LG Renoir KC91 Eight Megapixel Camera

The LG Renoir KC91, released in November of 2008, creates a happy bridge between these two extremes; with an on-board eight megapixel camera, the Renoir sells itself as a powerful, clear picture-taker. Yet with a fully modernized touch-screen and many entertaining multimedia options, this model exhibits an understanding of the needs of today's cell phone owner -- needs which some other feature-heavy models seem to have forgotten.

Essentially, the Renoir is a follow on to the Viewty, pretty much matching the usability but updating the soft and hardware. In essence, there isn't much that separates the Renoir from any of the newer generation handsets, like the Sony C905 and Samsung innov8. Well apart from the stone cold fact that the Renoir is solidly built, attractive to the eye, and has a battery to match and support its features. This isn't a point, click, view, and recharge handset by any means.

The camera itself is on the back of the phone's structure and comes equipped with audio focus, video, xenon flash, and cool features like the ability to geo-tag pictures and auto-detect faces, smiles, and blinking. One hundred megabytes of shared memory and up to sixteen megabites via a card slot are available to store the camera's photos.

The new LG Renoir KC910 isn't the first 8 mega pixel camera to hit the market, nor is it the most powerful media device, but boy is it an attractive compact phone. Excellent substance, performance and design, a fitting dedication to Mr Pierre-Auguste Renoir, leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style.

LG are firmly positioned in a process of growth, and their product ranges just go from strength to strength. The LG Renoir is an excellent demonstration of how in touch LG have become with their customers. Whilst their competitors have been driven by the laboratory scientist in their jeykll and hype experiments, LG actually remembered that these phones will be used by people, and people with small pockets at that! (In a none metaphoric sense).

In a time when every manufacturer is trying to develop and produce the I-Phone killer, LG have fallen into the same trap in some ways. The shape is nothing new, the features have been bought to market before, and there isn't really a unique selling point that screams out. That said though, the LG Renoir gathers a wide collection of features and functions within its compact exterior that would pacify most pessimistic critics.

Not content with an 8 mega pixel camera, the LG Renoir also contains a collection of photographic options ranging from smile to blink detection, all fully displayed in high quality bright colours on a 3 inch touch screen monitor. Additionally, although GPS mapping systems are no-longer seen as functions of 'escaliber-esq' propositions, the Renoir's own system is effective and clear, but a little slow to respond in low 3G reception areas.

The select and swipe function ability of the touch screen makes for effortless navigation, which is a nice improvement from the Viewty. Whilst new Wi-Fi and 3G upgrades allow for quick access to web application and Internet browsing. The 3 'key button' options on the base of the handset are a bit of an eye soar, but this is forgiven due to the smooth lines and metallic finish of the Renoir.

If you had an LG Viewty, then the LG Renoir will be an instant attraction, but for those of us who have never tried LG before, try it, you just might like it.

Aside from the camera, the star of the show is the Renoir's three-inch TFT touch screen, which has all the functionality and style of similar models on the market. Vivid colors, clear sounds, and crisp video make for appealing multimedia performance while accurate and fast motion detection makes navigation an absolute breeze. Speaking of multimedia, the Renoir allows users to import DivX and Xvid files for catching movie or TV clips on the go, in addition to making space for mp3 audio files.

Digital cameras have been a popular cell phone feature for years, but have only recently begun to truly shine and exhibit how far modern optic technology has come.

A lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack may cause problems for those who prefer to stay hands-free, though a simple adapter can be purchased to clear up this issue, as needed. Those with a passion for texting can take advantage of either a full qwerty keyboard on-screen or use a quick and simple auto-complete board, depending on preference.

User experiences with the keyboard rank in the top tier; while getting it just perfect with a phone keyboard is one of modern handset technology's greatest challenges, the Renoir does an admirable job of keeping the feature usable and intuitive. An all-around solid performer, the Renoir is an excellent choice for phone users looking for a little something extra out of the on-board camera.

Without compromising the many perks of modern touch-screen phones or focusing too heavily on any one area, LG has managed to produce a picture-taking model that truly lets you capture and organize your world.

Many models currently on the market feature high-megapixel cameras built into the phone itself, but seem to result in a device that takes acceptable pictures while attempting a few half-baked approaches to phone and organizer functionality.

The Renoir's size is an immediate point of sale. At one hundred fourteen grams and just under fifteen millimeters thick, the phone is seriously slim, light, and easy to carry around. Despite its size, however, the Renoir manages to retain a solid and comfortable feel; not quite as inspiring as the iPhone yet nowhere near as clunky or plastic-like as many older models.