Nokia 808 PureView camera is "utter nonsense", says Olympus

posted by Nick T. / Mar 01, 2012, 3:14 AM

The newly announced Nokia 808 PureView has been generating quite a lot of buzz for the past several days. And rightfully so, as it packs a humongous 41-megapixel camera, which we bet a lot of smartphone users cannot wait to shoot some pictures with.

Of course, not everyone is happy about Nokia's latest flagship cameraphone, especially those who have to compete with them in the camera business., Mark Thackara, who is a U.K. Marketing Manager for Olympus was bold enough to describe the handset's 41-megapixel camera as “utter nonsense”. “The size of the lens means that the overall quality of the image will still be restricted,” he added. And all of that comes from a person that had not actually tried the camera prior to making his statement.

That Olympus is bashing the Nokia 808 PureView for its camera does not come as much of a surprise. The company, which has an extensive background in the camera business, has not been doing that good as of late, and the competition with camera phones that it is facing is not helping at all. Back in 2011, Olympus initiated a full-fledged anti-cameraphone campaign in an effort to convince people that their handsets could never achieve what a dedicated camera could.

If you want to learn more about the 808 PureView and its 41-megapixel camera, feel free to check out our interview with the Nokia camera gurus that we had the pleasure to have at MWC 2012. We also have a bunch of camera samples, which, we must admit, look pretty good.

source: TechRadar

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47 Comments

1. HTCOE

Posts: 650; Member since: Nov 20, 2011

i agree i rather have my canon eos-1d mark IV slr than the pureview as my dedicated camera. sure a camera on a phone is convenient for certain situations but as for professional camera use...not so. well not for me at least

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 3:26 AM 12

3. Glim12808

Posts: 394; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

Good point! Unfortunately, though, for Kodak, Olympus, et al, most people need only a point and shoot. So an adequate camera-phone is all they need for posting pictures in facebook.

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 3:42 AM 11

23. eiyoy009

Posts: 57; Member since: Jun 01, 2011

the point there is nokia 808 is for those people who need one gadget that features all they need all the way...meaning you dont need to bring big DSLR's and a phone etc... because nokia 808 have it all (in a compact body) GET IT...!!!!

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 7:02 AM 8

33. karanstyle

Posts: 188; Member since: Jun 26, 2011

And all that comes very Handy in Price, size, quality, reliability, durability & of-course upgradeable camera s/w which is close to Social Networking Sites! Which Olympus cant even dream about and is just threatened by NOKIA :-D

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 11:51 AM 5

41. SleepingOz unregistered

808 compact DSLR? seriously? AHAHAHAHAHA

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 2:59 PM 1

44. theoak

Posts: 324; Member since: Nov 16, 2011

41 megapixels ... really??? One picture and you are out of space! The NAND manufacturers are going to love this phone.

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 6:36 PM 1

5. Leo_MC

Posts: 6629; Member since: Dec 02, 2011

One would think your Canon is a piece of sh*t and would rather have a Leica M9-P; other would laugh when you mention your Canon, would consider Leica a piece of sh*t and not settle with less than a Hasselblad. Others - me included - would give your comment and your insolence a thumbs down, would use it's 5MP phone camera or a 2-300$ compact camera to take instant shots.

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 4:02 AM 5

10. HTCOE

Posts: 650; Member since: Nov 20, 2011

uhmmmmmmmmmmmmm??? okay shirlock

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 4:38 AM 1

6. Owoteva

Posts: 9; Member since: Jan 09, 2012

From what I've read the real benefit of the 41 MPs is being able to do a digital zoom without the loss of resolution. And I'd imagine a camera phone is more convenient in a club for those quick impromptu shots. And speaking from experience if you want great photos go a DSLR.

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 4:07 AM 10

21. ayephoner

Posts: 858; Member since: Jun 09, 2009

this is true, but 41 (or the 38 operable??) megapixels is still overkill. you could easily accomplish the same thing with half that. olympus' point is that well before your able to utilize 41 (or 38) mp, the short comings of the lens are going to show through.

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 6:54 AM 0

42. chapizzo

Posts: 116; Member since: Sep 13, 2011

you are just jealous it ain't the iphone.

