When you're on a budget...

There was a time when the cheapest 5 megapixel camera cost upward of ₹20,000. But things are quite different now...

There was a time when the cheapest 5 megapixel camera cost upward of ₹20,000. But things are quite different now. Spice launched its 5MP camera - the M-7070 - for under 10K and now Videocon has launched its 3MP camera phone, the V1705.

Form factor
The V1705 is sturdy but there's nothing special about its design. The keypad is raised and large enough for speedy typing. The handset has dedicated keys for the music player and the FM radio on either side of the joystick navigation system. The joystick itself is easy to control but doesn't easily get depressed.

A mini USB port is located on one side for PC connectivity, while a 3.5 mm handsfree is placed on top. A set of rather loud speakers are placed at the rear just above the 3.2MP fixed focus camera and LED flash. As usual, the microSD card slot is placed under the battery.

Interface
The display is clear and very easy on the eyes even in bright sunlight. There's a smooth flow to the system with no lag whatsoever while accessing applications or functions. The V1705 is equipped with a motion sensor and functions that use it like the motion-based Dice game.

Media
The music player is adequate at best. The EQ presets can be customised using an 8-band graphic EQ setting. Videocon has also included a 3D surround setting, Reverb effect as well as a Bass Enhancement option. The decibel level is a little low but the quality isn't too bad. The handset's FM radio picked up reception quite well in most places.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that standard videos in a 320 x 240 pixel resolution, played just fine with no framing whatsoever.

Camera
The 3.2MP camera comes with a flash and includes the very basic features such as White Balance, a Night Mode, Burst Mode and a few effect settings. On the whole, image quality is really good. Pictures appear quite crisp and sharp.

Battery
The 1000 mAh battery gives at least two days of usage but depletes faster when you use the camera. Talk time averaged at well over three hours. The flash is handy for places that have low light but makes the image grainy. Nevertheless, the camera is a really good asset.