My New G2X, the Good, the Better, and the Whoop, Whoop Hooray!

Playing with the Camera on the G2X

I’ve wanted a high-end Android phone since, well, since Android phones were born.  I knew Google was on to something with these little mini computers that easily fit in a purse or pocket.

With Every new Android phone, I almost took the plunge, but I always managed to wait a couple of months until the rumors of the next, latest greatest, would start to circulate and I would wait some more.  My family got tired of waiting for me to settle on a phone and so, for Christmas of 2010, I got an Ascend M860.  I’m going to skip the review of the Ascend for now.

I don’t remember how many months ago I first heard of the G2X, but it was the first

Sky, taken with G2X zoom set to 1X, focus to infinity

phone that made my heart skip a beat.  It might have been the camera specs that sparked that first wave of flutter lust in my heart or, I might have been enchanted by the dual core processor, or possibly even the 4 inch display.  Whatever it was that enchanted me, it wasn’t enough to convince me to sign my life into electronic slavery for the next two years. So, as usual, I waited.  Like so many times before, I told myself that I would save my pennies for a few months and buy the phone unlocked.  No contract required.

So I waited, and I waited.  But the longing for the G2X didn’t cease, as the longing for all other phones had ceased before it.  Not even when I read the rumors that some G2X users were having issues.  I hoped and prayed that something would resolve these issues.  The rumor was, Gingerbread would fix it.  I chose to believe.

Focus set to infinity, Zoom at 5x

And then it happened.  The Gingerbread update came to the G2X and, for some inexplicable reason, T-Mobile put the phone on special for 3 days only.  Free with a 2 year contract. Free?  I couldn’t stop myself.  I signed on the dotted line.  You should understand that, here, in the Bible Belt, non-traditional relationships such as mine between woman and gadget are frowned upon but I did it anyway.  I took the G2X to have and to hold and to accessorize, for as long as we both shall live, or until the contract runs out or I pay the early termination fee.   But I don’t think that’s going to happen.

You know how, sometimes, when you  want something really badly and you go ahead and get it, even though you don’t think you should lock yourself into a contract or spend that kind of money, but you do it anyway.  You know how, when you actually get the thing, it’s not all you imagined it would be?   Well this isn’t like that.  In fact, the more I use this phone, the more enamored I become.

Paint on the Deck, focus at macro, zoom 8x

Maybe it’s because it’s so fast and responsive.  When I ask for directions, they pop right up, when I ask about the weather, I get an immediate answer.  Or maybe it’s the memory. I’ve got space for everything, music, pictures and apps.  I no longer have to pick and choose which apps to delete to make room for other apps.  I feel like I can have it all.  The sky is the limit.  But mostly, I think it’s the camera.

I didn’t really expect too much from the camera.  I just wanted something decent that I could use to snap a picture on those occasions when a shot presents itself and my other camera is too far away.  You

Tree taken with stock camera app on my G2X

know those shots, they are the kind of “in the moment” shots of things that won’t wait for you to run get the camera, even if it’s just in the other room.  My phone is almost never in the other room.  My phone is almost always either in my hand or in my pocket.  So I wanted a camera on my phone that would satisfy that need.  After I ordered the phone and it was on the way, I had read on forums that the stock camera app on the G2X changed after the Gingerbread update.  I don’t know, my phone came with Gingerbread out of the box.

Out of the box the camera app gives me a setting for focus mode with the options, auto, infinity and macro.  Additionally there is the option to set the Exposure to either +3, +2 or +1.  Next there is the option to store location and it’s either on or off.  For White Balance,

Set at Macro, and about 7X

the options are Auto, Incandescent, Daylight, Fluorescent, and cloudy.  Flash Mode is auto, on, or off.  Next is zoom which goes from 1X, to 2.2X, 3.5X, 4.8X on up to 9X.  And finally, the bottom setting is for front or rear facing camera.   Other than that you are provided with a means to switch from video to camera and an on-screen button to snap pictures.  There is not a dedicated camera button on the G2X.

I think the most impressive thing about

Foam, macro and 9x

the camera so far is the clarity on the macro setting.  I took a picture (the one on the left) of the foam from the inside of a chair.  This picture was taken with the focus set to macro, the zoom at 9x and the camera about one to two inches from the surface.  Cool, huh?

But wait, there’s more!  Not only does this phone have the 8mp camera on the back, and the 1.3mp camera on the front and video capture capability, it also has a built-in screen capture function.   To take a screen capture, hold down the power button and the home button at the same time and Poof!  Screen capture without

screen shot

rooting.  Awesome.

This camera is never going to replace my dedicated camera but it’s sure is nice to have a decent quality camera in my hand for those moments that won’t wait for the dedicated camera.

I’m so excited, I can’t wait to get out there and take more pictures with my G2X.  All of the pictures in this post were taken with the stock camera.  Next I’ll be trying out different camera apps.

If anyone knows of some great apps to use with the G2X, please let me know.  I’d love to hear what other people are doing with their camera phones.