Nokia Connects recently did a post about how mobile photography has changed our lives, that got me thinking about my time with mobile phone cameras. You see, I have been using them right from the start. My first digital camera was my Nokia 7650. I still have a 7650, along with another 126 Nokia devices. So here are what I consider milestones in Nokia’s decade of imaging and their consolidation of the title of ”Imaging Kings” amongst mobile manufacturers. Ok I know that is a matter of opinion, but as this is my blog and my opinion then I guess I am allowed to say that.
Now let your mind wander back through the mists of time. The year is 2002 and Nokia have announced the Nokia 7650!
For those of you that never got the chance to experience this fantastic little device, it sported a great little VGA camera with a whopping 640×480 (0.3Mp) resolution. A beautiful TFT screen with 4096 colours, a 104Mhz Arm 9 CPU, GPRS for fast data and bluetooth V1.1
7650
Now for a quick fast forward, the year is now 2003. Nokia release the Nokia 3650!
Sporting the same beautiful TFT display as the 7650 with 4096 colours, a blistering ARM 9 CPU running at 104Mhz, a massive 4Mb of internal memory. The same stunning VGA (640 x 480) camera, but this baby could take video too. Yes folks you heard me correctly. VIDEO!
3650
Another time shift, it’s now 2004. Nokia have been working hard and have just released the Nokia 7610!
Now this baby is a leap forward, sporting a 1Mp camera (1152×864) with Video, a 123 Mhz Arm 9 CPU, GPRS class 6 up to 36kbps for super fast internet, bluetooth V1.1, Symbian OS V7 series 60 V2, a whopping 8Mb of internal storage and the real great thing was you could swap your covers and key mats to give yourself a whole new look.
7610
Later that same year Nokia do it again, this time it’s the Nokia 6630!
Now sporting a TFT display with 65000 colours, a 220 Mhz Arm processor, 10Mb of internal storage, Symbian OS v8, bluetooth v1.2, and 3G with speeds of up to 384kbps. However this baby has a 1.3Mp camera (1280×960).
6630
The Year is now 2005, and we see the birth of the fabled Nseries. Nokia announce the Nokia N70!
This great device has a massive 2Mp camera (1600×1200) camera, led flash, a front facing camera for video calls, a huge 2.1″ TFT display with 256,000 colours, 3G and Edge for fast data, Symbian 8.1 OS, Bluetooth V2 and a FM radio!
N70
Alongside the N70, Nokia announced the Nokia N90!
Now this baby sports an amazing 2Mp camera with Carl Zeiss optics and autofocus, a stunning 256,000 colour TFT display with a pixel density of 259ppi, 3G and EDGE for fast data, Bluetooth V2 and a whopping 31Mb of internal storage.
It also introduced a unique form factor for a mobile device, mirroring that of a video recorder. Making this device perfect for shooting both images and especially video.
Unfortunately at this point my N90 battery failed me, sorry. So instead I will link you to a post done by a good friend. Sergejs, possibly better known as @_Nexus on Twitter. Here is his Nokia N90 Post.
It’s now late 2005 and Nokia annouce the Nokia N80!
Sporting a 3.15Mp (2048×1536) Camera, LED flash, Dual ARM 9 processors, 64Mb RAM, 40Mb of internal storage, 3G and WIFI. What a beast!!
N80
It’s now 2006 and Nokia announce the Nokia N93!!
Utilising the same form factor as the N90, this little monster packs a real punch with it’s 3.15Mp (2048×1536) camera, autofocus and Carl Zeiss optics. But here is the kicker folks, it has 3X OPTICAL zoom, yes you heard me. OPTICAL zoom!!
N93
It’s now late 2006 and Nokia announce the Nokia N95!
Now we are getting serious, this legend in the waiting sported a 5Mp camera (2592×1944), Carl Zeiss optics, LED flash, autofocus and as with the N93 was capable of VGA Video at 30fps.
N95
The year is 2007 and Nokia announce the imaging legend, the Nokia N82!
Sporting the same camera hardware as the N95 except this baby has a XENON flash, yes folks a real flash. It was packed with kit, HSDPA fast data, WIFI, 128Mb RAM and 100Mb Internal storage.
