Camera Key converts the internal screen into a viewfinder, also displaying setting such as camera mode, timer, flash, and available memory.

Taking pictures from a vertical orientation, the Motorola V635 is built with an integrated 1.23-megapixel camera; capable of capturing photos at up to 1280 x 960 px in resolution. But photo quality can also be adjusted between QQVGA (160 x 120 px), QVGA (320 x 240 px), and VGA (640 x 480 px) resolutions.

Large enough to make adequate prints, users won't be left without a digital camera at impromptu moments. Although decent in bright outdoor conditions, the V635's CMOS-sensor is poor in low light; taking images appearing blurry and unsaturated.

Getting closer to the action, users can press up and down on the navigation pad to activate the 8x zoom. While sounding impressive, the V635 uses digital zoom rather than optical. Merely cropping the image rather than moving closer, photos will not gain in resolution. Unfortunately all camera phones use digital zoom due to current technology limitations. Manufacturers have yet to produce an optical zoom lens compact enough to apply to cell phones.

The bundle of camera settings available for image correction include Shooting Modes (Night, Photo), Effects (Black and White, Antique, Negative, and Blue, Red, and Green Tints), White Balance (Automatic, Sunny, Cloudy, Indoor, and Office), and Exposure Control (-2 to +2).

Closing the phone while the viewfinder is active changes the display to the external screen, allowing users to see where the lens is aimed during self-portraits and group shots. When this mode is triggered, pressing the Volume Keys zooms in and out while the Smart Key captures the image.

In addition to still photos, the V635 can record up to 60 seconds of video. Supporting MPEG-4, H.263, and AMR audio formats, recording and playback quality can be selected from Sub-QCIF 1 (88 x 72 px), Sub-QCIF 2 (128 x 96 px), and Full QCIF (176 x 144 px) resolutions. Up to 7 fps is available at a bitrate of 59 kbps when recording at a maximum size of 128 x 96 px.

Basic Features

Featuring quad-band frequencies (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 GSM), the V635 is compatible with GSM networks worldwide; delivering all the functionality necessary for a global lifestyle.

Rating the V635's 780 mAh Li-Ion battery at 235 hours of standby and 7.08 hours of talk time, these are under optimal conditions. Actual talk and standby times are lower. Manufacturers and carriers often list talk and standby time ratings with disclaimers about variable performance.

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