Editor's Choice 2008: Camera Cellphones

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The camera cellphones that made our cut this year have much in common. On the camera side, they all feature five-megapixel resolution -- enough for an 8x10 print, lenses, compression, and processing permitting. (And their lenses are often name-brand.) These models also share a bar-like shape resembling that of compact cameras, one that serves photographic purposes well. All have integral music and video players, e-mail support, Web browsers, FM radio, and TV-out connections. They even have secondary cameras that let you make video calls -- if you have the service. These phones are all GSM models: Buy them unlocked from a retailer and you can use them with service from providers such as AT&T and T-Mobile.

Co-Camera Cellphone of the Year: Nokia N96

Take the camera features offered by the Nokia N82 (see page 2), back them up with a new sensor built to reduce high-ISO noise, pack them into a more compact, versatile device, and you get one of the best camera cellphones of the year. The N96 has a dual-slider design that lets you flip the screen one way to reveal an alphanumeric keypad and the other to access media player controls. It also manages to fit in a generous, 2.8-inch LCD that makes composition with its Zeiss lens a pleasure.

The phone's dual LEDs work as either a flash or a continuous video light, the latter helpful for making movies at 30fps. Shooting is in MPEG-4, but the N96 plays back a number of video formats, allowing you to view and download clips and shows from the Web. (It has an ample 16GB of internal memory, expandable with microSD/SDHC cards.) A flip-out kickstand lets you prop the phone up to view photos and videos, or watch live mobile TV. Wherever you roam, preinstalled software on the WiFi-capable N96 makes it easy to send photos to blogs and online galleries. And the phone keeps track of where you shoot by tagging your pictures with its built-in GPS capability.

At a Glance: Nokia N96 Key Specs

Co-Camera Cellphone of the Year: Sony Ericsson C902

The C in its name refers to Sony's Cyber-shot digital point-and-shoots, and this bar phone borrows from those popular cameras. Its lens focuses using face-detection technology, finding and following a moving face in the frame. Its BestPic mode shoots a quick sequence of nine photos so you can save the best one, while its high-powered LED (used for both flash and video) parcels out the light needed for such bursts. There are plenty of scene modes to choose from, but you can adjust white balance, ISO settings, and color manually. Prefer to stick with automation? Use Photofix, a one-touch tool that adjusts exposure, brightness, and contrast after the shot, in-camera.

All this control is great, but we especially like the way Sony Ericsson puts it at your fingertips: Slide the lens cover open to shoot, and touch-sensitive icons light up around the LCD. PictBridge support and photo blogging software make it easy to get your pictures (stored on Memory Stick Micro cards) onto paper or into cyberspace.

At a Glance: Sony Ericsson C902

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