MANILA, Philippines—There are phone cameras—the standard-issue, will-do-for-quick-snapshots variety, and there are great phone cameras. You know the type; they’re the ones that can replace the point-and-shoot clunker in your bag.
The Sony Ericsson C902 Cybershot phone definitely falls in the latter category, with easy-to-use features that can give hyped-up cell phone models a run for their money.
The C902 is fairly straightforward, with a sleek, simple design that doesn’t indicate the high-tech features it has in store for new users. It doesn’t even look like a camera phone; there’s no sliding lens cover in sight. However, the 5-megapixel camera of the C902 is actually hidden under a sliding mechanism (all you have to do is tug on the upper portion of the phone), which contributes to its streamlined design and prevents any unwanted photos or video recordings.
The camera of the C902 features a range of auto-focus modes that include macro shooting, BestPic, face detection and a Xenon flash that can also be used for shooting videos—all in a touch-screen interface. Avid bloggers can also use the gadget to update their blogs with the Photoblog feature, so you can quickly upload photos and text on location.
A 1-gigabyte memory card also ensures that you can take hundreds of snaps on the road. If you need to send data to your computer, the unit’s Bluetooth and USB transfers are quicker than most cell phones, especially if you’re using an Apple computer.
The Cybershot images come out sharp and clear, especially under natural light. The Xenon flash ensures that you can still take photos with your friends even under the dim light of a nightclub, while the face detection feature makes your faces pop out from a cluttered background. The X-Pict option allows you to view your photos with music and various background transitions similar to MS PowerPoint.
If you use your camera primarily to take photos of yourself (or your friends), then the C902 is a great substitute to a regular digital camera. But there’s more to the C902 to than a good camera. You can also store music, send e-mail, and download games into your phone—without significantly slowing down the phone.
It’s sturdy too, so if you’re clumsy and are prone to dropping your phone, you can be sure that it won’t fall to pieces immediately.
All in all, the C902 is ideal for the reluctant techie. It’s filled with features you don’t know you needed, but actually do.
