If the iPad had a back camera, would you use it?

[MythicFrost]

I'd mainly use the FaceTime camera, but a back camera would be useful now and then. I do agree with some earlier posters though - it'd still look a bit dorky (especially when tapping the screen to take a picture... unless, of course, Apple has some cool software tricks up their sleeves ).

Haha, na, I don't think it'll look dorky -- plus no one will be able to see what you're doing! haha

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

they should make like zillion megapixel in the back and a half a zillion megapixel one on the front. with the current specs of the ipad they could fit a lot more stuff in there.

 

[jakeacc]

I think most of the people who say they wouldn't use the back camera are just assuming the main function of that would be to take photos.

As a father of a 11 month old baby, I use the iChat or Facetime app a few times a week. (I have a lot of relatives that want to see my son) Using the iPhone is great as it's light-weight and much more mobile than a laptop. As my son really isn't old enough to have face-to-face conversations yet, I use my iPhone more as a wireless live camera....using the rear-facing camera mainly and following my son around as he plays and crawls around the house.

Facetime on the iPad would be very attractive to me as it is still light-weight and easy to move around. And the bigger screen size would make face-to-face conversation more appealing.

Another big reason a rear-facing camera for the iPad is a good idea is Apps. There are dozons of Apps for the iPhone that make use of it's rear-facing camera and have nothing to do with taking a photo. Yelp's "Monocle" display (augmented reality) is a good example. Chase Mobile's "check deposit scan feature" is another. Scanning documents and barcode readers are also other uses.

With a rear-facing camera, iPad apps can have all the features that the rear-facing iPhone camera apps have.

 

[big samm]

HAHA could you imagine holding a device that big as a camera?

You're at your cousins wedding, and everyone takes out there point and shoot camera, iphone 4's, and etc., and there you are, with a 10 inch slate of aluminum, taking a photograph with a 5mp camera.

Hold this device up high in the air, with one hand, and tap a TINY button on the screen. Tell me how that photo comes out.

Lets be real here.

so.. NO. A front, non VGA (possibly 2mp or higher?) camera is all that is needed. Facetime on this device would be amazing.

lol exactly.... if somebody did this at my marriage I swear I would smash the iPad on the person's head....

 

[big samm]

I'm not hating on having a camera on the back of the iPad if they put it so be it.... but personally I wouldn't want it in the back.... that means a hole in the back of my apple case for the camera... no shutter I mean imagine people with small hands it would be too difficult to take a nice picture without moving the iPad that means blurriness in pictures... what they need to do is put a front camera and a USB port ( Not a stupid adapter) so people can transfer pictures from their iPhone point and shoot cameras or sd cards... that way you'll have decent pictures or videos to watch or edit on your iPad...

 

[TraceyS/FL]

I would definitely use it. As a business user my iPad has become a big part of my work flow and the rear camera would be handy for apps like I have on my iPhone for document scanning, bar code reader, business card scanning, etc.

I'd use it for the same reasons....

 

[Piggie]

HAHA could you imagine holding a device that big as a camera?

You're at your cousins wedding, and everyone takes out there point and shoot camera, iphone 4's, and etc., and there you are, with a 10 inch slate of aluminum, taking a photograph with a 5mp camera.

Hold this device up high in the air, with one hand, and tap a TINY button on the screen. Tell me how that photo comes out.

Lets be real here.

so.. NO. A front, non VGA (possibly 2mp or higher?) camera is all that is needed. Facetime on this device would be amazing.

But then you would not take your iPad out with you as a Camera.

In the same way that you would not take your iPhone out with you if you wanted a camera.

If you wanted to go somewhere, specifically top take photos, as in your wedding example, then you would take a camera.

Duh!

 

[Nishi100]

But then you would not take your iPad out with you as a Camera.

In the same way that you would not take your iPhone out with you if you wanted a camera.

If you wanted to go somewhere, specifically top take photos, as in your wedding example, then you would take a camera.

Duh!

Exactly - you got it in one there.

Let's say your at home with your iPad doing some web browsing, I don't carry my phone or camera around with me in the house, I carry my iPad; sometimes I even use the iPad when I'm cooking (google search <insert food here> recipe); then you get a FaceTime call, (or skype) you answer it, it's your mum, you tell her your cooking, she doesn't believe you; then you click the flip button and show her etc. etc. stop the FaceTime call, jump right back into iCab and back on with your cooking.

Or, in McDonald's or wherever you eat and again your web browsing and, boom, a person doing something magical or random, you raise your iPad and take a picture.

In certain situations it would be good, in others not so good; I think in the home is where I would use it most and with a good version of iMovie and/or After Effects, I may use it for some YouTube videos.