New Poll- Lens Protection!

[pseudofinn]

There has been lots of discussion about the lens protection on the N95. Most users seem to prefer the sliding lens protection, but there are a few that obviously do not for whatever reason.

One of the main reasons I keep seeing around and am being told directly by Nokia is that it was removed from the latest iterations of the N95 by "popular demand". Now- I've been around here for about 10 months, and I've not seen anyone complain about the lens slider. In fact, since the new devices have been released without what I perceive as proper lens protection, I've really read nothing but complaints and down-right anger regarding the removal of the mechanical lens cover. A few bloggers have mentioned that they feel it's a bit of a cheap thing to have on the device, and there are quite valid complaints to the fact that if you are using another application that utilizes the camera functions, there's a bit of fooling around with opening the lens slider and then shutting the camera app. The other complaint is that you lose out on that "spontaneity"- that it takes too long to flick open the lens cover and take a picture. I COMPLETELY believe this argument to be nothing but rubbish, as it's far quicker to flick open the camera than it is to (unlock the keypad first, two key presses or open the slider- a second there) hold down the camera button for two seconds for the application to recognize that you've not just bumped it, but that you want to take a picture. By that time, even the older versions without demand paging are nearly ready for you to take a photo with just a flick of the lens cover. Don't forget you need to wipe any grease from the lens cover on the new device- it's good to get in the habit of doing this when you take the thing out of your pocket EVERY time you go to take a photo whether you know it's smudged or not- otherwise you'll inevitably forget one time and have a greasy blurred shot when you look at them later. Probably, this will happen more than once. I know it has for me. <sigh>

So what's the deal? It seems that it would come down to perception and personal preference. Whether it does take longer or not to use the lens cover (again, for the reasons I've detailed above, I SERIOUSLY don't think anyone can make the argument that it does) Nokia is very reactive to the demands of the consumers- we've seen that time and time again. So is this move a reaction to the community- and how have I missed all the complaints about spontaneity amid all the complaints of the removal of the lens protection? Also- there's noticeable lens flare present from the piece of perspex infront of my 5mpix Carl Zeiss optics when photographing in dark conditions from off frame light sources, such as street lamps. A greased perspex window in front of the lens is almost impossible to get completely clean by wiping it with the corner of your shirt- you're just moving the grease around. Silly. Again- to all those spontaneity freaks- it does take just a tad more time to wipe a lens than it does to flick open a lens cover.... at any rate- it's what the user perceives, not what it logical. I reference the number of people that will spend hundreds of dollars more on a device than they should because you can touch the screen. ;)

Hence the poll. We see somewhere in the neighborhood of 5k to 5,500 users every day- users all interested in one thing (well, except the spammers)- the Nokia N95. So this should serve as a pretty decent sampling of the community I would think. I just really want to get to the bottom of this- so if everyone could at least vote, I would be quite grateful. If you could voice some thoughts on how you voted, that would be tremendously useful to myself and Nokia, of course.

So please- VOTE!!!

[sturgeon]

The lens is the most delicate part of the N95 and it is vital to protect it. It surely takes longer to clean the crap off a dirty, greasy lens than to open the lens cover, and if the lens gets scratched the whole camera is wrecked.

s.

[Gizmoratty]

From my personal experience (as far as start-up time is concerned), there is barely any difference between the devices. And as far as I have read, most prefer the singular action of opening the slider to activate the camera

But more importantly, the camera lense is left in a potentially damage prone position on the latter devices - This being the argument that nobody can deny

I think we know where the majority of the votes in the poll will be placed, but definitely an interesting matter to be reviewed in this way

[pseudofinn]

Right- I just want to have some numbers to show some contacts at Nokia that have told me that the lens cover has been killed due to what they call "popular demand". I simply can't accept this- aside from my mate James Burland at Nokia Creative, I've not seen anyone say anything negative about the lens cover. How can they claim "popular demand"?? I just needed some proof for myself, and to maybe help me get the real answer as to why there is no suitable lens protection on my device.

Have a look at this picture- this is my N95-3 (US variant) after a week of careful usage. Any time it's in my pocket, it's by itself- no keys, lighter, change, pens or otherwise. I'm quite careful with it- I'm super careful with all of my electronics, and anything that says "Nokia" on it gets extra attention. I have no idea where the **** scratches came from, but it's not from neglect- that much is for absolute certain!

[Sp00k]

In the nine months that I've had my N95-1, I've not needed to clean the main camera lens once!

The protective shutter has kept it both dust and fingerprint-free... Were I using one of the latest phones, I'd need to be constantly cleaning it, as when holding the phone my index-finger falls naturally, directly over the bottom part of the N95-1 camera-surround plate... EXACTLY where the lens covering would be on the N95-2&3 models.

Incidentally, I have my doubts as to the protective shutter being removed due to popular demand, more likely as a matter of design expediency. If customer demand dictates that there's no protective lens shutter, then why does there appear to be a sliding shutter over the lens on the N82?

I say 'appear to be', as I haven't inspected an N82 closely enough to determine if this is so...

[Gizmoratty]

No you're right sp00k, the N82 does accomodate a slide shutter - In my opinion, just one more thing to bring the N82 even closer to being a more appealing device than the N95 series

[spyda]

STUPID decision to remove the cover on the later models ... absolutely crazy - and Pseudo's photo shows why!

I too have great difficulty in believing this was removed due to popular demand!

[pseudofinn]

I'd have to tend to agree with you sp00k- perhaps they just didn't want to go through all the re-engineering of the lens slider once they changed the battery compartment- an unwise decision. I would have greatly preferred the original battery over the lack of lens protection.

Very disappointing.

FTW- yes, sp00k, the N82 does have a manually operated lens slider.

[pseudofinn]

Come on! Keep those votes coming- 45 views already and only 13 votes?

What's the story there? Vote- please!

[Benz-Driver]

I also don't understand why Nokia didn't implement a shutter on the N95 8GB. This is one of the reason's why I stick with my N95-1.