8megapixel cameraphones threaten the digital camera market

Which gadgets did you pack to take on holiday this year? Chances are you took both a mobile phone and a digital camera. However, a new product development from Samsung may mean that you digital camera will soon be redundant…...

Samsung launches the i8510 this week. In addition to all the expected functionality of a top-of-the range mobile, it also includes an eight megapixel camera. With this level of picture definition, the i8510 will compete head-on with entry-level digital cameras. So why would you want to have both a phone and a camera.

Granted, at the top end of the digital camera market, enthusiasts would never be happy to just a 8 megapixel image. They want complete control over all aspects of the picture taking process.

However, for the average consumer, 8 megapixels is more than enough to take high quality digital images. With a couple of clicks on the phone, the image can be uploaded directly onto Facebook or Flickr. Print quality will be great too.

Samsung’s competitors are sure to respond with similar camera-phones in the run-up to the crucial Christmas sales period. Expect to see similar product launches in the next few weeks from LG, SonyEricsson and Nokia.

But the high resolution cameraphones may spell more trouble for specialist camera sellers, like Jessops which has issued several profits warnings in the last couple of years.