Nokia N86 (click for larger image)

Having any camera on a cell phone was considered a luxury a few years ago, but manufacturers have been increasing the pixel count to the point where many handsets are legitimate digital camera replacements. With the introduction of the N86, Nokia is the latest manufacturer to hit the 8-megapixel mark, joining the likes of LG, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson.

Of course, having more megapixels doesn't automatically mean better photos, and Nokia said it worked closely with Carl Zeiss to ensure the N86 could excel at taking pictures and videos in various lighting conditions. The handset has a mechanical shutter on board, which means users can capture images at quick speeds.

"People demand mobile cameras that take excellent pictures in all light conditions," said Juha-Pekka Sipponen, director of Nokia's N series, in a statement. "That's why the aperture of the Nokia N86 is comparable to that of a high-quality, standalone digital camera."

The built-in GPS chipset can be used to geotag photos, and the cellular data connection can be used to upload pictures to photo-sharing sites like Flickr. The photos should be sharp and clear on the 2.6-inch OLED glass screen, and there's 8 GB of internal memory to store the snapshots.

While the N86 should please shutterbugs, it is a full-fledged smartphone that has capabilities for the mobile professional. It runs Symbian OS S60, and there's Wi-Fi and 3G for sending e-mails and surfing the Web. There's Bluetooth version 2.0, multimedia functions, and built-in hands-free controls.

The handset has a sliding form factor, and it's expected to ship in the second quarter for about $475 before taxes and carrier subsidies.

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