Rafe and Steve have been trialling the Nokia N93 for a week now and report back in part one of the AAS official review. This part covers camera, camcorder and other unique multimedia features and includes plenty of screenshots, plus sample photos and videos. Does the N93 live up to its billing?
Read on in the full article.
Thanks for the great review 😊
Is the flash really that bad? The N90 surprised me with its strong flash. It would be a deal breaker for me if the N93 couldnt take decent flash pictures at a party, at least 2 meters apart from the subject.
Marc
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It's wierd, isn't it, that regardless of a review that says, "Truly, this device isn't as special as it should have been", I still really want it. More for the TV out than anything (and also the fact that everyone will think wow). Can you imagine using Smartmovie through the tv. It's a portable movie player too!
One thing. Even if your phone is in portrait mode, is the tv still landscape?
Thanks for a great article!
Bren
The flash isn't that bad. Its similar to the N90. I'll try and test this out some more. The picture of the owl was a nasty test - it was pitch black when I took that photo. The Flash is bad compared to dedicated camera.
For TV-out the screen will be the same as it on the phone. i.e. in portrait mode it is portrait on the screen. In landscape mode (i.e. folded down so the edge touches the keyboard) it is landscape. This is actually quite handy as naturally some application look more normal in portait view. And yes it is rather good as a portable media player - the only issue is the need for multiple memory cards.
Whilst I like the idea behind the device, I'm not entirely convinced. I'm still not persuaded by the need to have a camera with you everywhere you go. No-one I know actually goes around taking photo's and video's all the time even though their phone is capable of doing so. I don't see this changing just because the optics are a lot better than a standard camera phone.
In my opinion, the only reason the majority of us have a camera phone is because the majority of phones have a camera built in (and that's because the networks want us to send lots of revenue generating MMS's), not because of any particular desire on the part of the user base to take hundreds of photos or videos with their phone. In other words, it's pure convenience.
I'm not sure that the man on the street cares enough about the quality of the output to justify the significant extra bulk for those rare occasions a camera phone is actually useful (even if the quality is a quantum leap when compared to the output of my Mini S!).
Don't get me wrong, as a "proof of concept" device I think it is superb. But, for now, I think the potential market is kind of limited. However, I'm absolutely sure that most phones will have this functionality within a few (3-5) years.
That disappointment. Now that the N93 starts it to circulate and has each time more reviews, my conclusion is that is not of that I remodel to camcorder nor I go for the price raised for one big box. I go for the N73, therefore it passes in the test of the pocket of the shirt!
I don't use a camera much either or certainly never used a camcorder but I find when I do take a camera that it's always so bulky especially when you bed your phone and iPod to the mix. I'm going on holiday in October and want this phone before I go and I'm not taking a camera if I get it in time (which knowing O2 online is no guarantee).
A week to two weeks is too long for the next review, need more info now 😉
That disappointment. Now that the N93 starts it to circulate and has each time more reviews, my conclusion is that is not of that I remodel to camcorder nor I go for the price raised for one big box. I go for the N73, therefore it passes in the test of the pocket of the shirt!
The thing is though that the N73 has no wifi or tv out and they are the coolest feature!
Rafe,
when I take photographs with the N90 in my completely dark bathroom, it is well and completely illuminated! No color tint, no dark areas, everything very bright. Looking at the pic you took I severely doubt, that the N93s flash is nearly as good as the N90s! Unless you took that picture from 3-4 meters away with optical zoom used to full exttent, that would explain the less than satisfactory illumation...
Bassey - you are absolutely right - the N93 is defintely not for eveyone. I do think some people liek having cmaeras on their phone. The problem is you only get then benefits once the quality is good enough and the camera is quick an easy to use. The N93 meets the good enough requirement and is easy(ish) to use, but it comes at the expense of size / weight to an extent.
Personally I'm not sure I would want to carry it around everyday. I have done so and it as bad it looks, but I can see where you are coming from.
Yep, the holiday scenario makes sense along with one or two others (family outings etc). However, I would look at it like this.
For those occasions (maybe ten times a year) I save carrying around three or even four gadgets by having the N93. But, the rest of the year, I'm carrying around a relatively bulky N93 when I could be carrying <insert small smartphone of choice> instead.
Or;
The majority of the time I'm carrying around a <insert small smartphone of choice> which fits comfortably in my pocket, but on special occasions I have to take a few devices with me which is a pain in the *** although I get excellent quality results.
Of course, the ideal might be to have an N93 AND a nice compact S60 device and swap between them as needs change, but then you loose the whole "Always got it with you" benefit. Anyway, I'm no-one to preach on such matters. I carried around an XDAIIs for 12 months which is positively gargantuan and weighs about the same as an old Mini Cooper. 😉
Brengla wrote:The thing is though that the N73 has no wifi or tv out and they are the coolest feature!
Wi-Fi is not very important for me. Almost all public places, if it only can use with payment! Connect to TV? My actual DSC / Camcorder, never, I mean, never had been connected to the TV.
Both are in N93, but I never gonna use one...
For me the most important, is the use of a camera in hollydays, if I can carry only one device. If is not the case, then N73 do a good photos and for day to day use, is less bulky.
Rafe wrote:Bassey - you are absolutely right - the N93 is defintely not for eveyone. I do think some people liek having cmaeras on their phone. The problem is you only get then benefits once the quality is good enough and the camera is quick an easy to use. The N93 meets the good enough requirement and is easy(ish) to use, but it comes at the expense of size / weight to an extent.Personally I'm not sure I would want to carry it around everyday. I have done so and it as bad it looks, but I can see where you are coming from.
