The Nokia N8 set a whole new standard for mobile photography when the first reviews of its 12-megapixel camera first appeared more than a year ago now, but is it still the class of the field a year later? We say yes, and we've got five reasons to prove it.
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The Nokia N8's camera remains the single highest-resolution image sensor Nokia has shoehorned into one of its mobile phones, and with that resolution comes an across-the-board level of quality that has kept it a favourite for Nokia lovers to this day.
But a year is a long time in the world of mobile phones, so does the Nokia N8 still cut the mustard as the best camera phone on the market today? For us, the answer is absolutely yes, and here's why:
Great build quality
A decent-quality camera is about more than just the components inside the shell, it's about how well put together the whole package is. Nokia's build quality is already renowned, but the Nokia N8 in particular is much loved for its overall sturdiness and the quality of the materials that have gone into its construction. All of that means the confidence of a solid feel in the hand, and of course the knowledge that your phone will stand the test of time when others start to show their age.
12-megapixel resolution
We're probably the first to point out that resolution isn't everything, but that doesn't mean it's not important. The Nokia N8's 12-megapixel resolution leaves most of its smartphone rivals trailing by some way, and in itself opens up greater creative possibilities. For instance, the larger your original image, the greater the scope for cropping down to a smaller image after the fact and still preserving a high level of quality.
Carl Zeiss optics
The Carl Zeiss name has been synonymous with high-quality lens components for decades, so it's significant that it should choose Nokia as its mobile hardware partner – a company which it says matches its own level of commitment and quality. And no single product has seen a closer collaboration between the two companies than the Nokia N8, which features Carl Zeiss' four-element Tessar Optics.
Quality components
There are a couple of other mobile phones that offer a 12-megapixel resolution, but where Nokia stands alone is its commitment to delivering the same level of quality throughout the camera system. That means not only the Carl Zeiss optics but also a mechanical shutter, glass lens and large image sensor. What other cameraphone offers all those features in a single package?
720p/30fps video
Even the purest of photographic brands these days is having to pay attention to video, and on the Nokia N8 it's more than just an afterthought. In fact, once the Symbian Anna update rolls out in the next month video will be one of the most exciting features on the N Series range-topper, as Anna is bringing with it native support for 720p HD video recording at 30 frames per second – a Nokia N8-specific update that will push it even further ahead of the field.
Do you agree that the Nokia N8 remains the best cameraphone on the market? Have you any reasons of your own to add to the five we've listed here? Let us know in the Comments!