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Chapter
Taking Photos and Videos
Camera phones are not a new phenomenon, but only recently have those cameras
improved to the point that you can leave your point-and-shoot behind and still end up
with decent photos. Not every phone is created equal when it comes to cameras, and
the same is true for DROIDs. The DROID X sports a higher resolution camera than the
DROID 2 or the DROID, but all three are capable of replacing your point-and-shoot in a
pinch.
Whether you need to document work sites or scan bar codes, this chapter will get you
up and running with Android photography. We’ll discuss a few digital camera basics, like
megapixels and image size. We’ll also talk about how to adjust your camera for different
lighting conditions, and how to turn the flash on and off.
You’ll also learn how to enhance your photos and share them by email, Internet, and
MMS, (picture texting). Finally, you’ll learn about using your phone to take video footage,
and some of the apps that will make your photography and video session shine.
NOTE: If you’re using an original DROID, your camera screens and settings are going to look
somewhat different from what is pictured in this chapter.
Understanding Your Camera
Before going into the nitty gritty of shooting photos, let’s discuss the camera on your
phone. Since there is no standard, one-size-fits-all Android phone, there’s no standard
Android camera. However, there are a few things most phone cameras have in common.
So far, no DROID will match the quality you’ll find in a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex)
camera. This is the type of professional camera with a separate lens and body that lets
you adjust just about everything and change lenses for specific purposes, such as long
distances or wide angles. DSLRs are expensive, large, and heavy, and we don’t have the
technology to fit them in a phone . . . yet. Likewise, you won’t find the video quality in a
phone that you will in a dedicated digital video camera, and phones just don’t have the
memory to store large, uncompressed video files.
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