Another way, to express what I also think!
Rafe wrote:Bassey - I do think some people like having cmaeras on their phone.
I'm sure there are. The main group that springs to mind (other than us geeks of course 😊 ) is the very young. My 12 year old neice loves her camera phone and her and her friends are always swapping pics and video clips. However, I can guarantee she won't want an N93. Having swapped my huge XDA IIs for a (to my mind) beatifully compact and svelte XDA Mini S, she took one look at it and screamed "Oh my god! It's a brick". That was my nose well and truly out of joint 😊.
I'm agree N93 is a superb mobile, but it's too expensive. If u want a great camera with mobile, try k800i. I've a N80 couse have wifi, a big resolution and UPnP. N93 is still better in all sense, but I'll w8 4 a new n9x series that have a really good camera.
You can find more reviews at mobile-review or gsmarena where also compares N93vsK800i photo quality.
So let me get this straight... you're saying that there is no way to use the rotating screen to see yourself as you take a photo? I know when it's folded down into "laptop" mode, it uses the VGA camera for the camera application... but you can't use the 3.2 MP camera when the phone is position like in this photo, to take hi-res photos and videos?
Please let me know, this might be a deal-breaker for me...
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nj7 wrote:Brengla wrote:The thing is though that the N73 has no wifi or tv out and they are the coolest feature!Wi-Fi is not very important for me. Almost all public places, if it only can use with payment! Connect to TV? My actual DSC / Camcorder, never, I mean, never had been connected to the TV.
Both are in N93, but I never gonna use one...
For me the most important, is the use of a camera in hollydays, if I can carry only one device. If is not the case, then N73 do a good photos and for day to day use, is less bulky.
I got hit with a �160 phone bill and �120 of that was gprs usage. Wifi I guess is dependant on the user. i've also not got a computer so full screening on tv is a good feature for me 😊
I've had a chance to play with a K800 and its a great camera phone. However it is not a smartphone and I think if you ignore the camera aspects (which are arguably the equal of or better then the N93) you're left with a fairly ordinary feature phone.
anndrewsmcd - yes you're right and yes it disappointing. I can uderstand it being the default, but it would be nice to have it as an option to switch too.
The problem (or should that be 'feature'?) with the camera switching to VGA when the screen is rotated sounds like somethig screaming out for a firmware update to me!
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Bassey wrote:The problem (or should that be 'feature'?) with the camera switching to VGA when the screen is rotated sounds like somethig screaming out for a firmware update to me!
Is it possible to change that via a firmware update? I also wondered if you knew whether it is near impossible to use the keyboard in landscape mode?
Yes the keyboard isn't as easy to use in landscape mode, but its not impossible. Mainly because the keys are quite big (one of the really nice things about the phone). You do have to change your thinking about where keys are of course.
Maybe the keyboard is good! But a thing like that should be good in Camera use, like Nokia as promised.
Admittedly a bit/a lot off topic, but when can we expect a review of the also wonderful N73?
viipottaja - Yes (hopefully). We're trying to get hold of one / a couple at the moment. The N73 is potenitally more interesting. It will sell more and I think will become one of the standard S60 candy bar phone over the next 6 months (like the N70) was.
Sounds like a great phone. Hope they have sorted out the sloooooow software which has plagues the N series. The multimedia features have got worse in the N revision. The worst being the 3D picture viewing system which is super slow. Should be able to turn this off but you cant. What i hate the most though is the cheek of putting images and video into 1 file!!!! Gone backwards from previous symbian versions. You cannot MOVE your images into a folder in the 3d viewer you can only COPY them Doh! Imagine i want to keep personal pics and vids seperate and allow peeps to flick through 1 file. the 3d system allows you to see everything and in no set order. I had 500 pics on and N70 but it did not put them in any order at all. So when i took a pic with the camera (yes the correct date and time was set) the pics endedup in the middle of all my previous pics!!! @ 312 and 410 Bear in mind im not new to phones or the Symbian OS as i love the OS... Just not this version. Please sort it out....So called multimedia unorganised phone....I want 1
6 sets of photo samples between the 3 phones Nokia N93, Sony Ericsson K800i and Sharp 903SH - here: http://www.slashphone.com/117/4898.html
Great review guys! Well done!
I was also like some of you, having the dilema of which phone to get, the N73 or N93 and I got myself the N73 because it was first to launch.
If you guys don't mind an amateur mini review of the N73, I wrote one on this forum : http://forums.hardwarezone.com//forum/thread/1361719/
I use Skyy as my nick there.😊
lukesky - thanks for sharing.
AnnexDV - Gallery is a lot quicker, but some of the 'features' you mention remain.
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Sorry Steve, Rafe but it just won't do. I NEED the second part of the review now, I can wait no longer 😉
My contract is up and I want to know whether it's worth holding on a month or so for this phone or just getting the Nokia N80!
I look forward to the second part 😊
I have an N73 and a 5.2Mp Fuji Cam .
I carry the phone around , as it's phone . the pictures are good whne taken, but are only used for fun .
I would not , eg , take my phone only away on hols and leavee my real cam behind.
Why?
The phone Cam / lens etc is a phone... with phone type pictures...
The Fuji is a very good cam ..
Do you want snaps or photo's?
david