Camera
The W300i does record video, a feature that so far has not become a
necessity on mid-range phones. The video camera then, is a nice touch,
and while the resulting video files may not be Hollywood quality, they
do satisfy the demands of spur-of-the-moment video-recording fun.
Excepting the video camera, the phone's VGA camera leans towards the
standard for a mid-range phone. The camera takes pictures in the
standard sizes: Large (640 x 480 px), Medium (320 x 240 px), and Small
(160 x 120 px), as well as an "Extended" size of 1280 x 1024 px. The camera
offers neither flash nor the ability to take self-portrait photos via
the external screen. Only two quality options are offered: Normal and
Fine. As can be expected with a mid-range camera, images are hardly
print quality.
The zoom lens offers 1x, 2x, and 4x magnification, whereas brightness
can be adjusted along various intervals between +/- 2 points. Zoom is
adjusted via the up / down keys on the 5-way pad; brightness by the
left-side Walkman buttons. Color effects are rather limited but
satisfactory: Regular, Black and White, and Sepia cover the bases, while
Negative and Solarize add some different fun options. A self-timer is
included.
One nice feature of the camera is the Shoot Mode, which allows the
user to take Normal, Panorama, Frame, and Burst shots. Panorama Mode
guides the user in taking three aligned photos, which it then blends
together to create a connected, extra-long shot. Frame Mode caters to
the user who enjoys putting pictures of a friend's head on the bodies of
Elvis, the Mona Lisa, or a bearded hippie. Other frames work in the more
traditional sense, decorating the edges of the shot with theater
curtains, an abstract spiral, or a desk stacked with paperwork. There
are nineteen frames in all. Burst Mode takes four rapid-fire shots,
perfect for capturing madcap action or for the work of aspiring fashion
photographers.
Unlike cameras on many other phones, the W300i's camera does not
feature sidekey-activation. The shutter is triggered by either a softkey
or the enter key on the 5-way keypad. The digits on the number pad also
serve as shortcuts for various camera functions.
The aforementioned video recorder alternates with the still camera
via the side buttons of the 5-way keypad. The video quality, like the
picture quality, is as can be expected from a lower-end camera:
perfectly fine for fun and spontaneity, but probably not a replacement
for a separate digital video recorder. Users may choose between short,
low-quality recording for purposes of video messaging, and longer,
higher-quality recording for eventual transfer to a computer. Small
(128 x 96 px) and Large (176 x 144 px) video sizes are available. Night Mode and
special effects are available just as they are on the still camera.
Video or still images may be saved either to the phone or to a
separate memory stick. Multimedia messaging is available for sending
photos and video to friends and family.
As the VGA camera is on the lower-end of the technology scale,
serious photographers will have to look to a separate camera for their
needs. For those who do not rely on their phone as their primary imaging
device, the W300i's camera satisfactory meets requirements for general
fun, from snapping photos to send to family members to capturing the
spontaneous antics of a couple of friends on video. Furthermore, the
inclusion of a video recorder is a nice touch not often found on
mid-range phones. In sum, the W300i's camera rates about average with
bonus points for the video recording feature.
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