How fast is your Smartphone's CAM?

CamSpeed: Camera Benchmark for WP7 and Android

from xda-developers by PoorCollegeGuy

Benchmarks are, whether anyone wants to admit it or not, an important part of the mobile phone world. After all, looking at which devices have the fastest graphics and highest number crunching ability can help factor into the decision of choosing one phone over another. It’s not the end-all be-all, but it’s something to consider.
While processor and GPU are two important features on a smartphone nowadays, another feature that’s increasingly important is the camera. Since photos taken on modern smartphones often rival those taken on low- to mid-range point-and-shoot cameras, it’s only natural to want to compare one device’s camera to the other. Android andWindows Phone 7 users can now do exactly this thanks to XDA Forum Member hulkkii. CamSpeed is a multi-platform camera benchmark that will measure the speed your device’s camera can shoot photos. CamSpeed measures camera speed in a few different ways. To break it down:

Measured variables are
- Focus Time. Time from focus call to successfull focus event.
- Capture Start/Shutter Time. Time from capture call to the moment when the capture sequence has started.
- Capture Image/JPEG Available. Time from capture call to the moment when an image is available.
- Capture Completed. Time from capture call to the moment when the capture sequence is complete.

This is no simple benchmark that simply times how long it takes from hitting the camera button to taking a picture. All of the necessary variables are tested from focus time to capture time. This can not only tell you which devices have the fastest camera, but which devices can focus the fastest and which devices will allow you to look at your pictures the fastest. While it may not seem so important, there is a lot of processor-related instances in these measurements, such as the time from capture call to the moment when the image is available. This can give users a real world example of how the processor handles tasks without using graphics-based benchmarks to determine processor speed.
Of course all the benchmark staples are there, such as uploading your results and comparing them with those obtained by other devices and users. For more information, you can check out the WP7 thread or the Android thread. Keep an eye out though, as hulkkii is promising that this app will also be available for MeeGo users soon as well.