Xenon flash on smartphones?

Ixon

Ixon

Ixon

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Back in the day my SE K800i had a Xenon flash, as does most early Nokia's such as the N82, N8 and the current Nokia Pureview 808 ect.

So why don't the likes of Samsung, HTC, Sony & LG use a Xenon flash in their smartphones, instead of the LED flash, as this would improve low light shot's a lot.

The next line of Nokia Lumia's are suppose to have a Xenon flash, along with a sensor the same size as that used in the N8 along with all the tech from the Lumia 920 ie
a proper optical or sensor shift image stabilizer.
 
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Depth required to sit the object is a problem as that is currently where the mainboard sits. When phones were 19mm or so this wasn't an issue but currently it is and they would have to do a cutout to make it all fit which is currently, a hard ask.
 
You made my reminisce about my old K800i. I had the silver Casino Royale one and it was lovely. Replaced with the K850 which was crap but I had sold the K800 so couldn't go back. :(

Even now, after all the phones I've had (and I've had a lot!) I miss my little K800 the most!
 
Also,

People like to use their phone flash for torches which would be hard with a xenon lamp
 
Wait for the Nokia EOS - supposed to have it all..

My old N82 battery was really good even with the xeon flash, I reckon they are just bulky/expensive modules sadly.
 
sid said:
Also,

People like to use their phone flash for torches which would be hard with a xenon lamp
Click to expand...

808 Pureview has LED as well as xenon, for video recording,just hold lock button down to light up the led,no app required.
I dont know if other phones have that.
So it can be done.
 
altus said:
808 Pureview has LED as well as xenon, for video recording,just hold lock button down to light up the led,no app required.
I dont know if other phones have that.
So it can be done.
Click to expand...

Its more to do with size I believe, the 808 is like a brick compared to phones these days.
 
Fallen god said:
Its more to do with size I believe, the 808 is like a brick compared to phones these days.
Click to expand...

It may feel like a brick to a midget,it does not to a normal sized person.
I suspect you have not used or seen one.
I can hold one with one hand and text at same time,you are misinformed about phone sizes my friend.
 
The size of the 808 isn't the problem, it's the naff software. :p

Anyway, as mentioned above, the 2 reasons will be the size and the fact you can't use a xenon bulb as a torch, like an LED (yes, they could include both I suppose).
 
Are we not going off topic here?
I simply pointed out to Sid that there is a work around to having a torch + xenon.
Then comes the brick and **** software comments as per usual if you mention a symbian phone in this forum.
Its not a brick and software is only a concern if it stops you doing something you want to do.
For me it doesn`t.
I wont list the things the 808 does that no other phone can do hardware wise,but i need and want at least three of them.
If im that stuck app wise i would use my android tablet anyway.
 
The 808 does have an LED light as well AFAIK. It might only be a focus light though... Been a while since I've used one.
 
Considering the leaps and bounds that have been made in screens and SOCs - you would hope a thin phone with a Xenon & LED isn't far off.
 
They absolutely annihilate battery life. I had a k800i which would last for several days between charges (about 3-5 typically) but would be struggling after a couple of dozen photos with flash.

LEDs do the job for most situations. If you're taking photos you want to be that much better, you probably want to shell out for a decent camera: although I agree the option would be very nice for that odd time I want to take a really good, opportunistic night-shot and only have my phone with me.

I suspect extra cost for a feature most people want, bulk and battery life issues are the main problems. There's surely a niche for a phone with a really good camera at the expense of bulk, though? The k800i was popular for that very reason.
 
BigDannyO said:
You made my reminisce about my old K800i. I had the silver Casino Royale one and it was lovely. Replaced with the K850 which was crap but I had sold the K800 so couldn't go back. :(

Even now, after all the phones I've had (and I've had a lot!) I miss my little K800 the most!
Click to expand...

I also loved my K800i and still use as my 2-4-1 Orange Wednesday phone as it has a pay as you go SIM card install.

The photo's were great considering it is a phone !
I also upgradde to a K850 and what a horrible phone and I had real problems using it !

Xenon flash in the the K800i and the K850 was not a problem due to the depth of the phone.
As the new smart phones get slimmer this will mean that the mounting depth required for a Xenon flash in a new smart phone is too sallow. THis also aplies to camera lens and sensors. There needs to be certian distance between the Sensor and lens to get a decent aquired depth of field.
So smart phones by their very nature of evolution of getting slimmer are making the camera phone function extremely difficult !
 
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