Palm Treo 750 Cell Phone Review - Imaging
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Alfredo Padilla Published on March 17, 2007 Comment on this |
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Resolution (3.57)
To test the resolution of the images captured by the Treo 750’s camera we took several pictures of an industry standard resolution chart and then ran it through our Imatest software. This measures how many black and white lines the camera could discern before they started to blur together (a measure Imatest calls line widths per picture height, or lw/ph).
The Treo 750 scored 926.1 lw/ph of horizontal resolution and 681.7 lw/ph of horizontal resolution. This is about the same as the Sanyo M1, which has a 2 megapixel camera, at 859.9 LW/PH horizontally and 773.4 LW/PH vertically. We were impressed to see such a high resolution score from a phone with a 1.3 megapixel camera.
Compared to an entry level digital camera the Treo 750 does less well. The Pentax Optio M20, for example, received scores of 1682 LW/PH horizontally and 1620 LW/PH vertically. We score resolution slightly differently to our sister site DigitalCameraInfo.com, so the Treo 750 earned a resolution score of 3.57. If we were to score resolution the same as DigitalCameraInfo.com, the 750 would have earned a score of 1.07.
Color (6.69)
To test colors on the Treo 750, we took pictures of the industry standard GretagMacbeth color chart, which displays 24 different colors. We then ran the photos through the Imatest software, which compares the camera’s produced colors to the chart’s colors.
Imatest produces this chart that shows the original colors in the small vertical rectangle, the adjusted colors in the middle rectangle, and the original captured colors in the outer square. Further analysis is provided by the color analysis chart that Imatest produces. On this chart, the circles represent the colors that the camera captured, while the squares represent where the images should be on this color gamut chart. The longer the lines between them, the more inaccurate the colors are.
The Treo 750 performed surprisingly well on our color test. We saw some drift in reds and purples, but for the most part, colors were rendered very accurately. The Treo 750 did better on this test than the 2-megapixel Sanyo M1, proof that megapixels are not everything in imaging. The Treo 700p however did even better than the 750.
Noise (1.35)
We test noise by shooting a variety of images in light conditions ranging from 3000 lux (a bright, sunny day) to 60 lux (about what you would get in a darkened room with a single light), then running the captured images through imatest, which analyzes areas of the image for noise.
The Treo 750 did very well on our noise test, on the strength of posting one of the lowest noise scores at 60 lux of any phone we have tested. Its noise scores at other lighting levels were just above average. The Treo 750 did better on our noise test than the Treo 700p or the Motorola Q.
Live Preview (5.0)
The live preview of the Treo 750 does an average job of reproducing the color of our final images. However, its low resolution had trouble providing the detail and sharpness that you will find when you open the image on your computer. In this the Treo 700p with its 320 x 320 resolution screen does a much better job than the 750.
Unlocked Standby to First Shot (3.47)
To test unlocked standby to first shot, we place the phone in standby mode and then time how long it takes to snap a photo. To ensure accuracy, we actually take a photo of the timer so that we can see exactly when the photo is taken. The Treo 750 took an average of 5.77 seconds to complete this procedure. This is a slower score than the Treo 700p at 4.5 seconds or the Motorola Q’s 3.96 seconds. The Treo 750 is hurt by the fact that there is no dedicated camera key, meaning you have to go through the menu system to start the camera application.
Shot to Shot Time (1.83)
To test shot to shot time on the Treo 750, we time how long it takes took to capture a string of photos using the burst mode. The Treo 750 took 8.18 seconds to capture a series of photos. This works out to .61 frames per second. This is significantly better than the Treo 700p, which took .3 frames per second. Despite the faster speed, don’t expect to be taking many action shots on the 750 since 61 frames per second is still slow compared to regular cameras.
Shutter to Shot Time (2.27)
To measure shutter to shot time, we take a photo of a stopwatch that starts running at the exact moment that we take a photo. This shows us how long after triggering the shot the photo is actually taken. In our test, the Treo 750 took .88 seconds between shutter and shot. This is a poor score for a phone with a fixed focus lens. For example, the Sanyo M1 took .8 seconds, however, it was slowed down by its auto focus lens. The Treo 700p, which also has a fixed focus lens had a shutter to shot time of .5 seconds. We were not happy with the 750’s performance in this area.
Interface (5.0)
The camera interface for the Treo 750 is very simple. There is a large viewfinder that takes up most of the screen. The action button on the directional pad will take a shot, while up and down will zoom in and out. The left soft key takes you to your photo album, while the left soft key opens a menu where you can change key settings like mode and resolution while also accessing the options. Palm chose simplicity over functionality in this case. We prefer an interface like that found on the T-Mobile dash or Sanyo M1 where you have more information about your shots on screen, and there are an array of shortcuts and options available. The camera software on the 750 is not a standard part of the Windows Mobile 5 platform.