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 3:17 PM 2

27. bayusuputra

Posts: 963; Member since: Feb 12, 2012

agreed.. i feel that this 41mp (or 34/38MP) camera is kinda overkill for the average consumers.. but however, it is kind of a stepping stone in bettering the camera phone.. we should look beyond the megapixels.. yes, it is kinda overkill.. but i would have that if someone give me.. there's no harm in that.. i think camera manufacturers, Sony especially (since they manufacture for some other brands) should look at the technology involved in making this PureView phone, and try to better that and implement it in their own sensor technology.. it's not perfect, but at least we can see that it is possible and the technology is there, just need to be bettered.. one more thing, i think that Olympus should not have said that when their lineup is not something of a breakthrough like this.. i have Olympus camera, the original XA, and had some OMs before, those things are wicked, and i love it.. but looking at their digital cameras nowadays, it is not that awesome anymore.. they really should make innovation and stop being so jealous of others' achievements..

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 7:47 AM 3

43. chapizzo

Posts: 116; Member since: Sep 13, 2011

why call it over kill? Why is everyone clamoring for quad core and more yet single cores can still do quite well? Why is everyone asking for higher resolution screens when the current ones are clearly good enough? If aski for 1080p resolution on 4.5 inch screens isn't over kill, then whats wrong with 41 mega pixels? After role they are used to produce something obviously bette.

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 3:24 PM 1

9. haseebzahid

Posts: 1853; Member since: Feb 22, 2012

and there is one more feature for night mode which is used in satellite cameras which make the image at night very improved this was never archived at this level in phones at-lest, don't know about cameras

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 4:34 AM 2

18. Stoli89

Posts: 333; Member since: Jun 28, 2010

Yes, i take my DSLR with me everywhere I go...NOT. Have been using an N8 with Belle and i must say, the quality of the pics are stunning when compared with my Lumix ZS-3. The quantum leap delivered by the 808 is more than just a shot across the bow of companies like Olympus...it eviscerates a huge chunk of their business model. No wonder they are attacking this technology. Of course, it's not meant to replace a DSLR for occasions when one can afford to carry this much larger deivce.

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 6:30 AM 3

38. Striker

Posts: 92; Member since: Nov 06, 2011

Mmmm, Olympus, sour grapes, mmm? :)))

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 1:01 PM 1

2. A.aoudi

Posts: 125; Member since: Feb 14, 2012

Olympus should consider getting in the mobile camera business and provide camera,s to phone manufacturers just like Apple bought their units from Sony for the 4s. You cant say that that 41 megapixel is crap although it might not be as good as a DSLR with a gigantic lens but it is the best compared to other phones and at least it can zoom without making your picture look really bad.

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 3:31 AM 5

4. Glim12808

Posts: 394; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

Yes, it's sad because I love good cameras, but the only way to continue existing is diversify. The market for stand-alone cameras will only continue to shrink. The only market that will be left are expensive professional and specialized cameras but how many of us buy these anymore? Really sad!

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 3:48 AM 3

7. darac

Posts: 2156; Member since: Oct 17, 2011

Ow, poor Olympus..had they came up with such brilliant, revolutionary piece of still imaging technology, they'd wouldn't be in huge debts now.. they'd actually have a huge hit in their hands.

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 4:13 AM 4

22. eiyoy009

Posts: 57; Member since: Jun 01, 2011

TO DARAC...yah i agree.. OLYMPUS said that because they are threatened...their products is not making it that attractive...meaning they are failing!!!!

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 6:59 AM 2

8. Jericho unregistered

Hey i love camera i take photos where i ever i go and i always keep a dedicated digi cam in my car. Camera phone is good but i prefer a dedicated point and shoot. Just like i prefer a dedicated camcorder and handheld console(ps vita). I take pictures where every i get the chance just capture the moment and sometimes that's where cameraphones come into play.

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 4:22 AM 0

34. karanstyle

Posts: 188; Member since: Jun 26, 2011

And how many chargers do you carry with you? "SAY 4 chargers" (Phone, Camcorder, Digi Cam and PS Vita) Its just Nokia who brings the best innovations and this organization has always been the stepping stone for many innovations you see these days... Be it a Camera Phone, NFC, etc. So, you carry loads and what we carry is something pocket size!! ***NOTE: And bloodily Olympus is so Scared that Digi Cams will also vanish like some "Alarm Clocks on the bed side".

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 12:00 PM 4

11. HTCOE

Posts: 650; Member since: Nov 20, 2011

i never said a good even great camera for a phone is bad i just rather have a dslr camera for professional use...try persuading a couple to get you to do photography for their wedding with a camera phone....yea...dont think so no matter how you try to make your phone sound good its just a no no move imo

posted on Mar 01, 2012, 4:40 AM 1

25. -RVM-

Posts: 331; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

Well, Nokia 808 isn't supposed to be used by professionals as their main camera. 99% people though just want small pocketable camera with as good quality as possible - exactly what Nokia 808 offers. Olympus is not afraid about their DSLR bussiness, they are obviously afraid of their p&s bussines.