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(Note: if for some reason the pictures on this post aren’t showing up correctly, try viewing the post here.)
The camera resolution is a robust 2.0 megapixels, or 1600 x 1200 pixels. This should product nice 4×6 prints. Other resolution options include 1.3mp, .8mp, .3mp, .1mp, and “Picture ID.” You also have the option of adjusting the Image Quality (High, Normal, Economy), ISO (100, 200, or 400), White Balance (Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, “Tungsten” or incandescent lighting, or flourescent), effects (normal, green, negative, sepia, black and white, aqua), and exposure metering (normal, center-weighted, spot). Further, the camera offers the option displaying a guideline grid to assist in centering a shot. Other features of the camera include multiple modes (single shot, multi-shot, mosaic, or clip-art framing), a timer, night shot mode, and brightness adjustment.
The camera is used while holding the phone horizontally, and this arrangement means that the placement of the camera button is on the right side of the top of the “camera,” the same as the shutter button would be on a standard camera. Also, as in the browser, the volume rocker on the left side of the phone (which is the bottom of the phone when held horizontally) controls the zoom. This is pretty handy, although I noted that the zoom did not work on the 2.0 MP setting. I don’t know if this is how the phone is supposed to work, but it’s a little disappointing.
There is a feature that allows for some editing after the picture is taken, allowing the user to draw or use a stamp tool to mark up the original picture, then save it. While this might be a fun novelty occasionally, I can’t really see any good use for it.
I also have a complaint about the picture gallery functionality. While viewing pictures, I couldn’t figure out a way to easily move between images. I had to use the “back” button on the phone to get back to the file list, then select the one I wanted to view. On every other camera phone I’ve tried, the left and right arrows navigated through a gallery rather easily. Nothing on the Finesse allowed me to scroll from one picture to the next. I thought the volume rocker might do the trick, but not so.
There is a decent slideshow function on the Finesse, even going so far as to use interesting screen transitions between images. However, there is no way to adjust the speed of slideshow, and it goes through every picture on the phone. I couldn’t figure out a way to limit the slideshow to only a selected batch of images. (EDIT: I figured it out: swipe from side to side in order to navigate through a picture gallery.)
As for image quality, I was impressed with the outdoor shots I tested, but disappointed with blurring on indoor shots. This is probably due somewhat to low lighting, as there is no flash on the camera, and it’s possible that I could have done better had I manually adjusted the ISO and white balance settings. But the images below are what I got using the “auto” settings. The outdoor shots were also done using the auto settings, and they came out looking pretty nice despite the white-wash effect of snow cover and an overcast sky.
(Note: if for some reason the pictures on this post aren’t showing up correctly, try viewing the post here.)
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Sample Pictures
Moving on to the camcorder, it’s about what I expected from a camcorder built in to a prepaid phone; that is, it’s adequate but not great. Video recorded with the Finesse is certainly better than the quality from the Samsung t401g Net10 phone, but it’s no replacement for the video shot with something like a flip cam or the video setting on most recent digital cameras. The options in camcorder are pretty limited, with the option of recording at 320×240 or 176×144. The latter resolution can be used for sending video messages, which actually might come in rather handy especially if you’re on Straight Talk’s unlimited plan.
To demonstrate the video capabilities of this phone, here’s a video I recorded at the highest quality settings on the r810c:
If for some reason the video doesn’t display for you, view it directly on YouTube using the following link:
Samung Finesse r810c Straight Talk Sample Video
In the case of both video and pictures taken with the Finesse, I was easily able to transfer them to my computer using a USB cable. Other options for transferring files off this device include bluetooth, MMS message (though videos must be at the lower resolution), or simply removing the memory card and transferring directly from the card to your computer.
Well, that’s all I’ve got for now. I’ll report back again with more details about the other extras on this phone, as well as some more videos for you.
January 6, 2010 at 4:29 pm
looks exactly like and functions like the samsung instinct from sprint. But I was wondering, I saw an app for facebook but is there a twitter app. Or do you have to go to the website. What apps come on the fone? and if so can you get more or are you limited to what you have from the gate?
