More Sony Ericsson Cyber-shot C905 pics and specs surface

Sony Ericsson's Cyber-shot C905 only just broke cover yesterday, and it's still yet to get official, but it looks like shots and specs of it are already starting to crop up at a pretty steady clip. In addition to giving us a glimpse at the sliver version, this latest batch of pics (available at the link below) also helpfully includes size comparisons to a couple of other phones, and shots of the C905 from various angles. As we had heard before, this one comes packing an impressive 8.1-megapixel camera, which will also capture VGA video, along with a QVGA screen (apparently 2.4-inches), GPS, Bluetooth, and HSDPA support. Still no firm word on a price just yet, but the speculation seems to be it'll land around the €500 mark (or $770), or presumably less if you're willing to jump through the usual contract hoops.

[Via Engadget en Español]

[Hellios @ Jun 11th 2008 11:50AM]

I want it so much, and I know it's just a side effect from Mondays huge disappointment.
Regardless, I must have it.

[spass @ Jun 11th 2008 12:20PM]

I bet is has to do with the apple crap... I feel the same.

I don't want this actual phone, just the 8mp chip and zeiss lens behind a pretty 3.5" touchscreen.

[Zak @ Jun 11th 2008 12:45PM]

Yes, all that HSDPA, GPS, best UI in the industry, 2.0 software update with 3rd party apps for $199 stuff is a HUGE disappointment. I'd much rather pay $700 for a phone that's not as good (it even has a smaller screen!) because it has a better.... camera.

Oh wait, no I wouldn't. I forgot, that's why I have a Digital Rebel. Silly me.

[spass @ Jun 11th 2008 12:53PM]

@Zak
$199? I'd happily pay $299 if they upgraded the camera as well.
Nokia and Sony put 5mp chip with autofocus and flash in their phones for about two years now.

[Zak @ Jun 11th 2008 1:03PM]

See below. More MP is possibly the worst thing to want in a cameraphone, because it serves no purpose for what you'll be using it for. It doesn't improve the quality of the pictures, only the lens can do that. And if you need to take better pictures... why are you using a phone to do it?

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 11th 2008 1:04PM]

$770 is not bad compared to what N95 was priced when it was launched and so was iphone...which was wat $500 w/contract and much less features when launched???

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 11th 2008 1:07PM]

@Zak...why do you do this to yourself...i think your blood pressure must be quite high right now...seeing a phone which has far more features than ur beloved iphone

[spass @ Jun 11th 2008 1:26PM]

@ Zak, again...
I want proper exposed pictures, with proper focus, even for a simple blog.
I need 5mp, to be able to crop maybe print full page, etc.
I do have a SLR, but it does not fit my pocked.
I love the convenience of having just ONE device in my pocket, willing to pay extra for this.

[Zak @ Jun 11th 2008 1:50PM]

Vidit, once again you add nothing to the conversation. Thanks for stopping by.

spass, it sounds like you want an actual camera to me. I understand only wanting one device, but seriously if quality is one of your main concerns that should be the biggest reason to get a standalone camera. If it's not, then quality isn't as important to you as you say it is, because it's taking a back seat to convenience.

And again this has nothing to do with the MP argument which is the most prominent reason most people whine about the iPhone's camera. Not enough MP, they say. Well, yeah it is actually. 5MP is overkill for anything involving the web.

[c.Lake @ Jun 11th 2008 3:54PM]

@Zak

Are you stupid? You must be? You buy/own and Camera Cellphone, BECAUSE -- wait for it... you only have to carry 1 item, instead of 3 (cellphone, camera, and ipod). DUH! Where have you been for the last 5 years? Living under a rock?

This is nothing new? Every time a new CameraPhone comes out with a higher pixel resolution, we continually have this same, tired conversation. If you like CARRYING 3 separated items -- and many people do. Then DON'T BUY ONE. Or did that thought never occur to you?

So just stick to your same ugly-ass, basic Verizon phone -- (Many people do), but seeing how you're posting on Engadget, one would think that you had some knowledge of computers and technology -- but you obviously don't.

So why don't you just -- TollOFF some where else, mkay.

[omnicloud @ Jun 11th 2008 5:06PM]

@Zak: "And if you need to take better pictures... why are you using a phone to do it?"

Simply said. It's not the camera, it's the photographer. If you can't make good photos with any camera, you're not a good photographer.

