Face detection, powerful xenon flash and 8.1 megapixels… does that read like the spec sheet of a basic digi cam? No, we’re talking about Sony Ericsson’s newest 8-megger. Apart from its mainstay – the shooter, you can find nearly all the specs you would expect from a flagship cell phone. Here’s how it stacks up against its rivals

Taking the lead in the megapixel race, Sony Ericsson was the first to announce an 8-megapixel camphone, though its thunder was stolen by Samsung when it actually launched its 8-megger in India first. LG was up next with its touchscreen 8-meg handset, the Renoir, and we’re yet to see how it fairs. The C905 is a beauty of a phone, despite its mammoth bulk. You could say it’s a compact camera upfront, with a slider phone added as an afterthought. The matt black finish, chrome lining and its imposing bulk lend it somewhat of a manly feel.
The shooter is hidden behind a large, but recessed lens cover at the rear; there is no automatic shutter, and you need some deft finger work to slide it open since it’s flush with the phone casing. The camera comes complete with frills such as face detection and a powerful xenon flash, and true to Sony Ericsson heritage, doesn’t disappoint at all. You get lovely clear pics worthy of hanging next to your Picasso. Autofocus is fast, though saving the images does take a bit of time. Although intelligent features such as Smile detection and Blink detection boasted of by its nemesis the INNOV8 are missing here, the superb image quality makes up for it.
It also has assisted GPS, geotagging, music player, FM radio and stereo Bluetooth. It is the first non-smartphone from SE to support WiFi. The phone comes with Google Maps and a navigation solution from Wayfinder. The latter is quite rudimentary as compared to rival apps from Nokia and Samsung’s implementation of Route 66, and a tad cumbersome to use as well. You need to download the Maploader app from Wayfinder on a PC and then the required maps.
The interface is the standard icon-based UI you would be accustomed to. As with most sliders the keys are quite flat, so heavy texters proceed with caution. Also, the soft keys and the shortcut buttons next to the 4-way navigation key on the fascia are quite small and result in false presses a few times. A 3.5mm jack for audio is conspicuously missing, even on the wired headset. The battery juice may also leave you thirsty for more. If you need a great cam phone, this is it. But then, it does seem less than perfect for the complete Raymond man, if you know what we mean.
Rs 34,495
Rating: 4/5
Love: The camera
Hate: GPS, flat keys, no 3.5mm audio socket
We say: A great camera-phone, but overall falls a bit short of being a Swiss army knife

Specifications
Screen: 2.4inches, 240 x 320 pixels
Connectivity: Quadband, HSDPA, EDGE, USB 2.0, Bluetooth with A2DP, WiFi 802.11 b/g, DLNAM
Memory: 160MB internal, 2GB M2 card bundled
Camera: 8.1-megapixel
Battery Life: 9 hr talk, 380 hrs standby
Size / Weight: 104 x 49 x 18mm / 136g
 
Did you know?

What are Bluetooth classes? Bluetooth devices are divided into three classes after their power requirements and range. Class I can operate over 100m, Class II over 10m and Class III over 1m.

Also consider

Samsung INNOV8
Comes with a great 8-megapixel shooter and is a smartphone as well. It costs a whopping Rs 45,999.

Motorola MotoZine
It’s also a great 5-megapixel camphone, and is much cheaper at Rs 17,583

T3 India