[e12e]

> There is nowhere to go, not with the available physical space.

While true, also false.

Take something like the Sony Nex series; mirrorless digital system camera. Not much larger than a (big) smart phone. Sure, bigger than an iPhone. But it might not be that difficult to fit the "rest" of a smart phone into one of those. In fact, it probably have all the parts: battery, (touch?)screen, microphone, wireless radio (not cellular, but that could be changed), speaker (maybe needs to be added).

But a better way to go would probably be some kind of light-field technology. I think that holds more promise for better pictures in a similar form factor, and the possibility of ease of use.

[arrrg]

Look at the lens of those devices … I mean, really, it’s a basic physics problem.

The device itself can obviously be very, very small. Obviously. No one is disputing that. But the lens is the issue if the sensor gets larger and a smartphone with Sony Nex sensor size (APS-C) is impossible.

There is nowhere to go with the available space. Not if you want to keep the smartphone actually smartphone sized.

[e12e]

I was thinking about something like:

http://www.kurtmunger.com/sony_nex_20mm_f_2_8id345.html

Sure, we're definitely talking something bigger than a standard iphone. So maybe not possible in a general market smart phone (I'd love to have the possibility of changing lenses on my phone, even if it wouldn't quite fit in the smallest pockets any more...).

The only other option would probably be some kind of lightfield tech, say a grid of 8x10 VGA resolution cameras that feed into a single software or ASIC processing unit...

[qq66]

I saw someone with a really neat camera. It was an Olympus lens + sensor in a package that was hardly bigger than a camera lens, which wirelessly talked to a smartphone for image display and controls. A much smaller add-on than an entire mirrorless camera, acknowledging that most people are already carrying an LCD screen and flash storage.

[sirn]

Olympus Air[1] perhaps?

[1]: http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/air-a01.html

[username223]

This. I own a Sony NEX because I want something portable that can take good pictures. I don't care that much about a mediocre telephone, web browser, and GameBoy, unless it's nearly as good at photography.

[koko775]

Ah, but the iPhones actually already use Sony sensors. One key difference between its sensor and the NEX/Mirrorless Alpha cameras is sensor size and the lens optics, which is why one might say there isn't much difference to make up (that can be made up) between the phone and cameras.

Also worth noting is that Sony cameras already run a customized and locked-down version of Android, though you wouldn't know from using it.