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 12th 2008 9:51AM]

Zak...now buddy...are you even making a point here...i have a SLR camera which a cannot lug around all the time with me,i.e., when i am going to work or going to meet someone...thats when you might need a camera too right??? and for those occassions i wont even care if it gives me very high quality pics too
so...if we are getting a good camera in a mobile phone, which we can carry all the time, whats wrong with that???
why do you have to crib all the time and downsize other gadgets in the world which would make more sense than the iphone???

[Eric M. @ Jun 11th 2008 11:50AM]

$770? I know I may be in the minority, but I would never shell out anything close to $770 for a phone.

[Kris @ Jun 11th 2008 11:51AM]

All Sony phones are like that. You can order most Sony phones unlocked directly from them. Naturally when (or if) a carrier picks up this phone it will be considerably cheaper for them due to them signing their life away.

[Kris @ Jun 11th 2008 11:52AM]

All Sony phones are like that. You can order most Sony phones unlocked directly from them. Naturally when (or if) a carrier picks up this phone it will be considerably cheaper for them due to them signing their life away.

[Kris @ Jun 11th 2008 11:53AM]

Stupid fucking Engadget and their fucking comment fucking system.

[Eric M. @ Jun 11th 2008 11:53AM]

Well come to think about it, the only way I would pay $770 for a phone is if it printed out real cash.

Come on Android, I'm hoping you can do this!

[kal326 @ Jun 11th 2008 12:21PM]

@Kris
What Engadget has a comment fucking system? How did I miss this? If anything, I would have thought they would have brought out the iPhone fucking system first.

[Leo Qin @ Jun 11th 2008 11:59AM]

What happened to the "8 MP" selection. You can see the others and you can see the icon, but you can't see the text. This is probably not the final firmware, but it should display the selection in negative

[Anthony @ Jun 11th 2008 12:07PM]

White is ugly to me. Black is okay. I'll be interested to see if there's a separate photo/video button on the top. I really liked that about the K850 (hear that Nokia?!).

If wifi turns out to be true I may be more interested (my company's stingy w/ data unless I go to Blackberry, which I don't want). $770's not bad when you consider what it does. N95 8gb was just about that, N96 will be more initially.

[Dave D @ Jun 14th 2008 12:31AM]

@ anthony

I know i'm off topic, but there's no guidance on this; How do I get my jpg to work as an avatar? I have tried for two days now, and nothing will actually work. What are the rules?

[BobfromVegas @ Jun 11th 2008 12:13PM]

Wow-two articles on something other than the iPhone.

[Zak @ Jun 11th 2008 12:48PM]

So you mean to tell me you haven't noticed that there's only 4 iPhone-related articles on the last 3 PAGES of Engadget stories? Are you just that stupid or what?

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 11th 2008 2:10PM]

@cockboy

Look at the top of the screen. Can you see it yet?

[Godskitchen @ Jun 11th 2008 12:15PM]

Why oh why oh why would anyone want 8MP on a camera with its rubbish lens? There is a reason pro photographers use big cameras....

Its not all about MP either people!

Still I guess if people can be conned into thinking LCD's are good then they can be conned into thinking they are the next David Bailey with their camera phone.

[Hellios @ Jun 11th 2008 12:18PM]

Sony makes really great PnS' you know, and this phone probably has the same Carl Zeiss lenses that Sony uses.

[Kris @ Jun 11th 2008 12:33PM]

Hellios is correct in that Sony's cameras usually have an awesome Carl Zeiss lense. The problem is we don't know what kind of lense it has as I haven't seen a Sony phone yet that included a Carl Zeiss lense (they tend to be crappy).

The lense will either make or break this phone.

[Engadgetluvsappl @ Jun 11th 2008 12:36PM]

Almost ALL Nokia Nseries phones have been using Carl Zeiss lenses since about 2004.

[Zak @ Jun 11th 2008 12:55PM]

Yeah a lot of people don't seem to understand why they want an 8MP camera in their phone. Are they going to be printing high rez posters from pics that they take with their phone? No, most likely they're going to be uploading the pics to flickr or facebook or something. And why do you need 8MP for that again? You have to downsize the pic to use on the web anyway, so what's the point? Anybody? Anybody?

Correct, there is no point. 2MP is easily good enough for what you would actually use cameraphone pics for, i.e. sending to friends, posting to blogs, flickr, etc. If you need to take GOOD pictures you're not going to use your phone to do it, no matter how many MP it is. So why bother?

