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Jan. 30, 2006
The major digital camera companies have been playing leapfrog with each other for years, and now the camera phone companies have joined in. To play this game, it doesn't matter if a new camera has all the bugs worked out, as long as it has some feature or capability that no other camera has. A few camera examples include the original Minolta Dimage X (In 2002, the first digital camera with a hidden periscopic zoom lens), the Sony MVC-CD1000 (in 2000, the first to record images optically to mini CD-R disk media), Panasonics Lumix DMC-FZ1 (In 2003, the first compact digital camera with built-in image stabilization), and the Kodak EasyShare One (In 2005, the first compact to offer an optional Wi-Fi connection and giant 3-inch LCD). More recently, Kodak pulled off another leapfrog event with its EasyShare V570 (the first camera to feature two CCDs and two lenses, one for a 39-117 zoom, and the other for a 23mm wide angle.) And on the DSLR front, who can forget Canon's groundbreaking digital EOS Rebel (In 2003, the first 6.3MP DSLR priced under $1,000)?
 So it's no surprise that camera-phone companies are hopping over each other and the camera manufacturers trying to be the first to add either more megapixels to their models, unusual features such as MP3 players, video conferencing, GPS receivers, or all of the above. Sometimes these features appear to be added just for fun, and other times they help a model become a raging success. But is there a limit as to how much you can pack into an electronic device before the very size and complexity of its operation manual causes either a hernia or brain overload? Apparently not, which may explain the thinking behind Samsung's latest over-the-top camera phone, the SCH-B500 (see photos).
There's no price information available yet, or a complete spec sheet. But the announcement claims that the SCH-B500 features a 7.7MP sensor, a real optical zoom lens, removable memory, an MP3 player, and “DMB Satellite TV” viewing. That's right, satellite TV! So now you can go on those extreme camping trips to the Himalayas or the Amazon, and while you might be out of range of the nearest cell tower, you can still keep up with your favorite episode of “Lost”. (Ironic, yes?) Ok, I exaggerate. Since the DMB Satellite TV network is only in Korea, you can't watch TV on Everest or in the Amazon—or in the USA. But the idea is interesting…
 Now if you're thinking of getting a camera phone (as a back up camera in case you left your real one at home), should you wait for the onslaught of 6-8MP models that are obviously on there way and already for sale in Korea? No, because they aren't on their way. By the end of this year you'll only be able to get 2 and 3MP camera phones in the US, and even if you could fly to Korea and get the SCH-B500 (or Samsung's 8MP SPH-V8200), and it worked with your cell carrier in the US, you wouldn't want it! Why? I'm predicting that both of these camera phones will fall flat on image quality based on the level of noise we've found in recent tests of 8MP Samsung digital cameras. Now, if the sensors used in these phones are smaller in size than those found in most digital camera models, with even smaller pixel dimensions, the noise levels will be astronomically high. But at least Samsung has thrown down the 8MP camera phone gauntlet, with everything else included but the kitchen sink.
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