N82
It’s now 2008, Nokia rather than innovating, spends the year consolidating in terms of cameras, with devices such as N85, N79 and N96. All 5Mp Carl Zeiss optic, LED Flash etc
N85
It’s now 2009 and it’s time for something new, Nokia announce the Nokia N86!
This baby sports an AMOLED 16 million colour display, a massive 8Gb of internal storage, HSDPA up to 3.6Mbps for super fast internet. But the real treat is the camera, a huge 8Mp (3264×2448) 28mm WIDE ANGLE lens, Carl Zeiss optics and DUAL LED flash.
N86
It’s now 2010 and Nokia trump every other mobile camera, they announce the Nokia N8!!
Wow, just wow! This beauty with its anodised body is without doubt the imaging KING! Sporting a 12Mp F2.8 Carl Zeiss lens with XENON Flash and capable of Video capture at 720p High definition.
N8
It’s still 2010 and Nokia announce another device with a slightly controversial 8Mp fixed focus lens, the Nokia C7!
A beatiful device with it’s 8Mp EDoF lens (Full focus) lens. That aside it is packed with great stuff, USB on the go, HSPA Pentaband and Bluetooth V3. But its the camera that causes much discussion as it does have autofocus.
C7
It’s now 2011 and the decade of Nokia Imaging is complete, Nokia announce the long awaited Nokia N9!
Apart for being the most beautifully designed device of all time, it packs a F2.2 8Mp Carl Zeiss optic camera, dual LED flash, 1Gb RAM and that gorgeous curved AMOLED screen.
N9
Later in 2011 Nokia announce the Nokia 701!
This updated C7 sports the same 8Mp EDoF lens but with an updated ISP and fantastic bright TFT IPS display.
701
Finally at the end of 2011, Nokia announces its first Windows Phone device, the Nokia Lumia 800
Using the same stunning design as the Nokia N9 and sporting a 8Mp F2.2 Carl Zeiss lens this great device is a great kick off for the Lumia brand.
Lumia 800
I would to thank the stars of this post!
7650, 3650, 7610, 6630, N70, N90, N80, N93, N95, N82, N85, N86, N8, C7, N9, 701, Lumia 800
Thanks for reading 
Beautifull post Rich ! How time flies, scary. N8…
Wish I could lay my hands on that N90 and N93 awesome design. Best of vintage Nokia clamshell. I have been trying to see if N92 in wild, but haven’t found one. Have you?
YEs, I have a complete Nseries collection, check the post “A few phones etc”
Nice one. Really envious of your collection and a nice walk down memory lane. I have to say the quality of the N82 images still surprises me. And the N9 and Lumia 800 just handle images so differently.
Great post
Really interesting and informative Rich, and can’t believe I haven’t owned any of them !!! (well waited through a two year contract to get the N95 8gig, but never had the original) and always enjoy seeing the photo’s you take using your Nokia hardware
Cheers mate
Thanks Stephen, you know you are my top commenter!!
yery good post, but many of photos are out of focus and don’t show how good are/were these cameras!
Well with 17 cameras to take the image with and remember the initial older devices do not have a focus function in any way, the only one that is out of focus is the N86. Well you know my apologies. The post wasn’t really about comparing. It was more about a trip down memory lane for me. You see I am old enough to have used all of these devices when they launched
you’re right – with the n8 it is easy to forget that older phones had fixed focus
i don’t suggest you are a bad photographer! great collection of phones 
Great piece… Maybe you’d be interested in this shot from my time working at Nokia…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nashville/3087021845/
Btw, i designed the camera app & Gallery app UI for NSeries range…
Nice photo and great work! I have the complete Nseries collection. Love them.
you are really a Nokia freak man… Grt job…
That is one way to put it
congrats man for still owning those great old nokia phones they are really unique, alive, and worthy of collection compare to other phone brands. Thank you for sharing this post and the blog, it brings back memories with my old nokias too, and it was a great experience though i dont have all of them.Nokia is bringing in pureview 808 i wonder how its gonna be like. Thanks man.