(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.