Sony Ericsson W890i camera samples

As a Walkman-branded mobile, music has the main billing on the Sony Ericsson W890i. None the less, the W890i has a 3.2-megapixel camera built in to its back panel that is capable of producing clear, printable images in standard photo sizes. It can shoot at maximum resolution of 2048x1536 pixels, and is capable of capturing video at maxmimum QVGA (240x320 pixels) resolution.

There's no room for a flash on the W890i, however, and the camera lacks an autofocus system found on more sophisticated cameraphones. Low-light and night-time shooting is therefore limited, as is the ability to differentiate between subjects when focusing in mid-range shots. With no macro shooting mode either, the camera is also limited in how close it can be for in-focus close-up shots.

In addition to the main 3.2-megapixel camera on the rear, there's a secondary camera on the front, above the display, for video calling, which can capture low-resolution self-portraits.

Although the W890i's camera operation isn't as refined as some of Sony Ericsson's Cyber-shot cameraphone lineup, there are a range of controls and settings you can adjust. You can select quality at four settings, depending on how you want to use images, either to the maximum 3-megapixel level, 2mp, 1mp or VGA (0.3MP). There's a further fine or normal shooting setting, which appears to make minimal difference to shooting results. A 3.2x digital zoom is part of the spec - although this isn't available at the top 3.2-megapixel resolution level, only at the lowest quality VGA mark.

White balance can be switched from the automatic metering system to daylight, cloudy, fluorescent and incandescent, depending where you're shooting and prevailing light conditions. There' a night mode too, that boosts light sensitivity, too.

Multiple shots can be fired in a burst, you can stitch together panorama shots, and add fun frames to shots. There's also several colourisation filter-style effects you can add - black and white, negative or sepia - and a self-timer option.

After you've taken shots, you can upload them straight to a Blogger blog account. The phone has some editing software built in too, a photo fix auto level correction option, plus Sony Ericsson's PhotoDJ - giving you scope to tweak brightness and contrast, light balance, colour balance, rotate, plus add effects, texts and other images. In-phone, you can also display images in a neat slideshow with fades and transitions, accompanied by a choice of mood music.

For a more considered approach to photo editing, Sony Ericsson provides the W890i with a CD including Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition PC software.

The image performance of the W890i is pretty pleasing, given the limitations of the camera's spec. Holding the phone as a camera in landscape mode, it's comfortable and stable, and is not prone to hand-shake. It's easy to use, too, with a simple to follow user interface.

Images generally come out with a plenty of detail, particularly when you're shooting in optimum lighting conditions. Colours are particularly vibrant and lifelike too, and surprisingly vivid. We were impressed by the solid colour rendition in high-contrast and difficult lighting situations, with the camera's auto system maintaining colour separation and crispness.

This isn't a phone-shooter meant for camera enthusiasts, however. In low light conditions, as expected there is more picture noise apparent, and more grain. With no flash or photo light illumination, this phone will struggle to capture great images in dark places, such as music venues or bars.

Still, indoors it produced better image sharpness in low light than other 3-megapixel cameras we've reviewed recently.

It's a shame there's no macro or autofocusing, as mid-to-close range in-focus shots can look sharp, colourful and detailed. But if you want the highest quality Sony Ericsson cameraphones, for the time being you still have to look through its Cyber-shot range rather than find it in a Walkman phone.

Sony Ericsson W890i review