January 6, 2010 at 5:04 pm
There’s really not much for apps. The facebook “app” is really just a link that opens the phone’s browser to facebook. Not that cool. I’m looking into how to get different apps on here from a few mobile sites (check out umnet.com, for example), but I haven’t had any luck yet.
January 7, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Hey, thank you for all these reviews. I seriously have not bought a phone in close to ten years, and this web site has been incredibly helpful as I zero in on the Finesse via Straight Talk.
January 7, 2010 at 7:55 pm
To scroll through your pictures, just make a dragging motion left or right with your finger, as if you’re flicking the picture off the edge of the screen. You can also hold the phone sideways, and it will automatically rotate and switch to fullscreen mode.
January 7, 2010 at 9:47 pm
I can scroll through the pictures using the flicking motion. The problem that I have is in reviewing pictures in the erase mode. The thumbnails are so small I cannot tell the image I am looking at, particularly if I took more than one of the same scene. Is there any way to view a larger image in the erase mode?
Another problem I have is that when I am in picture mode (camera symbol in upper left corner) sometimes it switches to video and begins shooting video when I click the shutter. This does not happen all the time. Am I doing something wrong? Sometimes it works just fine and other times it does this. Probably something simple that I am doing wrong. Any help appreciated!
January 7, 2010 at 10:00 pm
OK – I solved the first part of my own question. In case anyone else is having the problem, Go to My Images, Select the box with the 9 square pattern in the upper left corner. This will give a larger image for each. Then if you select any of the larger images it will become full size so you can evaluate it. You cannot erase from this full size image, but if you select the box symbol again you will be back to where you can erase.
January 8, 2010 at 5:23 am
Question / statement. I have the samsung r451c, and I noticed that the volume up and down on it actually increase/decrease font size for TXT’ing and for scrolling the the internet. Have you tried the volume button to see if you can zoom in and out on websites ?
January 8, 2010 at 8:20 am
Maybe I just need to try a little harder to solve my problems without exposing my ignorance! In a previous post I said:
“Another problem I have is that when I am in picture mode (camera symbol in upper left corner) sometimes it switches to video and begins shooting video when I click the shutter. This does not happen all the time. Am I doing something wrong? Sometimes it works just fine and other times it does this. Probably something simple that I am doing wrong. Any help appreciated!”
I find that it is simply a matter of how long I hold down the shutter release. I am used to holding the button down to let the autofocus work. On the Finesse if you hold it down it shifts to video (an easy way to switch between still picture and video mode). A quick press on the button will take a photo.
January 8, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Yes, the volume buttons do zoom in and out in the web browser. There are 7 zoom levels, and the browser starts on the 2nd. I have never used anything higher than the second level. Most of the time I use the first zoom level and wish I could zoom out even more. Even zoomed out all the way, you have to scroll left and right on most sites. There’s no option to fit the page to the width of the screen. As for texting, the volume buttons don’t change the font size. However, the default font size is plenty big, and a full text message still fits on the screen.
January 9, 2010 at 6:36 am
Question again, I understand that each company has different settings pre-installed on each phone, in this youtube video of the Metro-pcs version @ 5.15 time stop, the guy goes into preferences under the internet options and there is a Java on/off tab. Holding my breath on this… Have you seen a Java tab on the ST version ? (youtube url, if its removed I understand) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1sUm1PbeL4
January 11, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Hi Jared
There is indeed the same setting on the Straight Talk version as on the metroPCS. However, that refers javascript, not java. They are two separate things. Here’s an article explaining the differences:
http://www.dannyg.com/ref/javavsjavascript.html
January 11, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Awesome, thank you for clearing that up for me Pbushx2. Btw keep up the awesome reviews you give.
January 11, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Is there a way to add multiple slides while sending picture messages? I can’t seem to find it?
April 27, 2010 at 1:55 am
Thanks for the reviews! Just bought a ST Finesse off ebay and was wondering what the largest GB size SD is that can be used in this phone?
April 30, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Hi Jeff.
I know I”ve heard of people using at least 16gb, but 32 might also be possible.