[V Langs @ Jun 11th 2008 1:10PM]

simple.
bragging rights, we're not an iphone and we don't need to be. look we have an 8mp camera. don't get me wrong i LOVE sony ericsson. i used to only buy SE. the last one i had (S710a) i'd still be using (it fell into a pool) and i always consider buying a cheap one off of ebay purely because it is a bitching phone for about 50 bucks. my only gripe was lack of mem stick pro duo support or it would have been a contender to this day.

I've been stuck in the win mo cycle for 2 years now (sad about that.) I loved my TyTN but that was lost to a bar incedent (i'm not good when it comes to alcohol and electronics lol) and now i'm back to my old blackjack.

i'll wait a month for the new iphone because it's a device i'd like to use and it has exchange server built in now which is crucial to my device allegence.

but still the s710a had a 1.3mp ccd sensor. it took impeccable photos, not kidding. the photos were amazing, i framed a few 4x6s i shot with that. and it looked like a camera when it was closed.
ahh, the good ole days of sony ericsson, i sure miss it...

as for the 8mp, if it doesn't have a ccd lens it'll prolly be just as good as any old 2mp or 5mp out there. i mean there is NO advantage to having an 8 mp sensor on a camera phone purely for the fact that if you have the money to buy this phone you prolly have a nice digital camera too and are prolly shooting on that. I have a TX200 and a D700 (nikon) and they solve my purposes very nicely.

though i will admit, whenever i see a high end sony ericsson i get a little excited because i know the potential that company has. WHY CAN'T THEY MAKE AN UPDATE TO THE S710a?! i'd be sold in an instant.

[Kazamain @ Jun 11th 2008 1:32PM]

I don't know if it's just me but I reckon the phones by Sony Ericsson that are yet to be released are starting to look more and more the ones they make in Japan (G702 - Jog Dial, Now this one C905 (Slider with a really good camera). But, I'm happy because I've always wanted to have a cool slider or clam shell to have a really great camera! Can't wait for the C905 to come out.

[jenton @ Jun 11th 2008 3:23PM]

@Niels

You're my hero.

Has anyone seen photos posted on flickr or facebook taken by an iPhone. They look terrible. Completely washed out and grainy.

The photos I'm taking with my K790a aren't SLR quality by any means, but it's markedly better than any photo taken by an iPhone.

[niels @ Jun 11th 2008 1:32PM]

I simply can't understand why people want to tell me what I should want in my phone (Zak). The iPhone has a shitty camera. Come to terms with it. I love my Apple stuff as much as the next guy, but the iPhone's camera is severely lagging behind Nokia and SE phones from three or four years back.

I don't need eight megapixels, but three or five would be nice. And how come there's no autofocus? My old K750i had that. Flash?

As much as I love Apple as a company I'm so sick of this new-found phone fetish. Why don't they focus on updating some of their computers instead.

[Zak @ Jun 11th 2008 1:58PM]

niels, shitty is relative. The iPhone camera is shitty compared to an actual camera, but then so is every other cameraphone. Why do you need three or five megapixels in a cell phone? Be specific. It's not a quality issue because MP has nothing to do with quality.

If you're going to tell me I'm wrong I'd like to hear some solid reasoning as to why. So far there's been nothing yet. The basic facts haven't changed - anything you upload to the web is going to be small, so by default anything over 2MP is overkill. If you're taking pics for higher rez applications then quality is going to be an issue, and you're not going to be using your phone to take high quality pics.

And I recognize that there are a few limited cases where it makes sense, but look at what the bigger issue is - everybody whining that the iPhone camera is 2MP instead of 5 or 8 or whatever. EVERYBODY. People are sheep, if it looks like more MP is more gooder, then everybody will complain when something doesn't have more MP, even if they don't know why they want it.

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 11th 2008 2:11PM]

@cockboy

"2MP is easily good enough for what you would actually use cameraphone pics for, i.e. sending to friends,"

But not by MMS obviously.

[Jamma @ Jun 11th 2008 2:39PM]

@ Zak:

No one NEEDS 3-5MP in a phone, but people want it, no one NEEDS 8GB of storage and cover flow, but Apple include it.

The advancement of phones mean that people want better quality cameras, and Media capabilities. The iPhone has the media sorted, but a bad camera for what people want.

And slating off camera phones because the iPhone isn't as good in that field is simply immature.

