AfterDawn: News

16MP cameras headed to smartphones soon?

Japanese chip maker Renesas, which merged with electronics maker NEC in 2010, has announced it will be integrating 16MP cameras in future handsets.

The CE150 image-processing system chip "will make it possible to produce 16MP phone cameras for the first time, up from the maximum 13MP that are currently available," explains Crunch.



Users will also be able to use the cameras to shoot 1080p Full HD video.

Renesas showed off a phone camera processor capable of such a feat in December 2008.

The company will begin mass-producing in March, with up to 1 million units being produced each month.

Sample units are available to handset makers for $48, now.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 11 Jan 2011 14:37

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• 12 comments

• ugc

  Why?
  

  Know how to drive a person CRAZY? <<Click Here>>

  11.1.2011 16:15 #1

• 3MUK

  Originally posted by ugc: Why? lol how much are they going to charge
  
  $200+ ontop of the phone
  

  "You can lead a fool to wisdom but you cant make him think"

  11.1.2011 19:29 #2

• 3MUK

  Originally posted by sjkdhf98: spam edited by ddp here we go again.
  
  i wana kill you

  11.1.2011 20:53 #3

• 5fdpfan

  Originally posted by ugc: Why? why not? I think this is fantastic news. Why better phone cameras? Well why have a lot of things on your phone. Why have a stinkin' smartphone period if you wanna debate the issue long enough. If phone cameras can be made so good that one doesn't need to also carry around a seperate camera to do the same thing then I sure would be happy with that.

  11.1.2011 23:03 #4

• 5fdpfan

  As for cost, well we can all speculate as to what that might be but if this is 2 year old technology as seems to be indicated in the article, then I wouldn't imagine it will be priced anymore ridiculously then most other high-end phones bought without contract. IF having a camera of this kind on a phone is important enough for people to have, they'll pay what they have to pay, whether that be full price or subsidized through a carrier. Doesn't really maatter I don't think.

  11.1.2011 23:06 #5

• jam_k

  Woo-Hooo! A high resolution image of a picture taken thru a crappy lens...

  12.1.2011 14:15 #6

• canon111 (unverified)

  Originally posted by jam_k: Woo-Hooo! A high resolution image of a picture taken thru a crappy lens... LOL, if your gonna shoot something, might as well use a CANON!!!

  13.1.2011 09:37 #7

• Gnawnivek

  Well, now at least those annoying parents taking pictures of their little ones on the stage (while blocking everyone else) makes a little bit more sense.
  
  Seriously, I hate those people take "precious moment pictures" with cellphones (especially those graduation and plays). What were those people thinking?!?! The photos are so bad that you can't do anything with them, why bother?
  
  Can the high resolution phone camera solve this problem? Probably not! Maybe such phone do well in classrooms or outdoors, but definitely not in an auditorium.

  13.1.2011 09:48 #8

• lissenup2

  Originally posted by ugc: Why? Because real photographers and enthusiasts take high quality HD resolution pictures like arial photos from their camera phones so they can blow those bad boys up to a 4' x 5' picture. ;)

  13.1.2011 13:44 #9

• Gnawnivek

  But as jam_k pointed out, what's the use of high resolution through a crappy lens?
  

  Peace!

  13.1.2011 14:04 #10

• Lern2Hate

  Originally posted by Gnawnivek: But as jam_k pointed out, what's the use of high resolution through a crappy lens? Not all cell phone brands are made equal with crappy optics such as CrapBerry. Take for instance the Nokia N8 with Carl Zeiss lens, that BAMF can capture 12MP pics with seemingly stunning quality. Plus, I doubt any right-minded company is going to drop that kind of bank head on image processing chips without utilizing the complimentary optics & image sensors to go with it.

  14.1.2011 01:02 #11

• Gnawnivek

  :) Well put argument, can't see anything wrong with it. Honestly, I embrace all sort of improvements on gadgets as long as they're not half baked cakes or whatever the expression is.
  
  If you're going to put 12MP into a cellphone camera, at least make sure the lens is not a crappy one, the end. Of course, the price is a separate debate, lol.
  

  Peace!

  14.1.2011 09:43 #12