Camera

Compared to other smartphones, the Dash 3G's 2.0-megapixel camera is mid-ranged but a significant step up from the low-grade 1.3-megapixel camera on the first Dash.

Photos taken are clear and without the yellow tint common on camera phones today. However the lens doesn't pick up details well. While image quality is good, users need to keep a steady hand or the slightest movement will blur the picture.

The trackball easily controls the zoom.

Camera options include a self-timer, brightness adjustment, white balance, time stamp, backlit on or off, shutter sounds, flicker adjustment, deciding how long the picture will rest on the screen after it's taken, and grayscale, sepia, and negative effects.

Photo quality can be fine, super fine, basic or normal and resolution choices include 1600 x 1200 px, 1280 x 960 px, 640 x 480 px or 320 x 240 px.

A picture can be set as wallpaper, shown in a slideshow, sent as a message or audio postcard, or saved to a contact, but there are no crop or rotation editing tools for photos.

Users can record videos up to 30 seconds in length to attach to multimedia messages, or the up until the memory is full. Videos cannot be edited.

Camcorder brightness, white balance, review duration, shutter sound, and effects can all be adjusted. Videos can be recorded with or without audio, captured in H.263 or MPEG-4 format, and with a resolution of 352 x 288 px, 320 x 240 px, 176 x 144 px or 128 x 96 px.

The audio is a bit quiet on recorded videos, but color and image are good, although not superbly sharp.

The Dash 3G takes colorful shots and has plenty of options to adjust settings.

With all the messaging features available on the Dash 3G, users can communicate with more than just words. Users choose whether they want to send a photo or video before it is taken -- so it will be the right size and length to attach to messages. Then they attach and send them as picture message with audio or text added in.

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