Photo Album Software Internal (7.0)
In the menu, you have access to an array of functions that allow you to send a photo or video, save a photo to a contact, or set a photo as your today background. You can also create a slide show, with some limited options available in the program options.
When you open a photo, the left soft key is mapped to the send function while the right soft key opens a menu. From this menu, you can zoom into your photo, launch a slide show, save a photo to a contact, as your today background or rename it. You can also edit a photo, which takes you to another interface where you can rotate the image, crop it, or perform an auto correct. Thankfully, you can also undo effects if you make a mistake.
Overall, we liked the range of options available in the Treo 750’s photo album software. It is more full featured than the album software found on regular phones like the Motorola Razr V3m, and it stacks up well compared to other smart phones like the Treo 700p.
Manual Control (0.0)
The Treo 750 does not have any manual controls such as manual white balance or scene modes. We were not surprised at the lack of these controls as the vast majority of phones lack them.
Zoom (1.0)
The Treo 750 has a simple 2x digital zoom available, with only 2 settings: 1x or 2x. Digital zooms are of limited utility, but it was nice to see the option available. Very few phones have optical zooms.
Focus (0.0)
As with most camera phones, the Treo 750 has a fixed focus lens. Auto focus lenses are becoming more popular on phones as the cameras get better and better, but we were not surprised by the lack on the 750 as it is not an imaging focused phone. The Sanyo M1 is an example of a phone with a simple auto focus lens.
Flash (0.0)
The Treo 750 does not have a flash. We would have liked to see even a simple LED flash, despite their limited utility, but again, we are not surprised as the 750 does not focus on imaging as a core function.
Metering (0.0)
The Treo 750 does not include any metering controls. Metering allows you to decide from which point or points the light is measured. While many phones do have basic brightness settings, more advanced controls are not found on the vast majority of cell phones.
White Balance (0.0)
The Treo 750 does not provide any white balance options. Many camera phones do provide some evaluative white balance modes that allow you to choose from options such as indoor or outdoor.
Image Handling (6.0)
The Treo 750 has some good image handling options via the built in Pictures and Videos software, part of Windows Mobile 5. This software allows you to crop images, rename, and save them and do a basic auto correction. These features are not often found on phones, including the Treo 700p, and we were happy to see them on the 750.
Video
Overall Video Score (6.0)
The Treo 750 can take videos at either 352 x 288 or 176 x 144 resolution. Videos captured by the Treo 750 are better than those taken by many regular phones like the Motorola Razr V3m. They are not as good as video taken by more advanced imaging phones like the Nokia N91 or N95. Video quality at 352 x 288 is really only good enough for the small screen. It looks heavily pixilated on a small computer screen and terrible on a television or large monitor. The Treo 750 will most definitely not replace even the cheapest stand alone camcorder.
Video Resolution (2.44)
To measure video resolution we shoot the standard ISO 12233 resolution chart and run stills from that video through Imatest imaging software. The Treo 750 scored 132.4 lines of horizontal resolution and 184.6 lines of vertical resolution. This is significantly lower than the Treo 700p, which scored 181.5 lines horizontally and 190.9 lines vertically. It also falls well short of the Sanyo M1. The Treo 750's score was in the same category as the LG Chocolate and Motorola Razr V3m.
Video Compression (2.0)
The Treo 750 records video in 3GP format, the standard for mobile video. In keeping with the simplicity of the camera program, the Treo 750 does not support many compression options, unlike other Windows Mobile phones like the Cingular 8525.
Interface (5.0)
The Treo 750’s interface for video is extremely similar to the photo interface except that there are no zoom controls and instead of having a counter of photos you have an indicator showing how much video you can take and how long the current video is. The interface is extremely easy to use but also very simplistic. Again, we would have liked to see a more advanced and feature rich interface, but alas it is not to be.
Manual Control (0.0)
The Treo 750 has no manual control options. Some phones offer manual white balance control, such as the Sanyo M1, but more advanced controls such as shutter and manual gain are very rare on cell phones.
Zoom (0.0)
The Treo 750 has no zoom options in video mode. This is not uncommon although some phones do offer digital zoom. Very few phones offer optical zoom in video.
Editing (0.0)
The Treo 750 offers no editing functions for video. This is not uncommon as only the most advanced camera phones like the Nokia N91 have video editing software on the phone.
Modes (0.0)
The Treo 750 has no video modes available. Few phones have video modes, but the Sanyo M1 does offer some options such as night and dark. If you wish to send MMS video you can limit the length of the video and set the resolution to the lower 176 x 144, however, there is no easy MMS preset.
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