You like the iPhone, we get it, but no need to annoy everyone else by calling people who Don't like the iPhone sheep!!! Especially when most people here see you as a sheep for loving Apple so unconditionally!

[niels @ Jun 11th 2008 2:10PM]

There are plenty of reasons. I have my phone with me all the time. When I'm around the city a lot of times I spot cool stuff I want to snap a picture of. Most camera phones don't have an optical zoom so in order to do just the most rudimentary editing of your photo it's nice to have some extra pixels to cut off. I actually get really good results with my SE phone. It has both autofocus and a photo light.

I don't understand the criticism: "if you need more megapixels bring a camera". I hear that a lot all over, but I don't want to bring a camera. That's why I have a phone with a camera. Why can't I have autofocus? Lots of phones have that. Why is there no photolight or flash? With that reasoning you wouldn't need e-mail on your phone - just bring a laptop if you need that. Want maps? Bring your TomTom.

i realize that a phone won't replace an EOS digital, but i don't carry my camera with me everyday and I find that I actually use my phone's camera a lot.

There's no reason to make up excuses for Apple. The technology is there so why not use it?

[Stranger @ Jun 11th 2008 2:36PM]

I guess it's all good that the camera evolution continues but right now I would rather see some really good 1 MP-cameras than some not-quite-usable 8MP-camera in our cellphones. I took a few shots with a K750i during my vacation on Bali and I have to admit that pictures taken in broad daylight looks quite OK (although blurry because of the simple lens) but with less light than that the pictures are close to unusable. Well, the K750i is getting quite old by now as well.

But I also use the camera on my phone too such a large extent that I would happily accept lika 20 gram extra and some added thickness if I gave me a proper camera with a nice lens.

It's just that normal cameras is starting to fall in between a cellphone and the DSLR. I can't stand the idea of using a compact camera because on no level can it compete against a DSLR. But I also wish to be able to always have a camera with me. And a cellphone with a proper camera would be able to fill that niche perfectly.

[sean.howlett9 @ Jun 11th 2008 2:41PM]

No one NEEDS 3-5MP in a phone? Yes we do !

8 megapixel sounds good.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/seanhowlett

[Deluxe @ Jun 11th 2008 8:23PM]

Zak, please do us all a favour and remove yourself from the internet?
Signed, everyone.

[nsgtr34 @ Jun 12th 2008 9:14PM]

zak = fail

[HermaN @ Jun 30th 2008 1:42PM]

(hello everyone! I'm a newbie :D)

I think through this well-heated debate of MP we seemed to have forgotten the fact that, the original concept of a mobile, was just a portable device for communication, nothing more (well maybe to express your mighty power as well muwahahahaha, no? moving on).
It's just a matter of conveinence, some people like to take photos, doesn't mean they have to take another few hundred quid to buy a decent camera. Some people like music, doesn't mean they have to buy an MP3 player. The idea is, if we're going to carry such device all the time, we MIGHT AS WELL have more features.

If we're all sticking with the "separate device" thing, and say oh a phone doesn't need this or that, then we might as well keep pens and papers as well as a few pigeons in our 2GB-equivalent bags of storage, to send txt messgages to others.

We know damn well that this never happened (I wonder why).

Let's assume the manufacturers agreed to have ONLY the necessaries within any types of mobile phones, and ALL phones remain the same old 2MP, only few MB of storage, b/w displays, midi ringtones.
The fact is, we wouldn't like it, we would be uninterested, technologies require advancement, and c905 did just that, so why all the shouting?

Is Sony FORCING you to take photos under 8MP? No. They gave users a choice of MPs, and this means (read, Zak), the feature is there, but whether you use it or not is up to you. I'm not saying Sony is better than Apple, nor suggesting otherwise. Apple probably realised that 2MP is optimal for them, I'm sure a lot of people would appreciate that. Sony just offered a feature that is optimal for a lot of the customers, and I'm sure they would appreciate that, too.

[lmbgemini @ Oct 19th 2009 5:35AM]

I think the cybershot c950 looks great! I chose it for my college design assignment! I myself have an older version...which I still love, the k800i. So you must be wondering why I would use a phone for a camera? It's convenient. I wanted an all in one; phone, CAMERA and MP3 player. That way, wherever I go I have it with me. I mean you always take your phone with you but do you always take your digital camera along? Not unless it's a special occasion. People take pictures with their phone all the time, why not use a phone that takes good quality pics? It may not be the best replacement for an actually digital camera but it is in my case because I can't afford one.